Coinciding with Abbey Road’s 90th anniversary, which also included a two-day event hosted in November 2021, Abbey Road says that the partnership signals a “new era” for the studio with the creation of a resident creative community based in a suite of new writing and production rooms.
Under the ‘Abbey Road Connected’ umbrella, the studios will welcome a collective of resident artists and producers to the writing rooms, with one room being dedicated to hosting sessions from a pool of partners.
NQ is the first of what will be a rotating series of partnerships.
The partnership will see NQ’s London-based writing and production sessions hosted within the newly opened writing rooms at Abbey Road.
Over the next 12 months, says Abbey Road, the partnership will allow NQ’s stable of talent to use its studio spaces for monthly sessions, and will also provide music makers from Manchester and the North West a gateway into the music industry.
NQ House was officially opened in September 2021 by CEO Michael Adex and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
The former Conservative Club on the outskirts of Manchester’s city centre has been turned into a creative hub that houses multiple recording and content studios, a media lounge, co-working and podcast spaces, a private members area, as well as the NQ HQ.
The NQ x Abbey Road Studios partnership begins with a week-long writing camp on May 23 that will bring together producers WhyJay (Aitch, DigDat), LiTek (Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Bugzy Malone), and Two Inch Punch (Jessie Ware, Sam Smith), along with rappers Hazey and Arz.
“We pride ourselves on creating meaningful opportunities for Manchester and the North West.”
Louis Brown, NQ
Louis Brown, NQ’s COO and General Manager, said: “We pride ourselves on creating meaningful opportunities for Manchester and the North West and creating value for our clients in everything we do.
“This joining together of two respected music destinations celebrates a shared vision to support diverse, emerging talent across the UK.”
“I’m excited to have NQ as part of the new creative community at Abbey Road.”
Isabel Garvey, Abbey Road Studios
Isabel Garvey, Managing Director, Abbey Road Studios, added: “As Abbey Road Studios celebrates its 90th anniversary, I can’t think of a better partner to open our new Writing Rooms than NQ.
“I’m excited to have NQ as part of the new creative community at Abbey Road and witness the best talent from the North and South collaborate within our walls.”
“The exceptional quality of NQ talent matched with our own team at Abbey Road Studios makes this partnership incredibly exciting.”
Jay Picasso, Abbey Road
Jay Picasso, Abbey Road Artist Relations Manager, said: “The exceptional quality of NQ talent matched with our own team at Abbey Road Studios makes this partnership incredibly exciting.
“We’re looking forward to seeing both talented teams collaborate and exchange knowledge across their various projects and – most importantly – create brilliant music.”Music Business Worldwide
