Universal Music launches Forbes Street Studios
A new studio home for Australian talent and international artists
Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, has announced the official opening of Forbes Street Studios – Sydney’s newest high-tech recording studio and purpose-built media centre. The boutique studio, located in the inner-city suburb of Woolloomooloo, is housed adjacent to Universal Music Australia’s headquarters.
A soft opening this week invited guests to explore the new recording space with executives on hand last night to great visitors included Universal Music Asia Pacific president George Ash, EMI Music Australia MD John O’Donnell, MD of Universal Music Australia Michael Taylor and MD of Universal’s BRING agency Roddy Campbell.
Forbes Street Studios is the latest addition to the international studio network owned and operated by Universal Music Group – alongside the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, Capitol Studios housed within the walls of the iconic Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood and the Interscope Recording Studio in Santa Monica.
Forbes Street Studios will serve as a state of the art recording studio and content creation facility for both homegrown Australian talent and international touring artists when in Sydney, and offers the best in audio, broadcast, and visual capability. The studio has been designed by renowned sonic architect and studio designer Michael Fronzek (Sound Spaces) and features state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology within the rich and nu-retro interiors.
George Ash said, “We are very excited to introduce Forbes Street Studios to musicians and creators, having made a commitment to deliver a leading entertainment studio for talent across all genres. We are the leader in A&R investment in Australasia and this state of the art facility will offer our artists and other studio users the best possible recording experience. Universal Music is excited to connect Forbes Street Studio with the other iconic and influential international studios within the UMG family, and we hope that Forbes Street will become a home away from home for some of the world’s biggest artists when passing through the region.”
Michael Taylor added: “In opening this artist-orientated studio environment, we have fulfilled a longterm goal for Universal Music Australia and EMI Music Australia. Our commitment to artist creativity is priority one and this studio is a vital addition, not only for our artists, but for the whole music and creative community in Australia.”
The studio provides spaces for recording, tracking, overdubs and mixing in its SSL and Live Room. It houses a first-class Writing Room with A+ vocal mic chain and separate ISO booth, and a Video Editing Suite with colour grading capabilities. Also housed within Forbes Street Studios is an Interview Room (with street-facing views for fans) – offering end to end audio-over-IP Codec for interviews and content creation solutions for podcasts and shows.
Later this month Canadian pop sensation Shawn Mendes will perform an intimate Nova Red Room session at the studio while touring Australia and classical superstar Andre Rieu is scheduled to drop by during his Australian tour to officially open the room for classical opportunities.