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John Mayer and McG Rebrand Henson Lot to Chaplin Studios

The pair describe a preservation-first stewardship that keeps operations intact under longtime president Faryal Ganjehei.

Overview

  • The partners finalized the purchase in late 2024 and now hold primary ownership of the historic La Brea–Sunset property.
  • About $9 million in renovations are underway to repair and restore original details while leaving the recording rooms largely unchanged.
  • Legal constraints prevent use of the A&M name, and the rooftop Kermit-as-Chaplin statue has been removed to a museum as part of the transition.
  • Mayer and McG frame the rebrand as protecting the site’s cultural role after reports of other bidders prompted concern within the entertainment community.
  • Mayer is establishing a creative base on the lot as he schedules work on a new studio album in 2026.