Ben Folds To Vacate Nashville's Studio A

Ben Folds is finally giving up his fight to keep Nashville's RCA Studio A from demolition.

Folds -- the current tenant -- has been trying to save one of Music Row's most historic studios for several months after learning that the space would be sold to new ownership. But thanks to a recent 124 percent rent increase by new owner Tim Reynolds (of Bravo Development), Folds is bowing out.

"Haha, okay Tim, we got it, and we're moving out as soon as our current lease runs out," Folds wrote on his Facebook page. "That means we will be there until end of November. He is on public record saying he will not demolish the building, though I'm not sure how any studio owner could make bottom line with rent that high."

Folds, who became the studio's tenant in 2002, first brought the issue to the public's attention with a Facebook statement on June 24.

"I had no idea of the extent of legacy of this great studio until I become the tenant of the space 12 years ago," Folds wrote. "Most of us know about Studio B. Studio A was its grander younger sibling, erected by (Chet) Atkins when he became an RCA executive.

"I can't tell you how many engineers, producers and musicians have walked into this space to share their stories of the great classic recorded music made here that put Nashville on the map."

From there, Folds organized a rally on June 30, which spawned a group called the Music Industry Coalition. The new organization will attempt to give music industry workers to "work with city officials on a plan for Music Row that allows our music culture to co-exist with new growth," Folds said.

Thousands of artists, from Elvis Presley to Willie Nelson to Kesha, have recorded within Studio A's walls. Back in July, Rolling Stone reported that former owner Harold Bradley respected the history, but did not have much interest in keeping it around in its present physical form.

"What makes a place historic?" Bradley wrote in an open letter. "The architecture of the Nashville sound was never brick and mortar. Certainly, there are old studio spaces that, in our imaginations, ring with sonic magic; but in truth, it's not the room; it's the music."

For now, it appears as if Studio A will meet its end once Folds moves out this winter, but the musician is happy with the support his movement received over the past month.

"This whole ‪#‎SaveStudioA‬ and ‪#‎SaveMusicRow‬ thing was never about me (or the former owners or Tim Reynolds) and that's why the issue has resonated with people here and around the world who are concerned about retaining Nashville's identity, culture and music economy," Folds wrote. "Thanks for reading, and for the concern and effort! It's working. That's all I got to say."

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