Music studio Abbey Road Australia’s partner Gianni Michelini and CEO Paul Ledingham are behind the acquisition and are the executive team behind the much-anticipated opening of the Australian incarnation of Abbey Road Institute at Southbank Melbourne.

Also part of the executive team is Deke Miskin, who is responsible for starting a variety of magazines including TV Hits, Girlfriend, Sugar, That’s Life and Wallpaper and is currently involved in developing hotels in Sri Lanka, Porto Montenegro, Sydney and Bali.

Both Abbey Road Studios UK and Studios 301 Australia were both founded by EMI, the British multinational music recording and publishing company.

Studios 301 was established in 1926 and is not only the longest running professional recording studio, but is also the largest in the southern hemisphere.

Studios 301 will continue catering to a multitude of Australian recording artists along with an ever-expanding international clientele. Studios 301 has hosted an amazing list of artists over the years including: Coldplay, Lady Gaga, U2, David Bowie, Prince, Elton John, Bob Dylan, INXS and Midnight Oil have all recorded, mixed or mastered at Studios 301.

“We are thrilled to be involved in the next chapter of the Studios 301 journey,” said Abbey Road CEO Paul Ledingham. “Our team continues to be 100 per cent committed to seeing 301 evolve to meet the needs of the 21st century music industry. We’ll continue to service our existing clients and pay homage to the incredible legacy that is Studios 301.”

A common executive team across Abbey Road Institute and Studios 301 will provide opportunities for strategic cooperation, as Michelini explains, “With two such amazing brands sitting across both the education and commercial sides of the music business, we certainly see great synergies.

Studios 301 will provide a great practical element to the Abbey Road Institute Australia and is a further extension of the institute’s commitments to music education and engineering.