(London) The BBC announced on Monday the sale of its Maida Vale recording studios in London, made famous for having seen cult groups perform there during programs that have become legendary.
The BBC said in a statement it sold the studios — which it acquired in 1933 — to British producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner as well as composer Hanz Zimmer and his lifelong business partner Steven Kofsky.
“We are so pleased to secure a sale that will continue the bright and vibrant future of music making in this iconic building,” Lorna Clarke, head of music at the BBC, said in a statement.
“Maida Vale Studios has been synonymous with artistic excellence for generations,” responded Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, quoted in the statement, saying they were “committed to carrying on the legacy of the BBC at Maida Vale. »
Located in the eponymous district of west London, Maida Vale studios have seen the great names in music over the decades.
The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Beyoncé played there, among others. This is also where the legendary “Peel Sessions” were recorded, between 1967 and 2004, a cult show by DJ and radio host John Peel, broadcast for four decades on Radio One.
Quickly becoming an institution, this show introduced British audiences to genres such as punk, reggae and hip-hop and has always remained in touch with the creation and the avant-garde of pop and rock.
The discs of these “Peel Sessions”, distributed in France, testify to these discoveries and some recordings of the series, including that of The Cure, have become classics.
The BBC announced plans in 2018 to move its music studios to east London, drawing criticism at the time from some nostalgic people.
The audiovisual group did not communicate on the cost of the sale, but the buyers are planning a renovation costing several million pounds, according to the press release.
