No music tech on a dead planet: what can be done?
This was one of the central themes of the ‘Rencontres de l’innovation et des transitions’ organised by the CNM: how can industry respond to the climate emergency on its own scale? We are faced with a reality that cuts across the entire global economy. Whilst the big names in music continue to fill stadiums and draw huge crowds (based on a admittedly small sample of Swifties attending the pop star’s concerts in Lyon in early June, 31.5 per cent said they had travelled by plane to attend the pop star’s concerts in early June in Lyon), and whilst a world tour remains the dream prospect for most artists, can we really take concrete action to protect the planet?
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Exemplary practices in the music industry
There is no shortage of examples: the band Coldplay, through their Music of the Spheres tour, is positioning itself as a pioneer in environmental responsibility. They have announced that they have reduced their carbon emissions by 59 per cent compared with their previous tour. Admittedly, there was probably considerable scope for improvement for a band of this stature, but other announcements demonstrate a commitment to continuing these efforts: future vinyl records will be produced using nine recycled plastic bottles (per record). Whilst this may seem trivial, one should not underestimate the influence that this sort of initiative, coming from a global band, could have.
Another example is the band Massive Attack, who announced they would be touring in 2020 by train – a significant constraint and a radical stance. We could also take inspiration from Japanese live houses, where the backline is provided for the musicians, allowing them to travel light.
But challenges that still require solutions
Several questions remain open to debate: how can we reduce our carbon footprint without compromising the magic of the experience? How can we resolve the tension between the need for innovation and the demand for simplicity? How can we guard against greenwashing, which, it is true, could quickly be levelled at us? One thing is clear: these three issues ultimately affect every sector of the economy.
Music tech must do its bit
Rooted in economic and societal realities, the music industry must do its bit: but let us not forget that 80 per cent of the impact comes from the audience and not from the production itself. This major challenge remains unresolved. The issue is therefore eminently societal and thus complex, and must take other dimensions into account in order to yield results: scaling down the size of events, the involvement of transport operators and public authorities, initiatives by citizens or the industry itself, and a redefinition of success for artists… The industry will not solve the environmental crisis on its own, but it has a moral duty to strive to set an example.