Floating Earth was formed in 1987 by Mike Clements and Mike Hatch as an independent audio engineering service. With spectacular early success, the company soon found itself in demand from record companies around the world, and rapidly outgrew its first home, which was at the EMI pressing site in Hayes, West London. During 1989 a new facility was constructed in Perivale which houses post-production and executive production facilities, as well as three audio editing suites, workshops, offices, tape stores, listening facilities and equipment storage areas. The editing suites are probably the most sophisticated and comfortable in London, and have fully floating floors for total isolation from their surroundings. The acoustic treatment in these rooms was designed by the renowned firm Harris Grant Associates.
From the outset, it has been Floating Earth's policy to ensure the highest quality possible at all stages of the production process. This has been achieved through continued investment in the latest technological advances and the dedication and commitment of its employees. Attention to audio quality as a first priority has ensured that Floating Earth has acheived pre-eminence within the classical music industry. This position is confirmed by the fact that Floating Earth has been in receipt of a prestigious "Gramophone" award for every year since it began trading. Two of these awards were given specifically for engineering quality. In addition the company has been awarded several Spellemann prizes (Norway), Deutsche Schallplatten awards (Germany) and numerous Grande Prix du Disques (France). In recent years Floating Earth has undertaken a number of ambitious productions for television and film, to great critical acclaim. Its production for London Weekend Television, "Leaving Home", received a BAFTA, and in 2002 "Trouble in Tahiti" received the prestigious IMZ international TV award and was also nominated for a Grammy in the United States. In 2003 the company was responsible for the audio on Channel 4's "The Death of Klinghoffer" which won the prestigious "Prix Italia" for arts films. Finally, Floating Earth has also received platinum gold and silver discs by the BPI for a number of its recordings.