Common Tone Arts

What Common Tone Arts does

Common Tone Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization headquartered in Seattle, WA, with operational presence in the Moscow/Pullman Palouse region of Idaho. Founded in 2014 and led by Founding Artistic Director Brian Kai Chin and Executive Director David Krosschell, the organization operates as a multi-service arts ecosystem that provides performance platforms, music production, publishing, recording, residency programs, coaching, and educational resources to professional and emerging musicians, composers, students, educators, and general community audiences across the Pacific Northwest.

The organization's service portfolio is divided across distinct branded divisions: Common Tone Productions (media production), Common Tone Press (music publishing with PDF sheet music downloads), Common Tone Records (record label distributed via Bandcamp), Common Tone Design Studio (graphic/web services), and the Common Tone Media Network (a streaming video/podcast platform). Programming includes the TORCH Artist Collective (a flagship chamber music ensemble rooted in contemporary classical, jazz, world, and improvised music), the TORCH Light Concert Series (monthly live-streamed concerts), the Common Tone Arts Festival (annual multi-evening chamber music festival on the Palouse), the New Music Bash (Seattle), the Summer Residency (valued at $1,200 per participant), Practice Magazine (open-access peer-reviewed publication), the Institute for Creativity, and VIP Coaching & Consulting services.

Common Tone Arts is primarily donation-funded as a nonprofit, with revenue drawn from individual and institutional donations (via PayPal and event-based giving), grants from foundations including 4Culture, the Gates Foundation, and the Allen Foundation, residency participant fees, sheet music and album sales, coaching fees, and event-based vendor and beverage sales. Distribution occurs through the organization's website (commontonearts.org), live events across the Pacific Northwest, global streaming via the Media Network, and Bandcamp for CT Records. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its digital infrastructure (CTMN streaming, Squarespace website, PDF publishing) is standard off-the-shelf technology.

Name

Common Tone Arts

Legal name

Common Tone Arts

Website

https://commontonearts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Common Tone Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization based in Seattle that provides performance platforms, music publishing, residency programs, media production, and educational resources to Pacific Northwest musicians, composers, students, and community audiences through the TORCH Artist Collective and multiple branded divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Music Education

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Record Production and Distribution (512250), Music Publishers (51223)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAB

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYMPAGABAM

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYEDAMAAAF

Music Production & Composition (Songwriting, Recording, DJing)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYMPAJAEAN

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Magazine Publishing (Consumer & B2B/Trade Magazines)

Keywords

• Music education
• Performing arts
• Artist development
• Music festivals
• Nonprofit arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Common Tone Arts relies heavily on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The website features a PayPal-based donation mechanism and explicitly asks for community support to subsidize festival events, new work creation, and professional musician compensation.
2. Festival Revenue: The Common Tone Music Festival is free to attend but generates revenue through donations collected at events, sales of reusable event cups with discounted beverages, and food vendor participation fees. The festival embeds events in local businesses (wineries, breweries) to drive cross-revenue.
3. Residency Program Fees: The Summer Residency program is valued at $1,200 per participant, with scholarships available through a separate application process. Revenue is generated from participant fees (though financial barriers can be addressed through scholarships) and donor-subsidized scholarships.
4. CT Records and CT Press: CT Records sells physical and digital music albums (e.g., TORCH Collective albums on Bandcamp). CT Press sells PDF sheet music downloads to composers, performers, and educators. Revenue from music product sales supports artist compensation and organizational operations.
5. Coaching and Consulting Services: VIP Coaching services are offered to individual artists and entrepreneurs, providing custom tailored bespoke experiences with access to expert coaches in all areas of the arts business world. This represents a direct service revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Common Tone Arts operates an integrated portfolio of music and arts programming through sub-brands including CT Productions, CT Press, CT Records, CT Design Studio, CT Media Network, TORCH Artist Collective, and the Institute for Creativity. It sells live event experiences (Common Tone Music Festival, TORCH Light Concert Series, New Music Bash), artist residencies, coaching/lessons, recorded music, print and digital publications (Practice Magazine), and educational programming. The organization also publishes a magazine and supports emerging musicians across the Seattle creative community.

Product overview

Common Tone Arts operates as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization offering a multi-faceted arts ecosystem. The organization provides services through distinct divisions: Common Tone Productions (full media production), Common Tone Press (music publishing with PDF downloads), Common Tone Records (record label), and Common Tone Design Studio (graphic/web services). Programming includes the Common Tone Media Network (weekly video magazine), TORCH Light Concert Series (monthly live broadcasts), and the Common Tone Arts Festival (annual chamber music festival in the Palouse region). Educational offerings feature Practice Magazine (peer-reviewed publication on creativity), Summer Residency (intensive workshop for musicians), Coaching & Consulting services, and the Institute for Creativity. The TORCH Artist Collective serves as an affiliated multi-arts ensemble specializing in socially conscious contemporary chamber music.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Common Tone Records: A record label solution serving artists in the music industry, focusing on serving the artist.
• Common Tone Press
• Common Tone Productions
• Common Tone Design Studio
• TORCH Artist Collective
• Practice Magazine
• Common Tone Media Network
• Institute for Creativity
• Common Tone Music Festival
• TORCH Light Concert Series
• Incubation Program

Products and services

• Common Tone Music Festival Multi-day music festival operated by Common Tone Arts in the Seattle area, featuring live performances aimed at showcasing local and emerging artists. Targeted at general audiences, arts patrons, and musicians in the Pacific Northwest.
• TORCH Light Concert Series Recurring concert series hosted by Common Tone Arts in partnership with local venues (including Old Stove Brewing), designed to spotlight artists from the TORCH Artist Collective and broader community. Targeted at Seattle-area live music audiences.
• New Music Bash Music event organized by Common Tone Arts as part of its live performance programming portfolio, focused on new and original music. Targeted at Seattle-area audiences and artists.
• CT Records Record label sub-brand of Common Tone Arts that produces and releases recorded music from affiliated and community artists, distributed through digital and physical channels. Targeted at music listeners and the artists served by the organization's programs.
• CT Productions Production services sub-brand offering recording, audio production, and creative production support for artists, events, and programs under the Common Tone Arts umbrella. Targeted at musicians and partner projects needing production resources.
• CT Press Publishing imprint of Common Tone Arts producing print and digital publications, including sheet music and the Practice Magazine. Targeted at readers, music students, and educators.
• Practice Magazine Magazine publication produced by CT Press, covering arts, music, and creativity topics relevant to the Common Tone Arts community. Targeted at arts patrons, musicians, students, and educators.
• Artist Residency Program Artist residency program operated by Common Tone Arts that provides selected musicians with structured development opportunities including studio time, performance exposure, and mentorship. Targeted at emerging artists seeking career development support.
• Coaching and Music Lessons Paid coaching and music instruction services delivered by Common Tone Arts as part of its education portfolio. Targeted at students, adult learners, and emerging musicians seeking personalized skill development.
• Institute for Creativity Education-focused sub-brand under Common Tone Arts delivering structured arts and creativity programming for students and adult learners. Targeted at learners seeking music and creative arts education in the Seattle area.
• TORCH Artist Collective Artist collective sub-brand convening musicians under Common Tone Arts for performance opportunities, community, and development programming. Targeted at emerging and community musicians in the Pacific Northwest.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free festival attendance with all-ages events open to the public at no cost
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCEI serves as the primary venue for the Common Tone Music Festival in Moscow, ID. This is a key operational partnership that enables the festival to host multi-evening and day-long chamber music events. The relationship is central to the festival's delivery.
• Merry Cellars WineryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerry Cellars Winery in Pullman hosts a special donor and preview event for the Common Tone Music Festival. The partnership supports the festival's model of embedding events within local businesses.
• Colter's Creek Winery and Moscow BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColter's Creek Winery and Moscow Brewing are supported by the festival and host festival events, exemplifying the organization's strategy of partnering with local businesses to drive economic benefit to the community.
• University of Washington (Dance Department)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTORCH has worked with students from the University of Washington's Dance Department, creating collaborative original music/dance works. This academic partnership supports TORCH's educational outreach mission to inspire the next generation of creators.
• University of Puget SoundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTORCH performed at the University of Puget Sound at the invitation of the institution. The President of the College Music Society (2020) endorsed TORCH's performance, indicating an ongoing collaborative relationship with the university.
• Old Stove BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOld Stove Brewing in Seattle hosts the annual New Music Bash organized by TORCH/Common Tone Arts. This venue partnership enables the organization to bring together musicians, composers, and new music enthusiasts in Seattle.
• TORCH Artist CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTORCH is a multi-arts collective of artists embedded within and affiliated with Common Tone Arts. It serves as the organization's flagship artist ensemble, creating and performing new socially conscious work. TORCH is central to the Common Tone Arts mission and programming.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/commontonearts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/common-tone-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Common Tone Arts