Ben Folds says he's being forced out of Studio A

Nashville rocker Ben Folds, who has sparked an effort to preserve Music Row, will leave the threatened Studio A when his lease is up in November.

Folds said the move was necessary because his new lease terms would cause his rental rates on the studio space to go up by 124 percent.

Folds has leased the studio for the past 12 years and pumped more than $1 million into rent and upgrades.

"I'm sad personally, but I had a good run," Folds said in an open letter Friday. "I've made a lot of music in that place and spent an awesome 12 years there. I will be recording as much of my new album as I can there before November."

The decision comes after Brentwood-based Bravo Development completed its purchase of the RCA building that houses the famed Studio A this week.

Bravo owner Tim Reynolds notified his 30-plus tenants in the building, including country artist Jamey Johnson, that a review of the building's financial records shows that the operating expenses exceed the rental income.

The building's sale has touched off a sweeping debate about the future of Music Row, and preservationists have been fighting to maintain the studio where the likes of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Tony Bennett and Miranda Lambert have recorded.

Reynolds, meanwhile, said he is in negotiations with out-of-state developers who have shown a strong interest in the property. But it is unclear whether those plans would involve saving the studio or not.

Reynolds told The Tennessean earlier this week that his evaluation of the building showed one in poor condition and in need of expensive repairs.

"We're talking about a 50-year-old building," Reynolds said. "The elevator's bad. The roof's bad. The wiring is bad. The plumbing is bad. It has asbestos and the duct work has mold."

"These folks who are passionate about the building must stop and take a deep breath," Reynolds told The Tennessean.

The new established group, the Music Industry Coalition, which wants to address the rapid changes happening on Music Row, expressed dismay at the decision.

"Today is a sad day for Music Row," read a statement from the group. "The news underscores why steps need to be taken to find a solution that allows our music culture and city growth to co-exist. If left unchecked, development could silence the music on Music Row."