The BBC has announced that it will depart and shut down its iconic Maida Vale Studios in north London. The complex, built in 1909, has been utilized by the BBC since the 1930s, playing host to the BBC Symphony Orchestra and World War II radio news bulletins. The space has hosted performances from icons like the Beatles, David Bowie, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Adele, JAY-Z, Nirvana, Joy Division, Oasis, and so many others. It’s where John Peel hosted his classic BBC Radio 1 sessions and was home to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop (best known for creating the “Doctor Who” theme song). Geoff Barrow of Portishead and Beak> is rallying against the decision, backed by artists including Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.

BBC director general Tony Hall told staff in an email that Maida Vale will be replaced by a state-of-the-art facility in east London. It’s expected to be ready by 2022. “I understand how much our musical heritage at Maida Vale means to us, to artists and to audiences,” said Hall in the email. “We haven’t taken this decision lightly. But we’re determined to ensure that live music remains at the heart of the BBC and moving to this new development gives us the opportunity to do just that.”