Music fans travelling to concerts represent the largest contributor to total emissions in the live music industry, a new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Climate Machine, supported by rock band Coldplay, Warner Music Group, Live Nation and Hope Solutions has found.
The study, which examined data from more than 80,000 live music events in the US and UK, found that fan travel accounts for 77% of sector emissions in the UK and 62% in the US, with the next largest contributor identified as food and beverage, which accounts for 16.9% of emissions in the US and 7.6% in the UK.
Live music emissions
The study tracked greenhouse gas emissions across a myriad of impact areas, including energy, water, waste, travel, accommodation, and freight, and found that overall, the live music sector accounts for 1.1% of the UK‘s total emissions, while in the US, it represents 0.2% of emissions.
If fan travel is excluded, other notable contributors to live music industry emissions include trucking – responsible for 14% of US emissions – and air freight, which accounts for nearly 35% of sector emissions in the UK.
“The research and analysis that has now resulted in the total greenhouse gas emissions attributable to live music in the UK and US marks a new anchor for meaningful actions,” commented Professor John Fernández and Dr. Norhan Bayomi, co-founders. MIT Climate Machine
“This detailed accounting of emissions sources and amounts guides a set of recommendations that point to a new era of emissions reductions and sustainability practices across all of live music.”
‘Catalysts for innovation’
As the study noted, large format shows, though fewer in number, generate a disproportionate share of overall emissions, which in turn presents an opportunity for festivals and stadium tours to be ‘powerful catalysts for innovation and scalable climate solutions’.
“Real progress starts with shared understanding,” added Lucy August-Perna, head of sustainability at Live Nation. “For the first time, the live music industry has a clear picture of where our collective impact lies.
“For Live Nation, this data empowers us to continue taking smarter, more coordinated action in partnership with artists, venues, and fans to preserve a strong future for live music and the communities that support it.” Read more here.
