agi-son

What agi-son does

AGI-SON is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 2000 and headquartered in a coworking space at 43 boulevard de Clichy in Paris. Its mission is to support sound management in amplified music by reconciling hearing health preservation, environmental respect, and the conditions of musical practice. It serves the French live performance sector — professional organizations (FNSAC-CGT, Prodiss/Ekhoscènes, SMA, Synpase, Fédélima), festivals (Marsatac, 3 Éléphants, Cabaret Vert, We Love Green, etc.), concert venues, music schools, technical service providers, local and regional government bodies, and concert audiences.

Its core offerings span four domains: awareness and prevention (EAR WE ARE campaign, hearing protection distribution, custom-molded earplugs, EAR WE CHILL rest zones); education (EduKson platform and booklets, Peace&Lobe® educational concerts labeled with a registered trademark); training and advisory (Ambassadeur EAR WE ARE certification, the professional certificate 'Gérer les risques sonores dans les ERP', the Pôle Conseil consulting service, Backline webinars for technical staff); and policy expertise (white papers, the Marsatac national open-air sound experimentation with ACOEM, and contributions to the Décret Son regulatory framework). AGI-SON has been recognized by three French ministries as a key interlocutor and has directly influenced regulatory outcomes including the April 2023 Arrêté d'application and the 2026 clarification that festivals under four days are exempt from sound emergence limits.

The association operates a membership-based, community-led go-to-market with tiered annual dues (calculated on global revenue for national/regional organizations, on ETP count for venues and festivals, and from €15 for individuals), supplemented by tax-deductible donations (66% deductible for French individual taxpayers, 60% for businesses), training fees, and advisory revenue. Distribution is single-country/domestic through its website, the AGI-SON Connect member platform (powered by HumHub), in-person training at venues such as the CNM, and participation in major industry events (BIS, MaMA, Trans Musicales, JTSE, Colloque CidB).

Name

agi-son

Legal name

AGI-SON

Website

https://agi-son.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AGI-SON is a French non-profit association, founded in 2000 and based in Paris, dedicated to sound management in amplified music for the French live performance sector — including professional organizations, festivals, concert venues, music schools, technicians, and local government bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Conservation Services

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Program Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) (HLAJANAA)

Keywords

• Hearing loss prevention
• Amplified music management
• Sound risk prevention
• Acoustic safety training
• Audio professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees from organizational members (calculated on global revenue for national organizations and regional relays; calculated on ETP count for other structures such as venues, festivals, and training bodies) and individual members (starting at €15 with optional additional donation).
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted via check, bank transfer, or PayPal. Association is recognized as a non-profit of general interest, enabling French taxpayers to deduct 66% of donations (individuals, up to 20% of taxable income) or 60% (businesses, up to 5 per mille of turnover) under French tax law.
3. Training and professional services: Revenue generated through training programs (e.g., 'Gérer les risques sonores dans les ERP' — professional certificate) and the Pole Conseil (advisory services). Members benefit from preferential rates. Salaried employees may seek funding through their employer's skills development plan; intermittent workers can contact AFDAS for financing options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AGI-SON is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 2000 that supports sound management, hearing-risk prevention, education, and training for the amplified-music profession. It mobilizes public authorities and music-industry professionals to reduce hearing risks and promote responsible practices in live-music settings.

Product overview

AGI-SON operates as a non-profit association (created in 2000) that offers a portfolio of prevention, education, training, consulting, and research services focused on sound management in amplified music. The core offerings include the EAR WE ARE hearing protection campaign (providing resources and solutions for festivals), the EduKson education platform (with Peace&Lobe® pedagogical concerts and educational booklets), professional training programs (Ambassador certification and ERP sound risk management), and the AGI-SON Connect digital platform for member resources. AGI-SON also publishes authoritative guidance including the CNM-published Guide La Gestion sonore and produces policy research through its scientific committee and white papers like the Décret Son analysis. The recently launched Pôle Conseil provides customized consulting services for venues and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EAR WE ARE: Hearing risk awareness campaign for concert-goers
• Peace&Lobe
• EAR WE CHILL
• Perspectives Sonores
• Opéra'Son
• Backline

Products and services

• Hearing-Risk Prevention Program for Amplified Music
• Professional Sound-Management Training
• Member Federation Coordination & Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• The Opér@'Son campaign measured 170+ concerts, finding that of 133 analyzed open-air concerts, only 30 exceeded projected maximum exposure values — demonstrating sector readiness to comply.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

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

• Live DMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGI-SON participated in a Live DMA working group to co-produce a European white paper on urban music policy titled 'Music Is Not Noise'. Live DMA is a European network of live music federations and associations, and this collaboration positions AGI-SON as a voice in European-level policy discussions on amplified music and sound regulations.
• Centre National de la Musique (CNM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNM co-published the 'Guide de la gestion sonore des lieux de diffusion et de pratique de musiques amplifiées' under the editorial direction of AGI-SON. CNM also partnered with AGI-SON on the Tour de France #2 initiative and serves as a training venue host for the 'Gérer les risques sonores dans les ERP' certificate program. CNM is France's national music center and a key institutional partner for the sector.
• Marsatac FestivalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarsatac served as the flagship pilot festival for AGI-SON's national sound management experimentation (2022–2025). The festival, which programs electronic and hip-hop music, volunteered to be a 'laboratory' for open-air sound management after facing resident complaints. AGI-SON accompanied the festival to develop and test compliance approaches, generating findings that serve the entire sector.
• ACOEMminorOthersACOEM, a manufacturer of precision acoustic measurement equipment, provided acoustic monitoring beacons (named Opér@) as an in-kind sponsorship enabling the Opér@'Son measurement campaign across 170+ concerts. This partnership was instrumental in generating the sector's first large-scale empirical sound level dataset.
• A2MS Acoustic (Groupement des Ingénieurs Acousticiens)coreTechnology or IntegrationA2MS Acoustic was part of the expert pool for the national open-air festival sound management experimentation led by AGI-SON at Marsatac. As a specialized acoustic engineering firm, A2MS contributed technical acoustic measurement and analysis expertise.
• Solution 63 HzcoreTechnology or IntegrationSolution 63 Hz, specializing in low-frequency sound management, participated in the Marsatac experimentation. Founder David Rousseau contributed expertise on bass frequency management and emergence reduction strategies.
• DushowcoreTechnology or IntegrationDushow, a professional audio equipment provider, was a technical partner in the Marsatac national experimentation, providing the sound system infrastructure tested during the open-air festival sound management pilot.
• SACEMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSACEM partnered with AGI-SON and CNV to organize regional information and support sessions for professionals on applying the Décret Son. SACEM is France's collective management society for music authors and composers.
• Centre d'Information sur le Bruit (CidB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCidB co-organized the national conference 'Sons amplifiés: la nouvelle réglementation entre en scène' (December 2018) with AGI-SON. AGI-SON contributed to the CidB's 'Guide des sons amplifiés' (online reference guide) as part of ongoing collaboration to provide technical guidance to the sector.
• SMA (Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMA, the union of contemporary music organizations, is a member and co-driver of AGI-SON's initiatives including the Marsatac national experimentation and advocacy campaigns. SMA represented live music venues and festivals in collaborative regulatory reform efforts.
• PRODISS (now Ekhoscènes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRODISS (National Union of Musical and Variety Spectacle) is a founding member of AGI-SON and has co-signed major petitions and press releases, including the '#Live en danger' campaign and Marsatac experimentation communiqué. PRODISS represents producers and promoters in the live music sector.
• SYNPASE (Syndicat National des Prestataires de l'Audiovisuel Scénique et Événementiel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYNPASE, the national union of audiovisual and event technical service providers, co-signed the Marsatac experimentation communiqué and represents the technical workforce directly impacted by sound regulations. SYNPASE members implement the technical requirements of the Décret Son.
• FNCC (Fédération Nationale des Collectivités pour la Culture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFNCC participated in the Marsatac national experimentation, representing local government cultural interests. FNCC members (local authorities) are key stakeholders in sound management as event organizers, authorizers, and neighbors.
• CNV (Centre National de la Musique et du Spectacle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNV partnered with AGI-SON and SACEM on the Tour de France to inform and support professionals on Décret Son application. CNV is the public institution supporting the music and live performance sector in France.
• Agences Régionales de Santé (ARS)coreOthersRegional Health Agencies participated in sound level measurement campaigns (Opér@'Son), regulatory enforcement visits at festivals, and inter-regional coordination on sound regulation. ARS represents the state's health authority in France's regions.
• FédélimacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFédélima (Fédération des lieux de musiques actuelles) is a founding member of AGI-SON and represents venues specializing in contemporary music. Fédélima's members were instrumental in the Opér@'Son measurement campaign and the small venue working groups.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Live DMA: Live DMA is a European network of live music venues and festivals federations. It is the closest direct peer to AGI-SON since both organizations aggregate music venues and festivals, advocate for the live music sector, and collaborate on policy. AGI-SON is a member of Live DMA and co-produced the 'Music Is Not Noise' white paper.
• Centre d'Information sur le Bruit (CidB): CidB is a French information center on noise that co-organizes events with AGI-SON (e.g., the 2018 'Sons amplifiés' national conference) and co-published the 'Guide des sons amplifiés'. Both organizations share a focus on noise-related public health and policy, though CidB spans a broader scope beyond amplified music.
• British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM): BAPAM is a UK charity delivering health and wellbeing services to performing arts professionals. It is comparable to AGI-SON because both address health risks (occupational noise, hearing loss) within the performing arts sector, though BAPAM's scope is broader and geographically UK-based.

Emerging players

• Hearing Health Foundation: Hearing Health Foundation is a US non-profit dedicated to hearing loss research, education, and advocacy. While broader in scope than AGI-SON, it shares a focus on hearing health education and prevention, with audio professionals and music lovers as audience segments.

Broad incumbents

• Centre National de la Musique (CNM): CNM is France's national music center, co-publishing AGI-SON's Guide de la gestion sonore and hosting AGI-SON's training programs. It is a strategic partner and serves as a broad incumbent in the French music ecosystem with a wider portfolio beyond sound management.
• Prodiss / Ekhoscènes: Prodiss (now Ekhoscènes) is the French national union of musical and variety spectacle producers and promoters. It is a founding member of AGI-SON and shares a sector focus, but operates as a broad industry incumbent representing the business interests of producers rather than sound management specifically.
• Fédélima: Fédélima is the French federation of contemporary music venues and a founding member of AGI-SON. Both organizations operate in the French live music ecosystem, but Fédélima represents venue operators' interests rather than specialized sound management.
• SMA (Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles): SMA is the French union of contemporary music organizations, focusing on venues, festivals, producers, and cultural enterprises. It is a member and co-driver of AGI-SON's initiatives. Both organizations serve overlapping constituents in the live music sector with related but distinct missions.
• SACEM: SACEM is France's collective management society for music authors and composers. It partnered with AGI-SON on Tour de France initiatives related to the Décret Son. It is a broad incumbent in the French music ecosystem with a wider rights-licensing mandate.

Regional players

• Help Musicians UK: Help Musicians is a UK charity providing health, welfare, and financial support to musicians. It is comparable to AGI-SON in providing health-related services to music professionals, but operates in the UK and focuses on broader musician welfare rather than sound management specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about agi-son