Here’s an unpopular opinion: Boutique music festivals are a better alternative for the environment than massive, multiple-day events we’re used to attending.
At least, that’s what Dino Lupelli from Music Innovation Hub suggested during our conversation about the future of the live music sector. And despite being a frequent concert and festival goer, I actually agree.
So, if you’re interested in exploring innovative solutions to holding live music gatherings in the future, this interview is for you.
THE SILLY & GREEN PROJECT
I have a podcast called “Silly Talks Music.” Like this blog, it’s primarily focused on the Australian music scene. But sometimes, I invite international guests who are experts in areas I’m particularly interested in.
I opened season 4 of the podcast with an insightful chat with Dino Lupelli – a music industry professional I met at a conference back in 2022.
Dino has extensive experience in the ESG space in the music context. The abbreviation ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance. “It is a set of standards and principles measuring a business’s impact on society, the environment, and how transparent and accountable it is.”
Dino is involved in countless initiatives where music, social impact and technology come together. One of them is the Milan-based Music Innovation Hub (MIH). Even though it was established as a non-profit dedicated to advancing the Italian music system, over the years, its reach has expanded to advise on and pioneer innovative projects in the international context.
I met Dino through such a project as well.
In November 2022, a music incubator called Hear The City organised its annual conference in Cracow, Poland. With “Festivals” as its main theme, it was impossible not to discuss their impact on the environment. Dino was one of the presenters who spoke about practical examples of staging gigs or tours more sustainably.
We had a good chat following that panel, too, but I didn’t take any notes then. So, I invited Dino to expand on some points we touched on at the conference in a recorded interview.
I released the conversation as two podcast episodes in 2023. But after reviewing it recently, I’ve decided to make it available as a concise chat. So, the revised video interview zooms in on specific solutions and ideas with the potential to make the live music business more sustainable, busting some greenwashing myths and quick fixes at the same time.
Here are some points we covered:
- Can festivals be 100% sustainable?
- How environmentally progressive is the live music sector?
- Who is ultimately responsible for “greening” the festivals, especially the large, internationally famous events?
- What does it mean to be sustainable in live music?
- How much does it cost to go green running a festival?
Dino also walked me through a couple of sustainable music events he’s helped coordinate over the years, including a UN-spearheaded project. His findings from staging those events in alternative ways constitute a guiding light for the industry in the future.
So here’s the interview with Dino. Hopefully, it will also inspire you to play your small part in making live music more sustainable the next time you attend your favourite festival.
P.S. 1 Check out the other episodes from the Silly & Green video series to learn about more green initiatives in the music world.
P.S. 2 If you’re curious about some existing platforms or solutions helping to make the music business greener, like a carbon calculator, visit Julie’s Bicycle, Music Declares Emergency, Global Citizen or Green Music Australia.
P.S. 3 A few months ago, I worked with a badass intern from a tech-focused high school who helped me put this vid together. So, a shout-out to Piotrek Lisiecki for his input and reminding me that it’s always better to work in a team 😉
Cover image by Andrew Davie on Unsplash
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