Avison Young completes $3.85M sale of large iconic recording studio in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row

Countless music legends including Johnny Cash, George Strait, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton John, Foreigner and Bon Jovi have recorded in the 8,500-square-foot building

Nashville, TN – Avison Young, a global real estate advisory firm, completed the sale of the 8,560-square-foot recording studio and facility located at 1033 16th Ave South in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row neighborhood for $3.85 million. The buyer is TMEC Nashville, Inc.

Avison Young Principals Mike Jacobs, Lisa Maki who also serves as Managing Director of the firm’s Nashville office and Vice Presidents Jordan Powell and Suzanne Ganser represented the seller. Simon Kerr of French King Fine Properties represented the buyer.

“This is one of those rare assets where the real estate and the cultural significance are equally important,” said Jacobs. “The combination of world-class studio infrastructure, irreplaceable location and deep industry history made this a highly compelling investment and a true generational asset.”

1033 16th Ave South blends modern functionality and historic charm across three state-of-the-art recording studios, multiple ISO and vocal booths, songwriting rooms and lounge areas with advanced sound dampening throughout. Long known as the location of Emerald Sound Studio, the building was originally created by David Malloy and Even Stevens and designed by world-renowned studio designer Tom Hidley. The five-story, turn-key building sits on a 0.32-acre lot with ample parking on site, including a bus parking pad.

The rich history of this studio is unparalleled - numerous Gold and Platinum albums were created on site for countless artists including Johnny Cash, George Strait, Reba, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton John, Foreigner and Bon Jovi. Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Love A Rainy Night”, “Driving My Life Away” and “Suspicions” were among the earliest hits recorded at Emerald Studios, who’s discography features over a thousand recordings. Now operating as Benchmark Sound, the studio continues to be the hub of Nashville’s top songwriters for demo recordings and various artists of all genres in the heart of Music Row.