Shed Studios - Final Move and Epilogue

Final Move and Epilogue

Just prior to this event, Steve Roskilly bought a run down ex farmhouse in Harare’s Greendale district, on a 2-acre (8,100 m2) plot. The main house was converted to offices and PA storage, the cottage converted to 2 studios and a service area, and surroundings planted to provide a peaceful setting for some serious chillout for recording bands.

In early 2000 however, Steve Roskilly saw a downturn in Zimbabwe's advertising and disc business due to foreign currency cutbacks in the country, and the politically motivated farm invasions began in earnest against prime exporters. For Roskilly, the writing was on the wall for Zimbabwe's future, and he rapidly set about moving out of the country and back to UK. After an initial 2 years building a radio broadcast studio and then acting as station engineer, he joined CSS (Cheltenham Stage Services) as Managing Director. CSS being a live sound and lighting hire company for corporate and music events. He resigned at the end of 2008 and now is now director of Systech AV Ltd a sound and video equipment installations company, as well as a directorship in associate company - Production AV Ltd, a young dynamic High Definition video projection company.

Shed Productions, the jingle operations company was sold to Kelly Rusike, Shed Recording Studios which owned all the equipment was sold to Keith Farquharson, and Roskilly Enterprises which owned the premises was eventually sold to a new record company. Shed Music, the publishing company was retained by Roskilly.

Shed Studios was a pioneer in the development of the music industry in Zimbabwe, taking its place on the Zimbabwe Music Industry Association board, and as chair of the Production House Association of Zimbabwe. From 1975 to 2000, its activities saw substantial competition from many other music studios and production houses, of which none survived. As an independent production company it was an essential tool for emerging bands in the 80s and 90s, where contractual relationships with the record companies was not an option.