Jack Antonoff wants to open recording studios at LGBTQ+ youth shelters

Not everyone does who makes music has access to recording studios, and Jack Antonoff wants that to change. In an Instagram post, the Bleachers singer-songwriter, who has collaborated with Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey and countless others, said that after learning the best way to build studios, he created a “Public Studios” launched an initiative to democratize access.

“I plan to spend much of the next chapter of my life bringing these spaces to those who don’t have access to them, public studios available to those who are too expensive,” he wrote. “It will take time and a lot of resources, but here we have a plan that starts with working through (Antonoff’s charity) the Ally Coalition to build studios in LGBTQ+ youth shelters. From there we will have a network of engineers that we will fund and train people in these locations. Our plan is to build these spaces, pay for maintenance and technology, and have the centers allocate the time slots for people to use them. From there we can start expanding into cities when the time comes.”

Antonoff wrote that he announced the initiative early on as a way to raise awareness and ask for help. “Anyone who believes in this and has resources that can help should reach out as we get this off the ground,” he wrote, adding that people could contact the initiative’s organizers at [email protected].

In his note, he also acknowledged that he was launching this at a particularly bad time for the recording studio industry. Demand for commercial studios has fallen in recent decades as musicians have embraced home recording and several studios were hit hard by Covid lockdowns a few years ago. “Finally, to all the commercial studios I love, this concept is strictly for those who can’t afford studio time in those spaces, so I’m confident this is helpful for our spaces as well,” he wrote.

Read Jack Antonoff’s full announcement:

Shadow of the City October 1, 2024 1:00 PM EST

I love recording at home, in hotel rooms and the level of recording that can be made there now is a great thing for everyone.

but the studio is different. working with analog equipment and creating sounds that are impossible to recreate is powerful. knowing that you are in a room for a limited time and pushing yourself to the limit is critical. a studio is a rare space and therefore you function differently.

I fly on planes and look down and see baseball diamonds everywhere, basketball courts all around my neighborhood, race tracks, public parks and gyms, etc. There are many facilities available for what we value. I dream of the studio being a place that everyone has access to, not just those who have the money. it should be a place where all people can experience and discover whether they are meant to be there.

I loved home recording, but my life changed in a recording studio. there is magic there. Laura and I have learned how to build studios and it’s time to share that with those who might not otherwise be there but should be there.

I plan to spend much of the next chapter of my life bringing these spaces to people who wouldn’t have access to them. public studios available for those too expensive. it will take time and a lot of resources, but here we have a plan that starts with working together through the Allied Coalition to build studios in LGBTQ+ youth shelters. from there we will have a network of engineers that we will fund and train people in these locations. our plan is to build these spaces, pay for maintenance and technology and have the centers allocate the time slots for people to use them. from there we can start expanding to cities when the time comes.

The reason I’m putting this out so early is because anyone who believes in this and has resources that can help should reach out to us as we get this off the ground. [email protected]. Finally, for all the commercial studios I love, this concept is strictly for those who can’t afford studio time in those spaces, so I’m confident this will be helpful for our spaces as well.

public studios