Retour de Scene

What Retour de Scene does

Retour de Scène is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) headquartered in Grenoble, operating since 1999 with five permanent staff and approximately 100 volunteers to develop and provide access to contemporary music across the Isère territory. Its core offerings span four product pillars: Festival Magic Bus, an annual multi-stage music festival in its 25th edition in 2026 that drew approximately 2,000 attendees per evening; La Cuvée Grenobloise, an artist scouting and development program selecting 12 local music projects per year since 2002; La DAMME, an equipment-sharing service for non-profit associations including tables, tents, eco-cups, and catering equipment; and Actions Culturelles, cultural mediation programs delivered in healthcare, school, correctional, and socio-cultural settings. Complementary service modules include delegated production, artistic programming, bar management, training programs (15–30€ per session), and year-round concert season programming across partner venues.

The association generates revenue through a hybrid professional services and transactional model: fee-based delegated production, programming, and bar management services for institutional clients (Ville de Grenoble, Université Grenoble Alpes, Crous de Grenoble, Musée Dauphinois); per-ticket concert and festival income (€20–€35 per ticket) sold via Weezevent and partner retailers; annual membership subscriptions (€8 individual, €15 association); DAMME equipment rental fees; and training session fees. The technical stack is light and commodity: WordPress CMS for the website, Weezevent for ticketing, Loxya for DAMME equipment reservations, Google Analytics for traffic measurement, and Google Forms for volunteer registration — no proprietary software or AI systems are deployed. Public funding is sourced from SACEM, Centre National de la Musique, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Département de l'Isère, Grenoble Alpes Métropole, FDVA, and Entreprise Solidaire designation, making the association subsidy-dependent.

Customer segments split between B2C (concert and festival attendees in Isère, festival-goers aged across demographics using Pass Culture, Pass'Région, Tattoo Isère, and Carte Jeunes 01), B2B/B2G (municipalities, universities, cultural institutions seeking programming and production services), and association members accessing La DAMME and voting rights. Distribution is regional (Grenoble metropolitan area and Isère department) with multi-channel ticketing (direct Weezevent storefront, partner resellers, on-site box office) and social-media-led marketing across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and newsletter.

Name

Retour de Scene

Legal name

Association Retour de Scène

Website

https://retourdescene.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Retour de Scène is a Grenoble-based French non-profit association organizing contemporary music festivals (Festival Magic Bus), developing local artists (La Cuvée Grenobloise), sharing event equipment (La DAMME), and delivering cultural mediation across the Isère territory since 1999.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Festival & Live Event Production

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tour & Artist Management Services (HSACAHAN)

Keywords

• Live music concerts
• Festival production
• Artist development programs
• Event equipment rental
• Cultural mediation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grenoble

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: Production delegated services handling administrative aspects of concert dates including contract management, invoicing, payroll processing, and social contributions for artists and technicians. Fee-based service model.
2. Programming and Venue Management: Programming artistic direction and event management for external clients including municipalities and institutions. References include Ville de Grenoble, UGA, Crous, Musée Dauphinois. Responsible for Cabaret Frappé festival programming 2021-2028.
3. Bar Management Services: Bar management and catering services for events with 10+ years experience. References include 100+ concerts in 300-600 capacity venues, Magic Bus (2000/evening), Cabaret Frappé (10000/evening), UGA C'est Party (4000), Holocène (6000), Détours de Babel festival.
4. DAMME Equipment Rental: Material logistics and event equipment rental service (tables, tents, signage, structures, catering equipment, etc.) with pricing based on equipment type and rental duration. Revenue supports equipment maintenance costs.
5. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees: 8€ for individuals, 15€ for associations and structures. Benefits include voting rights at General Assemblies, reduced pricing on events, and access to DAMME equipment loans for associations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Retour de Scène is a Grenoble-based non-profit cultural association that organizes live music concerts and festivals, supports emerging local artists, and provides event production services. Its flagship Festival Magic Bus runs annually (25th edition in 2026), the La Cuvée Grenobloise program scouts and develops 12 local music projects per year, La DAMME provides event equipment rentals to non-profits, and Cultural Actions deliver music workshops in healthcare, school, and correctional settings.

Product overview

Retour de Scène is a cultural association based in Grenoble operating a multi-component music ecosystem. The core offerings include the annual Festival Magic Bus (25th edition in 2026), the La Cuvée Grenobloise artist development program (since 1999 selecting 12 artists annually), and La DAMME equipment-sharing service. Cultural Actions provides mediation programs across healthcare, school, and correctional settings. Service modules encompass delegated production, artistic programming, bar management, and training programs. The association also programs Cabaret Frappé festival (2021-2028 contract with City of Grenoble) and runs a year-round concert season. The organization functions as an associative model promoting local music scene access and development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Festival Magic Bus: Annual contemporary music festival in Grenoble, Isère. 25th edition in 2026.
• La Cuvée Grenobloise
• La DAMME

Products and services

• Festival Magic Bus Annual contemporary music festival held at Palais des Sports in Grenoble, featuring indoor and outdoor stages with emerging local artists and established national headliners. The 25th edition runs in 2026 and draws approximately 2,000 attendees per evening. The festival includes a free open air outdoor stage on Saturday afternoon and runs as a 2-day event with tiered ticketing (early bird, regular, last call, sur place). Organized 100% by Retour de Scène.
• La Cuvée Grenobloise Annual artist scouting and development program selecting 12 local music projects from the Isère region each year. Successful applicants receive networking support, professional training, one-year communication campaigns, priority programming in Retour de Scène events, and access to venues such as La Bobine, Les Abattoirs, La Source, Le 6MIC, and Le Brise-Glace. Designed for emerging musicians in professionalization phase with some stage experience and original repertoire of at least 20 minutes.
• La DAMME (Equipment Sharing Service)

Quantifiable outcome

• Festival Magic Bus draws 2000+ attendees per evening
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ville de GrenoblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner providing venue access (Palais des Sports for Magic Bus), festival hosting, and programmatic support. Retour de Scène manages Cabaret Frappé festival programming on behalf of the city from 2021-2028.
• Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for programming and production services at university events. Logo displayed on partner section with institutional acknowledgment.
• Crous de GrenobleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent services organization partnership for programming and event production.
• Département de l'IsèrecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPack éco-événement partnership providing free eco-gobelets, carafes, water ramps, and sorting bins for sustainable events. Supports environmental initiatives.
• Grenoble Alpes MétropolecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPack éco-événement partnership for eco-friendly event materials. Collaborates on waste management and recycling programs.
• SACEMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic copyright society partnership supporting cultural events and artist compensation.
• Centre National de la Musique (CNM)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational music industry body partnership supporting festival operations and music sector development.
• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional council institutional partnership supporting festival operations and cultural initiatives.
• Grand BureauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional cultural network partnership for music sector coordination.
• SMA (Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade association partnership for current music sector representation.
• TempominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional music network partnership for artist development.
• La Belle ÉlectriquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrenoble music venue partnership for concert programming, artist hosting, and venue access. Key venue in local music scene ecosystem.
• Le CielminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrenoble music venue. Ada Unn entered long residency in September 2025. Blue Laïka accompanied for 2025/2026 season.
• La BobineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrenoble music venue, member of Cuvée Grenobloise jury and partner network.
• Les Abattoirs (SMAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusical structure d'accompagnement (SMAC) in Bourgoin-Jallieu. The Town receives Trans'Continental accompaniment. Member of Cuvée Grenobloise jury.
• La SourceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrenoble music venue, member of Cuvée Grenobloise jury and partner network.
• Le 6MIC (SMAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusical structure d'accompagnement (SMAC) in Gap. Member of Cuvée Grenobloise jury network.
• Le Brise-Glace (SMAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusical structure d'accompagnement (SMAC) in Annecy. Member of Cuvée Grenobloise jury.
• Serein·e·sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation accompanying Retour de Scène on gender violence prevention and equality issues. Contributed to VHSS charter development.
• Plus ÉgalesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation contributing to gender equality initiatives and VHSS prevention framework at Retour de Scène.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• La Coopérative de Mai: Cooperative SMAC music venue and festival organizer in Clermont-Ferrand. Operates a year-round concert season and an annual festival under an associative/cooperative model very similar to Retour de Scène's festival-plus-concert-season approach in Grenoble.
• Le Transbordeur: Large music venue and concert promoter in Villeurbanne/Lyon running a multi-thousand-capacity programming schedule with festival-style events. Comparable in scale of concerts and ticket-driven revenue, with a similar mixed associative/commercial governance.
• Le Krakatoa: SMAC music venue in Bordeaux with year-round concert programming and emerging-artist support. Runs as an associative structure with municipal and regional support, closely mirroring Retour de Scène's programming-and-production model.
• Le Bikini: Music venue and festival organizer in Toulouse/Ramonville-Sainte-Agne running a concert season plus annual festival under associative governance. Directly comparable in concert programming, emerging-artist slots, and regional cultural-mandate positioning.
• La Cartonnerie: SMAC music venue in Reims running an associative programming model with a strong focus on emerging artists and festival-style events. Mirrors Retour de Scène's combination of year-round concerts, artist development, and public-sector partnerships.
• Le Sirène: SMAC concert venue and festival organizer in La Rochelle with an associative model focused on contemporary music programming. Comparable scope of concert programming, emerging-artist support, and public-mandate financing.
• Le Maillon: Theater and contemporary music venue in Strasbourg operating as a public-initiative cultural institution. Comparable in mixed performing-arts programming, public funding dependency, and festival-style productions.
• La Rodia: SMAC music venue in Besançon with year-round contemporary music programming and emerging-artist development. Comparable associative governance, public-sector anchoring, and concert-plus-festival format.
• Le Fil: SMAC concert venue in Saint-Étienne running year-round programming plus festival-style events under associative governance. Directly comparable to Retour de Scène in concert programming model and public-mandate positioning.
• Le Tetris: SMAC music venue in Le Havre with an associative model emphasizing contemporary music and emerging artists. Mirrors Retour de Scène's combination of programming, festival productions, and regional cultural-mandate financing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@retour2scene
• Facebookfacebook.com/retourdescene
• Instagraminstagram.com/retourdescene
• TikToktiktok.com/@retourdescene
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retour-de-scene---dynamusic

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Retour de Scene