A petition has been launched to save London’s legendary Battery Studios.
The Willesden studio – which was founded in 1967 as Morgan Studios – is currently under threat of demolition and redevelopment into flats.
In a petition to save the studios (which you can sign here), the owners wrote: “We are calling on the music industry, artists, and the public to stand together to protect this irreplaceable cultural landmark. The music created within its walls has shaped global culture and helped define the UK as a world leader in music.
They pointed out that recording studios and creative spaces are “being lost at an alarming rate” across the country, adding that demolishing and rebuilding such spaces “carries a far greater carbon cost than preserving and modernising existing structures”.
“Importantly, there is strong precedent for protecting studios and creative spaces like this,” the statement reads. “Allowing this demolition would go against that progress and send the wrong message about how we value our cultural assets. We urge the council to reject this proposal and instead support the preservation and continued use of Battery Studios as a world-class creative facility.”
Musicians such as Nadine Shah have spoken out in support of Battery Studios, who wrote that “when we lose studios like Battery, we’re not just losing real estate. We’re losing history. We’re losing opportunity. Beyond music, studios contribute to the cultural and economic life of a city. They attract global talent. They support local jobs. They help define a city’s identity.
“What kind of city do we want London to be?,” she added. “A city that values only what is profitable in the short term? Or a city that invests in culture, creativity, and legacy?”
“Once these spaces are gone, they don’t come back,” Shah continued. “You can’t rebuild decades of history. You can’t recreate the atmosphere that made them special. You can’t replace the invisible magic that lives within their walls.
“Saving Battery Recording Studios isn’t just about preserving a building—it’s about protecting the future of music and those who create it.”
In its early days, seminal albums such as Iron Maiden‘s ‘Killers’ (1981) and ‘The Number of the Beast’ (1982), Talk Talk‘s ‘The Colour Of Spring’ (1986) and The Cars‘ ‘Heartbeat City’ (1984) were recorded there.
In the 90s, other classics like Skunk Anansie‘s ‘Paranoid And Sunburnt’ (1995) and the Stone Roses‘ debut eponymous album were also recorded at the studios. Since 2005, it has been owned by producer duo Alan Moulder and Flood, who renamed it as Assault & Battery Studios. They’ve overseen records from Foals (‘Holy Fire’), White Lies (‘Ritual’), Ed O’Brien (‘Earth’), and plenty more.
Elsewhere, the UK Government has urged the industry and Live Nation to “step up to help the next generation of talent” and pay into the ticket levy.