Audiotree

Audiotree is an American music record label located in Chicago, founded in 2011.[1] The company records and publishes live music sessions.[1] It also promotes artists and organizes live events, and invites artists from around the world to enter a professional studio setting, to record, perform, and release a live EP free of cost.[2][3]

Audiotree
Founded2011 (2011)
FounderMichael Johnston, Adam Thurston
Country of originUnited States
LocationChicago, Illinois,
Official websiteaudiotree.tv

History

Audiotree was founded in 2011 in Chicago by Michael Johnston and Adam Thurston, who saw the potential for a viable business recording live sessions for artist and sharing the revenue from sales.[1][3] Michael Johnston was already working as an audio engineer in the Chicago area, and founded the company to help promote independent artists and bands.[1] Johnston was removed from his post as president and CEO of Audiotree following his arrest for felony unauthorized videotaping in November of 2021.[4]

In 2018 Audiotree announced its extension into Canada, collaborating with Paquin Entertainment Agency to create a Canadian artist discovery platform.[5][6]

Live events

The company's series known as Audiotree Live is broadcast from the studio directly to YouTube and the Audiotree website for fans to listen live.[7] Audiotree company serves as one of the top music video outlets, having amassed over 700 thousand subscribers and 280 million video views on their YouTube channel as of 2022.[3][8]

Audiotree has held its annual Audiotree Music Festival since 2012. The festival is typically held in September, and takes place at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[9][10] The festival was held every year until 2019, when Audiotree shifted their focus to hosting special concerts at their independently owned venues at Lincoln Hall and Schubas Tavern in Chicago.[9][11]

At the end of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Audiotree began organizing live virtual concerts under a new segment called "Staged". This segment allowed fans to pay a small fee to join a private broadcast of the show, which they could stream as much as they want for 24 hours after completion.[12][13] Time Out Chicago noted that due to Audiotree's extensive prior experience with producing streaming media, the label was "uniquely equipped" to help bands keep performing online during the pandemic.[14]

Business model

Audiotree typically shares revenue from sales of live session recordings with the artist, usually split 50:50.[1] The company works mainly with musicians that are independent or on independent music labels.[3][11] In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic's limitations on public gatherings created problems for music venues,[12] leading Audiotree to release merchandise online to help afford maintenance and other venue fees.[15]

Recording process

In 2015–2016, Audiotree released a series of videos showing behind the scenes of how they record music and prepare video and lighting.[16] The studio holds a wide variety of microphones, ranging from the AKG 460 or the Royer 122 for acoustic guitar recordings, to a Telefunken M-82 used on the bass drum.[16] The company does on-the-spot sound mastering using IZotopes Ozone 9 mastering VST, and partnered with Antelope Audio for analog audio equipment in their control room.[16][17]

In 2017 Audiotree started a new series named Far Out sessions, taking their work outside of the studio and recording live music sessions away from traditional music venues.[18]

Selected roster

A complete roster is available on the Audiotree website; the dates of the selected sessions below are from the metadata of the relevant session pages.[7]

See also

References
  1. Raymer, Miles (March 10, 2011). "Audiotree Does the Record Business a la Carte". Chicago Reader. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  2. "About". Audiotree. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  3. Daniels, Melissa. "How Audiotree Is Reinventing Music Videos, One Live Performance At A Time". Forbes. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  4. Channel 3, Andrew Feather | News (December 6, 2021). "Kalamazoo billionaires' son indicted, accused of secretly recording naked nanny". WWMT. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  5. "Chicago-based Audiotree launches multi-faceted artist discovery platform in Canada". www.indoorrecess.com. April 5, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. Raine, Michael (May–June 2018). "Audiotree & Paquin Launch Canadian Artist Discovery Platform". Canadian Musician. 39 (3): 14. ISSN 0708-9635.
  7. "Sessions – Audiotree". audiotree.tv. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  8. "Audiotree - About". YouTube. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  9. "Audiotree won't stage music festival in Kalamazoo for 2019". Local Spins. January 11, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  10. "Audiotree Music Festival 2017 – Festival Outlook". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  11. "Audiotree". Open House Chicago. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  12. Garcia, Evan (December 14, 2020). "Coronavirus-Inspired Songs From Paul Cherry at Livestreamed Chicago Show". WTTW. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  13. TV News Desk. "Julien Baker Will Perform Streaming Album Release Concert". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  14. Long, Zach (December 22, 2020). "Chicago venues and bands weigh in on the future of streaming concerts". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  15. Pasbani, Robert (June 9, 2020). "90% of Independent Music Venues Won't Survive the Pandemic According To New Survey". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  16. "Behind the Scenes". Audiotree. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  17. Audio, Antelope. "Audiotree". Antelope Audio. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  18. Berlatsky, Noah (February 2, 2018). "Audiotree's Far Out video series records bands where you'd least expect". Chicago Reader. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
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