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Audiotree is an American music record label located in Chicago, Illinois that 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.

History
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.

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.

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

Recording/Broadcasting Process
In 2015-2016, Audiotree released a series of videos showing behind the scenesof how they prepare video and lighting, acoustic microphones, drum microphones, and even a studio walk through. The studio holds a wide variety of microphones ranging from the [https://en.audiofanzine.com/small-diaphragm-condenser-microphone/akg/c-460-b/user_reviews/r.7883.html#:~:text=The%20AKG%20C%20460%20B,use%20in%20the%20recording%20studio.&text=The%20mic%20has%20a%20huge,70%20Hz%20and%20150%20Hz. AKG 460] or the Royer 122 for acoustic guitar recordings, to a Telefunken M-82 used on the bass drum.

In 2019, Audiotree proved capable of maintain their incredible sound quality outside of the studio, starting a new series name Far out sessions. Their recording process remains the same; however, the sound quality is remarkable given these sessions are recorded in unordinary places, such as the Ratboys session which was filmed in a baseball field.

Audiotree separates itself from its competitors in large part to 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 audio engineers are able to make viewers feel as though they are in studio, listening to the artist play right in front of them.

Live events
Audiotree's series known as Audiotree Live, is broadcasted from the studio, directly to YouTube and the Audiotree website for fans to listen live. In addition, Audiotree has organized an annual music festival in Michigan since 2012.

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. 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.

Towards the end of 2020, and beginning of 2021, 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.

Business model
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.

Johnston acknowledges that they did not invent filming live studio sessions. However, Audiotree has quickly become 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.

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

2020-2021 has been a difficult time 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.

Audiotree's new "Staged" series generates revenue for both themselves, as well as participating artists. Having fans pay a ticket fee in order for them to view the broadcast.

Selected roster

 * Shakey Graves (20 June 2013)
 * The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die (1 March 2014)
 * Nathaniel Rateliff (1 May 2014)
 * Maybe April (22 July 2014)
 * Foxing (24 July 2014)
 * Glass Animals (10 September 2014)
 * Turnover (11 August 2015)
 * Amasa Hines (3 October 2015)
 * Emily King (November 15, 2015)
 * Julien Baker (16 January 2016)
 * The Wild Reeds (25 February 2016)
 * Pinegrove (30 April 2016)
 * Lydia Loveless (8 July 2016)
 * Liz Cooper & The Stampede (10 October 2016)
 * Rainbow Kitten Surprise (26 January 2017)
 * Crying (March 2017)
 * Zeta (24 April 2017)
 * Snail Mail (2 June 2017)
 * Larkin Poe (28 August 2017)
 * Strange Ranger (7 September 2017)
 * Soccer Mommy (14 September 2017)
 * The Accidentals (3 January 2019)
 * Emily Blue (10 January 2019)
 * We Are The Union (18 September 2019)
 * Yours Truly (8 October 2019)
 * Winona Forever (9 October 2019)
 * Mega Bog (10 October 2019)
 * Phum Viphurit (15 October 2019)
 * Heart Attack Man (14 January 2020)
 * Kneebody (10 February 2020)
 * Mover Shaker (25 February 2020)
 * CABAL (26 February 2020)
 * Reuben and the Dark (9 March 2020)
 * Stonefield (18 March 2020)
 * Night Cap (30 March 2020)
 * Wish You Were Here (6 April 2020)
 * The Chairs (8 April 2020)
 * Ganser (15 September 2020)
 * Los Gold Fires (20 September 2020)
 * Tenci (29 September 2020)
 * Femdot (1 October 2020)
 * Drea the Vibe Dealer (22 October 2020)
 * Little Church (2 November 2020)
 * MFnMelo (17 November 2020)
 * REZN (19 November 2020)
 * Barely Civil (24 November 2020)
 * Hit Like a Girl (1 December 2020)
 * Born Days (3 December 2020)
 * Charmer (7 December 2020)
 * Taking Meds (4 January 2021)
 * Crisman (7 January 2021)
 * Apollo Mighty (27 January 2021)
 * Clearbody (4 February 2021)