Since the well anticipated news came earlier this week that EMI are putting Abbey Road up for sale to ease their current financial struggle, there has been a public outcry to save the infamous recording studios.
Sir Paul McCartney told the BBC that "There are a few people who have been associated with the studio for a long time who were talking about mounting some bid to save it ... I sympathise with them. I hope they can do something, it'd be great."
Meanwhile, there has been much talk of The National Trust buying the studio from EMI, thereby making it a protected landmark. A spokesman said, "It's not often that the public spontaneously suggests that we should acquire a famous building ... However, Abbey Road recording studios appear to be very dear to the nation's heart - to the extent that we will take soundings as to whether a campaign is desirable or even feasible."
The National Trust has already bought the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon, which have become popular tourist attractions in Liverpool. One assumes that under The National Trust, Abbey Road studios would be opened to the public. Though Abbey Road would undoubtedly make an amazing museum, it would be an enormous shame to lose one of the foremost recording studios in the world.
Chris Evans suggested the idea for The National Trust to intervene on his BBC Radio 2 show, where he also suggested that some of the UK's most prominent millionaires, including Richard Branson and McCartney himself, might be interested in nabbing a bargain. One he didn't mention was Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of many acclaimed stage musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar and The Phantom Of The Opera. A spokesman for Webber said he is "very interested" in buying the property where most of his musicals were recorded.
"He thinks it is vital that the studios are saved for the future of the music industry in the UK ... Andrew has probably brought more musicians to record there than anyone else, because it has the capacity to record large orchestral productions."
**Updated**
Well, after all that, EMI have now released a statement saying that they will not sell Abbey Road studios after all. However they are looking at embarking on a "revitalisation project", which will require additional funding from third parties.
"In response to recent press speculation, EMI confirms that it is holding preliminary discussions for the revitalisation of Abbey Road with interested and appropriate third parties.
"Abbey Road studios had, for a number of years, been losing money and we have developed plans to revitalise the studios. These plans would involve a substantial injection of new capital."