Audio Chateau Records (ACR), the music and creator company launched by Jingle Punks co-founder Jared Gutstadt, has secured up to USD $9 million in Series A financing.
The company said the money will support the next phase of its artist-development model, which brings together record-label functions, content production, and commercial partnerships across sports, brands, live entertainment, and media.
Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, known for his work with Justin Bieber, is joining ACR as a strategic advisor.
ACR says it folds audience-building, content, and brand ventures into artist development from the outset, rather than leaving them until later in an artist’s career.
“I’ve seen the shift to creator culture firsthand, and I believe the next generation of successful artists will be the ones who build something bigger than their music.”
Jared Gutstadt
“I’ve seen the shift to creator culture firsthand, and I believe the next generation of successful artists will be the ones who build something bigger than their music,” said Gutstadt.
“That’s what we’re building at Audio Chateau. We want to give artists the creative resources, relationships and opportunities to turn their talent into lasting businesses.
“This investment allows us to bring more talent into that model, strengthen what we’re building and create new avenues for how artists are discovered and developed.”
Boyd has written three Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles: the Bieber hits What Do You Mean? and the Despacito remix, along with DJ Khaled’s I’m the One.
Boyd and Gutstadt (aka “Jingle Jared”) previously collaborated on the podcast series Bear and a Banjo, which featured a soundtrack produced by T Bone Burnett and a song with lyrics by Bob Dylan.
The series received two Webby Award nominations in 2020, for Best Writing and Best Original Music / Sound Design.
“I’ve built a career working with some of the biggest hitmakers in music, and I fully believe Jingle Jared approaches the music business differently,” said Boyd.
“He’s not thinking about competing on the charts. He’s thinking about brand positioning and standing out in this very noisy marketplace.
“Together we can craft hits and create some noise for creators of the future. I’m excited to be part of this next leg of the journey.”
“I’ve built a career working with some of the biggest hitmakers in music, and I fully believe Jingle Jared approaches the music business differently.”
Jason ‘Poo Bear’ Boyd
ACR launched in January 2024 as a label under Gutstadt’s podcast company Audio Up Media and raised $4.5 million that August. That round brought in Exceleration Music co-founder Glen Barros and Jonathan Schulman as the label’s first board members.
Investors in the new round include Schulman, Ben Lurie, and CW Ventures’ Julie Gauthier.
The company distributes its music through Virgin Music Group, the distribution division of Universal Music Group.
Gutstadt co-founded Jingle Punks in 2008. The production-music company, which supplied music to more than 1,000 television shows, was acquired by Canadian rights company ole in 2015.
The company points to Gutstadt’s track record in sports and entertainment, citing past work pairing Lil Wayne with Fox Sports, DJ Khaled with the Miami Marlins, and G-Eazy with the UFC.
ACR operates creative facilities in Los Angeles and Nashville, and says its Los Angeles studio has hosted artists including MGK, Ty Dolla $ign, and Miranda Lambert.
Recent ACR projects have involved artists Clayton Johnson, Miles Victor, and Ricky Retro, the company said.
Boyd’s songwriting catalog was acquired in full by Hipgnosis Songs Fund in 2018, in a deal covering 214 of his songs.Music Business Worldwide