Business

How to Set Up a Music Studio in London?

By Ryan Bradman | April 12, 2023

Table of Contents

United Kingdon is a cradle of music icons, the ones who set the styles for generations – Elton John, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Freddie Mercury, Adele, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, etc. Their names write the history of music and stimulate further development of music production in the UK.

The epicentre of music life is mainly concentrated in London, with around 50 recording studios scattered around the city. Considering the fact that the music industry is experiencing the rise again after a noticeable drop due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, the idea of becoming a part of it definitely worth the attention.

A music or recording studio is a soundproof facility that is responsible for the quality, accuracy, and precision of the sounds we hear while listening to any kind of vocal or instrumental performance. When intending to set up a recording studio, there are a few cornerstones to consider in the stage of planning:

How to Set Up a Music Studio in London?

1. Financial part

The recording business is profitable and pays off well in a long-term perspective (depending on your clients and performance); however, it requires big investments at the initial stage. A very basic project in the recording studio takes around £1,100 and £4,700. The price is heavily influenced by the size of the building and the number of rooms to be insulated recording equipment, and rent. Besides, there are ‘backstage’ spending on the team of professionals, the caretakers of a place, and the emergency fund (it must always be counted for ‘just-in-case’ situations).

As a rule, a music-studio team consists of a composer, music arranger, sound producer, recording engineer, remixer, mentor, and music promotion manager.

The caretakers can be hired individually or through the cleaning company. The cleaning service may be a better option, as they offer discounts or cashback for subscriptions (like Fulham cleaners), and they have insurance, which is a good option, considering the cost of all the equipment of the studio.

2. The facility

The location and size of the future music studio will impact heavily on the number of customers you will have. Obviously, the further from the center – the lower the rent, however, the closer you are to the central part, the more chances you have to be contacted by the artists. Musicians are typically quite pressed for time, therefore, everything should be within easy reach.

The building must have enough space for four basic rooms:

The live room (studio room)

The centerpiece of the recording studio, that’s where the sound comes alive vocally and instrumentally. It is always acoustically insulated and is separated by the glass window from the people who watch and take part in the recording process. The size of the room must be appropriate to hold several artists or bands.

The vocal room

A room designed specifically for lead voices. Typically, it’s a room inside the studio room, which is additionally soundproof. Considering the fact that it’s in demand, but not all the recording studios have it, you can become your special feature to offer to the clients.

The control room

The control room is the place where all the magic is done. The sound is recorded and undergoes all the editing and mixing, resulting in what we actually enjoy to listen. As a rule, the main people who manage it are the sound engineer, the music producer, and other people involved in the recording.

The equipment room

It’s a storage to keep all the equipment that is currently not used or not necessary for the ongoing recording. The size should also allow for keeping all the racks and amplifiers.

3. Pricing

The price for the recording service varies greatly, as it is heavily influenced by the type of client you are targeting. The budget focus group must be defined at the very beginning – budget, average (mid-range), upper-class (high-end) public.

The price is formed differently as well, depending on the time of cooperation – hourly and daily rates or per-project rates.

If you are willing to target a high-end clientele, you need to invest in the equipment, professional team, style of the facility, public relations, website, and portfolio. Initially, with an empty portfolio, you will have to come up with appealing offers to attract your first clients.

4. The equipment

The equipment can’t be worse than perfect, as it’s one of the key moments of your work.

Studio equipment: a computer, DAW (digital audio workstation) software, audio interface, rack mount, microphones (with stands), headphones, pop filter, acoustic treatment, a workstation, mixing board, control surface, and digital converter.

This is just a basic list and doesn’t include additional equipment like chairs, CCTV cameras, etc.

5. Marketing and promotion

Even having the best equipment and specialists in the world will not make you known among musicians. You need to ‘go public’ and tell the world about your service, advertise the opportunities you offer for the professionals, and emphasize the quality and high level of experience they are going to get. Social media platforms, a website, public events, radio stations – everything is at your disposal.

Creating a recording studio is a great idea for those who are into music and want to make their living from it. It’s a chance for personal and financial growth and a perfect combination of hobby and work.

If you are willing to become an integral part of a huge world of music, don’t hesitate to count all expenses, come up with a business plan, and start making your way towards success.