In an industry often associated with excess and high carbon footprints, several huge acts are looking to redress the balance, with Coldplay and Massive Attack proving that live music can be enjoyed without compromising the planet.
At Axiom Sustainability Software, we’re passionate about exploring how different industries, including entertainment, can reduce their environmental impact. This blog delves into how decarbonised music touring might become a reality and what lies ahead for the live music scene.
The pop music industry isn’t known for its sustainability practices. Artists like Taylor Swift, for example, have been criticised for their reliance on private jets and large, resource-heavy stage setups. Swift’s 2022 jet usage alone equated to nearly 16 full days of flight time while her Eras Tour uses 80 trucks to move from venue to venue. To be fair to Taylor, she is in a league of her own when it comes to touring – and her UK Eras tour reportedly brought in an extra £1 billion to the UK economy.
However, artists like Massive Attack and Coldplay are taking a different approach to their touring and sustainability, driven by their frustration with their environmental impact.
Massive Attack has been planning a sustainable festival since 2018 and last weekend in Bristol, they showcased their vision with “Act 1.5,” a festival powered entirely by renewable energy. This event was carefully designed to minimise its environmental footprint and create a blueprint for future music events. Coldplay meanwhile recently issued a 12-point sustainability plan that’s reduced their tour’s carbon footprint by an impressive 59%.
Massive Attack took a zero-waste and renewable energy approach to their Act 1.5 Festival. Aware that Scope 3 supply chain emissions were the main contributor towards their carbon footprint, they prioritised local ticket sales and organised extensive public transport options, including free electric shuttles and a strict zero-car policy.
Additional sustainability measures included:
Coldplay meanwhile went even bigger, as befits one of the biggest bands on the planet.
Alongside this, 10% of their tour profits are donated to environmental projects including ClientEarth, The Ocean Cleanup, Climeworks, Project Seagrass, Sustainable Food Trust, Cleaner Seas Group, Food Forest Project, Knowledge Pele, Conservation Collective and others.
At Axiom Sustainability Software, we believe the lessons learned from Coldplay and Massive Attack’s groundbreaking events can inspire more industries to reduce their carbon emissions and adopt sustainable practices. By leveraging data and technology, the live music industry – and others – can take significant steps toward a greener future.
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