Audiotree is a website that records and posts live sessions of bands doing in studio sets. Bickelhaupt has spent much effort streaming YouTube content since 42 Grams closure. Johnston and his wife Kelly Halverson reportedly own an 8,000-square-foot home in Roscoe Village. The statement, posted on Tuesday, said Johnston was no longer associated with the "Audiotree team.". }); He and his wife, Kelly, are also being sued by the two victims, a. Kalamazoo billionaires' son pleads guilty after secretly recording My life is forever changed because of what they did to me. Owners and spouses Darryl and Andrea Townson, who first opened the shop in 1994, told reporters that they planned to reopen by Monday, March 21. You can read more here. Schubas' owner Lincoln Hall allegedly set up hidden cameras to capture Johnston takes these allegations seriously and will continue to work through the appropriate legal process., Our official statement regarding Michael Johnston is below pic.twitter.com/yZK3dCXuM4. 'She did find some explicit objects. "As of November 12, Johnston is no longer a part of the Audiotree team," it reads. By Who is Michael Johnston? Audiotree cut ties with CEO amid reports - HITC "While they were house-sitting, and without their knowledge or consent, the Johnstons secretly videotaped Julie and Jane undressed and bathing, using spy cameras they had hidden in the bathroom and elsewhere," their lawsuit claims. Johnston was arrested in Lake View, Chicago, on November 9 and charged with a felony count of unauthorized video recording. The nanny found the hidden cameras in February 2020 after she noticed one of them in a picture frame pointed at a bathtub. Owner of Schubas Tavern, Lincoln Hall and the music label Audiotree He also owns Chicago venues Lincoln Hall and Schubas and the restaurant Tied House. We want to hear it. The lawsuit alleges that Michael Johnston, 38, and his wife Kelly Johnston recorded the nanny and her friend while they were undressing or bathing. 'Stop it!' The women are suing Johnston for invasion of privacy, emotional distress, and sexual harassment. Update 11/18/21, 7:55 a.m. On November 15th, he was removed as President and CEO of Audiotree, Audiotree Presents, Lincoln Hall, Schubas and Tied House. In November, Michael Johnston was forced out of his job as chief executive of Audiotree, the parent company of Schubas, the 34-year-old bar and music venue, and neighboring restaurant Tied House. She said the cameras were not normal nanny cams, which were already in areas throughout the house, but were placed in private areas like the bathroom. hitType: 'event', inFested: An interview with Michael Johnston on Audiotree Live Music According to their civil suit, the wife encouraged Julie and Jane to use the Jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom and to help themselves to the Johnstons' wine and beer while they were away.. Chicago music exec who headed Schubas and Lincoln Hall accused of The Johnstons then asked the pair to housesit while they were on vacation in January 2020, openly encouraging them to use the master bedroom and the Jacuzzi in the master bathroom, the women claim. Johnston and his wife Kelly Halverson reportedly own an 8,000-square-foot home in Roscoe Village. ", Gail Eisenberg, attorney for the two women, told the Sun-Times: "We think it's important to bring attention to the harms that can occur when someone's privacy is violatedthe long-term effects and trauma to the victims.". hitType: 'event', Michael Johnston, who co-founded Audiotree was arrested on November 9 for allegedly recording two nannies without their consent. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. We are one of the worlds fastest growing He co-founded the indie record company Audiotree with his friend Adam Thurston in 2011. As for the first complaint, filed in October 2020, Johnston and wife Kelly Johnston, are due in court on Monday, March 14, according to Cook County records. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. A civil lawsuit claims Johnston and his wife Kelly, who is also named in the lawsuit, invited the women, who recently graduated from DePaul University, to house sit their Roscoe Village mansion. One of the cameras, which were motion activated, capturedMichael positioning the camera, standing in the bathtub, and 'reviewing the stream on a cell phone to ensure that the bathtub area would be filmed while the Johnston family was out of town and Jane and Julie were house-sitting,' the lawsuit states. The lawsuit against him and his wife is seeking more than $75,000 in damages. Michael Johnston was president and CEO of Schubas, Lincoln Hall, and the venues' parent organization, Audiotree, . She did find some explicit objects. The suit also claims that Jane was asked to organize a box filled with sex toys, which she claims "does think it was part of a grooming process." The two nannies, who have filed a civil suit under the names Jane Doe and Julie Doe, allege specifically that Halverson encouraged Julie and Jane to use the Jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom and to help themselves to the Johnstons' wine and beer while they were away. Further, the women allege the couple secretly videotaped them undressed and bathing using spy cameras for their own sexual gratification, according to the womens lawsuit. Kelly hasn't been charged with a crime as of Tuesday. According to the lawsuit, the Johnstons placed motion-activated cameras in private areas around the home to record the women without their consent. }); 'While they were house-sitting, and without their knowledge or consent, the Johnstons secretly video-taped Julie and Jane undressed and bathing, using spy cameras they had hidden in the bathroom and elsewhere,' the lawsuit claims. The company gives platform to musicians and bands from around the world to deliver performances in a professional studio at no cost to artists, according to the labels YouTube channel. Michael Johnston founded and owns Audiotree. Former Chicago record label CEO Michael Johnston, who along with his wife is accused of setting up hidden cameras to capture nude images of their nanny in a civil lawsuit, appeared in court. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' }); The nanny and another woman have filed a civil suit against Johnston and his wife Kelly Halverson. }); The next month, the couple once again asked Jane to house-sit for them over night. The label has published live performances by acts like Glass Animals, Mitski, Peach Pit, Soccer Mommy and Lucy Dacus. According to the lawsuit, the Johnstons placed motion-activated cameras in private areas around the home to record the women without their consent. }); The company plans to distribute 10,000 pizzas throughout 2022 to houseless Chicagoans, seniors, and low-income families in partnership with the citys Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), according to a rep. Organizers will hold the first giveaway for homeless centers on Thursday, March 24 at its restaurant at 4254 W. 31st Street in Little Village. Jane Doe was hired in December 2019 as a home manager, child caretaker and personal assistant to the couple. window.adsContainer = {"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle6_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle7_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle8_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle9_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle10_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle11_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle12_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250}} As of Saturday, Nov. 12, Johnson is no longer a part of the Audiotree team, the company said. Following news of the allegations and civil suit, the company released a statement announcing that Johnston has been removed as President & CEO of Audiotree, Audiotree Presents, Lincoln Hall, Schubas, and Tied House. The company added that he is no longer a part of the Audiotree team and that cofounder Thurston would assume the CEO role. CHICAGO Michael Johnston, co-founder of record label Audiotree and the son of Kalamazoo billionaires William Johnston and Ronda Stryker, has been arrested and charged for allegedly using a . Filiz Mustafa. The lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, added that one of the cameras had been hidden inside a picture frame that was pointed toward a bathtub the two women had been encouraged to use while they were taking care of the couple's two children. His next court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. The 38-year-old founded the indie music label Audiotree in 2011 with close friend Adam Thurston. The lawyer for the young woman they employed says the couple were voyeurs who devastated two young lives. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ A Chicago music label boss has been accused of setting up hidden cameras in his homeincluding the bathroomto film his nanny and her friend. He and his wife, Kelly, are also being sued by the two victims, a pair of young women who were encouraged to housesit and specifically use the recorded areas. The two women filed a suit claiming that Johnston and his wife had set up multiple cameras in their Chicago home disguised as regular household objects, which they discovered only after being asked to house-sit a second time. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Audiotree has come forward with an official statement regarding Johnstons role in the company amid the reports. She was fully clothed. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { According to the suit, Halverson encouraged Julie and Jane to use the Jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom and to help themselves to the Johnstons wine and beer while they were away. The women allege that the couple then used secret spy cameras to videotape them. Attorney Eisenberg said copies of the videos the women found in the home were turned over to Chicago police. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. According to court documents obtained by Chicago Sun Times, Johnston faces a felony charge of unauthorized video recording over allegations from two women. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { He is due in court again on Wednesday. https://t.co/WMD0rXMHdx. These women are extremely brave, said attorney Gail Eisenberg of Loftus & Eisenberg law firm. Michael Johnston, known as the co-founder of popular live session label Audiotree, as well as owner of Chicago venues Lincoln Hall and Schubas, has been removed from all of his positions. Increasingly, Audiotree Live has become a go to stopover for bands touring through the mid-west. Johnston isn't the only person to be caught for such an incident. Audiotree owner and wife accused of taking hidden video of nannies Legislators have a chance at another one, and should pass a bill to find a private developer to revive the historic Hotel Florence. More details and booking information are available via Tock. She said the cameras were not normal nanny cams, which were already in areas throughout the house, but were placed in private areas like the bathroom. Johnston reportedly serves on the board of the Stryker Johnston Foundation, which is working to eliminate "intergenerational poverty in Kalamazoo County.". Bickelhaupt closed two-Michelin starred-42 Grams in June 2017 and a month later pled guilty to attacking his ex-wife, who managed the restaurant in Uptown. One of the cameras was hidden in a. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. The former music executive has been removed from his position at Audiotree and its associated businesses, according to a statement released on the company's social media accounts. newsletter, 8249 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619, Nisos, One of 2022s Splashiest Openings, Closes Along Randolph Restaurant Row, The owners are reevaluating what they want to do with the space, Maple & Ash Investors Claim PPP Fraud in Lawsuit, The legal saga surrounding the luxurious steakhouse continues, Six06 Cafe Bars Greek Rooftop in West Town and Four More Restaurant Closings, A running log of Chicago restaurants and bars that are closed, Sign up for the Its the third midsize bank to fail in two months. Eisenberg represents two young women in their civil suit against Michael Johnston and Kelly Halverson. }); Also, tavern-cut pizza legend Home Run Inn celebrates 75th birthday with year-long giveaway to hungry Chicaogans. Now, Johnston faces a pair of new felony charges. Audiotree Statement. }) Audiotree has released an authentic statement about Johnston's role within the corporation amid the reports. },false) Michael Johnston has been removed as president and CEO of Audiotree, Audiotree Presents, Lincoln Hall, Schubas and Tied House. Michael Johnston, who along with his wife is accused of setting up hidden cameras to capture nude images of their nanny in a civil lawsuit, has been removed as president and CEO of a Chicago-based record label. We think its important to bring attention to the harms that can occur when someones privacy is violated the longterm effects and trauma to the victims, said Gail Eisenberg, attorney of the two women, who were roommates at the time and recent graduates of DePaul University. One of the cameras was hidden in a picture frame aimed at a bathtub the two were encouraged to use, according to the lawsuit. Johnston is due in court on Monday, April 4, according to Block Club Chicago. Michael Johnston, 38, owns the Lincoln Hall, Schubas venues and the Audiotree music company. His wife has not been charged. Audiotree CEO Michael Johnston Removed Over Nanny Cam Allegations Oops. Per the womens lawyer Gail Eisenberg, Jane worked for the couple beginning in December 2019 as a home manager, child caretaker, and personal assistant for the couple. Ex-42 Grams chef Jacob Jake Bickelhaupt has left Chicago and resettled in Denver, but isnt done dissecting the circumstances of his exit. Johnston co-founded Audiotree and bought Schubas and Lincoln Hall with his father in 2015. The suit is seeking more than $75,000 in damages. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The two women are roommates and recent graduates of DePaul University. Michael Johnstons mother, Ronda Stryker, inherited the medical equipment company Stryker Corp. from her parents and is worth $7.2 billion, according to Forbes. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The freshest news from the local food world, Two More Women Allege Ex-Schubas Co-Owner Used Spy Cameras to Record Them, Sign up for the "People shouldn't have to deal with perversive violations of privacy just from going to work, nor should people have to deal with this ever. eventAction: 'view' "We respectfully ask for patience as we navigate this challenging time. "As of Saturday, November 12, Johnston is no longer a part of the Audiotree team. Michael Johnston, the former CEO of Audiotree. Michael Johnston founded and owns Audiotree. A lawyer for Johnston did not immediately returnRolling Stones request for comment. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Johnson is the co-founder of indie label Audiotree, which announced Monday that it had fired Johnston as president and CEO. The young women sued Johnston and his wife Kelly back in September, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by the Chicago Sun Times. Audiotree Cofounder Accused of Using Hidden Cameras to Take - Yahoo The duo grew up together in Kalamazoo, Michigan, before founding the firm in Chicago a decade ago. Jane states that she searched the house and found two more hidden cameras, one in a bathroom disguised as an iPhone dock charger and another in the bedroom she was using.".