Studio prices have essentially been stagnant for 20 years or so while prices for everything else have soared. That's why it's no surprise to hear that New York's famed Avatar Studios is to be put on the market soon.
Avatar was previously known as The Power Station and was the home to a number of huge hit records including Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.," Rolling Stones' "Some Girls," Peter Gabriel's "So" and Duran Duran's "Seven and the Ragged Tiger."
It's clientele has included Elton John, Aerosmith, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Madonna, Blondie, Iggy Pop, Chic, John Mayer, Adam Levine among many others.
While the current owners are said to hope that the complex will remain a studio, don't be surprised if the sale eventually leads to some high-priced condos in its place.
That's the problem with the studio biz today. The artists that can afford to use them all have a very competent home studio to at least do overdubs in, so any stay at a major studio is usually short-lived as compared to the way recording was done in the heyday of these major studios. Fewer long term-high dollar bookings means that it's a grind just to stay open.
There's no telling how long the remaining big studios will be around (Electric Lady studios, and Manhattan Sound Recording -formerly Right Track - still remain in New York), so enjoy them while you can.
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