Mastering engineer Chris Athens has sadly passed away due to complications following a planned heart surgery.
The news has been shared in a statement posted on social media by his wife, Judi Krant Athens. She has confirmed that his successful mastering company, Chris Athens Masters, which he founded in 2010, will continue on in honour of his legacy.
Athens ran his company alongside engineers Kurt Bradley and Dave Huffman. Together, their work has reached over 288 billion streams, achieved 833 platinum records, and 54 diamond records. You can view Athens’ discography via the Chris Athens Mastering website.
“Dear Friends, Clients, and Collaborators, it’s with profound sadness that I share the passing of my husband, Chris Athens, after complications following a planned heart surgery,” Judi says.
“Chris dedicated his life to music and to the art of mastering. He felt privileged to spend his days (and nights) working on music he loved with artists he deeply respected. Those who knew Chris know he was more than just those bionic ears, he was singularly funny, kind, and generous.
“In honouring his legacy, Chris Athens Masters will continue operating, carrying forward the standards and sonic sensibility Chris built throughout his career. Although Chris was the founder and namesake of the studio, it wasn’t a one-man operation, it has always been a team.”
She adds, “Over the last decade and a half, Dave and Kurt have been an integral part of Chris’s process, instincts, and approach to mastering. We’re grateful for the trust so many artists and labels placed in Chris, and we remain committed to continuing the work he loved. We’ll share information about a celebration of life at a later date. Thank you for being part of his journey.”
Athens had over 30 years of experience in the industry. His career began at Sony Music Studios, followed by 13 years as a Senior Mastering Engineer at Sterling Sound in New York City. He went on to relocate to Austin, TX, where he founded Chris Athens Masters.
He also received Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Record of the Year for his work with Drake on Views, Scorpion, and God’s Plan, and has three Latin Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, and Best Engineered Album for Rosalía’s El Mal Querer and C. Tangana’s El Madrileño.
Rachel is a DIY musician who began learning guitar and keyboard from her bedroom at 14. She has written news and features for MusicTech since 2022, and also has bylines across Kerrang!, Guitar.com, and The Forty-Five. Though a lover of heavy music, her guilty pleasure is 2000s pop.
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