La Bouche d'Air
La Bouche d'Air is a Nantes-based French nonprofit association (founded 1982) operating the Salle Paul-Fort and Pannonica venues for contemporary French chanson concerts, serving general audiences, schools, seniors, migrants, detainees, and deaf patrons across the Nantes metropolitan area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersNantes, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What La Bouche d'Air does
La Bouche d'Air is a French nonprofit association (Association Loi 1901, founded 1982) operating as a Scène de chanson actuelle in Nantes, France. Its core activity is the curation, production, and presentation of contemporary French chanson, world music, blues, and pop-folk concerts across a September–June season, anchored at two owned/operated venues in the Talensac quarter: Salle Paul-Fort (primary concert hall at 9 rue Basse Porte) and Pannonica (secondary stage also at 9 rue Basse Porte). Programming also extends to partner venues across the Nantes metropolitan area, including La Soufflerie (Rezé), Mixt, and Portevent. Beyond concerts, the association runs an unusually broad cultural mediation portfolio, including school sessions reaching 1,500–2,400 nursery and primary pupils annually, La Fabrique à Chansons (Sacem-sponsored songwriting program), Parcours Chanson (middle-school program), the ORPAN senior program, a prison-based Milieu Carcéral program with Ligue de l'enseignement 44 and SPIP 44, a Primo-Arrivant program for newly arrived migrants with CADA/Groupe SOS and MLDS, and accessibility services for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences (Subpac vibrating vests, LSF interpretation, chansigne). Technology consists of standard venue and ticketing infrastructure (Mapado online ticketing at billetterie-labouchedair.mapado.com, plus in-person box office); no proprietary platform, model, or data asset is described.
The revenue model blends transaction-based and recurring streams: ticket sales with tiered pricing (€5–€45 across categories A–D plus reduced, subscriber, and free admission tiers), recurring public subsidies from Ville de Nantes, DRAC Pays de la Loire, and Centre national de la musique, annual membership dues at €12 per year, and private patronage (mécénat) from Harmonie Mutuelle, Le Petit Garage, Adagio, and Soprasteria. Distribution relies on direct ticket sales at the venue box office, online ticketing via Mapado, and partner-venue offsites, with marketing through the association's website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram), email newsletter, and partner/media outlets (Wik, Grabuge, Sun, Prun). Operating status is active with a published 2026–2027 season; headcount is 1–10 employees and ownership sits with the association itself with no disclosed parent, PE/VC, or capital structure typical of a for-profit company.
La Bouche d'Air firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- La Bouche d'Air
- Legal name
- LA BOUCHE D'AIR
- Website
- https://labouchedair.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- La Bouche d'Air is a Nantes-based French nonprofit association (founded 1982) operating the Salle Paul-Fort and Pannonica venues for contemporary French chanson concerts, serving general audiences, schools, seniors, migrants, detainees, and deaf patrons across the Nantes metropolitan area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
La Bouche d'Air industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Music Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)
Keywords
Where La Bouche d'Air is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
La Bouche d'Air business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: The venue sells tickets for concerts and performances at Salle Paul-Fort and partner venues, with tiered pricing (normal, reduced, subscriber rates) and online/in-person sales.
- Public Subsidies and Institutional Funding: La Bouche d'Air receives ongoing financial support from Ville de Nantes, DRAC Pays de la Loire, and Centre national de la musique, which form the core financial backbone of the association.
- Membership Dues: Annual membership (adhésion) sold for 12€ per year, providing members with ambassador status and participation in the annual general assembly.
- Private Patronage (Mécénat): Private sponsors and patrons including Harmonie Mutuelle, Le Petit Garage, Adagio, and Soprasteria provide financial support as corporate patrons.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Free admission events (e.g., scène ouverte) |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Normal adult ticket pricing |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Reduced rate tickets |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Subscriber/Abonné discount |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
La Bouche d'Air product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Bouche d'Air is a non-profit cultural association (Loi 1901) operating as a contemporary chanson venue in Nantes, France. It runs two physical performance spaces — Salle Paul-Fort (primary concert hall) and Pannonica (secondary venue) — and sells tickets to a curated seasonal program of contemporary French chanson, world music, blues, and pop-folk concerts (Octobre 2026 – Juin 2027 season). It also delivers cultural mediation and educational programs reaching schoolchildren, seniors, prisoners, newly arrived migrants, and deaf audiences.
Product overview
La Bouche d'Air is a cultural venue association (Loi 1901) operating as a 'Scène de chanson actuelle' (contemporary chanson venue) in Nantes, France. The organization operates two primary venues: Salle Paul-Fort and Pannonica. Its core offerings center on concert programming featuring contemporary French chanson artists across multiple genres, complemented by extensive cultural mediation and educational programs. The educational portfolio includes La Fabrique à Chansons (Sacem-sponsored school songwriting program), Séances Scolaires (school concert sessions reaching 1500-2400 children annually), Ma classe en chanson (cycle 3 educational program), Parcours Chanson (middle school year-long program), and Initiation & Création (high school program). Accessibility services include Subpac vibrating vests for deaf audiences and chansigne (signed song) performances. Additional programs serve seniors (ORPAN), prison detainees (Milieu Carcéral), and newly arrived migrants (Primo-Arrivant). The venue also hosts quarterly Open Stages (Scènes Ouvertes) for amateur artists and offers annual membership for €12.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Concert Programming (Season 2026-2027) Main seasonal concert programming featuring established and emerging French chanson and world music artists across multiple genres, performed at Salle Paul-Fort and partner venues. Open to the general public via ticketed admission.
- Salle Paul-Fort Venue Hire
Companies that use La Bouche d'Air
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
La Bouche d'Air technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
La Bouche d'Air partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
29 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- MLDS (Mission de Lutte contre le Décrochage Scolaire)minorSchool dropout prevention mission partnered on the ECHOS project with first-generation immigrant students from the collège Rutigliano.
- Nantes Université (Direction de la Culture)minorSince 2020, La Bouche d'Air has partnered with the cultural department of Nantes Université to offer students artistic workshops and cultural discovery activities.
- Ville de NantescoreThe City of Nantes is a primary institutional funder and supporter of La Bouche d'Air as part of its cultural policy, including support through the 'Connivences' programme in specific city neighborhoods.
- DRAC Pays de la LoirecoreThe Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC) of Pays de la Loire is a key institutional backer, providing regional cultural policy funding and support for territorial outreach projects.
- Centre national de la musiquecoreThe national music center provides central government support and funding to La Bouche d'Air as a music venue dedicated to chanson.
- PannonicacorePannonica is a partner venue in Nantes used for scène ouverte events and some performances, sharing the same address as Salle Paul-Fort at 9 rue Basse Porte.
- L'Odyssée - La GobinièreminorPartner venue in the Nantes metropolitan area for performances and cultural events.
- Mixt (terrain d'arts)minorPartner venue for cultural events and performances, including hosting Les Amazones d'Afrique in November 2026.
- La Soufflerie (théâtre de Rezé)minorPartner venue in Rezé used for performances such as Dom La Nena (January 2027).
- PorteventminorPartner venue in Nantes for performances including Maaar (April 2027).
- WikminorMedia partner providing press and communication coverage for La Bouche d'Air's programming.
- GrabugeminorMedia partner providing press coverage for La Bouche d'Air.
- Sun (Le Son Unique)minorMedia partner covering La Bouche d'Air's programming.
- PrunminorRadio association media partner that collaborated on projects such as ECHOS (Port-Boyer), providing radio creation and coverage.
- Harmonie MutuelleminorPrivate patron (mécène) supporting La Bouche d'Air.
- Le Petit GarageminorPrivate patron (mécène) supporting La Bouche d'Air.
- AdagiominorPrivate patron (mécène) supporting La Bouche d'Air.
- SoprasteriaminorPrivate patron (mécène) supporting La Bouche d'Air.
- La Cigale (brasserie-restaurant, Nantes)minorPrivate partner restaurant in Nantes, providing hospitality services for La Bouche d'Air audiences.
- NaolibminorNantes metropolitan transport partner.
- FédéchansonminorProfessional network of chanson venues that La Bouche d'Air participates in.
- SMA (Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles)minorProfessional network for current music that La Bouche d'Air participates in.
- Le PoleminorProfessional network and cultural federation that La Bouche d'Air participates in.
- Le ChainonminorProfessional network that La Bouche d'Air participates in.
- ORPAN (association des seniors nantais)minorCollaboration with ORPAN to organize musical events and artist encounters for elderly members throughout the year, fighting against senior isolation.
- Ligue de l'enseignement 44minorPartner in the carceral cultural mediation program, collaborating on artistic workshops and concerts for detainees.
- SPIP 44 (Service Pénitentiaire d'Insertion et de Probation)minorPrison probation service partner for carceral cultural outreach programs.
- CADA / Groupe SOSminorCentre d'Accueil pour Demandeurs d'Asile partnered with La Bouche d'Air for mediation activities with newly arrived migrants.
- DSDEN 44 (Direction des Services Départementaux de l'Éducation Nationale)minorDepartmental education authority partner for the Fabrique à Chansons program in primary schools.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
La Bouche d'Air competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Antipode: Rennes-based current music venue with chanson and contemporary programming. Similar association structure, public funding model, and competitive position as a mid-sized regional French music venue.
- Le Trianon: Historic live music venue in Paris dedicated to francophone chanson and contemporary music programming. Comparable business model: dedicated venue, seasonal programming, ticket sales, and institutional support; similar focus on emerging and established chanson artists.
- Le Rocher de Palmer: Bordeaux-based venue for current music and chanson, operated as an association with public funding. Comparable ticketed programming model and focus on francophone contemporary artists in a regional French market.
- Le Botanique: Brussels-based cultural venue presenting francophone chanson, world music, and contemporary artists in a multi-room format. Similar scale, association-style governance, and seasonal ticketed programming model.
- La Coopérative de Mai: Clermont-Ferrand venue presenting chanson, world music, and current artists as a cooperative/association with public funding. Comparable programming scale and regional French chanson focus.
- Le Fil: Saint-Étienne live music venue (SMAC) dedicated to chanson and current music with ticketed programming and public subsidies. Comparable scale, venue model, and Fédéchanson network participation.
- L'Aéronef: Current music venue in Lille operating Salle Paul-Fort-like programming with ticketed concerts, public funding, and cultural outreach. Comparable association model and chanson/world music programming focus in a regional French city.
- Stereolux: Nantes-based contemporary music venue focused on current music, including chanson and indie acts. Operates as a cultural association in the same city, sharing local audiences, institutional funders (Ville de Nantes), and competitive overlap for live music programming.
Regional players
- Le Grand T (Nantes): Nantes departmental theater hosting performing arts including song and music formats. Shares the same local market and public funders (Ville de Nantes, Département Loire-Atlantique) but focuses on theater rather than chanson specifically.
Broad incumbents
- L'Olympia: Iconic Parisian music hall presenting chanson, pop, and variety programming at much larger scale. Comparable genre focus but operates as a major commercial venue with broader audience reach and significantly higher capacity.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
La Bouche d'Air social profiles
Digital presenceLa Bouche d'Air financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
La Bouche d'Air leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
La Bouche d'Air funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
La Bouche d'Air M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about La Bouche d'Air
What does La Bouche d'Air do?
La Bouche d'Air is a non-profit cultural association (Loi 1901) operating as a contemporary chanson venue in Nantes, France. It runs two physical performance spaces — Salle Paul-Fort (primary concert hall) and Pannonica (secondary venue) — and sells tickets to a curated seasonal program of contemporary French chanson, world music, blues, and pop-folk concerts (Octobre 2026 – Juin 2027 season). It also delivers cultural mediation and educational programs reaching schoolchildren, seniors, prisoners, newly arrived migrants, and deaf audiences.
Is La Bouche d'Air a public or private company?
La Bouche d'Air is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was La Bouche d'Air founded?
La Bouche d'Air was founded in 1982. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is La Bouche d'Air based?
La Bouche d'Air is headquartered in Nantes, France, in the Europe region.
How does La Bouche d'Air make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are public Subsidies and Institutional Funding, membership Dues and private Patronage (Mécénat).
Who are La Bouche d'Air's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Antipode, Le Trianon, Le Rocher de Palmer, Le Botanique, La Coopérative de Mai, Le Fil, L'Aéronef and Stereolux. Le Grand T (Nantes) is listed as a regional player. L'Olympia is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does La Bouche d'Air have an API?
No public API is recorded for La Bouche d'Air.
What industry is La Bouche d'Air in?
La Bouche d'Air's product category is Live Music Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAFAL, Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions). Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7900.