The Music Building is a music rehearsal facility at 584 Eighth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.[1] It is the largest music rehearsal facility in Manhattan with 69 studios on 12 floors that are leased to musicians. It is located near Times Square and allows 24/7 access for musicians. Notable musicians such as Madonna, Interpol, Billy Idol, and Joey Ramone have been tenants at The Music Building.[2] Numerous recordings have taken place at the Music Building by some of the notable tenants.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music production |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City |
| Website | musicbuilding |
History
editThe Music Building was founded in 1979. There were initially two locations in Queens and Manhattan with Queens having more rap and heavy metal bands and Manhattan having more punk, rock, and pop bands. The Music Building in Manhattan became the focal point for all musicians when the Queens building was destroyed by fire in 1996.[3]
The building is currently filled with graffiti art from various artists who have been tenants or have visited other musicians who were tenants in the building. Musicians have stated that instead of living there, The Music Building is like an apartment building where you can rent a room and play 24/7. In addition to renting space to known musicians, The Music Building rents space to local bands and musicians who are just starting.[3]
Artists
editThe Music Building has been the home to many famous recording artists. In 1979 Chandra Oppenheim started her recording career here.[4] One of the most famous was Madonna who was a tenant from 1980 to 1984.[5] The Strokes are also former tenants of The Music Building and spent most of 1999 writing and rehearsing material there before making their live debut at the Spiral in 1999 and releasing their first album in 2001.[6] The Music Building was also the home to Dubway Studios until 1992.[7]
Other notable tenants include:
- Nervus Rex[8]
- The Del-Lords[8]
- The Fleshtones[8]
- The dB's with Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey[8]
- Interpol[9]
- Billy Idol[2]
- Ambulance[10]
- Jeremy & the Harlequins[11]
- Joey Ramone[2]
- The Patti Smith Group with Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye[12]
- Spread Eagle[13]
- Television[12]
- New York Dolls[12]
- The Toys[14]
- They Might Be Giants[15]
Recordings at The Music Building
edit| Band or artist | Album(s) and/or song(s) | Year(s) of recording |
|---|---|---|
| Spread Eagle | Subway To The Stars | 2019[13] |
| Jeremy & the Harlequins | Remember This | 2018[11] |
| The Magnetic Fields | Love at the Bottom of the Sea | 2012 |
| The Strokes | Angles | 2011[16] |
| Teddy Thompson | Upfront & Down Low | 2007 |
| Joseph Arthur | Our Shadows Will Remain | 2004 |
| Lili Anel | Hi-Octane Coffee | 2001 |
| Spread Eagle | Spread Eagle | 1990 (debut album)[13] |
| They Might Be Giants | (She Was A) Hotel Detective | 1988 |
| They Might Be Giants | They Might Be Giants | 1986 (also known as "The Pink Album") |
References
edit- ^ Deep South Vintage. "Music Building NYC". Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ a b c "About Us". The Music Building.
- ^ a b "A New York City Rock n Roll Mecca: The Music Building". Live4Ever. January 16, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ "'It was grungy, gritty, rough': The 11-year-old who fronted an 80s post-punk band". TheGuardian.com. November 13, 2018.
- ^ Madonna Rising (Documentary). VH1. 2009.
- ^ "The Stokes Biography". Yahoo Music. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ Dubway Studios. "News". Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Cost, Jud (July 18, 2009). "Q&A with Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey". Magnet.
- ^ "Interpool in Their Own Words". Chart Attack. June 3, 2009. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help)CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Artist Direct. "Artist Bio – Ambulance". Retrieved June 2, 2012.
- ^ a b "On Stage: Steel City legend keeps to his roots | the Unionville Times".
- ^ a b c "Recording Studios in New York". Manta.com.
- ^ a b c "Spread Eagle Premieres "Sound of Speed" From Upcoming Album "Subway To The Stars" - XS ROCK". xsrock.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019.
- ^ "The Toys". History of Rock. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ "Music". They Might B Giants. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ Ryzik, Melena (March 9, 2011). "Different Strokes". The New York Times.