By Theo M

Music is one of the great pleasures in life – each person has their own taste, yet music is a truly unitive force, bringing people together. In the modern era, concerts have become a huge part of the industry, with fans from across the globe gathering in one place to watch their favourite artists. Amid the frenzy of excitement, something that might not be considered by many is the environmental impact of these events. However, for other artists and fans, minimising their impact is a priority, and various measures are taken in order to do so. This article shall explore these contrasting approaches and how many are now endeavouring to make the industry as sustainable as possible. 

While there are no figures available regarding the impact of the global music industry, studies have estimated that the UK industry emits over 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year. Three-quarters of this is the result of live performances, illustrating the typically harmful nature of concerts, festivals, and other live music events. 

There are, however, many who are working to make the music industry more eco-friendly, whether that be the organisers of festivals, or the artists themselves. Coldplay, a hugely successful band, have been trailblazers for musicians limiting their environmental impact. In their latest 2023 tour, they planted 5 million trees (one for each concert attendee) and produced almost 50% less CO2 emissions than their previous stadium tour in 2016-17. In addition, two-thirds of their tour waste was redirected from landfills and the show’s production was powered using 100% renewable energy. They have made a refreshing effort to minimise their impact while still being able to perform to their fans. 

Glastonbury, the UK’s biggest festival, has focused on its sustainability too, being powered entirely by renewable energy in 2023. Moreover, they have banned the sale of single-use plastic bottles and planted over 10,000 trees to support the local ecosystems. This is a step in the right direction as seemingly minor changes like these can have both a local and global scale impact in protecting local ecosystems and reducing carbon emissions.

However, others are only worsening the problem through their excessive carbon footprint. Taylor Swift’s travelling habits have been criticised heavily, allegedly producing 138 tons of CO2 emissions in just three months to visit her boyfriend using a private jet. While she claims to use carbon offsets to compensate for her needless travel, these don’t actually reduce the amount of emissions entering the atmosphere and many would argue that simply reducing carbon footprint in the first place is a more sustainable solution.

If any progress is to be made in this industry, it is imperative that those with a high-profile status and influence use this to promote sustainability and take action to limit their own impact. That is not to say that fans and smaller artists do not make a difference, indeed it is the collective action from communities that will drive change and ultimately make a difference.