The Economic Feasibility of Sustainable Concerts

“Music, makes cities, towns and places better. Music makes cities wealthier. Music makes cities more vibrant. Music creates jobs and skills. Music promotes social inclusion. And music is everywhere.”

-Shain Shapiro

At a time when being environmentally conscious is all the rage, Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour appears to be a rare marvel of sustainable entertainment. The band has promoted their tour to be the epitome of environmental consciousness. However, beneath all the glamor and promotion lie deeper questions: Is this concert truly sustainable? Is it economically viable for the band to commit to such measures? And perhaps most crucially, is attending this concert affordable for the average concert goer like you and me?

Sustainability measures:

On the face of it, Coldplay’s commitment to sustainability appears to be both admirable and innovative. The band has incorporated a host of green initiatives including kinetic flooring that converts the movement of fans into energy, a solar powered stage and eco-friendly merchandise which has been made using recycled materials. They have pledged to reduce their tour-related emissions by 50% by promising to plant a tree for every ticket sold. These measures certainly seem to represent a bold step forward for an industry that significantly impacts the global carbon footprint. Concerts, with their elaborate stages, heavy equipment, and travel, are among the least sustainable forms of entertainment. Coldplay’s attempts to reverse or at least mitigate such harms are truly commendable.

Are these measures used by Coldplay truly sustainable, or is it just a green-washed PR effort? Achieving true sustainability requires more than innovative floor tiles or planting trees. It must account for not just immediate concert emissions but also the sustainability of producing materials, transporting equipment, and fan travel, which is often the largest source of emissions. Interestingly, 33% of the 405,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions generated by live concerts each year is from audience travel.

How is Coldplay then addressing such emissions? Coldplay is trying to combat this through a free app, developed in partnership with software development company SAP. This app, which has had over 350,000 downloads since its launch in March 2022, encourages fans to use low carbon transport options and offers rewards through discount codes. But while Coldplay encourages fans to use sustainable transportation, the reality is that many still rely on cars or planes to attend their events. Coldplay may have taken bold steps, but without full transparency, it makes one question whether they really are sustainable in the way they claim to be.

Is this really economical for the band?

Economically, Coldplay’s vision comes at a significant cost. The production of sustainable concerts is more expensive than a traditional one. Investing in renewable energy technologies like solar panels, kinetic flooring, and biodegradable set materials is an upfront expense that most people avoid. However, Coldplay has demonstrated that these short-term costs may eventually pay off in the long run. Energy savings from renewable sources reduce long-term expenditure, and reusable or biodegradable materials reduce future transport costs.

More importantly, Coldplay’s commitment to sustainability has become part of their identity, an initiative that attracts eco-conscious fans and draws attention in a market where social responsibility has become a currency of its own. It also opens the door to partnerships with sustainability-focused brands, allowing the band to offset some of these production costs through lucrative corporate sponsorships. The band has used this as their marketing strategy, making use of a growing demographic of fans who value environmental consciousness and are willing to pay more to support it.

How feasible is this for the average concertgoer?

A culmination of all these expenses raises an important question for concert goers: Is the tour economically viable for the fans? Ticket prices for sustainable concerts like Coldplay’s are generally similar to those of other large-scale tours, but the higher production costs sometimes result in slightly elevated prices. Fans may be paying more for a concert that markets itself as eco-friendly, but whether they see value in that extra expense is subjective. For some, the opportunity to attend a concert that aligns with their tastes and values may be worth the extra cost. For others, especially in economically strained times, the higher prices could be an issue.

Beyond the ticket price, fans also have to deal with the added costs of sustainably produced merch, which is often, more expensive than conventional alternatives. Ethical labour practices, which involve fair wages and safe working conditions, are inherently more costly than the often-exploitative practices in the fast fashion industry. While education and advocacy to increase consumer willingness to support ethical labour would help justify these costs, not all consumers are willing or able to pay more for it despite its appeal.

Conclusion:

In the end, Coldplay’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour presents an interesting case of how sustainability and economic feasibility intersect. Their efforts are notable and revolutionary, but they also highlight the challenges of creating a balance. Most challenges were either economical or technological; a major issue being that sustainable technology, such as the ones mentioned above, do not yet yield a surplus that come to par with traditional concerts. Since such technology is relatively new, it is not produced in large quantities, which leads to a higher production cost. There are no legal guarantees by the band which show the community that cause is not just a byproduct of greenwashing; alluding to the longevity of their ‘one tree planted’ collaboration. All in all, due to the newness of their concept, there is logistical complexity and uncertainty that looms over this entire concept. However, it is undisputable that the initiatives taken to bring this concept to fruition serve to be inspiring for many bands to come and Coldplay’s contribution through music and technology will forever leave it’s mark in the music industry.