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User:MusicManDan123/Audiotree

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Audiotree is an American music record label located in Chicago, Illinois, Founded by Michael Johnston and Adam Thurston.

The company records and publishes live music sessions. 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.

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

Business model

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Audiotree typically shares revenue from sales of live session recordings with the artist, usually split 50:50. The company works mainly with independent musicians that are independent or on independent music labels.[1][2]

The company serves as one of the top music video outlets, who's business model capitalizes especially via YouTube and other video services. It was reported in 2016 that 80% of people stream their music online (Music 360 Report) allowing Audiotree to accumulate streams and revenue continuously across all of their recorded sessions.[1]

Audiotree owns the Lincoln Hall and Schubas music venues in Chicago.[2]

2020-2021 has created difficult for music venues given the COVID-19 pandemics limitations on public gatherings. As owners of independent venues, Johnston and Thurston have released merchandise, available online, in order to help afford maintenance and other venue fees.[3]

Audiotree's new "Staged" series generates revenue for both themselves, as well as participating artists. Where fans will pay a ticket fee for 24 hours of private access to the broadcast.[4]

History

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Audiotree was founded in 2011 in Chicago. Michael Johnston and Adam Thurston saw the potential for a viable business recording live sessions for artist and sharing the revenue from sales.[1]

Michael Johnston was already working as an audio engineer in the Chicago area, and founded the company to help promote independent artist/bands. Additionally, Johnston realized the potential to generate continuous revenue via Google Adsense, as well as EP sales. It was in Johnston's basement where he and Thurston held a meeting, leading to the creation of Audiotree as we know it today. [1]

Since 2011, the company has amassed over 330k subscribers on YouTube, and have received over 500 million minutes of watch time across all videos. In 2018 the company announced its extension of the company into Canada, collaborating with Paquin Entertainment Agency to market artists and help jumpstart their music career.[5]

Recording/Broadcasting Process

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In 2015-2016, Audiotree released a series of videos showing behind the scenes of how they prepare video and lighting, acoustic microphones, drum microphones, and a studio walk through. 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.[6]

In 2019, Audiotree took their work outside of the studio, starting a new series named Far out sessions. Although in a different setting, their recording process remains the same; regardless of which unordinary place was chosen such as the Ratboys session which was filmed in a baseball field.

The company is known for their on the spot sound mastering. Using IZotopes Ozone 9 mastering VST, and partnering with Antelope Audio to fill their control room with analog audio equipment; Audiotree's engineers are able to make viewers feel as though they are in studio, listening to the artist play right in front of them.[7]

Live events

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The companies series known as Audiotree Live, is broadcasted from the studio, directly to YouTube and the Audiotree website for fans to listen live.

Audiotree has organized an annual music festival in Michigan since 2012.[8] Typically hosted in September, the Audiotree Music Festival took place at the Arcadia Creek Festival place which can accommodate approximately 8000 people, and sees regular festivals such as Blues Fest, Rib Fest, and Taste of Kalamazoo.[9] The festival would take place every year until 2019 where Johnston and Thurston announced that they would be looking in another direction. As opposed to continuing the tradition, Audiotree instead shifted their focus to hosting special concerts at their independently owned venues Lincoln Hall and Schubas, which were celebrating their 10th and 30th year anniversaries since being opened.[10]

In context with the COVID 19 pandemic, at the end of 2020, Audiotree began organizing live virtual concerts under a new segment called "Staged". This segment invites fan's to pay a small fee, allowing them to join a private broadcast of the show, which they can stream as much as they want for 24 hours after completion.[4]

Selected roster

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Daniels, Melissa. "How Audiotree Is Reinventing Music Videos, One Live Performance At A Time". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  2. ^ a b "Audiotree". Open House Chicago. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  3. ^ Pasbani, Robert (2020-06-09). "90% of Independent Music Venues Won't Survive the Pandemic According To New Survey". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  4. ^ a b Desk, TV News. "Julien Baker Will Perform Streaming Album Release Concert". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ "CHICAGO-BASED AUDIOTREE LAUNCHES MULTI-FACETED ARTIST DISCOVERY PLATFORM IN CANADA". www.indoorrecess.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  6. ^ "Behind the Scenes". Audiotree. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  7. ^ Audio, Antelope. "Audiotree". Antelope Audio. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  8. ^ "Audiotree Music Festival 2017 - Festival Outlook". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  9. ^ "Arcadia Creek Festival Place". Discover Kalamazoo. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  10. ^ "Audiotree won't stage music festival in Kalamazoo for 2019". Local Spins. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
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