Fort Collins Musicians Association

What Fort Collins Musicians Association does

Fort Collins Musicians Association (FoCoMA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2007 (with its flagship FoCoMX festival launching in 2009) that supports professional and aspiring musicians across Northern Colorado through programming, networking, education, and direct services. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on the annual two-day FoCoMX music festival — featuring 450+ Colorado bands across 40 downtown Fort Collins stages and offering 400+ paid performance opportunities to more than 1,200 musicians annually — supplemented by the Colorado Music Directory (a searchable online directory of local artists, venues, studios, and music services), Music Industry Nights (networking events), Music Trivia Nights at The Lyric, the FoCoMA Peer Awards recognition ceremony, and the InTune wellness program delivered in partnership with MusiCares (covering dental, hearing, mental health, and addiction recovery support).

FoCoMA operates with a lean 5-employee staff and a volunteer base of 400+ per festival year. The organization's revenue model combines three streams: tiered festival ticket sales (Blind Faith $50, Advance $60, General Admission $75), corporate sponsorship across Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Music Lover tiers (including Fort Collins Connexion, Bohemian Foundation, Circles Drum Samples, Odell Brewing, Organic Alternatives, Elevations Credit Union, Fort Fund, KRFC, KCSU, The Colorado Sound, Indie 102.3, FAMLI, and Visit Fort Collins), and donations/grants (monthly giving programs, Colorado Gives Day, Facebook fundraisers, foundation grants). Distribution runs through online ticket sales with QR-code pickup at the Thomas Gilbert Box Office at Organic Alternatives, an online artist directory, year-round in-person events, and free admission at partner venues such as the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and Old Town Square.

The technology stack is intentionally lightweight, relying on standard web, ticketing, and event management tooling rather than proprietary platforms; the Colorado Music Directory and Music Notes Blog constitute the organization's primary digital assets. No AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or software products are disclosed. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors currently recruiting new members following the announced departure of Co-Founder Dennis Bigelow after 20 years of service.

Name

Fort Collins Musicians Association

Legal name

Fort Collins Musicians Association

Website

https://focoma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FoCoMA is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports Northern Colorado musicians through the annual FoCoMX festival, the Colorado Music Directory, Music Industry Nights, Peer Awards, and the InTune wellness program, funded by ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Music Discovery & Curation Platforms (Recommendations, Playlists) (MPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Music festival events
• Musician community support
• Music industry networking
• Live music promotion
• Musician wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival Ticket Sales: FoCoMX generates revenue through tiered ticket sales. Blind Faith tickets ($50), Advance tickets ($60), and General Admission tickets ($75) are sold for the two-day festival. Tickets are sold online with QR code delivery and picked up at the box office as wristbands.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Local and regional businesses sponsor the FoCoMX festival and FoCoMA's year-round operations at multiple tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Music Lover levels). Sponsors receive logo placement, promotional mentions, and vendor access at festival venues.
3. Donations and Grants: FoCoMA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that receives donations from individuals (monthly giving programs, Colorado Gives Day, Facebook fundraisers) and grants from foundations such as the Bohemian Foundation and the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund. Donations are incentivized with perk tiers including festival tickets, merchandise, and VIP experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FoCoMA is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports Northern Colorado musicians through year-round programming anchored by the annual FoCoMX two-day music festival, featuring 450+ Colorado bands across 40 downtown Fort Collins venues and offering equitable pay to 400+ performers. The organization also operates the Colorado Music Directory (online discovery and booking platform), Music Industry Nights (networking events), Music Trivia Nights, the annual FoCoMA Peer Awards ceremony, and the InTune musician wellness program covering dental, hearing, mental health, and addiction resources.

Product overview

FoCoMA operates as a nonprofit organization supporting Northern Colorado musicians through a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offering is the FoCoMX annual music festival (a two-day event with 450+ bands on 40+ stages), supported by the Colorado Music Directory which serves as both a discovery platform and artist booking resource. These primary offerings are complemented by year-round community programs including Music Industry Nights (networking events), Music Trivia Nights (talent showcases), FoCoMA Peer Awards (recognition ceremonies), and the InTune Program (musician wellness resources including dental and hearing clinics). The organization also facilitates volunteer opportunities and accepts donations/sponsorships to fund these initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FoCoMX: The flagship two-day annual music festival celebrating live music with hundreds of Colorado bands and artists from all genres across multiple downtown Fort Collins venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 paid performances offered annually at FoCoMX
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Fort Collins ConnexioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFort Collins Connexion is the municipal, community-owned fiber broadband utility for Fort Collins and serves as the Platinum Sponsor of FoCoMX. They provide free public WiFi at 13+ festival venues, including 830 North, Atrium Music Lounge, Breckenridge Brewery, Colorado Room, Equinox Brewing, Museum of Art, New Belgium, Odell Brewing, Tony's Bar & Rooftop, Visit Fort Collins, The Whisk(e)y, Wobble HiFi, and Wolverine Farm. Connexion supports local artists through events like FoCoMX and advocates for FoCoMA's mission.
• MusiCarescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusiCares provides free telehealth services, one-time crisis relief grants, preventive care, recovery resources, and need-based financial assistance for musicians. Through the InTune Program, MusiCares and FoCoMA partner on dental and hearing clinics, offering musicians custom ear molds, dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays. MusiCares also provides nutrition coaching (via Onpoint Nutrition), financial coaching, smoking cessation services (via Optum Quit 4 Life), and ten free weekly online emotional support and addiction recovery support groups.
• Wolverine Farm Musician in ResidencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWolverine Farm Publick House runs a Musician in Residence program in partnership with FoCoMA. This program was awarded 'Coolest Collaboration 2025' at the FoCoMA Peer Awards, recognizing the partnership's value in supporting local musicians with residency opportunities.
• Bohemian FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBohemian Foundation is a Platinum/Gold-level festival sponsor providing funding support for FoCoMX. The foundation supports community-building initiatives in Fort Collins through grantmaking and community programming.
• Circles Drum SamplesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCircles Drum Samples, founded in Fort Collins by Stefan Runstrum (formerly of Tickle Me Pink), is a Gold-level festival sponsor presented by Sound Bar. The company has grown to serve over 50,000 producers in over 100 countries and has had samples used by artists including Billie Eilish, John Mayer, and Trent Reznor. Circles also provides drum samples for the festival's promotional materials.
• Odell Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of FoCoMA and a festival venue host. Odell Brewing Co. hosts performances on its outdoor patio at FoCoMX and provides ongoing sponsorship support for the organization's year-round programs.
• Organic AlternativescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of FoCoMA, presenting sponsor of Avogadro's Number venue, and host of the FoCoMX Box Office at 346 East Mountain Ave, Fort Collins. Organic Alternatives provides festival ticket sales and pickup infrastructure.
• Fort Fund (City of Fort Collins)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFort Fund, a grant program of the City of Fort Collins, is an annual sponsor of FoCoMA, providing public funding to support the local music festival and community programming.
• KRFCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKRFC (88.9 FM) is a community radio station and annual sponsor of FoCoMA. As a local radio partner, KRFC amplifies festival announcements and supports visibility for Northern Colorado musicians.
• KCSU FMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKCSU FM is Colorado State University's student-run radio station and an annual sponsor of FoCoMA. KCSU supports the local music scene by featuring Fort Collins artists on-air and promoting the festival to CSU students and the broader community.
• The Colorado SoundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Colorado Sound is a regional radio station (coloradosound.org) and annual sponsor of FoCoMA, providing media promotion and sponsorship support for the festival and local music community.
• Elevations Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver-level festival sponsor that provides its Community Room at 221 East Mountain Ave as the Volunteer Headquarters and Festival Headquarters for FoCoMX weekend. This partnership provides physical space for volunteer check-in, festival operations, and pre-festival training sessions.
• Indie 102.3 (CPR)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndie 102.3 (Colorado Public Radio) is a Gold-level festival sponsor and media partner, providing radio promotion and visibility for the FoCoMX festival and participating artists.
• FAMLI (Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFAMLI is a Silver-level festival sponsor. Colorado's Family and Medical Leave Office uses FoCoMX as a community engagement opportunity to inform musicians about their rights to opt in to Colorado FAMLI for up to 12 weeks of paid leave. FAMLI staff have a presence at festival check-in.
• SPIN (E-scooters and e-bikes)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSPIN, Fort Collins' shared micro mobility partner, is promoted at the festival to help attendees navigate between venues. The code FOCOMX26 provides $10 in free ride credit. This partnership supports sustainable festival transportation.
• Visit Fort CollinscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVisit Fort Collins is a Silver-level festival sponsor that supports free admission at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery during the festival. They promote FoCoMX as a driver of tourism and community engagement in Fort Collins.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Folk Alliance International: National nonprofit membership organization supporting folk and roots musicians through conferences, advocacy, and community programs. Comparable in mission and nonprofit structure but operates at a national rather than regional level.
• National Independent Venue Association (NIVA): National nonprofit trade association advocating for independent music venues and promoters. Comparable as a community advocacy organization serving the live music ecosystem with shared partners and overlapping mission.
• Western Arts Alliance: Regional performing arts service organization supporting touring artists, presenters, and managers across the western US. Comparable as a nonprofit intermediary organization supporting live music professionals.

Direct peers

• Sweet Relief Musicians Fund: National nonprofit providing financial assistance and wellness resources to musicians in need. Comparable organizational mission and donor-funded musician welfare model to FoCoMA's InTune Program.
• Colorado Music Collective: Colorado-based nonprofit supporting local musicians through advocacy, mental health, and career resources. Comparable mission and structure to FoCoMA's community support role, though with a state rather than regional focus.
• Treefort Music Fest: Annual multi-venue indie music festival in Boise, Idaho with a similar community-driven, multi-stage, multi-genre format and grassroots volunteer model. Most directly comparable to FoCoMX in scale, structure, and community-building mission.
• The Fest (FL): Annual multi-venue punk and indie music festival held in Gainesville, FL with a community-organized, multi-stage, volunteer-driven format. Closely comparable to FoCoMX in operating model and grassroots scale.
• MusiCares: National nonprofit arm of the Recording Academy providing health, wellness, and financial support to musicians. Directly comparable via FoCoMA's InTune Program, which is delivered in partnership with MusiCares.

Regional players

• RockyGrass Festival: Long-running Colorado-based music festival with a more genre-specific focus (bluegrass). Comparable as a regional Colorado festival with similar multi-day, multi-stage format and rooted community following.
• Telluride MusicFest: Colorado-based music festival operating in a different (mountain) region, with a comparable multi-venue, multi-day format. Comparable as a regional Colorado music festival competitor and potential partner for touring acts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/focoma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fort-collins-musicians-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Fort Collins Musicians Association