Capitol Studios
Historic recording studio in the iconic Capitol Records Tower.
Capitol Studios is a recording facility inside the landmark Capitol Records Building in Hollywood, California. It opened in 1956 and originally served as the main recording space for the American label Capitol Records. Although Capitol artists still use the studios regularly, the facilities began opening to outside musicians between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Universal Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Music Group, owns the studios.
Since its founding, the studio has hosted many well-known artists, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Michael Jackson, Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, The Beach Boys, John Mayer, Green Day, Billie Eilish, and Daft Punk. Beyond traditional recording sessions, the studio has been the site of events such as iTunes and Sirius/XM sessions, CMG Productions’ Top of the Tower concerts and the 1 Mic 1 Take Series. Music video shoots, including Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie,” have taken place there, along with TV and documentary projects like Behind the Music, Classic Albums, Showtime’s Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued, the HBO feature If You’re Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast, and PBS specials. The studio has hosted the Oscars for the past two decades and runs dozens of branded experiential and playback events each year.
The Capitol Records label was founded in 1942 by Johnny Mercer, Buddy DeSylva, and Glenn E. Wallichs as the first major West Coast-based record label in the United States. In 1955, British music conglomerate EMI acquired it as its North American subsidiary, and construction of the Capitol Studios building began soon after. Designed by Louis Naidorf of Welton Becket Associates, the building is a major Los Angeles architectural landmark and an example of mid-century Novelty Architecture. It was completed in April 1956.
Capitol Studios sits in the rectangular ground floor base of the 13-story circular Capitol Records Tower, just north of Hollywood and Vine. The facility includes business offices, five mastering rooms, and four studios. Three of the studios were built within a layer of asphalt-impregnated cork to block outside vibration.
Quick Facts
- Parent
- Capitol Music Group
- Founded
- 1956
- Industry
- Music
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Capitol Studios opened in 1956, with the first recording session being Frank Sinatra and Gordon Jenkins' collaboration Frank Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color. Frank Sinatra recorded regularly at the studios through the end of the 1950s. Nat King Cole, whose commercial success with Capitol earned the Capitol Tower the nickname 'the house that Nat built,' recorded there until his death in 1965. Other notable artists in the 1950s included Dean Martin, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and The Kingston Trio.
The studios feature four main studios and five mastering rooms. Studio A is the largest, with 1,500 square feet and capacity for up to 50 musicians. Studio B contains 1,023 square feet and a drum booth, and retains its original 1956 adjustable acoustical panels. Studio C is a 440-square-foot mixing suite, and Studio D is a 259-square-foot mixing and editing suite. All studios have access to eight subterranean echo chambers located 30 feet below the parking lot, capable of producing a maximum reverb time of 5 seconds.
In 2006, EMI Music North America sold the Capitol Records Tower to New York real estate firm Argent Ventures but agreed to keep Capitol Studios under long-term lease. The studios have hosted the Oscars for the past two decades and host dozens of branded experiential and playback events each year.
Reader's Guide
Capitol Studios holds a significant place in music history as a primary recording facility for Capitol Records and a host to many iconic artists. Its architectural landmark, the Capitol Records Tower, is an emblem of mid-century Novelty Architecture. The studios' design, including echo chambers designed by Les Paul and acoustics by Michael Rettinger, contributed to the sound of countless classic recordings. The facility's ability to adapt—from high-fidelity and stereo recording to modern formats like Dolby Atmos—has kept it relevant. Its on-site mastering department, with vintage Neumann lathes used for albums such as Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and Paul McCartney's Band on the Run, underscores its legacy. The studios continue to be used for recording, mixing, and events, maintaining their role in the music industry.
Did You Know?
- Capitol Studios' vintage Neumann lathes were used to cut lacquer for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and the Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever.
- The Capitol Records Tower was nicknamed 'the house that Nat built' due to Nat King Cole's commercial success.
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