Abbey Road Safe from Sale

After much speculation as to the fate of the famed Abbey Road record studios, the owners – EMI – have finally spoken out and said that the studios are not up for sale.

"In response to recent press speculation, EMI confirms that it is holding preliminary discussions for the revitalisation of Abbey Road with interested and appropriate third parties. Abbey Road studios had, for a number of years, been losing money and we have developed plans to revitalise the studios. These plans would involve a substantial injection of new capital," said EMI.

Speculation about the sale of Abbey Road began as EMI faces a large debt and was in need of generating capital to pay on the debt. As rumours about the sale spread, Sir Paul McCartney expressed concern over the fate of the studios where he and his Beatle mates recorded a great deal of their music and named their 1969 album after the studios. The album cover sporting the Fab Four waling across the crosswalk sparked much debate about Sir Paul because he was walking across the street barefoot. Rumours quickly spread that Paul had died. According to Sir Paul, he was barefoot because it was hot that day and he went to the photo shoot clad in a pair of flip flops, which he kicked off just before the four crossed the street.

A Facebook campaign was begun urging the British National Trust to take over the site and Lord Andrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd Webber had expressed interest in the studios.