Colorado Music Business Organization

What Colorado Music Business Organization does

COMBO (legally the Colorado Music Association, doing business as the Colorado Music Business Organization) is a Denver-based 501(c)-style nonprofit community organization founded in July 1999 by Dolly Zander. It provides networking, education, and support services to musicians, bands, music-related businesses, and music supporters across Colorado. Core offerings include free monthly industry panels held around Denver, an annual songwriting contest with prizes from media and industry partners, free UPC/barcode distribution for independently released recordings (enabling SoundScan tracking), member discounts through partner retailers such as SoundTown, an ombudsman program for dispute resolution, scam alerts, talent listings, and curated member-only video content. The organization also maintains resource directories linking members to other Colorado music associations.

The organization's business model is membership-driven: it sells annual memberships across four tiers — Supporter ($20/year), Individual Musician ($30/year), Band ($55/year, with multi-login), and Business ($95/year, with up to 10 employee logins) — and accepts donations. Members can pay by credit card, PayPal, or check (the latter being preferred to avoid PayPal processing fees). Technology is deliberately minimal: a WordPress-based website (coloradomusic.org) hosted on a Bunny CDN handles all communications, event listings, member login, and barcode distribution. There are no full-time employees; COMBO is entirely volunteer-run, governed by a Board of Directors and led by President Barb Dye (SweetRevenge Management, DyeNamic Productions) since July 2005. Operating geography is limited to Colorado with primary activity concentrated in the Denver metro area; the legal address is a P.O. Box (Denver, CO 80218) with no walk-in office.

COMBO has assembled a broad partnership ecosystem spanning media (Rocky Mountain Public Media, KUVO Jazz 89.3 FM, The Drop 104.7), venues (Levitt Pavilion Denver), education (Durango Songwriters Expo, Performance High, Swallow Hill Music, NSAI Colorado chapters), legal resources (Colorado Lawyers for the Arts, Todd Myers Esq., Steve Replin Esq.), and member organizations across genres (Colorado Blues Society, Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame, Colorado Bluegrass Music Society, Colorado Hip Hop Coalition). Customer segments are horizontal — Individual Musicians, Bands, Music-Related Businesses, Music Supporters, and Songwriters — with no single customer dominating. Financial details are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Colorado Music Business Organization

Legal name

Colorado Music Association

Website

https://coloradomusic.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colorado Music Business Organization (COMBO) is a Denver-based, volunteer-run nonprofit founded in 1999 that provides networking, education, monthly industry panels, free UPC/barcodes, member discounts, and an annual songwriting contest to musicians, bands, and music businesses across Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: COMBO generates revenue through annual membership fees at four levels: Business ($95/year), Band ($55/year), Individual Musician ($30/year), and Supporter ($20/year). Memberships last one year from join/renew date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

COMBO is a Colorado-based nonprofit that supports musicians, bands, and music businesses through tiered annual memberships, free monthly educational panels, networking events, an annual songwriting contest, and free UPC/barcode distribution for independent releases. The organization operates as a volunteer-run community hub providing music business education, ombudsman services, and member discounts to the Colorado music scene.

Product overview

COMBO (Colorado Music Business Organization) is a community organization of musicians and music scene supporters. It is not a software technology company but rather offers a suite of member services including tiered membership programs (Business, Band, Individual Musician, Supporter), educational monthly panels and workshops, free UPC/barcode distribution for independent artists, an annual songwriting contest, and member discount programs. The organization serves as a networking hub for the Colorado music community with resources spanning events, talent listings, and scam alerts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• COMBO Membership Program Tiered annual membership program offering access to member discounts, barcodes for independently released CDs, networking opportunities, members-only videos, and educational resources. Memberships last one year from join/renew date and can be purchased online or by mail.
• Educational Panels and Workshops Free monthly panels held around Denver featuring industry professionals speaking on music business topics such as DIY Band Management, Touring, songwriting, and music distribution. Open to both members and non-members, providing networking and educational content for musicians and industry professionals.
• Free UPC Codes for Independent Releases

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Colorado Blues SocietyminorOthersListed as a COMBO member organization. Colorado Blues Society is part of the broader Colorado music association ecosystem connected through COMBO.
• Colorado Country Music Hall of FameminorOthersListed as a COMBO member organization. CCMHOF celebrates Colorado's outstanding country musicians and holds annual awards events.
• Durango Songwriters ExpocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDurango Songwriters Expo partners with COMBO to offer prizes to COMBO songwriting contest winners, including entries worth up to $450. COMBO promotes the Expo to its members and the Expo provides educational opportunities for Colorado songwriters.
• Celebrity Sidekick / Local Sounds OnlinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCelebrity Sidekick is Colorado's premier showcase for emerging vocal talent. They partner with COMBO to offer vocal competition entries worth up to $500 to COMBO songwriting contest winners.
• Performance HighcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPerformance High is a full-service vocal coaching and artist development studio with locations in RiNO and Broomfield. They offer gift certificates worth $100 to COMBO songwriting contest winners and provide member discounts.
• SoundTownminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoundTown provides COMBO members with a 10% discount on purchases. COMBO promotes SoundTown to its members as a preferred retailer.
• Levitt Pavilion DenvercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLevitt Pavilion Denver is a non-profit building community through music. They partner with COMBO to donate VIP packages to songwriting contest winners and host performances for the music community.
• KUVO JazzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKUVO Jazz is a public radio station broadcasting jazz, blues, and Latin jazz on 89.3 FM in Denver. They partner with COMBO to offer prizes to contest winners.
• The Drop 104.7minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDenver's premier station for urban alternative, R&B, and hip-hop partners with COMBO to offer prizes and promote local music.
• Rocky Mountain Public MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColorado's largest statewide, member-supported multimedia network (home to Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO Jazz, and The Drop 104.7) partners with COMBO to offer VIP packages.
• Tranquility SalonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTranquility Salon in Arvada, CO offers COMBO songwriting contest winners gift cards worth $100 toward their beauty and wellness services.
• Colorado Lawyers for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical alliance providing legal resources and support to COMBO members.
• Colorado Bluegrass Music SocietyminorOthersHistorical alliance with Colorado Bluegrass Music Society as part of COMBO's broader coalition of state music organizations.
• Colorado Hip Hop CoalitionminorOthersHistorical alliance with Colorado Hip Hop Coalition representing diverse music genres in the state.
• Swallow Hill MusicminorOthersHistorical alliance with Swallow Hill Music Association, a key Colorado music education organization.
• Nashville Songwriters Association Int'lminorOthersNSAI has Denver, Colorado Springs, and Longmont chapters that work with COMBO on songwriting education and advocacy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI): NSAI is a songwriter advocacy and education organization with Denver-area chapters that directly partner with COMBO. Both organizations provide education, networking, and advocacy for songwriters through membership-based models, making them directly comparable in mission and structure.
• Austin Music Foundation: Austin Music Foundation is a regional nonprofit that supports musicians through education, networking, and resources in the Austin music community. It mirrors COMBO's structure and mission as a city-specific music business support organization for independent artists and industry professionals.
• Folk Alliance International: Folk Alliance International is a membership-based nonprofit that supports folk music through conferences, advocacy, and networking. It operates a similar model to COMBO with tiered memberships, educational events, and community-building for a specific music community segment.
• Songwriters Hall of Fame: The Songwriters Hall of Fame is a nonprofit dedicated to recognizing and supporting songwriters through education, awards, and advocacy. It shares COMBO's mission of songwriter education and industry advocacy, though at a national scale with broader recognition programs.

Broad incumbents

• Recording Academy (Grammys): The Recording Academy is a national professional association for music creators and professionals, offering advocacy, education, and networking at a vastly larger scale than COMBO. It represents the broad-incumbent version of what COMBO does locally, with overlapping member benefits and educational programming.
• A2IM (American Association of Independent Music): A2IM is a national trade organization representing independent music labels, providing advocacy, education, and networking for independent music businesses. It overlaps with COMBO's business-member segment at a national scale, with similar advocacy and educational programming.
• ASCAP: ASCAP is a large performing rights organization that provides royalty collection, advocacy, and educational resources to songwriters and composers. While primarily a rights organization, ASCAP offers education and networking services that overlap with COMBO's music business education mission.
• BMI: BMI is a major performing rights organization offering royalty collection, advocacy, and songwriter education programs. It parallels COMBO's mission of supporting songwriters and musicians with music business education and industry resources at a national scale.

Others

• Future of Music Coalition: Future of Music Coalition is a national nonprofit focused on music policy advocacy and education for musicians. While not a direct peer, it shares COMBO's nonprofit, education-and-advocacy orientation and represents an adjacent thematic connection in the musician-support ecosystem.
• Swallow Hill Music: Swallow Hill Music is a Colorado-based nonprofit providing music education and performance opportunities. It is explicitly listed as a COMBO historical alliance partner and represents a closely adjacent, complementary music education nonprofit in COMBO's own network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/comusicbizorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZWXnO5WKAH5ORlMLunli3A?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoMusicBusinessOrganization
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-music-business-organization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado Music Business Organization