John Mayer adn film director McG have rebranded the historic Los Angeles studio lot they purchased last year as Chaplin Studios, returning to its original 1917 name when it was Charlie Chaplin’s production studios. Mayer explained the decision, stating he wants the name to resonate with a new generation of artists, even if they aren’t aware of the ancient connection. He appreciates the aesthetic of the name and believes it allows them to honor the legacy while establishing something new.

Mayer, familiar with continuing established legacies through his work with Dead & Company, sees his role as a “bridge to keep something going,” similar to his experience with the Grateful Dead offshoot.

The 80,000-square-foot lot boasts a rich history, beginning with Chaplin in 1917 and evolving through television shows like the Red Skelton Show and perry Mason. A notable musical chapter began in 1966 when Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss transformed the lot into the headquarters of A&M Records, creating studios that hosted iconic recordings like Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Carole King’s…

John Mayer and McG Acquire Historic Henson Studios

John Mayer laughs, recalling the initial reaction to partnering with filmmaker McG on the acquisition of Henson Studios. However, both quickly recognized each other’s strengths: McG was prepared for the logistical demands of running a large facility, while Mayer prioritized a focused creative habitat, desiring to “tunnel into the studio, tunnel out.” Irving azoff, who initially signed McG to a record deal in the 1990s and has long managed Mayer, supported the collaboration, leading to the $60 million deal finalized in November 2024.

“For me, this was about keeping the band together,” Mayer explains, emphasizing his commitment to the existing community at Henson.”This is about caring about so many people who see each other every day. And especially if you’re me and you’re an artist, and the story goes that you don’t have any semblance of routine in your life, and I found it, and artists find it here – I didn’t want that to break up.”

Beyond the financial aspects, both Mayer and McG viewed the purchase as an investment in something deeply meaningful, with Mayer describing the lot as “an emotional asset.” He elaborates, “Everyone’s always looking at assets from a very kind of objective, hard-core, empirical-value level. This is something I wake up and I go to sleep every day knowing in my heart that I have a piece of in some way, or I’m responsible for other people’s piece of it.”

Mayer is mindful of preserving the studio’s unique character, balancing necessary changes with a respect for its history. He intends to restore the original pattern of the rug in Studio A, and is focused on maintaining the studio’s atmosphere.”You leave artists alone, and they do their thing, and they don’t love too much change,” he says.He’s determined to preserve the distinctive scent of the recording studios and has no plans for modernizing the lighting. “There’s a nomenclature to being in the studio that lives in its own timeframe,” Mayer notes. “And you just let people relate to that still. Even the tapestries – you know,there’s just something about tapestries and string lights that make people want to write songs,even if it’s not the most modern,Tesla-fied thing.”

Mayer is also experiencing a new perspective, learning what it’s like to fulfill artist requests, such as one from Justin Bieber.