The Music Building

Last updated

The Music Building
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusic production
Headquarters Manhattan, New York City
Website musicbuilding.com

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.

Contents

History

The 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

The 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:

Recordings at The Music Building

Band or artistAlbum(s) and/or song(s)Year(s) of recording
Spread Eagle Subway To The Stars2019 [13]
Jeremy & the Harlequins Remember This2018 [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 Eagle1990 (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")

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References

  1. ↑ Deep South Vintage. "Music Building NYC" . Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "About Us". The Music Building.
  3. 1 2 "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)
  4. ↑ "'It was grungy, gritty, rough': The 11-year-old who fronted an 80s post-punk band". TheGuardian.com . November 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ Madonna Rising (Documentary). VH1. 2009.
  6. ↑ "The Stokes Biography". Yahoo Music. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  7. ↑ Dubway Studios. "News" . Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Cost, Jud (July 18, 2009). "Q&A with Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey". Magnet .
  9. ↑ "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)
  10. ↑ Artist Direct. "Artist Bio – Ambulance" . Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  11. 1 2 "On Stage: Steel City legend keeps to his roots | the Unionville Times".
  12. 1 2 3 "Recording Studios in New York". Manta.com.
  13. 1 2 3 "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.
  14. ↑ "The Toys". History of Rock. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Music". They Might B Giants. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  16. ↑ Ryzik, Melena (March 9, 2011). "Different Strokes". The New York Times.

40°45′18.1″N73°59′28.5″W / 40.755028°N 73.991250°W / 40.755028; -73.991250

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