Music is integral to our culture in many profound ways. It has been at the forefront of complete societal paradigm shifts, helping to drive political, cultural, and social change repeatedly over the course of decades. Lyrics promote mental and emotional health while musicals and concerts are much like sports, where people of all ages gather to share joy and inspiration. While musical artists are influential in society, they also can influence environmental practices in their own industry. It is important to acknowledge that live events, concerts, tours, and festivals are a vital part of the music industry, and a major part of its carbon footprint. Not only artists, but also venues and event promoters, can evaluate and adjust practices to make the industry more environmentally responsible.
Below are some practical ways the music industry is reducing its carbon footprint.
Concerts
Most major music events require large amounts of energy, due to visual effects and other operational factors. The concert venues themselves can also play an important role in terms of sustainability. Several venues around the world are now completely powered by renewable energy sources. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour reduced CO2 emissions by 47% by running the entire show from an electric battery system charged by fans on power bikes and kinetic dance floors, using electric vehicles (EVs) and alternative fuels for transport, and limiting waste and plastic use. Fans were encouraged to travel to shows by foot, bicycle, public transport, and ridesharing. On site, they were encouraged to use recycling bins, bring refillable water bottles, and return wristbands for reuse. Additionally, for every ticket sold, the band planted a tree and made contributions to a range of environmental organizations like The Ocean Cleanup and ClientEarth. In addition to being one of Gen Z’s favorite artists, Billie Eilish is also the co-founder of Music Decarbonization Project. Through that initiative, she estimates to have saved 8.8 million gallons of water, 240,000 square feet of forested land, 123 tons of CO2e, and more than 8,000 animals.
Tour Travel
While Taylor Swift’s private jet travel was much debated during her recent Eras tour, avoiding air transportation can make a huge difference in emissions. Choosing tour buses that use biofuels can significantly reduce emissions. For the Carbon Neutral World Tour, Radiohead transported its equipment by ship from Europe to the US and used biodiesel on tour buses to lower the carbon footprint.
REVERB, a leading nonprofit agency within the music industry, has helped reduce the environmental impacts of over 330 major tours and 6,800 concert events. REVERB works with artists like Billie Eilish who use their songs as a medium to educate people on wildfires and climate change, while with Maroon 5 and Harry Styles, REVERB implements anti-pollution programs, educates fans about the climate crisis, and limits harmful practices including single-use plastics.
Concertgoers
According to Adam Gardner, co-founder of environmental organization REVERB, about 75% of a concert’s carbon footprint is from fans traveling to and from the venue. They can do their part for the environment by opting for public transportation, carpools, or other lower-impact modes of travel — and bringing refillable water bottles to the show.
Concert Waste
Venues and festivals are shifting practices to reduce or eliminate plastic waste. Offering alternatives such as reusable cups and biodegradable food packaging instead of single-use plastic items is one of the most recent changes in the industry.
Catering
Catering plays an important role in music in terms of sustainability. At best, it should be regional, seasonal, and plant-based or organic. At larger music events, not just backstage, fans also can opt for vegan or regional/local cuisine that is friendlier to the climate.
Tickets
Minimizing the number of printed tickets matters. The experience of having a printed ticket for the concert can be replaced by its online purchase.
Offsetting Tours
Combined with efforts to lower emissions, offsetting emissions through renewable energy credits (RECs) and other means is another step to help reduce impact.
Ecosystem Opportunities
Through connections with other entertainment industries such as fashion, audiovisual, and sports, the music industry can amplify its advocacy and action. Collaborations between musicians and sustainability-minded fashion companies present an opportunity to merge artistry with environmental advocacy such as supporting eco-conscious merchandise at live events. Materials for musical instruments like tone woods and metal alloys are often sourced without much consideration for the environment, while electronic instruments and technical equipment are rarely recycled, exacerbating issues regarding e-waste. Recording, publishing, and distributing songs either through online streaming or vinyl both amass significant GHG emissions and raw material use. With paid streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, listening to your favorite song has become easier than ever before. The environmental cost associated with streaming music through digital devices has soared to 350 million kilograms, largely driven by the substantial power and energy demands of data centers to support the global streaming services.
A notable success is the Mysteryland festival in The Netherlands, which receives 80% of its energy from solar farms, thereby investing in clean energy for a greener future in music. Similarly, the Deep Tropics EDM festival in Nashville, Tennessee was named the “greenest festival” in the country. This event banned single-use plastics, and also has a policy of no trash cans, only offering compost or recycling options.
The Music Sustainability Alliance (MSA) ecosystem comprises a wide range of music business stakeholders and empowers venues, promoters, production vendors, artists, agents, managers, and record labels to support climate change. Warner Music Group’s EcoRecord is a revolutionary new form of long-playing record that uses recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) instead of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as a base material. No natural gas or steam is used in the production process, meaning that the environmental impact of the manufacturing process is reduced by up to 85% compared to the conventional method.
Conclusion
The music industry, a powerful force in shaping culture and driving social change, has a significant opportunity to lead the charge in environmental sustainability. From electrifying concerts with renewable energy and empowering fans to adopt eco-conscious travel habits, to minimizing waste through innovative materials and promoting plant-based catering, the industry is demonstrating a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Collaborative efforts like REVERB and the Music Sustainability Alliance, alongside initiatives from individual artists and labels, highlight the growing awareness and action being taken to address the environmental impact of music production, touring, and consumption.
By embracing sustainable practices across all facets of the industry, from instrument production and streaming to live events and merchandise, the music world can not only minimize its own environmental impact but also inspire a broader audience to embrace a more sustainable future. If your organization is interested in exploring ways to apply innovative sustainability initiatives like the ones being pioneered by the music industry, please contact Canopy Edge for a consultation to discuss the options.
