Music Leaders Launch Climate Pact
Beggars, BMG, Brownswood, Ninja Tune, Secretly Group, Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Warp and other music groups agree collective action on climate crisis
Science based targets reducing carbon emissions, initiative supported by UN Environmental Programme
Convened by UK’s Association of Independent Music (AIM) in collaboration with UK record labels association the BPI
Recorded music initiative for the whole of the music sector, welcoming other music businesses to sign up
A group of leading music companies have signed a wide-ranging commitment to ‘decarbonise’ the global music business in alignment with the latest climate science.
Initiated by the UK’s Association of Independent Music (AIM) in collaboration with UK record labels association the BPI, the founding Signatories of the ‘Music Climate Pact’ span numerous areas of the music business and include all three major music groups – Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group – as well as world-renowned independents Beggars Group, BMG, Brownswood Recordings, Ninja Tune, Secretly Group, Warp and others.
By February 2022, founding Signatories will be required to sign up to one of two schemes, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) or the UN-backed Race to Zero SME Climate Commitment. This will see Signatories work with experts to set and execute actionable climate targets on which they will report regularly.
The Pact, developed with support from the UN Environmental Programme, marks a significant step in aligning the global music business, and the measures already taken by individual companies, around a coherent and industry-co-ordinated strategy. This will seek to unite and take forward existing climate initiatives.
For some Signatories, this could include AIM’s Climate Action Group, the Group’s Near-Mint Vinyl initiative to reduce vinyl waste, and IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator – an upcoming tool for the independent music sector. Other Signatories will look to fulfil this commitment through exploring music industry sectoral guidance for the SBTi initiative as well as build on steps already taken by Beggars Group, BMG, Ninja Tune, Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and others.
Members also commit to sharing data, insights and resources, as well as providing support for artists to engage and speak up about climate issues.
The Pact hopes to grow quickly from its list of initial Signatories, with hundreds more companies from around the world expected to sign by June 2022. AIM, the BPI, IMPALA and other national and international organisations will continue to provide support to encourage other businesses to sign up and deliver on the Pact.
In addition to its Signatories, the Music Climate Pact also has a number of registered ‘Supporters’ – businesses and organisations that help create and deliver music, and which share the same vision for a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable music market. Supporters agree to work with Signatories in the reciprocal sharing of data, knowledge and resources to help deliver the Pact’s goals. Initial Supporters include IFPI, Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), Julie’s Bicycle, Key Production and Music Declares Emergency.
Through these relationships, the global music sector has the ability to innovate, put out incredible music to a mass audience and shift culture by inspiring change.
Vision
To harness the power of the music industry towards inspiring transformational action on the climate crisis.
Purpose
By aligning as a sector, we stand to de-politicise sustainability and address our biggest environmental impacts in an efficient and collaborative way.
There is a lot of work to be done if we are to become a more sustainable industry, but we will be guided by climate science and take tangible, unified action and regularly update on our progress.
Commitment
The Pact’s founder Signatories commit to:
Take individual and collective action to measure and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1, 2 and 3)
By February 2022, have either signed the Science Based Targets standard commitment letter stating that we will commit to setting science-based targets or will have joined the Race to Zero programme
Work together as an industry to establish carbon measurement methodologies, tools and frameworks backed by climate science
Work in partnership with shared suppliers and digital streaming platforms (DSPs) to obtain data and drive emission reduction projects in a collaborative fashion
Support artists in speaking up on climate issues
Communicate openly with fans about the impacts of the music industry.
Full list of the Pact’s founding Signatories:
Anjunabeats
Beggars Group
BMG
Brownswood Recordings
Full Time Hobby
Inside Recordings
!K7 Music
Ninja Tune
Secretly Group
Sony Music Entertainment
Universal Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warp
Full list of the Pact’s founding Supporters:
Association of Independent Music (AIM) (representing the UK’s record labels, self-releasing artists and associated businesses)
A2IM (representing US independent music businesses)
The BPI (trade association for UK record labels)
EarthPercent
IFPI (representing the recording industry worldwide)
IMPALA (representing Europe’s independent labels)
Julie’s Bicycle
Key Production Group
Music Declares Emergency
Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) (representing independent labels globally)
Paul Pacifico, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Independent Music (AIM), said:“The climate crisis is the single greatest challenge facing the world's population. No single business can solve this global threat on their own and it has been inspirational to see so much of the global music sector come together to take action. This Pact builds on the amazing work already underway by individual businesses of all sizes, and brings the knowledge sharing and cross collateralization needed to effective substantive change. I would like to thank the Pact's supporters and partners and look forward to welcoming more businesses to the Pact and helping them deliver on its commitment.”
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI & BRIT Awards, said: “The music community must take a leadership position on this most urgent of issues to support the work already being progressed by record labels to make their operations more sustainable. It means not just taking our own effective and co-ordinated industry action to respond to the climate crisis, but using the power of music to help inspire others in effecting meaningful change.”
To learn more, visit the Music Climate Pact website at www.musicclimatepact.com and follow #musicclimatepact.
About AIM (Association of Independent Music)
AIM is the not-for-profit organisation representing and supporting the UK’s independent music community, which makes up over a quarter of the UK’s recorded music market. Now in its 22nd year, AIM’s members range from the largest, most respected record labels and associated music businesses in the world to DIY or self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs in music - including 4AD, Black Acre, CTRL Music, Dirty Hit, Domino Recording Co, Hospital Records, Killing Moon Group, FAMM, Ninja Tune, Numbers, Transgressive, Secretly Canadian, Supernature, Warp, and XL Recordings.
AIM exists to level the playing field for UK independent music businesses – the beating heart of music - and provides access to the knowledge and contacts creative entrepreneurs need to create, build and win. AIM supports its members, not only through the difficult times, but also on a day-to-day level with practical support that makes a real difference to their lives and work, helping them take their businesses to the next level.
About BPI (British Phonographic Industry)
The BPI champions the UK’s recorded music community, safeguarding the rights of its members and of the artists, performers and label members of collecting body PPL. The BPI’s membership consists of well over 500 independent labels and the UK’s three ‘majors’ – Universal Music UK, Sony Music Entertainment UK and Warner Music UK. Its total membership taken together accounts for around 85 per cent of legitimate domestic music consumption and 1 in 10 streams around the world.
The BPI promotes British music at home and overseas through its trade missions, the Music Exports Growth Scheme and The BRIT Awards, which it owns and organises. It administers The BRIT Certified Platinum, Gold and Silver Awards Programme, co-owns the Official Charts Company with ERA, and is home to The Mercury Prize. The BPI encourages and supports innovation and technology through its Music & Tech Springboard Programme, and additionally provides insights, training and networking with its extensive free masterclasses, networking events, Insight Sessions and reports alongside its communications and public affairs work.