This humble-looking building is widely considered the most important generator of popular songs in the Western world. By 1962, more than 160 music businesses were based here, from songwriters and managers to record companies and promoters. It was a one-stop shop for artists, who could craft a song, hire musicians, cut a demo and convince a producer to sign them without stepping outside. Among the legends who did were Carole King, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.

At the time of writing, its ground floor was being redeveloped for retail premises.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Radio City Music Hall

0.27 MILES

This spectacular moderne movie palace was the brainchild of vaudeville producer Samuel Lionel 'Roxy' Rothafel. Never one for understatement, Roxy launched…

2. Top of the Rock

0.29 MILES

When it comes to views in New York City, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The One World Observatory may have the edge for height, and the Empire State…

3. Diamond District

0.33 MILES

Like Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, the Diamond District is a world unto itself. Best experienced on weekdays, it's an industrious whirl of Hasidic Jewish…

4. Rockefeller Center

0.34 MILES

This 22-acre 'city within a city' debuted at the height of the Great Depression, with developer John D Rockefeller Jr footing the $100-million price tag…

5. Times Square

0.34 MILES

Love it or hate it, the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Ave (aka Times Square) pumps out the NYC of the global imagination – yellow cabs, golden…

6. Paley Center for Media

0.36 MILES

This pop-culture repository offers more than 160,000 TV and radio programs from around the world on its computer catalog. Reliving your favorite TV shows…

7. Museum of Modern Art

0.38 MILES

Superstar of the modern-art scene, MoMA's galleries are a Who’s Who of artistic heavyweights: Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Rothko,…

8. Hearst Tower

0.39 MILES

This 46-floor tower is one of NYC's most creative works of contemporary architecture, not to mention one of its greenest; around 90% of its structural…