The Birthplace of EMI


The Birthplace of EMI

The birthplace of Britains music industry.

Location: 31 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7JS

Description: Maiden Lane Recording Studios - the basement studio here was the UK's first recording studio - and was opened in 1898 by The Gramophone Company.

Engineer Fred Gaisberg made some important pioneering early recordings here. Indeed, opera singers and music hall artists (the pop stars of the Victorian era) were recorded for the mass enjoyment of the whole nation. The studio used incredibly primitive technology including a long trumpet-shaped horn Amy Williams on the piano - she was the Recording Department secretary and also accompanied the vocalists.

The company was run by a handful of early recording pioneers with big dreams and limited resources. In 1931, the Gramophone Company changed its name to EMI and opened a new extraordinarily successful studio at Abbey Road. EMI became a global giant, with acts from Pink Floyd to The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Janet Jackson and Kylie Minogue.

A green plaque from Westminster Council was unveiled here by Roger Taylor from Queen on Wednesday 4th December 2019.

Themes: MusicMusic Theme
The Birthplace of EMI

The birthplace of Britains music industry.

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