As an ex-DJ, I often reflect on highlights and lowlights during my career, occasionally pondering over a ‘what-if’ situation. At the time, reflection was only ever a practice when I’d had one-too-many beers the night before and couldn’t remember all the tracks played, or the order they were played in (a key art of being a DJ). Usally this consisted of checking the order vinyls were put back in the record bag, or listening back to a recorded set, or in more recent times checking the playlsit on the laptop.
We’ve been facing the climate crisis for some time now, and even during my DJ career, I did sometimes wonder about my carbon footprint and even went to the bother of planning a mini-tour of Scotland, by bike (it never got off the ground in the end). With the impact of climate change becoming ever-more prevalent, I look at my carbon footprint from 2007–2012 when I was at my peak and the statistics are a real eye opener. On top of other commitments, I have become somewhat interested in reviewing how the music industry is decarbonising — with a focus on concerts and tour events.
My old travel carbon footprint involved 3 x 20 mile journeys in a 2002 Ford Ka, and eventually a 2009 Mazda 2. Plus one monthly journey (sometimes twice-monthly) topping nothing less than 300 miles. For the longer journeys (one of my last gigs was at a Ministry Of Sound night in Worcester) I would take plane or train… I managed to get to Worcester by train, but my other gigs in Europe were by plane, sometimes multiple flights to lower the cost to the promoter.
Then, consideration needs to be taken to the music formats, CDs, vinyl, packaging, energy for the laptop and the controller, and now add on thousands of clubbers carbon footprint to the mix. Oh, and the smoke machines.
So what’s happening now?
People are definitely more climate conscious now than they were twenty years ago. It’s clear that the music industry has been taking significant steps towards decarbonizing concerts and tour events in recent years. With the growing concern over climate change and the environmental impact of large-scale events, artists and promoters have been exploring various strategies to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability in the music industry.
One of the key areas where the music industry is making progress in decarbonization is through energy efficiency measures. Concerts and tour events require a significant amount of energy for lighting, sound systems, and other technical equipment. By adopting energy-efficient technologies and practices, such as LED lighting and low-power consumption equipment, DJs, artists and organizers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint. As an example, The Chemical Brothers, known for their spectacular live shows, have been actively involved in promoting energy efficiency in their concerts. They have implemented LED screens and lighting rigs that consume less energy while still delivering visually stunning performances.
Another important aspect of decarbonizing concerts and tour events is transportation. Touring often involves extensive travel between cities and countries, resulting in substantial carbon emissions from flights, buses, and trucks. To address this issue, artists and organizers are increasingly exploring alternative transportation options, such as using biofuels or electric vehicles. Coldplay have been proactive in this regard by partnering with organizations that provide sustainable transportation solutions for their tours. They have also encouraged fans to use public transportation or carpooling to reduce the environmental impact of attending their concerts.
Furthermore, waste management plays a crucial role in decarbonizing concerts and tour events. These events generate a significant amount of waste, including plastic bottles, food containers, and other single-use items. To tackle this issue, many artists and organizers are implementing recycling programs, promoting reusable products, and reducing overall waste generation. Many more artists are taking steps to minimize waste at their concerts by partnering with eco-friendly vendors and encouraging fans to bring reusable water bottles. They have also implemented recycling stations and continue to work with venues to improve waste management practices.
In addition to these specific measures, the music industry as a whole is increasingly embracing sustainability as a core value. Many artists and organizations are incorporating environmental considerations into their decision-making processes, from venue selection to merchandise production. Going back to The Chemical Brothers as an example, they have been vocal about their commitment to sustainability, not only through their concert practices but also in other aspects of their career. They have collaborated with environmentally conscious brands and supported initiatives that promote sustainability in the music industry.
While progress has been made, it’s important to acknowledge that decarbonizing concerts and tour events is a really complex challenge with various logistical and economic considerations. The music industry relies heavily on live performances for revenue generation, and implementing sustainable practices can sometimes be cost-prohibitive or require significant changes in infrastructure. However, the growing awareness of climate change and the increasing demand for sustainable entertainment experiences are driving the industry towards finding innovative solutions.
Summary
The music industry is actively working towards decarbonizing concerts and tour events by adopting energy-efficient technologies, exploring alternative transportation options, improving waste management practices, and embracing sustainability as a core value. The Chemical Brothers & Coldplay serve as an example of artists who have taken significant steps in promoting energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and waste reduction in their live shows. The industry’s commitment to addressing its environmental impact is commendable, but many challenges remain.
Had I been still spinning records today (and that might still happen again in the future), would my own carbon footprint be the same? A top-level approximation would suggest that there is an improvement, but that improvement is small or even negligible. Further collective efforts are definitely required from all areas of the industry — there is a long way to go but we will get to Net Zero, even if it’s gradual steps, beat by beat.
Websites used to conduct research:
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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