La Cordo

What La Cordo does

La Cordo (legally La Cordonnerie) is a non-profit association operating as a Scène de Musiques Actuelles (SMAC) — a French publicly supported contemporary music venue and cultural centre — located at the 4,000 m² Cité de la Musique complex in Romans-sur-Isère, France. Founded in 2006 (studios) and re-anchored in the Cité de la Musique complex in 2013 alongside the Conservatoire de Valence Romans Agglo, La Cordo provides an integrated ecosystem for musicians across amateur and professional tiers: two concert halls hosting live programming, three rehearsal studios and one recording studio (with hourly rental rates of €5-10, happy-hour discounts, and multi-hour packages), an artist residency programme, the Miz'Ampli A.O.C two-year accompaniment device, workshops and ateliers, and outreach ("Actions Culturelles") into schools, hospitals, and the penitentiary sector.

The core product surface is programmatic rather than software-based: ticket sales for concerts priced €13-24 with discounted Carte Cordo member and youth rates, usage-based studio rental, workshop fees, and a €10/year Carte Cordo membership that drives recurring engagement and cross-venue discounts with partner music venues in the Miz'Ampli network. Distribution runs through billetterie.lacordo.com (closing 30 minutes before showtime), physical box office (with €2 surcharge for on-site purchase), and Ticketmaster, Fnac, and See Tickets as third-party resellers, plus a Heeds-powered studio reservation system and a Reelax Tickets secondary marketplace. Marketing is primarily event- and community-led through the lacordo.com website, an email newsletter, a Spotify-curated artist playlist, regional radio partners (Radio Méga, RCF 26, Radio Royans, Radio Déclic), and cultural outreach.

The organisation is led by Céline Coutable (Directrice) with a 12-person core team spanning programming, communications, accompaniment, technical production, and accounting, supplemented by Bureau and board members. Revenue is undisclosed but is structurally a mix of earned income (tickets, studio rental, workshops, membership) and institutional subsidy, principally from the Département de la Drôme and regional cultural devices (Open Tour, Émergence, Les Inouïs du Printemps de Bourges). La Cordo's strategic position rests on co-location with the Conservatoire, membership in FEDELIMA, SMA, Grand Bureau, and Miz'Ampli, and 300+ artists programmed across 2021-2026.

Name

La Cordo

Legal name

La Cordonnerie

Website

https://lacordo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Cordo (La Cordonnerie) is a French non-profit Scène de Musiques Actuelles (SMAC) in Romans-sur-Isère offering concert programming, rehearsal/recording studios, artist residencies, workshops, and cultural outreach (schools, hospitals, penitentiary) to amateur and professional musicians and regional audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Live Music Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Venues & Venue Operators (Clubs, Theaters, Arenas) (MPAIAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Touring & Production Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAIAFAF), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

Keywords

• Contemporary music venue
• Artist development services
• Music rehearsal studios
• Live concert programming
• Cultural outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Romans-sur-Isère

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticketing: La Cordo generates primary revenue from ticket sales for concerts and live events. Pricing includes full price, reduced price (students, job seekers, welfare beneficiaries), Carte Cordo member discounts, and a flat 7€ rate for children under 12. A 2€ surcharge applies for on-site purchases. Revenue from ticket partnerships with Ticketmaster, Fnac, and See Tickets.
2. Studio Rental: Rehearsal studio bookings generate hourly revenue: 5€/hour solo/duo, 10€/hour group, with happy hour discounts (2.5€/5€ until 6pm), and bulk packages (10h, 30h, 50h). Recording sessions are also offered with engineering support.
3. Workshop Fees: Fees charged for music workshops and events (e.g., DJ initiation at 12€ per session), covering topics from instrument technique to sound engineering and artist skills development.
4. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership (Carte Cordo) priced at 10€/year, providing benefits including discounted concert tickets, quarterly Cordo Duo promotions (one free ticket per purchase), reduced studio rates, and 10% discounts at partner music retailers. Revenue from approximately 129 groups/projects using the studios.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Cordo operates a Scène de Musiques Actuelles (SMAC) contemporary music venue within the Cité de la Musique complex in Romans-sur-Isère, France. The association delivers live concert programming across multiple genres, rehearsal and recording studio rentals, multi-day artist residencies, multi-year artist accompaniment programs (including the Miz'Ampli A.O.C device and Les Amazones women's track), music workshops and ateliers, cultural outreach to schools and community institutions, and integrated ticketing services supported by an online platform and partner distributors.

Product overview

La Cordo is a Scene de Musiques Actuelles (SMAC) — a publicly supported contemporary music venue and cultural center located in Romans-sur-Isère, France, within the Cité de la Musique complex. The organization operates as a unified venue with multiple interconnected services rather than a modular software product. Its core portfolio centers on live concert programming and artist development, supported by physical infrastructure (studios, rehearsal rooms, and performance spaces) and ticketing operations. The Studios (répétition et enregistrement) provide three rehearsal studios and a recording studio available for hourly rental or package booking. The Résidences program offers artists multi-day stays with full technical and artistic support. The Accompagnement service delivers comprehensive project development from creation through distribution, including the Miz'Ampli A.O.C. two-year artist support track and the Open Tour regional circuit. Ateliers and cultural Actions provide workshops, educational programming, and community outreach for youth, schools, and families. Billetterie manages ticketing online, by phone, on-site, and via partner retailers, with a secondary market via Reelax Tickets. Membership (Carte Cordo) unlocks preferential pricing, Cordo Duo promotions, and studio access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studios – Répétition et Enregistrement (Rehearsal and Recording Studios) Three rehearsal studios (two soundproofed with PA systems, drum kits, guitar and bass amps; one demo studio with PC, audio interface, monitors, microphones, and Ableton Live software) plus a recording studio open to professionals and amateurs with optional sound engineer accompaniment. Hourly rates (5€/hour solo/duo, 10€/hour group) with happy hour discounts (2.5€/5€ until 6pm) and multi-hour packages (10h, 30h, 50h).
• Résidences (Artist Residencies) Artist residency program providing musicians with workspace, equipment (rehearsal rooms, PA, lighting, video), and artistic, stage, and technical coaching to prepare for concerts, tours, albums, and touring logistics.
• Accompagnement (Artist Accompaniment Service) Comprehensive artist development service covering project creation, administration, financing, artistic coaching, and performance guidance, including the Miz'Ampli A.O.C two-year program with 3 artists selected annually, the regional Open Tour circulation circuit, and the Les Amazones women-in-music track with 6 artists selected in 2025.
• Ateliers / Événements (Workshops and Events) Workshops led by music professionals covering artistic direction, sound technique, mixing, mastering, communication, writing, and singing, plus quarterly evenings such as open stages, thematic nights, and studio group showcases. Example pricing: DJ initiation at 12€ per session; many workshops and afterwork events are free.
• Concerts et Programmation (Concert Programming) Live concert programming spanning indie, rock, electro, pop, rap, jazz, dub, folk, and world music genres, with ticketed and free events across the venue's two concert halls. Featured nationally recognized acts (Tigran Hamasyan, Last Train, Ignite, Cancer Bats, Benjamin Epps) alongside emerging regional artists (300+ artists programmed 2021–2026).
• Billetterie (Ticketing Service) Ticketing service for concerts and events, available online via billetterie.lacordo.com (closing 30 minutes before showtime), by phone during office hours, on-site 1 hour before concerts, and through partner retailers (Ticketmaster, Fnac, See Tickets). Secondary market resale is available via Reelax Tickets. Pricing includes full, reduced, child, and Carte Cordo member rates.
• Actions Culturelles (Cultural Outreach) Cultural outreach and discovery programs including family and school performances, school visits, artist meet-and-greets, youth-oriented shows, art exhibitions, slam projects with Lycée Saint Maurice, Fabriques à Musique rap programs with Lycée Professionnel Auguste Bouvet, Dose le Son auditory prevention concerts, and concerts/workshops at the Hôpital Drôme Vivarais Romans and Centre Pénitentiaire de Valence.
• La Cité de la Musique (Shared Music Complex) Shared venue complex (4,000 sqm) co-located with the Conservatoire de Valence Romans Agglo (700+ students, ~40 teachers), featuring 25 course rooms, 2 concert halls, a resource pole, a restaurant, and concert-side food service run by La Cordo volunteers.
• Adhésion / Carte Cordo (Annual Membership) Annual membership card priced at 10€/year granting reduced concert prices, Cordo Duo quarterly promotions (one free ticket per purchase), studio and workshop access, and partner discounts at Melody music store and Musique et bois luthier in Romans.

Quantifiable outcome

• 129 groups/projects use rehearsal studios annually with 238 hours of recording
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FEDELIMA (Fédération des Lieux de Musiques Actuelles)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026La Cordo is a member of FEDELIMA, a national federation of current music venues in France. FEDELIMA enables member venues to share best practices, access national funding, and circulate artists across its network. La Cordo offers FEDELIMA subscriber discounts on tickets.
• SMA (Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026La Cordo is a member of SMA, the national union of current music venues and promoters in France, representing the sector's interests and supporting professional development.
• Grand BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional network of current music professionals in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. La Cordo participates in Grand Bureau's Open Tour (artist circulation device) and Dose le Son (auditory prevention concert program). La Cordo offers FEDELIMA subscriber discounts on tickets.
• Miz'AmplicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional Drôme network of current music actors for spotting, accompanying, and diffusing amateur and professional music groups. Miz'Ampli's A.O.C device is piloted by La Cordo, which coordinates artist accompaniment across the network of 16+ member structures (conservatories, venues, radio stations, studios). Supported and financed by the Department of Drôme.
• AGi-SonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Professional network active in the field of current music, contributing to sector development and knowledge sharing in which La Cordo participates.
• Auvergne Rhône Alpes Spectacle VivantminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional professional network for live performance in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, contributing to the development of the sector and cross-regional cooperation.
• Conservatoire de Valence Romans AgglocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-located within the Cité de la Musique at La Cordo's site. The conservatory has 700+ students and ~40 teachers. Joint activities include the Grand Bazar Musical heritage event, shared visitor tours, and the Viral Battle hip-hop event. La Cordo offers conservatory student/teacher discounts on tickets.
• Jazz Action ValenceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Jazz venue and organization in Valence, partner of Miz'Ampli network and provider of reduced ticket rates for La Cordo subscribers.
• Mistral Palace (Valence)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Music venue in Valence, partner in the Miz'Ampli network and part of the cross-venue subscriber discount scheme offering La Cordo members reduced rates.
• Locaux Rock (Valence)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Member of the Miz'Ampli network; rock-oriented music space in Valence providing rehearsal facilities and artist support.
• Radio MégaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Regional radio station in Drôme, media partner of La Cordo providing on-air promotion of concerts and artist interviews. Partner of the Miz'Ampli network with A.O.C radio promotion for selected artists.
• Ticketmaster, Fnac, See TicketsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Third-party ticket distribution partners enabling La Cordo's concerts to be sold through their national and international retail networks.
• RCF 26, Radio Royans, Radio Declic, Club Photo de Romans - Les PixopathesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Regional media partners providing coverage and promotion of La Cordo's activities through radio broadcasts and photography exhibitions.
• Les Canut·es (Collective)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collective co-developing Les Amazones, an artist accompaniment track for women in current music in the Drôme. Les Canut·es and La Cordo jointly design and deliver the program targeting 6 women musicians annually.
• Émergence (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Device)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional device supporting emerging artists in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. La Cordo programs artists from the Emergence network (e.g., Mélatonin, a local artist supported through this device).
• Les Inouïs du Printemps de BourgesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026National recognition program for emerging artists. La Cordo is part of the network supporting artists on the Les Inouïs pathway.
• Hôpital Drôme Vivarais RomansminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Health institution in Romans with which La Cordo runs cultural action projects for patients and healthcare settings.
• Centre Pénitentiaire de ValenceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Penitentiary in Valence where La Cordo programs concerts and songwriting workshops as part of its cultural action outreach.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Le Chabada: SMAC in Angers offering contemporary music programming across multiple venues with studio and rehearsal facilities. Direct peer in scale, mission, and SMAC/FEDELIMA affiliation.
• Le Grand Mix: Federated SMAC in Tourcoing combining concert programming, artist residencies, and studio infrastructure within a dedicated contemporary music venue. Operates under the same FEDELIMA network and SMA label as La Cordo, with a comparable mix of concerts, studios, and artist accompaniment.
• Le Transbordeur: Large SMAC in Lyon programming contemporary music across genres with two performance spaces and artist support. Comparable to La Cordo as a regional SMAC with concert halls, production capabilities, and membership in the same national networks.
• Le Rocher de Palmer: SMAC near Bordeaux with two halls, rehearsal studios, and artist residency/formation activities. Closely comparable to La Cordo on venue scale, multi-space programming, and integration of artist development with public-facing concert activity.
• Le Cargo: SMAC in Caen (Caen la Mer) operating concert halls and artist support programs within the FEDELIMA/SMA ecosystem. Comparable non-profit structure, venue mix, and artist-development mission.
• La Coopérative de Mai: SMAC in Clermont-Ferrand with two performance spaces, artist support programs, and strong network participation. Functionally analogous to La Cordo as a mid-sized regional SMAC combining concerts, studios, and artist accompaniment.
• Le Bikini: SMAC and concert venue in Toulouse/Ramonville operating a multi-hall programming model with residencies and studios. Shares the Scène de Musiques Actuelles designation, FEDELIMA membership, and accompanying regional network with La Cordo.
• La Sirène: SMAC in La Rochelle with concert programming, studios, and artist accompaniment as a Scène de Musiques Actuelles. Comparable regional footprint, venue mix, and mission to La Cordo.
• Le Nouveau Relax: Scène de Musiques Actuelles in Chaumont offering concerts and studio/rehearsal facilities to musicians in a similar regional French context. Closely aligned with La Cordo in scale, audience, and service mix.

Emerging players

• KEXP: Seattle-based public radio station and music venue combining live performance, recording, broadcasting, and artist discovery with a strong community orientation. Comparable to La Cordo in its integration of recording studios, live music programming, and artist-development mission, though structured as a non-profit broadcaster rather than a SMAC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-cordo-smac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 La Cordo