Benjamin Bateson

Benjamin Bateson is the Recording Laboratory Manager and long-time audio engineer in East Tennessee State University’s renowned Bluegrass, Old‑Time & Country Music Studies program. Based in Johnson City, Tennessee, he oversees ETSU’s state-of-the-art recording studio—a hub for preserving and producing Appalachian music performances, historical ballads, and student projects.

As the tracking engineer on award-winning projects such as Big Bend Killing: The Appalachian Ballad Tradition, Bateson helped bring together recordings from both U.S. and U.K. roots artists—work that earned recognition at the Independent Music Awards. His technical expertise supports both educational initiatives and cultural preservation efforts, bridging community archives and modern studio practices.