The Industry

What The Industry does

The Industry is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces experimental, site-specific opera in unconventional venues. Founded in 2013 by MacArthur Fellow Yuval Sharon, the company brings together interdisciplinary artists—composers, librettists, directors, singers, designers, writers, and instrumentalists—to create collaborative performances that respond to contemporary culture. The company serves two core constituencies: artistically adventurous contemporary art and opera audiences in the Los Angeles region, and a network of arts institutions and foundations that fund and co-produce its work.

Core productions are episodic and staged at unexpected sites, including Union Station (Invisible Cities, 2013), a 24-car mobile opera across Los Angeles (Hopscotch, 2015), Los Angeles State Historic Park (Sweet Land, 2020), Sony Studios (Europeras 1 & 2, 2018), Berghain in Berlin (HIVE RISE, 2020), the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (The Comet/Poppea, 2024), and Mount Wilson Observatory (STAR CHOIR, 2023). Underlying technical differentiators include pioneering use of Sennheiser wireless headphone systems that allow audiences to roam a venue while receiving personalized audio feeds, and adoption of L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Sound for site-specific sound installations. The Industry Records is a wholly-owned independent label that documents and disseminates productions via digital downloads, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl. Other products include the LAB series (works-in-progress with non-opera artists at REDCAT), Listening Parties, and the recently launched Decade Fund.

The business model is a hybrid of contributed and earned revenue. Individual donors drive recurring monthly membership tiers (Insider $20, Incubator $50, Innovator $100) and tax-deductible contributions (Tax ID 45-3307896). Foundation and corporate grants from entities including the Mellon Foundation, Perenchio Foundation, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts represent a meaningful share of revenue. Earned revenue derives from ticket sales, listening-party attendance, and record sales through The Industry Records storefront (records.theindustryla.org and Bandcamp). Distribution relies on co-productions and venue partnerships with cultural institutions including the LA Phil, MOCA, REDCAT, Hammer Museum, OXY ARTS, and international partners Berghain and CTM Festival. The current leadership is Artistic & Executive Director Tim Griffin (joined June 2023), Deputy Director Sarah Wass (joined January 2025), and Music Director Marc Lowenstein; founder Yuval Sharon remains in a Founder role following the 2021–2024 Artistic Director Cooperative experiment.

Name

The Industry

Legal name

The Industry

Website

https://theindustryla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Industry is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit producing experimental, site-specific opera in unconventional venues, serving contemporary art audiences and cultural institutions. Founded in 2013, it collaborates with interdisciplinary artists and houses an independent record label documenting its productions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experimental Opera Productions

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (71119), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Record Production and Distribution (51225)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Touring & Production Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAIAFAF)

Keywords

• Experimental opera productions
• Contemporary opera company
• Site-specific performances
• Opera recordings
• Arts nonprofit organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Memberships: The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies heavily on individual donations. Monthly membership tiers (Insider $20, Incubator $50, Innovator $100) provide perks including advanced ticket access, digital downloads, rehearsal invitations, and private events.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major funding from foundations including Mellon Foundation, Perenchio Foundation, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and others. Corporate sponsorships also mentioned.
3. Ticket Sales and Performance Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales to productions and events, including listening parties, LAB presentations, and mainstage productions.
4. Record Sales: Sales of recordings through The Industry Records, including digital downloads, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl releases of productions like Sweet Land, Invisible Cities, Hopscotch, Young Caesar.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Industry creates and produces experimental opera works performed in unconventional public and cultural venues across Los Angeles (Union Station, LA State Historic Park, MOCA's Geffen Contemporary, Mount Wilson Observatory, warehouses, parking lots). It sells tickets to live productions, distributes recorded works through The Industry Records (digital and physical formats), runs the LAB Series workshop platform for new operatic works by interdisciplinary artists, hosts Listening Party events, and solicits donations and monthly memberships to fund operations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Product overview

The Industry is an experimental opera company that expands the operatic form through bold, site-specific productions and collaborative performances. The company operates primarily through its core Productions (experimental operas performed in unconventional locations), The Industry Records (an independent label documenting new operatic works), the LAB Series (a program for experimental opera works-in-progress), and Listening Parties (events featuring artists discussing opera models). The organization values experimentation, collaboration, and boldness, integrating artistic ideas, production, audience experience, and civic engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Industry Records: Independent label creating high-quality recordings of The Industry's productions and diverse projects sharing the organization's spirit.

Products and services

• Crescent City First production of The Industry, a multimedia opera with music by Anne LeBaron and libretto by Douglas Kearney, performed at Atwater Crossing. For opera audiences and contemporary arts enthusiasts in Los Angeles.
• Invisible Cities Site-specific opera staged at Union Station where audiences roamed freely with wireless Sennheiser headphones receiving personalized audio feeds. Score by Christopher Cerrone; Pulitzer Prize finalist 2014. For adventurous opera audiences and contemporary art patrons.
• Hopscotch Mobile opera for audiences traveling in 24 cars across Los Angeles, with 126 artists, 6 composers, and 6 writers. For adventurous opera audiences seeking a citywide, immersive theatrical experience.
• War of the Worlds Opera that eliminated the boundary between concert hall and streets, using air raid sirens to broadcast the performance. Co-produced with LA Phil. For opera audiences and broader public listeners.
• Europeras 1 & 2 Production of John Cage's 1987 opera built from fragments of 64 European operas, performed at Sony Studios in collaboration with the LA Phil. For contemporary opera and John Cage audiences in Los Angeles.
• Sweet Land Opera performed as a procession through Los Angeles State Historic Park, with music by Raven Chacon and Du Yun, exploring American identity. Premiered February-March 2020 and recorded live during the COVID-19 lockdown. For opera audiences, civic audiences, and contemporary arts patrons.
• HIVE RISE Performance installation featuring voices, subwoofers, and 3D-printed megaphones. Originally premiered at Berghain in Berlin (January 2020); US premiere at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in November 2021 using L-ISA Immersive Sound technology by L-Acoustics. For contemporary music and immersive art audiences.
• STAR CHOIR Interstellar chamber opera performed at Mount Wilson Observatory, created by Malik Gaines and Alexandro Segade. For contemporary opera audiences and visitors seeking site-specific cosmic-scaled work.
• The Comet / Poppea Production juxtaposing George Lewis's The Comet with Claudio Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, exploring double consciousness and cultural transformation. Presented at the WAREHOUSE at Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in partnership with AMOC*, Curtis Institute, and Yale Schwarzman Center. For contemporary opera audiences in Los Angeles.
• The Industry Records Independent record label creating high-quality digital, CD, DVD, and vinyl recordings of The Industry's productions and diverse projects, documenting and disseminating new operatic works to wider audiences.
• LAB Series Performance platform supporting experiments in opera at REDCAT, inviting artists who have never worked in opera to reexamine its history and orthodoxies. For interdisciplinary creators and adventurous opera audiences.
• Listening Parties

Quantifiable outcome

• Invisible Cities selected to represent USA at 2015 Prague Quadrennial
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• REDCATcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Partnership with REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney Disney/CalArts Theater) for the LAB series, featuring new works in opera by renowned artists. LAB 2026 and subsequent programs held at REDCAT.
• OXY ARTScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Co-produced ANIMAL [the underground] with OXY ARTS. Partnership with Otis College of Art and Design's arts center to present experimental opera in the MacArthur Building.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Ongoing partnership hosting major productions at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Co-presented The Comet/Poppea (2024) and HIVE RISE (2021). MOCA's Wonmi's WAREHOUSE Programs hosts performance series.
• AMOC* (American Modern Opera Company)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Partnership for The Comet/Poppea production. AMOC* is led by Anthony Roth Costanzo and produced the landmark production along with The Industry, Curtis Institute, and Yale Schwarzman Center.
• Curtis Institute of MusicmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Partner in The Comet/Poppea landmark production, bringing opera training institution resources to the collaboration.
• Yale Schwarzman CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Partner in The Comet/Poppea production, contributing university cultural center resources to the collaboration.
• ICA LA (Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Co-production of Broke People's Baroque Peoples' Theater with ICA LA in October 2022.
• MOCA (additional)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2021Presented HIVE RISE at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Co-created production with Ash Fure and LILLETH, organized by MOCA's Associate Curator of Performance.
• BerghainminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020International partnership: HIVE RISE premiered at Berghain in Berlin, Germany in January 2020 before its US premiere at MOCA.
• CTM FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-commissioned HIVE RISE with DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program for festival presentation in Berlin.
• DAAD Artists-in-Berlin ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-commissioned HIVE RISE with CTM Festival. Ash Fure was a DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Prize recipient.
• Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018Major ongoing partnership for co-productions including Europeras 1 & 2 (2018) at Sony Studios, War of the Worlds (2017), and Young Caesar. LA Phil serves as Artist-Collaborator host and co-producer.
• LA Dance ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2013Co-produced Invisible Cities (2013) at Union Station, combining opera with contemporary dance. Partnership with Benjamin Millepied's company integrated dancers into the production.
• Hammer MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented In C and other productions. Hosted First Take 2013 and 2015 workshop presentations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Beth Morrison Projects: Beth Morrison Projects is a leading commissioner and producer of new opera and music-theater works. They share The Industry's mission of nurturing living composers and creating boundary-pushing productions for contemporary audiences, making them a direct peer in the experimental opera commissioning space.
• On Site Opera: On Site Opera is a New York-based company that stages opera in unconventional, site-specific venues. Its production model (opera outside traditional opera houses) is virtually identical to The Industry's site-specific approach, making it a direct peer in business and artistic model.
• Heartbeat Opera: Heartbeat Opera is a New York-based experimental company staging re-imagined and new works for contemporary audiences. Its combination of social relevance, contemporary reinterpretation, and small-scale production model closely parallels The Industry's approach.
• PROTOTYPE Festival: PROTOTYPE is an annual New York festival dedicated to contemporary opera and music-theater. Like The Industry, it serves as a launching platform for new experimental works, often hosting productions that go on to mainstage runs, and shares the same composer-development mission.
• AMOC* (American Modern Opera Company): AMOC* is a direct peer as a contemporary, artist-led opera company commissioning experimental works. The Industry co-produced The Comet/Poppea with AMOC*, Curtis Institute, and Yale Schwarzman Center in 2024, making the two organizations direct collaborators with overlapping repertoire and audience targets.

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati Opera: Cincinnati Opera is a regional US opera company that has increasingly experimented with site-specific and unconventional productions (e.g., outdoor festival work). It is a comparable regional opera company engaging with similar format innovation and audience-development challenges.
• The Kitchen: The Kitchen is a New York nonprofit presenting experimental performance across dance, music, and visual art. It is a direct functional peer because Tim Griffin came from The Kitchen before joining The Industry, and the two organizations share the experimental performing-arts stage model.
• English National Opera: English National Opera is a major UK opera company that has commissioned contemporary and experimental works alongside its traditional repertoire. It serves as a broad incumbent peer demonstrating how a larger opera institution can integrate experimental programming into its core mission.
• Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil): LA Phil is a broad incumbent partner that co-produces The Industry's larger productions (Europeras 1 & 2, War of the Worlds, Young Caesar) and served as Yuval Sharon's Artist-Collaborator host. It is a major institutional partner with overlapping classical-music audience reach.

Regional players

• Long Beach Opera: Long Beach Opera is a Southern California peer with a decades-long reputation for producing adventurous, contemporary, and rarely-performed opera. As a regional West Coast peer in experimental opera, it competes for overlapping LA-area audiences and similar foundation funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheindustryArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/industryopera
• Xx.com/industryopera
• Facebookfacebook.com/industryopera
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-industry-la

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Industry