Industry Bids to address climate chaos impact - Martin Talbot MUSICWEEK

The music industry has come together to launch its first coordinated response to climate change in the form of a brand new pan-industry pressure group. Senior executives from across the business attended the launch last Friday for Julies Bicycle, a new association which will aim to engage the music industry and help affect change. With former Creative & Cultural Skills Director Al Tickell as its full-time Director the organisation includes Big Life's Jazz Summers, Universals David Joseph, Chrysalis Group's Jeremy Lascelles, Live Nation's Stuart Galbraith, BPI's Jon Webster, Greenerfestivals.com's Ben Challis, EMI's Ayesha Hazarika, and PDT's Neil Johnston. Launched the day before the Al Gore-backed Live Earth Concert at Wembley Stadium, Julies bicycle will aim to create an industry-wide consensus of emission reduction targets and low energy use, from the creative process through to the music consumer, as well as promoting industry leadership on the issue. The group, a not-for-profit company, has already commissioned research from Oxford's Environmental Change Institute to map emissions of the music industry and identify steps needed to become climate positive, says Tickell. Evidence from the research will highlight levels of current emissions, targets for reduction, and an Action Plan for the industry, part of which will see the Board working with various subsectors - including publishing, promoting, recording, management and retail - to help develop their own plans for emissions reduction. Jazz Summers, one of the driving forces behind the initiative said at the launch, "I am really amazed at all the faces in this room - the whole of the music industry is here. This is important for our future, our kids' future, and our grandchildrens." Live Nations Stuart Galbraith took to the stage to explain how his organisation is aiming to change the way it does business, revealing that he is on the edge of appointing an environmental management director. Al Tickell, Julies Bicycle Director said, "Anyone in the music industry who wants to make a stand and be part of effecting change can register on-line at juliesbicycle.com." Funded through private, public and corporate sponsorship the company has applied for charitable status.

Photo - Jazz Summers Big Life Management & Chair of Julies Bicycle addressing the industry at the recent breakfast event sponsored by the Berkely Hotel