LONDON (AP) – The Beatles' Abbey Road Studios were officially declared a historic building yesterday, a move that will help preserve the cultural landmark that is a magnet for fans worldwide. The crosswalk outside the iconic north London studios draws tourists with cameras daily, and the facilities have also hosted Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck and Radiohead and are still popular with orchestras.

But their cash-strapped owner EMI Group Ltd. says the studios have been losing money for years and has only recently shelved plans to sell them. While EMI now says it's looking for money to help revitalise the studios, news that it was seeking to offload Abbey Road sparked dismay among music fans.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney said he hoped it could be preserved, while English Heritage – the body that oversees buildings of historic interest – appealed to the government to name it a historic building.