Christopher BarrettNew contractual clauses designed to empower artists to help drive the adoption of greener working practices across the live music industry have been launched by LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment).
LIVE Green, a dedicated sustainability working group within the industry body, has launched a contractual clause template for artists booking contracts, designed to galvanise industry-wide action and transform the environmental impact of live events.
The initiative has won widespread backing from both artist agents such as ATC and Pure Represents, alongside promoters including SJM and Kilimanjaro.
LIVE Green said the aim is to foster widespread, lasting cultural change within the industry by accelerating the conversation around sustainability between every party involved in artist performance booking. By integrating sustainability into contracts between artist agents, promoters, and venues, LIVE Green said it aims to drive the adoption of greener working practices across the board.
The working group is led by Carol Scott, the principal sustainability advocate at TAIT, and LIVE Green impact consultant Ross Patel. It coordinates sustainability activity drawing on representatives from venues, festivals, touring, artists, agents, managers, promoters and production specialists.
Patel said, “LIVE Green’s template for Green Sustainability Clauses, represents a true collaborative effort across the entire ecosystem of live events.”
The newly launched clauses focus on key action areas of waste, energy, water, food, merchandise and audience travel to make live music more sustainable. They include contributions from a cross-industry stakeholder group which included promoters, agents, artists, managers, venues, festivals, sustainability consultants, production company representatives and more.
ATC Live director of operations Olivia-Jane Ransley said, “ATC Live is proud and excited to be a part of this long-needed initiative and to have worked with LIVE to create this clause. We hope that its inclusion in contracts will not only raise awareness but also create some impactful change within the industry.”
The Entertainment Agents’ Association president Paul Winteridge said, “As one of the original member associations to initiate discussions on the introduction of a Green Clause, The Entertainment Agents’ Association members will be early adopters of the suggested wording. Each member agent will adapt the clause to suit the wide range of live entertainment performances wherever possible, from live music to theatre shows.”
Kilimanjaro Group COO Zac Fox said the promoter was proud to be part of what she described as a positive leap forward in tackling the environmental impact that live music can have: “It’s thanks to the collaborative set up of LIVE that this has been achieved as it will take all elements of this industry working together to make a change.”
Scott said the industry initiative was written by the industry for the industry: “As with everything LIVE produces, this work is intended to be for the benefit of all and will be free to access via www.livemusic.biz. We hope the clause template will be adapted as necessary and subsequently adopted far and wide, stimulating awareness and conversation.”
Alongside the clause template, LIVE Green has also created a LIVE Green Resource Hub, designed to respond to the content of the clauses, which highlights considerations for addressing each aspect of the clauses, as well as further resource and guidance from sustainability experts in the industry to help all stakeholders in the live sector progress their sustainability efforts.
Music Managers Forum CEO, Annabella Coldrick said that for music managers, ensuring live touring is as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible represents a major challenge, and described LIVE Green’s initiative as a pragmatic step to help tackle the challenges and ensure there is a joined-up approach across the industry to set new standards.
Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) CEO David Martin also supports the initiative. He said, “The environmental challenges we face are among the most critical issues confronting society, and it’s vital that the music industry leverages its collective voice to raise awareness and drive meaningful change. These clauses offer a practical roadmap for reducing the environmental impact of touring and improving sustainability within our sector”.
Ross Patel will be discussing this initiative and more at the Access All Areas Conference & Awards on 5 December at Indigo at The O2. Tickets are available here.