80/35 Music Festival

What 80/35 Music Festival does

80/35 Music Festival is an annual two-day music and culture event held in Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, currently scheduled for July 3-4, 2026. Founded in 2008 by the Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the festival operates across five stages — one ticketed Hy-Vee Main Stage and four free stages (Kum & Go Stage, Bud & Mary's Stage, Iowa Public Radio Stage, and an additional free stage) — and features 50+ artists spanning national headliners (e.g., The War on Drugs, Big Boi, The Flaming Lips, The Roots) and regional/local Iowa acts. The festival is designed for all ages, with free Kids Zone programming presented by the Science Center of Iowa, a Vintage & Craft Market, a Community Choice Nonprofit Village, and a Sensory Zone operated with Fi & Friends. The 16+ year event has become a recognized contributor to downtown Des Moines revitalization.

The festival's core technology footprint is minimal: ticketing is delivered through a local Des Moines ticketing partner, Midwestix, with a $2.50 fulfillment fee and 2.9% credit card processing per ticket. The organization has no public API, no mobile app, and operates with standard digital marketing channels (official website, Instagram, X/Twitter, email). Marketing and visitor acquisition are distributed through tourism partnerships (Catch Des Moines, Hotel Fort Des Moines), public transit (DART free late-night shuttle), bicycle infrastructure (Street Collective bike valet), and a large regional sponsor roster anchored by Parimatch as Main Festival Partner and approximately 25 additional local/regional sponsors across hospitality, food & beverage, automotive, healthcare, energy, and government.

Revenue is generated from a diversified mix of ticketed General Admission (1-day $55-$80, 2-day $95-$125) and VIP passes (1-day $150-$160, 2-day $225-$275), tiered DMMC memberships ($120-$160/year), corporate sponsorships, food and beverage concessions, on-site merchandise sales, a $25 Exile Lounge/silent disco upgrade, and a Pay-it-Forward donation fund. All proceeds fund DMMC's year-round programming, including after-school music education, rock and hip-hop summer camps, career mentoring, and advocacy within the Des Moines music community. The organization has no outside funding rounds, no disclosed headcount, and is governed by a board of directors rather than private investors.

Name

80/35 Music Festival

Legal name

Greater Des Moines Music Coalition

Website

https://80-35.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

80/35 Music Festival is an annual two-day, nonprofit music festival in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, operated by the Des Moines Music Coalition since 2008, featuring 50+ artists across five stages, with ticket sales, sponsorships, and memberships funding year-round local music education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Live music events
• Music festival production
• Outdoor concert events
• Festival ticketing services
• Nonprofit event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The festival generates primary revenue through ticket sales with tiered pricing: General Admission (1-day and 2-day) and VIP passes. Prices vary by tier (Early Bird, Tier 1, Tier 2) and category (standard, student/senior/musician discounts). Children 11 and under attend free with a paying adult.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: The festival operates with support from multiple corporate sponsors at various levels, including a Main Festival Partner (Parimatch) and numerous Other Festival Partners across hospitality, food/beverage, automotive, healthcare, and community organizations.
3. Food & Beverage Concessions: The festival grounds feature food vendors and beverage stations (including alcoholic options). Revenue from food vendors and expanded beverage selections in areas like the Exile Lounge contribute to festival revenue.
4. Merchandise Sales: Official 80/35 merchandise including t-shirts, tanks, hats, stickers, and koozies available at the Merch Tent. Band merchandise also sold on-site.
5. Membership (DMMC): Des Moines Music Coalition offers annual memberships (Front Row at $120/year, Backstage at $160/year) that provide exclusive perks including member welcome kits, discounted merch, access to members-only shows, festival prep kits, and discount drinks/tickets at local venues.
6. Exile Lounge & Silent Disco Upgrade: General Admission ticket holders can upgrade for $25 to access the Exile Lounge featuring expanded craft beer, wine, and liquor selection plus the first-ever silent disco at 80/35. Access included with VIP tickets.
7. Donations: Pay it Forward Donated Ticket Fund allows ticket buyers to contribute $10 toward providing free tickets for community members who might not otherwise attend.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

An annual two-day live music festival featuring 50+ artists across five stages in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Produced by the Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the event combines one ticketed Main Stage with four free community-accessible stages, generating revenue from tickets, sponsorships, merchandise, concessions, memberships, and donations.

Product overview

80/35 Music Festival is a nonprofit music festival operated by the Des Moines Music Coalition. The core offering is a two-day music event in downtown Des Moines featuring ticketed General Admission and VIP access to the Main Stage, with free stages including the Iowa Public Radio Stage. The festival provides add-on experiences such as the Exile Lounge and Silent Disco, alongside community-focused areas like the Kids Zone, Vintage & Craft Market, and Nonprofit Village. The DMMC Membership program (Front Row and Backstage tiers) offers year-round benefits including access to members-only shows and discounts at local venues. The festival also supports emerging artists through its Emerging Artists Series for musicians under 21.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Des Moines Music Coalition: The nonprofit organization that operates and presents the 80/35 Music Festival, working to build a stronger and more diverse music scene in Des Moines.

Products and services

• 80/35 Music Festival An annual two-day live music festival held in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, featuring 50+ artists across one ticketed Main Stage and four free community stages. Produced by the Des Moines Music Coalition for individual music fans and the regional community.
• Festival Merchandise Branded festival merchandise available for purchase by attendees on-site during the annual festival event.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Multi-tier corporate sponsorship packages offering brands stage branding, signage, hospitality, and on-site activation opportunities at the annual festival, sold to marketing and sponsorship decision-makers.
• Des Moines Music Coalition Membership Membership program offered by the Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) for community members and supporters of the local music scene, providing ongoing engagement beyond the annual festival.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 artists perform annually across 5 stages
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ParimatchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain Festival Partner providing primary sponsorship support for the 80/35 Music Festival. Parimatch is an online betting/gaming company.
• Hotel Fort Des MoinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival partner hotel providing lodging recommendations and booking links for festival attendees visiting from out of town.
• Hy-VeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNamed sponsor of Main Stage (Hy-Vee Main Stage) with presence on festival grounds.
• Iowa Public RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree IPR Stage featuring exclusive performances and interviews with festival and statewide bands. Partnership provides content for IPR programming.
• Kum & GominorGTM or Marketing PartnerNamed sponsor of Kum & Go Stage (free admission stage). Regional convenience store chain with Iowa presence.
• MidAmerican EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival partner and regional energy provider supporting the event.
• Science Center of IowaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresents the Kids Zone at the festival featuring free activities for children from 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm Friday and 12 pm – 9:45 pm Saturday.
• Unity Point HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival partner providing health and wellness presence at the event.
• Polk CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government partner supporting the regional music festival.
• Greater Des Moines PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization supporting local arts and cultural events.
• Catch Des MoinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal tourism organization providing visitor information and lodging recommendations for festival attendees.
• DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic transit partner providing service to festival grounds. Free D-Line shuttle runs until 12am on festival days.
• Street CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bicycle advocacy organization providing complimentary bicycle valet parking for festival attendees.
• Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent nonprofit organization that presents the 80/35 festival. DMMC's mission is to build a stronger and more diverse music scene in Des Moines through year-round education programs, professional development, and mentorship. All proceeds from 80/35 support DMMC's mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Mission Creek Festival: Iowa City indie music and arts festival with a similar indie-leaning national lineup. Comparable to 80/35 as a smaller Iowa-based regional festival with community programming focus.
• FloydFest: Annual multi-genre music and arts festival in Floyd, Virginia run by a nonprofit. Comparable to 80/35 in nonprofit structure, community-rooted positioning, and indie-leaning lineup with national headliners.
• North Coast Music Festival: Chicago Labor Day weekend multi-genre music festival with indie/electronic/hip-hop programming. Comparable to 80/35 as a Midwest regional multi-genre festival targeting similar demographic and genre mix.
• Hinterland Music Festival: Iowa-based multi-genre indie music festival held annually near Des Moines. Closely comparable to 80/35 as a regional Midwest festival with a national indie/rock lineup and similar two-to-three-day format.
• Des Moines Arts Festival: Free-admission nonprofit arts festival held in the same Western Gateway Park as 80/35. Direct peer sharing venue, audience, and nonprofit community-festival operating model.
• Maha Music Festival: Annual community music festival in Omaha, Nebraska run as a nonprofit. Directly comparable to 80/35 in scale, regional Midwest positioning, and community-mission-driven model.
• Mile of Music: Appleton, Wisconsin multi-day indie music festival featuring 200+ acts across downtown venues. Similar to 80/35 in Midwest regional positioning, community support, and multi-stage free/paid model.

Broad incumbents

• Summerfest: Iconic multi-week music festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Comparable to 80/35 as a major Midwest music festival, but operates at significantly larger scale, longer duration, and with broader genre coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/8035
• Instagraminstagram.com/8035musicfest
• Facebookfacebook.com/8035musicfestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/80-35-music-festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 80/35 Music Festival