The music industry lags behind when it comes to addressing sustainability and contributing to the changes required to curb the climate crisis and the pressure on social sustainability. Now is the time for collective action, which is why a number of enterprises and organisations are launching the ‘Partnership for Sustainable Development in Music’ as well as introducing the ‘Code of Conduct for Equal Access in Music’.
Time for collective action
New partnership to promote a sustainable music scene
It is time to create the collective solutions that one single entity cannot do on their own. This is the idea behind the Partnership for Sustainable Development in Music, established by a group of enterprises and organisations in the Danish music industry. The partnership wants to inspire each other and to work together to develop and catalyse solutions to the sector-wide challenges that impede a social, economic, and environmentally sustainable music scene.
‘Our ambition is to make a positive mark on the society and the industry we are part of. This is not something we can fix overnight or as single entities. We’re in for a long haul. So we’re incredibly proud that we are now launching the Partnership for Sustainable Development in Music – because cooperation is crucial if we are to address the challenges our industry is facing in fostering a more sustainable music scene,’ states Gorm Arildsen, Koda’s CEO and representative of the partnership’s steering committee.
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Cooperation is crucial if we are to address the challenges our industry is facing.
Gorm Arildsen
Every link in the value chain in music needs to do its part
Cooperation is the principle behind the newly established partnership. Solving the industry’s sustainability challenges means that all music industry stakeholders must pull together to make the necessary structural changes.
‘It’s not enough that a handful of stakeholders work with these challenges. We need the entire value chain in music to get to work if we are to reverse the trend and achieve equal access for everyone, improve mental health and well-being as well as drive the green transition across the industry. The music industry must be jointly committed to future development and value creation, which is why one of the partnership’s aims is to urge as many as possible to join our work,’ says Henrik Sveidahl, Principal of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, and representative of the partnership’s steering committee.
About the Code of Conduct for Equal Access in Music
The Code of Conduct for Equal Access in Music is created by the Partnership for Sustainable Development in Music. The code of conduct supports equal and fair conditions so all talents can realise their full professional, artistic, and intellectual potential. Those who sign up demonstrate that they want to create change and commit their enterprise or organisation to integrating the six principles of the code of conduct, both internally and in their external work. Finally, they will also commit to measure and report their progress and results to ensure equal access.
New Code of Conduct will support change
The first initiative of the partnership is the Code of Conduct for Equal Access in Music. All organisations and enterprises in the Danish music industry, whatever their size, can sign up to the code. Those who sign up will demonstrate that they want to create change and commit their enterprise or organisation to integrating its six principles. They will also commit to measure and report their progress and results.
‘Both Danish and international surveys confirm that the music scene faces clear obstacles in ensuring that all talents can realise their full professional and artistic potential. And recent reports have also shown us the areas we need to focus on. The code of conduct is a call to action, suggesting ways to get started,’ says Sara Indrio, President of the Danish Artists’ Union and representative of the partnership’s steering committee.
Members of the partnership
Koda, the Danish Artists’ Union, the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Vega, Live Nation, Gramex, the Danish Music Industry Network, Jazz Danmark, Promus – the music community of Aarhus, the Association of Danish Agents for Artists and Bands, IFPI Danmark and Greener Music.
The partnership is open to all organisations and enterprises in the Danish music industry.
See the partnership’s website (only in Danish)
