We were delighted to attend the 10th annual Brighton Music Conference in late May and be part of a panel discussing sustainability within the dance music industry.
Sustainability Panel
Moderated by FWF’s Jane Dunford, founder Nicoleta Carpineanu (Nico de Transilvania) joined Ruben Planting from DeepGroves (a sustainable record pressing plant in the Netherlands) and Anna Johnson, Sustainability and Environment Officer at Involved Productions (parent company of Anjunabeats, Anjunadeep and Involved Publishing). The discussion ranged from the role music creators can have in addressing the climate crisis and protecting nature to how events and festivals can be more environmentally conscious.
We learnt that pressing sustainable vinyl doesn’t cost more than traditional plastic methods, and how DeepGrooves looks at the eco credentials of every aspect of the business, from creating records to packaging. Anna talked about the multi-faceted work of the Involved Group – and how reducing emissions and investing in meaningful projects is key. Education is top of the list too, and Anna coordinates the group’s partnership with MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI), facilitating messaging and educational opportunities and helping people engage in climate action.
The panel talked about who is leading in the field, from Coldplay and Massive Attack, with their focus on low-carbon tours, and Music Declares and Emergency’s recent Turn up the Volume report, which revealed how music lovers are most likely to care about climate change and place a higher priority on tackling the crisis than non-music fans.
EarthPercent and the Earth As Your Co-writer initiatives were welcomed by the panel, as well as festivals and events which take eco-action seriously, like Boom in Portugal, which regenerates landscapes, and the efforts of A Greener Future (previously a Greener Festival) a non-profit working to help events, festivals and venues become more sustainable and reduce environmental impacts. Planting trees to help offset everything from touring to producing music and helping interested artists to talk about climate issues and engage audiences in positive action are just some of the steps we need to be taking.
Screening of Nico de Transilvania’s multi-media project Interbeing
There was a short screening of clips from Nico de Transilvania’s multi-media project Interbeing with its message of sustainability and how music can support the restoration of nature. The album and film not only champion the importance of preserving the talents and knowledge of traditional elders, but show the inter-connectedness of nature and art – and in a practical sense money from the project goes to help reforest the area where the album was made.
“There are some great things happening in the music industry, but there is a long way to go and much more needs to be done,” said FWF’s Nicoleta Carpineanu. “If we all work together there is so much we can achieve. Everyone needs to take responsibility and whatever steps they can – dance music has such an immense reach, we need to work to move sustainability higher up the agenda across the board. Join the Forest Family – and let’s do what we can to help regenerate the planet.”
Brighton Music Conference is the UK’s foremost electronic music conference and networking event which takes place at the Brighton i360 complex and venues across the city. There were over 60 talks, seminars and workshops attended by thousands of music industry professionals and artists. We loved hearing Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting author and owner of new record label Jack Said What, talking about his new musical and label mission with the likes of DJ/Producers Lisa Moorish, Steve Mac and Jon Carter.
There were important topics like Mental Health on the agenda, discussed by panellists including Danny Rampling and Ellie Talebian, as well as Accessibility and Social Responsibility within the industry. We enjoyed the panel headed up by the Last Night A DJ Saved My Life Foundation which looked at what people are doing to use their platforms for good – and how that can be expanded. The Foundation itself fundraises to support grassroots projects helping children in the UK and abroad.
We took to the skies too on the i360 which had some amazing DJs playing at networking parties in the pod high over the city – the sunset session was particularly special.
All in all it was an insightful, hopeful and positive few days with great new friends and connections made. Thank you for having us!