NQ exec on 'landmark' Abbey Road Studios partnership and supporting new talent

Abbey Road Studios and Manchester entertainment hub NQ have announced a new partnership designed to offer exclusive access to the iconic facility’s new Writing Rooms. Here, NQ COO and general manager Louis Brown speaks to Headliner about what the new arrangement means for the industry’s most exciting new studio talent.

Under the moniker Abbey Road Connected, the studios will welcome a collective of resident artists and producers to the new Writing Rooms, while one room will be dedicated to hosting sessions from a rotating set of partners reflecting the most exciting emerging UK talent. As such, Abbey Road Studios has selected Manchester’s global talent management and full-service entertainment company NQ to be the first of these rotating partners.

The partnership will see NQ’s London-based writing and production sessions hosted within the newly opened Abbey Road Writing Rooms, which have been designed to ‘support the full spectrum of the creative process’.

NQ House was officially opened in September 2021 by CEO Michael Adex and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. The move saw the former Conservative Club on the outskirts of Manchester City Centre transformed into a state-of-the-art creative hub, accommodating multiple recording and content studios, a media lounge, co-working and podcast spaces, a private members area, as well as the NQ HQ. It is also home to writing camps, and recording sessions, as well as providing a high-end, self-contained recording and living space for visiting musicians traveling through the city.

The NQ and Abbey Road partnership kicks off with a week-long writing camp on May 23 that will bring together producers WhyJay (Aitch, DigDat), LiTek (Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Bugzy Malone), and Two Inch Punch (Jessie Ware, Sam Smith) along with rappers Hazey and Arz to the newly-opened writing rooms.

Isabel Garvey, managing director, Abbey Road Studios, commented: “As Abbey Road Studios celebrates its 90th anniversary, I can’t think of a better partner to open our new Writing Rooms than NQ. I’m excited to have NQ as part of the new creative community at Abbey Road and witness the best talent from the North and South collaborate within our walls.”

Headliner spoke to Louis Brown to find out more about what the partnership has to offer those looking to establish themselves in the industry…

How did this partnership come about?

NQ were looking for a London-based partner to work with, and the Abbey Road team reached out with a proposal six months ago. The team there were in the process of building their new studios and production rooms and we share the same beliefs and values in artist development and supporting talent from all over the UK, so it was a great fit.

What is Abbey Road Connected and what is NQ’s involvement in it?

Abbey Road Connected is all about the community of new writers and producers who will be residents in the new Abbey Road writing rooms. NQ are the first visiting partner to be part of this new community.

What benefits will this partnership have on NQ’s stable of talent?

This partnership enables NQ talent and our wider regional network to tap into the ever-thriving London and three counties community of top producers, writers, and artists. It's a joining of the best and next up of the north and surrounding regions with the best and next up of the south.

How vital are initiatives like this in boosting the chances of success for emerging artists?

It's imperative for developing artists, writers, and producers to have the opportunity to explore new studio experiences and push themselves out of their comfort zone, collaborate with new creatives cross-genre, and learn new techniques from both their contemporaries and seasoned creatives. Initiatives like this open the door to those who may not otherwise have these opportunities and that's incredibly important.

Tell us about the Writing Room sessions being held at Abbey Road?

We've seen great success in our writing camps since opening NQ House in Manchester last July, especially with our signed producers and writers with multiple cuts now released via major labels and big indies. The regular NQ writing sessions at Abbey Road will provide us week-long blocks for our producers, writers, and artists to work with top talent from London, surrounding areas, and from overseas as well as introducing new creatives to the exiting community we're collaboratively building.

Does NQ have any more partnerships/announcements in the pipeline?

As a company, NQ are always working with the wider entertainment industry and further afield to explore strategic partnerships which add value to our existing and future talents. There will certainly be more announcements in the future.