Recording professionals have a new resource to help prepare their studios for natural disasters, emergencies and business interruptions.
It’s called Studio Emergency Preparation Recommendations, published by the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing. The academy is familiar to most people as the home of the Grammy Awards.
“The guide provides essential protocols and actionable steps for studio owners, engineers and music creators working in commercial or home-based recording environments,” the Producers & Engineers Wing said.
Mastering engineer Anna Frick conceived the idea of a guide after being forced out of her studio during wildfires in California in 2021. The publishers also noted that the creative community was affected by wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year.
[Read a Q&A about this project from Grammy.com.]
“In the moment, when you’re facing the threat of losing everything, it’s extremely difficult to think clearly or know what to prioritize,” Frick said in the announcement.
“Having a plan, and knowing you’ve already done the hard thinking, can make all the difference.”
The document includes a Quick Reference Guide Worksheet for capturing essential studio and emergency information, a tip list for improving everyday safety, and instructions on risk assessment, hazard-specific planning and insurance considerations. It also offers strategies for business continuity, emergency communication and remote work.
The content is based in part on FEMA guidelines and input from insurers and working studio professionals.
The organization will present a panel discussion about studio emergency preparation at the AES Show in California later this month.
The Studio Emergency Preparation Recommendations guide is available as a free download. (Also available is a recently published resource called Delivery Recommendations for Recorded Music Projects.)
