GEI Summer Edition Wrap Up
The UK’s new umbrella organisation for the live music industry launched a declaration and voluntary charter at GEI Summer Edition 2021.
The ‘LIVE Green - Beyond Zero’ pact was established by LIVE (Live music Industry & Entertainment) - the new voice for the UK’s live music and entertainment business. The freshly-founded alliance of 13 live music associations was formed in October 2020 and represents 3,150 businesses, over 4,000 artists and 2,000 backstage workers.
AEG Europe Chief Operating Officer John Langford was joined by Kilimanjaro Live CEO Stuart Galbraith and Paradigm Artist Booking Agent Clementine Bunel among other industry leaders to formally launch the LIVE Green declaration, which sets out a new vision for sustainable tours and events. Its aim is to collate and provide research, expertise and cross-industry innovation that is informed by the best science and supports the transition to a regenerative future.
Thursday’s conference, presented by A Greener Festival (AGF) and the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), was the 14th Green Events and Innovations (GEI) Conference and the first-ever Summer Edition. The event followed a hybrid model, with some speakers coming together at PYTCH’s Virtual Venue in Bristol, powered by 100% renewable energy. Others joined from their homes and were broadcast live to delegates from around the world.
Also featured at the conference was a presentation of a new roadmap for greener events, following the recent publication of research conducted by scientists at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research under commission by electronic band Massive Attack. The wider programme included panels on greener arenas and vendors as well as ‘ask the expert’ sessions, a quick-fire innovation round and deep dives on carbon removals and value chain planning for events.
The speaker line-up was packed with industry titans including Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Dale Vince (Ecotricity / Forest Green Rovers), Dave Ojay (NAAM Festival), Amber Etre (Christie Lites), Fay Milton (Savages / Music Declares Emergency) and Celia Palau Lodge (Cooking Vinyl Records). Samm Farai Monro (Magamba Network), Meegan Jones (Sustainable Event Alliance / Great Ocean Race), Stuart McPherson (KB Event) and Jamal Chalabi (Backlash Productions) also topped the bill.
AGF Co-Founder Claire O’Neill hailed the first-of-its-kind event a massive success:
We had such a great time delivering the first Hybrid GEI Summer Edition. Live speakers connected with powerful and inspiring individuals and organisations from all around the world, and a truly international interactive audience. Considering the crucial topics that GEI addresses this global collaboration is heartwarming and hopeful to say the least. With 14 years of GEI under our belts, it feels like the industry is coming of age on the subject of sustainability and next step is to use our unparalleled power of communication connect these messages with the masses.
A Greener Festival is now looking towards returning to live events with the next GEI Conference set to take place in London on March 2022.
The conference is now available on demand with all sessions and panels available for replay for 1 month. Buy access here.
