Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020

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GREEN MUSIC AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 I Contents

1 Acknowledgment of Country 2 Year in review 4 Letter from our Board Chair 6 Letter from our CEO 7 Campaigns 8 Climate Fridays 11 Climate Songwriting Competition 14 The New Normal 19 COVID-Safe Reusable Revolutions 21 Case Study: WOMADelaide 25 Case Study: Strawberry Fields 27 Party with the Planet 29 Down To Earth – A Fire and Climate Relief Concert 33 Water in the Arts 37 Operations 38 Partnerships 39 Media coverage 40 Operational sustainability 41 Our Board 43 Ambassadors and supporters 45 The year ahead

Photo: Tim Lambert II Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Acknowledgment Year in Review of Country rtis 3 a ts p Green Music Australia acknowledges the to play within the Australian community - 2 e Traditional Custodians of the lands on including the music scene. r fo which we work and meet. We recognise For thousands of generations, music, song 300 in r their continuing connection to the land, d m and dance heard across this continent d u waterways and sky country. n s t e was 100% Aboriginal; a diversity of First a r When musicians stand up and speak up Instruments, mother tongues, rituals and s y d t for the environment, we’re following the annual gatherings. We pay our respects to s w lead of our first peoples and their ongoing the custodial wisdom keepers of the old ways. i

t o

stewardship of tens of thousands of years. We We commit to listening deeply, allowing the r r

acknowledge that this land was stolen and narrative of today’s tradition bearers to be a

that sovereignty has never been ceded. We heard, ensuring eons of oral story and the e

0 r

recognise the leadership role that Aboriginal connection to ancient knowledge lines across s 4 and Torres Strait Islander Country is valued and maintained 5 on 3 seasons of Climate Fridays, reaching people continue for coming generations. 33,600+ people with climate conversations and activism

helped us deliver resources, campaigns and support to over 2 million music lovers ttle a Bo rti O st Y a 0 fan B m 30 s # b

4 pl a

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d s

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continued to promote the safe use of reusables during COVID-19

to Party with the Planet, supporting artists sustainably during lockdown through donations Smoking ceremony on Yorta Yorta country at Strawberry and ethical merch Fields 2019. Photo by Jackie Dixon. 1 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 2 Letter from our 14 sto in rie ed s r a Chair of the u c t r a o e s

s F Board of Directors

1 raised

0 to

ds c

m n o

u n Unprecedented. It’s a word we’ve come to loungerooms. Music reminded us we weren’t

e f t recognise in descriptions of the impact of a alone. We toughed it out and looked for the

d i

n changing climate on our little blue planet. stage-lights at the end of the COVID tunnel.

i k

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8 Icecap melts, temperature extremes, tidal And we thought about the kind of world we

o .

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t surges, once in a hundred-year floods, fires wanted to re-emerge into. l e 8 t

o and droughts. 2020 started with Australia’s 7 u Throughout 2020, Green Music Australia

worst bushfires on record. A black summer. A $

r has quietly continued our work – under

scorching of the earth. A harbinger of worse

i the direction of CEO Berish Bilander and

m to come. Unprecedented.

Campaigner/Project Manager Emma

o But 2020 will be remembered as Bosworth – we’re working on a range of

musi r

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a d i r unprecedented for the impact of a medical, new initiatives including the development n o n t n a w du social and economic emergency unleashed of a web tool for festival goers to help them ts s s t by a global pandemic. COVID19. tread lightly while camping, a Green Artist i r Guide for musicians and industry to become t y r A medical, social, economic emergency of champions for sustainability through our a w unprecedented scale that it changed the

artist leadership retreats and other programs o world as we knew it. An emergency so grave

+ we’re looking forward to rolling out with your r

0 and so acute that its impact continues to

k ial m support.

0 c e destabilise modern civilisation. An emergency

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1 s i

r a that looked to science to diagnose and cure. Our work has never been more important s K 9 fo It has an eerily familiar ring. to support our artists and industry taking l leadership in the climate emergency we l Everyone in the Australian music community o know is roaring back to life in a post-COVID will remember where they were on Friday w future. Our advocacy and education attended our online workshop The New Normal, March 13th, 2020. The day live music was shut

highlighting how musicians can green their e programs leverage the influence and reach r down by COVID. And with it the livelihoods

practice, normalise First Nations leadership and of the music sector to demand climate and s of musicians, music workers, festivals, pubs inspire change environmental action. And we know we have and clubs – and the entire economy around the people power to create real change. it. The impact was devastating and, yes, unprecedented. If anything, the challenges of 2020 also showed us something else. We saw the In our long year of lockdowns, the world as we impact of the global emergency and we with 322 posts reaching 100,000+ people knew it on pause, we stopped and reflected changed our behaviour. We wore masks. – and we turned to music. In droves. We We social distanced. We stayed home. And found comfort in song and in online music global emissions plummeted. We proved offerings and livestreams delivered to our

3 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 4 – when faced with an emergency that is not existential – we can make the changes required to survive. We can do it to counter Letter from our the climate emergency too. On behalf of the Board we thank Berish CEO, Berish Bilander and Emma for their ongoing passion and commitment to delivering Green Music Australia’s important work. We thank outgoing Board members: Dan Rennie, It has been a tumultuous year for our music our entire website is now on a fully fledged Blaire Palese, Asher Christophers, Nick Zelter, scene, country, and indeed the entire world. customer database system, Nationbuilder, Susie Sugden and Jessica Cerro (Montaigne). From fires to floods to a global pandemic, facilitating the seamless integration of our And welcome 2021 Board members: Tracee we have faced unprecedented challenges. communications, digital actions, payments Hutchison as incoming Chair, Jen Rowe as While the pause in medium-to-large scale and donations. Treasurer, Tina Khotari as Deputy Chair and public gatherings due to COVID has been Despite the closure of events across the Áine Tyrrell. Special thanks to outgoing Chair tremendously disruptive for our industry, it country, our volunteer program remained Carla O’Neale who remains on the Board as has also presented unique opportunities to active with over 15 skilled arts workers driving Secretary. rally people in online spaces and plan ahead a range of activities from social media to for a more sustainable and just future, as well artist outreach. Our organisation continues And a huge thank you to our artist as giving us a glimpse into what a flight-free to nurture strong relationships with the ambassadors and supporters who continue world might look like. to light the way. tertiary music education sector, partnering A primary focus for Green Music Australia with Australian Institute of Music, RMIT and Let’s work together and create the cleaner, through this difficult time has been to the Australian College of the Arts to deliver greener future we all want the world to be. activate and inspire our base of artist successful internship programs. Who knows. The change we make might ambassadors. Over 140 artists participated With a strong and committed Board of even be unprecedented. in our online event series Climate Fridays Directors and some fresh new faces to assist and the New Normal leadership workshops. with various casual project tasks, Green Music In conjunction with this work, we have Australia is well positioned to deliver on its Tracee Hutchison continued to advocate behind the scenes mission – harnessing the cultural power of Incoming Chair of the for all levels of government and industry music to create a greener world. Board of Directors to adopt sustainable events policies and practices, and made submissions to the Federal Government Standing Committee on Communication and the Arts - Australia’s Creative and Cultural Industries and Institutions review; Australia Council for the Berish Bilander Carla O’Neale Art’s Re:imagine project; and the Creative CEO Outgoing Chair/ State VIC program. Continuing as We are thrilled to have finally launched our Secretary of the Board new website, which features a refreshed look, of Directors additional resources and enhanced user experience. A big thank you to my colleague Tenaya King for leading this project, as well as Adele Walker for her pro bono design support and the team at Code Nation for bringing our ideas to life. This update means

5 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 6 NS IG A P M

Climate Fridays

Climate Fridays was created in partnership “Climate Fridays was really with School Strike for Climate (SS4C) and grounding and incredibly valuable. SEED Indigenous Youth Climate Network This is a topic that I want to learn (SEED mob) to galvanise public opinion about more and more, in terms of against the gas industry, raise much what’s going on when it comes to needed funds for campaign organisations climate change. … This conversation and strengthen the growing solidarity felt like it was so at the forefront … between the music scene and the where it belongs.” climate movement. Gretta Ray, Hosted by Triple J radio presenter Nkechi singer-songwriter Anele, weekly live stream events featuring prominent Australian artists were broadcast BYO Bottle at WOMADelaide 2020 via social media reaching over 33,600 people.

7 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 8 Performing Artists

Banjo Harry James Angus Barkaa In Hearts Wake Benny Walker Jen Cloher Bobby Alu Kyle Lionheart Chloe Gill Lara Buchanan Cloe Terare Lisa Mitchell Cub Sport Mama Kin DOBBY Montaigne Ella Hooper Rachael Lia Emily Wurramara Scarlett Graham Gretta Ray William Crighton Hachiku Seed Indigenous Youth Student Strikers Climate Activists

Amelia Duggan Amelia Telford Anjali Sharma Ebony Pierik Bailey Linton-Simpkins Katchmirr Russell Emilia Muriti Nick Milyari Fitzpatrick Guthrow Taylor Johnson Tamika Sadler Kayla Hill Tish King Liv Heaton Natasha Abhayawickrama

23 guest performers joined First Nations man from Borroloola) and Tish King (a Torres activists and student strikers to share music Strait woman from the Kulkalgal nation). and discuss upcoming campaigns, like In addition, 30 per cent of Climate Friday “The biggest lesson SEED’s Don’t Frack the NT. Artists posted performers identified as Aboriginal, Torres I learnt was how about the event to a combined 254,000 fans, Strait or Pacific Islander. deeply informed the amplifying the movement at a critical time As well as its direct impact, Climate Fridays representatives were from when most people were stuck at home due acted as a networking event, connecting SS4C and SEED mob. Their to COVID-19. The online format of the event some of Australia’s best loved acts with activism is researched and allowed conversations to be accessible both environmental champions – ensuring confident and I could feel during and after the show. future collaboration. real leadership during The campaign had a significant focus on our session.” We know that our ongoing response to the platforming the voices of First Nations people. COVID-19 crisis will shape the climate crisis for Jen Cloher, Each week, a SEED mob representative decades to come. This campaign was created singer-songwriter joined us to lead conversations about the in direct response to the lockdown, forming anti-fracking movement, First Nations land the connections and conversations necessary rights and climate justice. Guests included to build a better future. SEED’s national director Amelia Telford (an Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman from Bundjalung country), plus community organisers Nick Milyari Fitzpatrick (a Yanyuwa

9 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 10 1st place Chloe Gill, ‘Lunch’

Chloe Gill’s moving song ‘Lunch’ pays respect to those who have lost their homes, possessions and loved ones in the raging Australian bushfires. ‘Lunch’ describes the heart-wrenching experience of losing your home to the fires, a story in which young children cannot comprehend why they must flee their home so suddenly. With soft and passionate vocals accompanied by Gill’s piano arrangement, the judges were particularly impressed by the story behind the lyrics. Chloe is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Newcastle, creating alternative contemporary music with influences of jazz and blues. Climate Click here to listen to ‘Lunch’ Songwriting 2nd place Competition Lara Buchanan, ‘Smoke’ As the next generation’s protests for sharing in over $1700 of cash prizes and climate action grow louder, Green Music getting to perform alongside award-winning In ‘Smoke’, Lara Buchanan displays an Australia is providing a platform for singer-songwriter Gretta Ray for the season awareness of the damaging effect of climate songwriters from across Australia to share finale of Climate Fridays. change on Australia’s increasingly scorching their climate-inspired music. We received 51 impressive entries from young summers. The song pays respect to our In September 2019, 7.6 million students took people across Australia, with contestants ‘Superhero’ firefighters as they work to save to the world’s streets to demand climate aged seven to eighteen years old. The songs lives, land and property. Buchanan performs action. Now, inspired young songwriters were judged by Gretta Ray, Áine Tyrrell an indie-pop vocal shimmering over an are harnessing their poetic imagination to (singer-songwriter and GMA Director), Laura impressive electro-pop instrumentation, memorialise the struggle and give hope to Hughes (Untitled Group), Laura Lazzara (GMA one regarded highly by the judges. Lara is a their peers and future generations. Intern), Natasha Abhayawickrama and Luca singer songwriter from Canberra who holds Saunders (student strikers). The winning a true passion for music and activism. At just In support of these young musical activists, songs can be listened to at greenmusic.org. 15 years of age, Lara is a strong believer in School Strike For Climate and Green Music au/climatesong. fighting for climate justice. Australia invited all school-aged musicians to Click here to listen to ‘Smoke’ submit their best environmentally-themed Photo: Competition winner Chloe Gill original song. The Music Trust graciously with Green Music Australia ambassador & funded the initiative, with three winners songwriter Gretta Ray.

11 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 12 3rd place Scarlett Graham, ‘Hand Me Down’ The New

Scarlett Graham’s ‘Hand Me Down’ is a sombre love song to the earth, with sweet Normal vocals sharing hopeful sentiments of the future of our ‘crazy world’. With stunning production and poem-like lyrics, Graham In June, Green Music Australia launched its “The development of most sectors presents an optimistic perspective of the first online artist leadership training course to that drive our lives in this land state of our climate, urging the listener help musicians and arts workers reimagine of great sacredness have been to ‘keep it green’. The judges particularly the sector. Presented in collaboration with birthed at the consequence of expressed their admiration for the polished First Nations artists Allara Briggs-Pattison First Nations genocide, land theft, lyrics and instrumentation. Scarlett is (Allara), Mandy Nicholson and Neil Morris destruction and exploitation of a 17-year-old singer songwriter based (DRMNGNOW), along with singer-songwriters natural resources. The intricacies of in Western Australia, who grew up in Lisa Mitchell and Matt Wicking, our online a healthy symbiosis with this land communities filled with musicians. From a workshop explored themes around respect and its people was lived through young age she learned the power of music, for country, the ancient and enduring role of expression of ancient song and allowing her own to highlight important music within society and how to elevate First continues to be held in First Nations issues around social justice and securing a Nations leadership. song, dance better environmental future for all and art.” living things. making music. In a world where catastrophic The New Normal event attracted over 100 live attendees, including 10 high profile Neil Morris, “I think that all music tells a story and right fires and floods are becoming all too artists (Briggs, Jack River, Montaigne, Jen singer-songwriter now we need to be sharing the story of hope, commonplace, the healing property of art is Cloher, Gretta Ray, Heidi Lenffer of Cloud action and change. We need to be sharing desperately needed. Control, Mama Kin, Allysha Joy and Courtney the story of school students fighting for Click here to listen to ‘Hand Me Down’ Barnett) and several industry professionals justice, being young activists, because they representing companies such as Untitled need to. Our leaders are failing us and we Music Group, Sony Music Group, Bakehouse need each and every student with a passion Studios and Mushroom Group. Following the for music and a story, to share it with the workshop, an online resource was developed world. We need to hear it and we need to and shared with over 120,000 music fans. hear it loud, we need music to power the The event was delivered during the peak of fight for climate justice and a better future.” - global Black Lives Matter demonstrations and Ella Simons, 14 year old student striker came as a timely wake up call for Australians from Melbourne. confronting their own racial divides, and In many ways, music can define the cultural in particular the impacts of colonisation. experiences, emotions and personalities of Through this New Normal workshop and young people. Not only is making climate- future events, Green Music Australia will themed music good for growing movements, continue to strive to centre First Nations it is also a hopeful act, and one of the most voices and educate artists on meaningful liberating forms of expression. Research solidarity across our vast continent. published by UK charity Youth Music found A big thank you to the City of Yarra for 85 per cent of young people felt happy when funding the project.

13 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 14 COVID-Safe Reusable Revolutions

Over six years, our flagship waste programs WOMADelaide and Strawberry Fields Festival #BYOBottle and Party with the Planet (see inserts). With support from Green Music have helped to ensure the Australian Australia, these two festivals were able to music industry is a leader on reuse and phase out single-use compostable food and sustainability. However, a concerted effort drinkware in favour of reusable alternatives. by oil, gas and petrochemical companies to Even with limited live events in 2020, our leverage the pandemic to push pro-plastic Refill not Landfill library of rentable, reusable policies and spread misinformation around water bottles continued to support events reusables and hygiene is undermining these such as the Music Victoria Awards and shows efforts: 2020 saw a 30 per cent rise in plastic at the Melbourne Recital Centre, saving waste from 2019, much of which came from thousands of disposable plastic bottles. an increase in single-use containers. Towards the end of 2020 as restrictions eased, In response, Green Music Australia published we launched a short social media campaign an educational resource outlining the science to advocate for a return to sustainable drink- around the safe use of reusables during ware. Spearheaded by singer-songwriter a pandemic and promoted a third-party Missy Higgins, we shared posts of famous resource developed by the Sustainable Event artists at their local cafes drinking from Alliance – The Reusables Hygiene at Events reusable cups and encouraging their fans to guidelines – which offered detailed advice on do the same. best practices for implementing reusables consistently and safely at events and venues.

Two case studies were additionally published to promote the plastic-free efforts of

15 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 16 Elizabeth and her band using GMA’s reusable bottles at the Music Victoria awards.

Photo Martin Philbey.

17 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 18 Tom and Fran from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever using GMA’s reusable bottles at the Music Victoria awards.

Photo Martin Philbey.

19 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 20 s: lt u s e » 106K single use compostable beer and wine cups were replaced with reusable

R cups, 80 per cent of which were returned as a result of the deposit system

e » The rate of damaged cups was

Case Study: h extremely low at only 0.11 per cent T » Over 10K single-use plastic water bottles WOMADelaide were avoided In 2020, WOMADelaide (WOMAD) – of cups across the entire site and reusable » Several additional refill stations were one of Australia’s best loved and most foodware back-of-house. A mobile ‘Wash installed throughout the grounds, environmentally friendly music festivals Against Waste’ van was stationed within the guaranteeing festival goers easy access – joined forces with Green Music Australia main grounds allowing all stock to be cleaned to free water to reduce their waste output. The four-day and re-circulated throughout the long event, held in Adelaide’s stunning Botanic weekend. » BYOBottle messages were displayed Gardens, regularly attracts over 20,000 people throughout the venue, including at Working closely with Green Music Australia a day. and SA water, WOMAD ended the sale of water stations and on big screen TVs Following research commissioned by Green single-use plastic water bottles, asking » The festival site saw a reduction in litter Music Australia in 2017, WOMAD committed attendees to instead #BYOBottle in order to to phasing out single-use compostable access one of the many free water stations and bin usage containers in favour of reusable alternatives. dotted throughout the site. Pre-filled » 100 per cent of stock was washed onsite, New partnerships with Bettercup and Be- reusable water bottles from GMA’s Refill Alternative helped to ensure all reusable Not Landfill library were given to all artists maximising reuse potential onsite systems ran smoothly, including the provision and crew.

21 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 22 “At WOMADelaide it was pleasing to see that all bands were given reusable water bottles and every one of the dozen stages had water dispensers to refill with. It was mighty efficient and given the hot temperatures, saved well over a thousand plastic bottles. This is a “Whilst our patrons are on the great development.” whole quite environmentally aware, the park had far less litter on the David Bridie, musician and ground due to the use of reusables composer (with the deposit system).” Mark Muller, WOMADelaide’s Production Manager

“I’m thrilled to see my favourite Australian festival play a leadership role in dealing with our waste crisis.” Agata Wierzbowksi, audience member

23 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 24 Case Study: Rewash Revolution at Strawberry Fields In 2019, Strawberry Fields Festival launched dishwasher safe and could handle hot and a new reusable crockery system, cold contents. Photo: Duncographic at Strawberry Fields 2019 Rewash Revolution. The plates and bowls are made from rice Born out of a desire to solve the problem husk (a waste bi-product of the rice farming The outcome was that over 90 per cent of and drink areas. Between 2018 and 2019, of disposable culture, Rewash Revolution industry) and are extremely durable, non- the 10,000 festival-goers at the multi-day the number of patrons at the festival grew combined the determination and expertise toxic, BPA free and biodegradable after two camping event used the system and all food by 20 per cent, however the overall waste of a group of event professionals to create, to three years of use (subject to intensity and drink vendors on site got behind it. 5,000 generated reduced by 30 per cent, proving fund and manage a reusable crockery of use). The cups were manufactured by plates, 3,000 bowls and 5,600 cups were that environmental programs such as system. The aim was to remove all single use KeepCup Australia in their solar powered purchased and 82 per cent of the stock was Rewash Revolution really do work. crockery from the festival, hire all necessary factory and are 100 per cent recyclable. The retained by the end of the event, with lost equipment at a low cost and develop a system worked by asking patrons to pay a cups being put down to patrons wanting to deposit system to make it cost neutral. $4 deposit when purchasing food or drink keep hold of them and relinquish The first step was to create a sustainably items, then scraping their plates/bowls/ their deposit. cups after use, returning to the wash station sourced inventory which was adaptable to As a result of the scheme, the festival site the needs of all vendors. It was decided that and receiving their deposit back. On-site stayed clean throughout the entire three the best solution would be a 10 inch plate, commercial dishwashers were used to wash day festival, in particular around the food 30oz bowl, 6oz cup and 12oz cup that were the reusable items.

25 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 26 Party with the Planet

Our campaign to tackle campsite waste marquees were hired out with an average at music festivals started strongly with return rate of 98 per cent. A further 128 over 4,000 music fans pledging to camp abandoned items were salvaged from the conscientiously, 130K+ video views on social campgrounds, saving the equivalent of media, and nine media outlets covering 1,120,000 plastic straws from landfill. The the story including NME, Renew Magazine, campaign was temporarily put on hold due to Triple J Hack and The Music. A campsite COVID-19, however work is underway behind rental program was successfully piloted at the scenes to ensure our festival alliance is Strawberry Fields and Falls Festival with ready to re-launch once restrictions ease. partners Clunes Outdoors. 137 tents and

Party with the Planet Alliance Members & Festivals

27 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 28 Down To Earth – A Fire and Climate Relief Concert

In February 2020, ‘Down to Earth: A FIre and to Handsome Tours and the Sidney Myer Climate Relief Concert’ raised over $1 million Music Bowl to help them improve their waste for charities including the Firesticks Alliance strategy and sustainability initiatives. Indigenous Corporation, WIRES Wildlife Green Music Australia was also invited as Rescue, Emergency Leaders for Climate a non-profit stall to talk with concertgoers Action, and the Foundation for Rural and about our work and raise general awareness. Regional Renewal. Gang Of Youths, Thelma We were delighted to be able to involve Plum, Angus & Julia Stone, Jack River, Tash our colleagues at Friends of the Earth who Sultana, Briggs and Ruby Fields performed to recruited audience members to their Act on a crowd of 12,100 live at the Sidney Myer Music Climate petition. Bowl, with a further 670,000 people watching from home. In preparation for the concert, Green Music Australia provided in-kind support

Photo by Tim Lambert

29 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 30 ‘We believe a holistic response to fire relief and future protection is what the youth of Australia are calling for. As well as immediate fire relief, we value the long term needs of small communities, the knowledge of First Nations people, and the need for climate action.’

JOINT STATEMENT FROM PERFORMING ARTISTS

Photo by Tim Lambert: Gang Of Youths performing at Down to Earth

31 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 32 Water in Arts

In partnership with VicHeath and Creative Participating venues have been encouraged “Self-service hydration stations help Victoria, Green Music Australia has created to reduce or eliminate the sale of bottled encourage our guests to consume the Water in Arts program with live music water and adopt plastic free policies, like more water during the course of venues to increase the availability of drinking allowing patrons to ‘BYO water bottle’ and/ their night, without worrying about water and end the sale of single-use plastic or stocking reusable bottles to supply to staff the environmental costs of single bottles. We have successfully worked with and bands. use bottles or the risk of water jugs eight live music venues to install self-serve being tampered with. This in turn A number of participating venues noted reusable water stations: helps our guests enjoy drinking in how artists are talking about sustainability a more responsible manner which » Northcote Social Club, Northcote and appreciate efforts like this to reduce leads to fewer incidents and a better waste, confirming the need for Green Music » The Corner Hotel, Richmond experience for both guests and Australia’s work. staff. Our staff can also spend more » Yah Yahs, Fitzroy Previously, the initiative had been successfully time focusing on guest welfare and » The Workers Club, Fitroy promoted at high profile industry events providing a good experience for throughout 2019, including Changes Festival everyone rather than constantly » The Palais Theatre, St Kilda via our ‘Refill Not Landfill’ stall; Melbourne filling up jugs of water.” Music Week’s MPavillion panel discussion on » John Curtin Hotel, Carlton The Night Cat Music & Sustainability; and Music Victoria’s » The Night Cat, Fitzroy second Live Music Professionals workshop. » Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD

Water tap at The Night Cat (left) & The Worker’s Club (right) 33 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 34 “At Yah Yah’s, we want everyone to be able to enjoy a great night out without the negative consequences. Encouraging guests to drink more water is a key part of us serving responsibly, so to be able to phase out single-use plastics for self-service stations isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for business too, and for everyone to be able to enjoy their night out.” Yah Yah’s

35 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 36 Partnerships

Green Music Australia’s community extends » We have entered into a new multi-year RATIO across Australia and the world. Throughout partnership with Queensland University E N 2020, we have continued to strengthen of Technology (QUT) to roll out IT solutions our existing relationships while forging to rapidly curb the huge volumes of waste P S new alliances with key environmental being dumped at festival campsites. organisations, social enterprises, NGOs and O » RMIT, the Australian Institute of Music universities. and the University of Melbourne continue » APRA AMCOS continues to be an to work with us to recruit Entertainment enormously valued partner, both as direct Management students to our internship funders of our work and as ambassadors program and in 2020 we hosted two for our cause – not only engaging with, wonderful interns, Laura Lazzara and but also promoting our various green Brooke Robson. initiatives and campaigns to their extensive » Friends of the Earth Melbourne are long music networks. time supporters and continue to assist us » Our two year partnership with Bettercup to deliver the Refill Not Landfill program is allowing us to share resources, promote in Victoria, offering storage space and each other’s reusable systems, and author access to a commercial dishwasher in their research. We also receive administrative Collingwood shopfront. and logistical support with our Refill Not » Mullum Cares and Be-Alternative continue Landfill library, including access to their to be instrumental partners in the commercial washing services. upscaling of the Party with the Planet » At BIGSOUND 2020, our ethical merch campaign and other waste reduction guide was included in the digital gift initiative. bags. Senior GMA staff hosted the ‘Speed Date Your Way To Greentopia’ workshops, discussing sustainable initiatives with event attendees.

37 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 38 Media Coverage Operational

In 2020, 10 media outlets published 14 stories discussing our major projects and Sustainability events, including Climate Fridays, our BIGSOUND involvement and the upcoming Robust systems of governance reporting for ACNC and other licensing Climate Live concert. GMA have received bodies; continued support and media coverage from Maintaining good governance is a priority for notable outlets such as The Music Network, the Board. In 2020, we held a full day strategy » Successfully completed requirements for a Pedestrian TV and Eco Voice. We have also workshop, facilitated by environmental full audit review; maintained strong relations with key music consultant Matt Wicking, which assisted us in » Maintained relevant bank accounts with industry bodies such as APRA AMCOS, Music developing a refreshed fundraising strategy sufficient funds to operate; and Victoria and The Push. Our involvement for 2020-21. with organisations and enterprises such as » Maintained Directors’ and Officers’ Key governance initiatives will be explored School Strike 4 Climate, Handsome Touring Insurance. in 2021 including the commencement of a and Friends of the Earth led to supportive fundraising subcommittee, a refresh of the Thanks to the ongoing support of APRA- coverage throughout the year—Bettercup, financial reserves policy and identification of AMCOS, The Graeme Wood Foundation, The a key partner of GMA, hosted a ‘goodchat’ key strategic risks. Johnson-Ohana Foundation, Ross Knowles interview with Berish discussing #BYOBottle and Stephen Whately as well as many other and other GMA campaigns. Governance generous donors, we have been able to Our charity continues to function in continue to employ Berish Bilander, Emma accordance with its legal requirements. This Bosworth and Tenaya King for another year.. year we have: We continue to pay Jocelyn Edge casually as an accountant. We have also grown our » Maintained Deductible Gift Recipient pool of passionate volunteers and started a Status and registration with ASIC, ACNC, volunteer internship program to help assist the ATO and all relevant state and territory with campaigns and outreach at festivals, as fundraising licensing bodies; well as our social media. » Submitted all appropriate Business Activity Statements for GST as well as relevant

39 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 40 Our Board

The GMA Board is the governing arm of our organisation. Its primary responsibilities are the governance and sustainability of GMA, as well as strategic, fiduciary and monitoring functions that include ensuring that the organisation remains a viable and effective organisation in order to secure its long-term future. Our current board members Tracee Hutchison Carla O’Neale Tina Kothari Jen Rowe make a tremendous contribution to our work and we thank each Incoming Chair Outgoing Chair / Incoming Deputy Incoming Treasurer and every director deeply. Nick Zeltzer, Jessica Cerro (Montaigne), Incoming Secretary Chair Dan Rennie, Asher Christopher and Blair Palese are stepping down to focus on other endeavours and we are extremely grateful for their long standing support. In 2020 we welcomed Tara Medina and Áine Tyrell, and in 2021 we are excited to be joined by Tina Kothari, Jen Rowe and Tracee Hutchison, all bringing a wealth of experience to the Board.

Áine Tyrell Tara Medina Timothy Hollo Ongoing Director Ongoing Director Ongoing Director

Outgoing Members

Blair Palese Susie Sudgen Asher Christophers Dan Rennie Outgoing Director Outgoing Director Outgoing Secretary Outgoing Director

Nick Zeltzer Jessica Cerro Outgoing Treasurer (Montaigne) Outgoing Director

43 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 44 The Year Ahead

As our planetary and health crises converge, concert will be one of 43 across the world, our mission to harness music as healing and passing the microphone to a diverse range of greening force grows ever stronger. In 2021, musicians, First Nations speakers, scientists we will double our efforts to green our scene, and climate activists. working hand-in-hand with artists, venues We will continue to provide pro bono support and festivals to ensure climate action is to artists wherever possible to help them placed on centre stage. activate their fan base around environmental In partnership with the City of Stonnington, activism and education. we will be hosting two industry workshops on Thank you again for all of your support sustainable events for artists and community this year as we strive to create a safer and organisers. Based on the success of our New healthier planet for all. Normal workshop, we are confident there remains a large appetite for training events of The Green Music Team this nature.

We are in the final stages of developing the Green Artist Guide, designed to inspire positive environmental action in the music industry and further grow our support base. The resource is receiving editorial support from veteran First Nations arts producer Rhoda Roberts AO and environmental consultant Matt Wicking.

In support of School Strike 4 Climate and the international Fridays 4 Future movement, we are continuing to assist in planning Australia’s Climate Live 2021 concert. The youth-led

Graphic Design by Kurt Melvin 45 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 Green Music Australia Annual Report 2020 46