Sustainability is one of the hottest trends in music, and the industry is humming a new tune—one that’s all about going green. Daniel Siegel Alonso probes how the music industry proves you can still rock out without ravaging the planet, from streaming concerts to reducing carbon footprints, donating backstage food to local shelters, and adopting energy-saving techniques in recording studios.

A Greener Groove

Do you recall when attending a show meant navigating traffic, waiting in line, and enduring questionable aromas from fellow concertgoers? Siegel Alonso argues that streaming concerts are revolutionary. Not only do they save you from these micro horrors, but they also have a significant environmental upside.

Take famed music festivals like Coachella, for instance. Streaming the festival's performances means fewer people flying or driving to the California desert, reducing the overall carbon footprint. Plus, you can watch your favorite bands from the comfort of your home without braving the heat or paying for overpriced bottled water.

By hosting virtual concerts, musicians can connect with global audiences without needing extensive, expensive travel, gas-chugging tour buses, and the entourage that often accompanies them. It’s a win-win: fans get front-row seats without leaving home, and the planet gets a breather from all that CO₂.

Feeding Communities, Not Landfills

Rockers and pop stars are infamous for their high-maintenance demands—J. Lo notoriously requests that her dressing room be all ivory. But what happens to the uneaten food once the house lights are off and the amps are unplugged? Spoiler: a lot of it ends up in the trash.

Enter the heroes of sustainability: those who arrange for leftover backstage food to be donated to local shelters. Organizations like Rock and Wrap It Up! have partnered with musicians and venues to ensure that perfectly good food doesn’t go to waste. Instead, it’s repurposed to feed those in need.

For example, Siegel Alonso notes that on Taylor Swift's record-shattering 2023-2024 Eras Tour, surplus food was donated to local food banks and shelters. This practice reduces food waste and supports local communities from Wales to America's West Coast. It’s like turning the after-party into an after-feast, ensuring everyone, not just concertgoers, gets a taste of the good life.

Eco-Friendly Ear Candy
The recording studio may seem like a place where magic happens effortlessly, but it’s also where energy consumption can run high. Think about it: those neon lights, endless electronic gear, and climate control to keep those instruments in perfect tune.
Fortunately, the industry is shifting toward energy-saving practices. Solar-powered studios, energy-efficient lighting, and even recording sessions designed to minimize electricity use are becoming the norm.

Take Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in England, for example. This eco-friendly haven is partially powered by solar panels and uses a lake-source heating and cooling system—the studio harnesses the power of nature to keep things running smoothly. It’s the kind of innovation that makes you wonder why more recording studios aren’t jumping on the green bandwagon.

Green Touring

Let’s not forget the road warriors—those bands that live out of their tour vans, crisscrossing continents to bring music to the masses. Touring has historically been a carbon-heavy endeavor, but times are evolving.

Artists like Jack Johnson and Billie Eilish lead the charge for greener tours. Johnson’s tours focus on local sourcing, recycling, and using biodiesel for tour buses, while Eilish has pledged to eliminate single-use plastics and incorporate sustainable practices throughout her tour.

During his 2017 tour, Ed Sheeran partnered with renewable energy provider Ecotricity to power his gigs. By investing in renewable energy credits, Sheeran ensured that his concerts were powered by wind and solar energy, reducing the carbon footprint of his tour.

Hitting the Right Note

Sustainability in the music industry isn’t just a fleeting style; it’s a necessary evolution. The industry is realizing that rocking out doesn’t have to mean rocking the planet’s resources to their core.

The music industry is embracing a greener future, from how fans consume music to the behind-the-scenes efforts of food donations and energy-efficient practices. Streaming concerts reduce travel emissions while donating backstage food helps communities in need and reduces waste. Energy-saving techniques in recording studios show that creating earworms doesn’t have to be detrimental to the environment.

Daniel Siegel Alonso concludes that the next time you stream a live concert or download a new album, take a moment to appreciate the sustainable practices that make it possible. Music, like our planet, is something we all share and should cherish.
Because in a world where everyone is endeavoring to be a little eco-friendlier, the music industry proves that you can be both a rock star and a rock star for the planet.