Concerts, Conscience and Choices - Music and Sustainability

Last week in the previous edition of ‘The Break Down’, I wrote and introspected on music and its intersection with sustainability. Music is life. Music lies within nature, and within us as well. But as we spoke about the different eras of music and the eras of experiencing music, for the decade of 2020 and beyond - it is concerts that have become the biggest experiential zone there is. It definitely is not easy to get a ticket, amidst endless virtual queues, sky-high demand and a booming black market, to experience your favourite artist live is not easy, but it is still as accessible as ever. Globalisation has brought the world together in more ways than we can perceive. Individuals who are once far-fetched, can come to our nearest theatres and stadiums. For artists, who never thought they could find a voice, the world is at their feet with social media channels and an immense content consuming audience. 

Estimating the total hours of musical content consumed across all social media channels is complex, but some indicative data can provide context. Globally, people spend an average of 6 hours and 40 minutes online daily, with a significant portion engaging with music-related content. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, which prominently feature music, account for billions of user hours annually. Music consumption trends on social media indicate that video and short-form content are dominant. For example, TikTok alone had over 1 billion active users in 2023, with many engaging with music-driven content. Similarly, YouTube, a major platform for music, reported 2.5 billion logged-in users monthly. Though streaming eliminates physical waste like CDs and vinyl, but these energy demands, especially in HD/4K video, can surpass the carbon footprint of producing and distributing physical media. A single hour of HD streaming produces around 36g of CO₂, and when multiplied by billions of viewing hours, the total emissions are vast.

The environmental impact of concerts and festivals has become a pressing concern as the music industry recognizes its role in climate change. In 2024, reports indicate that each concert attendee generates approximately 5 kg of CO2 due to travel and event logistics, with energy consumption at venues averaging around 500,000 kWh per concert. Additionally, music festivals in the U.S. produce about 23,500 metric tons of waste annually with only 8% of plastic waste being recycled, highlighting the significant emissions and waste associated with live events.

In response to these challenges, many festivals are implementing sustainability initiatives. According to the 2024 ‘More Than Music’ report, 46% of surveyed festivals have publicly available sustainability policies, while 31% have carbon measures in place. 22% of artists and concert troupes are adopting carbon offset measures for audience travel, and 26% are focused on reducing fuel usage. The inaugural Music Sustainability Summit in February 2024 brought together over 300 attendees to discuss best practices and innovative solutions for minimizing the environmental impact of live events.

The concert industry is increasingly prioritizing sustainability by encouraging public transport use, implementing reusable cup systems, and promoting plant-based food options to reduce waste and emissions. YG Entertainment has committed to achieving sustainability in all its events by 2030, focusing on greenhouse gas management and waste reduction strategies. As the industry moves forward, collaboration and transparency in sustainability efforts will be essential for making live music a more eco-friendly experience while still delivering unforgettable performances.

Impact is also being created when we can’t see it, or we don’t hear about it, also, when no one talks about it. This impact, can be both negative or positive. In the last two weeks, India itself has seen two massive global stars perform across the country - Dua Lipa and Diljit Dosanjh. This is not a fight between who is better, or who was more conscious of their efforts and consequences - but overlapping fans and audience members saw significant difference in the experience and the outlook towards the triple bottom line.

And the answer to every problem, lies on the above solution. 

What does the audience observe and feel.

We live in a world that exists in reviews. Our restaurant reservations and online orders all have to be 4-star and above. The artists and singers that we love and appreciate have also attained the stardom they have, because of their listeners.

If you get stuck in traffic for even a bit, it is extremely irritating and tiresome - but have you ever thought about how much planetary traffic exists? And who does this impact - us! Our life, our quality of existence and our past, present and future generations - all that is threatened because of one subconscious indecision.

Against new common connotations, the consumer will always be the king. You demand and you determine. If you start using public transport to reach a venue, if you take care of every tissue and every wrapper that you should dispose, if you take care of every water bottle to at least throw it in the dustbin, if you take care of every work, who is employed for an event, and as an audience member if you just place even a slight focus on environmental matters - the space can be transformed.

Please don’t take me wrong as a moral music police - because I can’t live without it either. But if you and I, can be a little more open to the idea of conscious concerts, giving back to the planet, and we hold ourselves accountable for each of our actions, the artists we hold so close to our hearts, also would have to. At the end, it takes one to bring a change. 

One to many, and many to the One.

To hear a deeper sound:

https://www.billboard.com/business/business-news/music-sustainability-summit-los-angeles-speakers-programming-february-1235556789/

https://www.green4ema.org/impact-network-blog/keeping-our-planet-in-tune-at-the-2024-music-sustainability-summit

https://environmentalsolutions.mit.edu/news/music-industry-leaders-tune-in-to-climate-solutions/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/music-magic-miracles-impact-every-beat-neeti-mahajan-su4lf

https://thecrimsonwhite.com/98424/culture/how-the-music-industry-is-becoming-more-eco-friendly/

https://www.vision2025.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/More-Than-Music-Report-2022-1.pdf