Record Biz Meltdown Continues: Sony Studios to Close

In yet another sign that the music industry might just close up shop and move to Florida, Sony Music Studios — one of New York's biggest recording hubs — will close its doors in August, citing difficult financial times. Elton John, Billy Joel, Jennifer Lopez, Missy Elliott, and Sheryl Crow have all recorded at the storied studios, which have also hosted TV shows, including Nirvana's "MTV Unplugged." The shutdown comes two years after the legendary Hit Factory closed up shop, leaving New York with few powerhouse recording studios.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“I'm Yours”

Jason Mraz | 2008

Jason Mraz re-emerged after his disappointing second album with this lead single, a Jack Johnson-esque ditty about giving yourself fully to someone else. The success of the reggae-tinged song (it earned two Grammy nods and a spot on the Billboard singles chart for well over a year) was something the folk-pop singer never predicted when he wrote it in 15 minutes at home. "I played a happy-hippie chord progression that would probably work without 50 different Bob Marley songs," he told Rolling Stone. "I thought, 'It's too novelty. This is a nursery rhyme,'" concluding that "you can never guess what's gonna be a hit."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter