|
The inaugural Music
Sustainability Summit produced
by the Music
Sustainability Alliance (MSA),
was held on Monday, February 5th, 2024 at The Novo
in downtown Los Angeles, amidst the once in a
generation rain event, witnessed an overwhelming
turnout, affirming the music industry's commitment
to sustainability even in the face of challenging
circumstances. The Summit, strategically scheduled
the day after the Grammys, drew leaders from across
the music industry, signaling a pivotal moment for
collective action towards environmental stewardship.
The event, hosted by the dynamic GreenBiz
Chairman and Co-founder, Joel Makower,
brought together leaders and competitors from all
sectors including: labels, managers, agents,
promoters, production companies, NGO’s and artists.
Scientists and academics discussed pressing issues
surrounding sustainability within the music
industry. Panelists were challenged to address
critical questions, emphasizing the need for
collaboration and collective efforts. The conference
highlighted the necessity of a unified approach
towards sustainability, echoing sentiments that
music industry stakeholders cannot act alone in
mitigating its environmental impact.
"I am energized by the incredible turnout and
engagement at our inaugural summit, a clear signal
that this community is primed to take collective
action to combat climate change," declared Amy
Morrison, President and Co-founder of MSA. “Climate
Action is not just about the industry reducing
emissions, but also about lifting up our artists,
audiences and the communities around the world who
look to us for inspiration.”
Key topics addressed at the summit included the
shared responsibility for sustainability and
strategies for all industry sectors and local
government to work together towards a more
sustainable future. The conference also celebrated
ongoing solutions-based work and outlined future
initiatives, including MSA initiated research
projects with the University of Arizona, Eller
College of Management focusing on extreme weather
impacts and regulatory effects on business
operations and the bottom line, and a mapping
project with MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative.
The conference featured insightful panel discussions
on topics such as data importance, artist activism,
waste reduction strategies, transportation
emissions, collaborative approaches towards
sustainability and sustainable food practices.
Reflecting on the summit, Maggie
Baird, Founder of Support + Feed and
mother to Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, reiterated the
impact that food choices have on the climate
crisis. “Food
is across everything everyone does in the music
industry. Addressing what is on our plates and
providing primarily, if not entirely, plant-based
food offerings can be a massively impactful step the
music industry can take to nourish both people and
the planet.”
Additionally, a compelling case study showcased how
direct competitors collaborated to address scope 3
emissions, setting a precedent for industry-wide
cooperation.
The MSA is the Green Association for the music
industry. The organization’s working board consists
of Eleanor Anderson, Kurt Langer, Michael Martin
(co-founder) and Amy Morrison (co-founder). In
addition to annual summits the MSA is providing a
series of tools and services to the industry to
create systemic change:
-
Working Groups:
To foster community engagement, the MSA has
introduced Working Groups – dynamic forums that
serve as platforms for exchanging ideas and
networking. Members interested and passionate
about a topic share successes, learnings, and
challenges to spark innovation that leads to the
adoption of solutions.
-
Educational Webinars:
The MSA is hosting monthly educational webinars
and ongoing research initiatives on critical
topics aimed at promoting climate action. The
first webinar takes place on March 28 at 10am PT
and focuses on voting, exploring how the
industry can leverage its platforms to encourage
audiences to become climate-minded voters.
-
Tools and Resources:
The MSA website features tools and resources for
helping the industry become more sustainable.
-
Awards: The
MSA Awards recognize sustainability leaders and
innovators in the music industry to acknowledge
the impact and inspire others to take action
-
Help Line: The
MSA acts as a resource for anybody who is a
member of the music industry who has
sustainability questions.
MSA extends its gratitude to its founding partners,
including Clair, Nighthawk, PRG, REVERB, Rock-it
Global, Rock Lititz, r.World, Solotech, TAIT, and
Upstaging, as well as summit sponsors AEG, ASM,
Circular Unity, Moxion, and Everywhere Apparel, for
their invaluable support.
For more information on the MSA and summit 2025
partnership opportunities, contact:
info@musicsustainability.org
Follow us: LinkedIN, Instagram, Facebook
For more information about the Music Sustainability
Alliance and upcoming initiatives, visit:
www.musicsustainability.org
|