EMI Says Abbey Road Studios Are Not for Sale

After days of speculation that the iconic Abbey Road music studios were being put up for sale, the music label which owns them said on Saturday that they are not for sale. According to Terra Firma, which controls EMI, the owner of the recording studios made famous by the Beatles, it is seeking a partner to help pay for upgrades.

Terra Firma said:

EMI confirms that it is holding preliminary discussions for the revitalization of Abbey Road with interested and appropriate third parties."

They added, however, that it doesn't mean that the studios are for sale:

"In mid-2009, we did receive an offer to buy Abbey Road for in excess of £30 million (currently about $46 million), but this was rejected since we believe that Abbey Road should remain in EMI's ownership,."

While Abbey Road became world famous when the Fab Four were photographed crossing the road there for the cover of their album "Abbey Road", much of England's best-known and most-loved music of the past century was laid down there.

A cultural institution by the name of English Heritage is currently considering plans to list the studios as a site of national historic importance, which would give it a protected status. Terra Firma said:

"EMI... supports such a listing as an appropriate way of protecting our world famous music heritage site."