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]
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]
