Plans for world class music studios on Newcastle’s Quayside have received the green light, marking a major investment in the city’s creative sector. The £1.8m project will see the Edwardian grade II-listed Coronation Buildings transformed into a hub for recording, editing, podcasting, and collaborative music work. The Newcastle music studios development promises to provide facilities that rival those in London or Manchester, keeping local talent at the heart of the region.
The studios will cater to both local and national artists, offering state-of-the-art technology and flexible spaces designed to support emerging musicians. The Coronation Buildings, originally built in 1903 for Pyman Bell and Co, shipping, coal and timber merchants, were partially demolished in 1982 and used as offices until earlier this year. Now, with the Newcastle music studios conversion underway, the historic site will gain a vibrant new lease of life.
Leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Karen Kilgour, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is fantastic news. These amazing studios will provide our up-and-coming talent with the very latest music technology to make great music, launch careers and put the city on the map. Artists will no longer need to go to Manchester or London for the best facilities, they will have them right here in Newcastle.” She added: “After hosting the Mercury Prize Awards and the MOBOs Newcastle really has burst onto the international music stage. Building these studios on our beautiful quayside will help keep it that way while providing endless opportunities to make dreams come true.”
The project has been supported by the North East Combined Authority with additional backing from Newcastle City Council. North East mayor Kim McGuinness expressed excitement for the impact on regional talent, stating: “Seeing music being recorded on the banks of the Tyne will send a strong message to our artists making music across the region – you can do it here. I’m really excited to see what new talent will follow in the footsteps of homegrown stars like Sting, Jade Thirlwall and Sam Fender.”
The Newcastle music studios conversion is already underway, with a target opening date of April 2026. The development builds on years of groundwork by Generator, the North’s leading music development agency, and is expected to become a landmark for creativity, collaboration, and career development in the region.
