Audiotree Music

Audiotree is an American independent music company and record label based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2011 by audio engineer Michael Johnston and Adam Thurston, the company was created around a straightforward proposition: independent musicians could benefit from high-quality live recordings and videos, while a specialized production company could share in the resulting recording revenue. Audiotree developed this idea into a recognizable media and discovery platform centered on intimate, professionally recorded performances. Its best-known offering is Audiotree Live, a continuing series in which artists perform in a studio environment and the resulting audio and video are distributed through online channels. The sessions are designed to capture the immediacy of a live performance while providing the production, engineering, lighting, and visual quality associated with a professional studio. Audiotree has worked primarily with independent artists and musicians associated with independent labels, helping them reach audiences through recordings, video, streaming, and editorial discovery rather than relying only on conventional album campaigns. The company’s business model has historically included sharing revenue from sales of live-session recordings with participating artists, commonly on an equal split. It has also operated as a promoter and event organizer. Audiotree organized the Audiotree Music Festival from 2012 through 2019, generally presenting the event in September at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan. From 2019 onward, the company shifted emphasis toward special concerts at Chicago venues including Lincoln Hall and Schubas Tavern, which it independently operated. Audiotree expanded beyond its Chicago base in 2018 by announcing a Canadian artist-discovery initiative in collaboration with Paquin Entertainment Agency. The initiative extended the company’s discovery and session-oriented model into Canada while retaining its focus on emerging and independent musicians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Audiotree used its experience in filmed and streamed performance to launch Staged, a virtual-concert segment. Viewers paid for access to private broadcasts and could replay each performance for a limited period after the event. Audiotree also sold merchandise online during the period when restrictions on public gatherings placed financial pressure on music venues and live-event operators. Audiotree’s online presence has made it a significant outlet for live music video and artist discovery. Its YouTube channel had surpassed 700,000 subscribers and 280 million views by 2022, according to the company’s Wikipedia coverage. In addition to recording and releasing performances, Audiotree has published production-focused material explaining its recording, microphone, mixing, and lighting practices. In 2017 it introduced Far Out sessions, taking the session format outside the studio and into less traditional performance settings. The organization’s public identity is therefore broader than that of a conventional record label. Audiotree combines label activity, audiovisual production, digital distribution, artist development, event promotion, venue activity, and direct-to-fan programming. Its core positioning is an artist-friendly platform that turns live performance into discoverable, distributable media while providing independent musicians with professional production and exposure.

Audiotree was established in Chicago in 2011 by Michael Johnston and Adam Thurston. Johnston had already worked as an audio engineer in the Chicago area, and the founders saw an opportunity to build a sustainable business around recording live performances by independent artists. Their model combined professional studio production with a revenue-sharing arrangement: Audiotree would record and publish live sessions, while participating musicians would share in income from sales of the resulting releases. The company developed a production workflow built around close, studio-based performances. Artists were invited into a professional setting to record, perform, and release live material, often receiving the opportunity to make a live EP at no cost. Audiotree’s output was distributed through digital music services, video platforms, and its own online presence. This approach gave emerging acts a polished introduction to new listeners and made Audiotree a destination for fans seeking live versions of songs and unfamiliar artists. Audiotree’s best-known series, Audiotree Live, became the center of its media operation. Performances could be broadcast directly from the studio to YouTube and the Audiotree website, allowing audiences to watch or listen in a live or near-live format. The company also documented elements of its production process in videos released during 2015 and 2016, explaining aspects of recording, microphone selection, lighting, and video preparation. Its technical approach included a broad microphone collection and in-the-moment mastering practices. Audiotree also partnered with Antelope Audio on analog audio equipment for its control room. The company expanded its session concept in 2017 with Far Out sessions. Rather than limiting recordings to the established studio environment, the series took Audiotree’s production work into other locations and less conventional settings. This broadened the visual and sonic range of the platform while preserving its emphasis on live performance. Audiotree also became involved in physical events. The Audiotree Music Festival began in 2012 and was generally held each September at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The festival ran annually through 2019. That year, Audiotree changed its event strategy and focused more heavily on special concerts at its independently operated Chicago venues, including Lincoln Hall and Schubas Tavern. In 2018, Audiotree announced an extension into Canada in partnership with Paquin Entertainment Agency. The collaboration was intended to create a Canadian artist-discovery platform and represented an effort to apply Audiotree’s independent-artist model beyond the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted concerts and created severe operating difficulties for venues. Audiotree responded at the end of 2020 with Staged, a virtual-concert format in which fans paid a modest fee for access to a private broadcast. Each program could be streamed during the event and replayed for 24 hours after completion. Because Audiotree had substantial experience producing streamed music video, the company was positioned to help artists continue performing when conventional touring was unavailable. Audiotree also used online merchandise sales to help with venue maintenance and other venue-related expenses during the period of restricted public activity. By 2022, Audiotree’s YouTube channel had accumulated more than 700,000 subscribers and 280 million video views, illustrating the scale of its role as a live-music video outlet and discovery channel. Its activities extended beyond releases to artist promotion, event production, streaming, and venue operations. In November 2021, Johnston was arrested on a felony unauthorized-videotaping charge and was subsequently removed from his position as Audiotree’s president and chief executive officer. Public reference material identifies the leadership change but does not establish further details about the case or identify a successor. Audiotree’s broader brand remains associated with professionally produced live sessions, independent music discovery, and hybrid online and in-person performance programming.

• 2021

  Michael Johnston leaves the chief executive role

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  Johnston is removed as president and CEO following his November arrest on a felony unauthorized-videotaping charge.

• 2020

  Staged virtual concerts launch

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  Audiotree begins offering paid private online concerts with limited replay access during pandemic restrictions.

• 2019

  Event strategy moves toward Chicago special concerts

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  After the 2019 festival, Audiotree shifts emphasis toward special shows at Lincoln Hall and Schubas Tavern.

• 2018

  Canadian expansion is announced

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  Audiotree collaborates with Paquin Entertainment Agency on a Canadian artist-discovery platform.

• 2017

  Far Out sessions are introduced

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  Audiotree extends its live-session format beyond the traditional studio through the Far Out series.

• 2015

  Behind-the-scenes production series begins

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  Audiotree releases material showing how its audio recording, lighting, and video sessions are prepared.

• 2012

  Audiotree Music Festival begins

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  Audiotree starts its annual music festival, later held at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

• 2011

  Audiotree is founded in Chicago

  [1]Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org

  Michael Johnston and Adam Thurston establish Audiotree around the recording, release, and promotion of live performances by independent musicians.

An independent music platform that combines record-label services, high-quality live-session production, online discovery, event promotion, and direct-to-fan programming.

• Live music session series

  Audiotree Live

  Audiotree’s signature live-session program brings artists into a professional production environment to record intimate performances. Sessions are distributed as audio and video through online platforms, including YouTube and Audiotree’s website. The format emphasizes live energy, high-quality engineering, visual presentation, and discovery of independent musicians.

• Location-based live session series · 2017

  Far Out sessions

  Introduced in 2017, Far Out takes Audiotree’s session-production approach outside a conventional studio. The series allows performances to be recorded in distinctive or nontraditional locations while retaining the company’s focus on live sound, video production, and artist discovery.

• Virtual concert series · 2020

  Staged

  Staged is Audiotree’s paid virtual-concert format, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans received access to private broadcasts and could replay a completed show for 24 hours. The program adapted Audiotree’s existing streaming and production capabilities to a period when touring and public concerts were restricted.

• Music festival · 2012

  Audiotree Music Festival

  Audiotree’s annual festival began in 2012 and was typically staged in September at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The festival ran through 2019, after which Audiotree emphasized special concerts at its Chicago venues instead.

• Recorded music · 2011

  Live session releases

  Audiotree records and publishes live EPs, singles, and related audiovisual releases by independent artists. Its customary model has involved sharing sales revenue from session recordings with participating artists, commonly using an equal split, although individual agreements may vary.

• 2021

  Michael Johnston arrest and removal from leadership

  Michael Johnston was arrested in November 2021 on a felony unauthorized-videotaping charge and was subsequently removed as Audiotree’s president and CEO. The supplied reference does not provide further case disposition details.

  Source

Read more

• 2020Staged virtual concerts

  United States

  Audiotree produced paid online concerts for private audiences when pandemic restrictions prevented many conventional live events.

  Outcome. The format gave artists an online performance channel and used Audiotree’s established streaming-production capabilities.

  Source
• 2018Canadian artist-discovery platform

  Canada

  Audiotree partnered with Paquin Entertainment Agency to extend its artist-discovery activities into Canada.

  Outcome. The initiative marked Audiotree’s announced expansion into the Canadian market; later performance details are not established in the supplied reference material.

  Source

• 2021

  Removal of Michael Johnston as president and CEOOther

  Background

  Johnston was arrested in November 2021 on a felony unauthorized-videotaping charge.

  Action taken

  Audiotree removed Johnston from his president and chief executive position.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference does not identify a successor or provide additional details about the legal proceedings.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of StagedProduct launch

  Background

  COVID-19 restrictions limited public concerts and touring, creating a need for alternative performance formats.

  Action taken

  Audiotree introduced paid private virtual concerts with time-limited replay access.

  Aftermath

  The company provided artists with an online performance outlet and audiences with a structured alternative to in-person shows.

  Source

• 2019

  Shift from annual festival programming toward venue concertsStrategy

  Background

  Audiotree had organized its music festival annually from 2012 through 2019.

  Action taken

  The company shifted emphasis toward special concerts at independently operated Chicago venues, including Lincoln Hall and Schubas Tavern.

  Aftermath

  Audiotree’s event activity became more closely tied to its Chicago venue operations rather than a single recurring festival.

  Source

• 2017

  Expand sessions beyond the studioStrategy

  Background

  Audiotree’s core identity had been built around professionally produced studio performances.

  Action taken

  The company introduced Far Out sessions, recording live performances in locations outside the conventional studio setting.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the visual and production possibilities of Audiotree’s session format.

  Source

1. 1Audiotreeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Audiotree official websiteaudiotree.tv