Recording Academy Releases Safety Recommendations for Studios Looking to Reopen

Measures include required face masks, limited access to essential personnel, regular cleaning, providing safety equipment for studio guests and more.

With many recording studios around the country now weighing the possibility of reopening as stay-at-home mandates are eased, the Recording Academy’s producers & engineers wing has released a list of safety considerations for studio owners, engineers and others who work in the recording community.

“Directives for opening are, of course, on a state-by-state and city-by-city basis,” wrote producers & engineers wing senior managing director Maureen Droney in a letter introducing the guidelines. “In the meantime, we have spoken with numerous recording studio owners, engineers and others around the country. Based on their suggested protocols, we’ve compiled a list of potential safety measures.”

As laid out in the document, these measures include requiring face masks for individuals inside the studio; limiting access to essential personnel to ensure social distancing; regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces; providing safety equipment for studio guests, including masks and hand sanitizer; maintaining outside workstations for staff who can perform their roles remotely; the use of UV light wands to disinfect equipment; and more.

“Knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic is constantly evolving, and, as always, we are open to, and grateful for, comments and suggestions from others in our recording community, so please feel free to contact us at pe.wing@recordingacademy.com,” Droney added.

According to the document, the safe studios project was instigated by Same Sky Studios owner David Messier and Nashville engineer Leslie Richter. It additionally includes a full list of others who contributed.

You can read the full list of recommendations here.