A landmark report on carbon emissions in live music in the United States and the United Kingdom, released Thursday (Dec. 11) by MIT, found that fan travel to shows is the number one driver of those emissions in both territories.
The study analyzed more than 80,000 live music events, from club shows to stadium tours, in the U.S. and U.K. to assess emissions related to trucking, energy, food and beverage consumption, water, waste, fan travel, artist and crew travel, accommodation, and freight related to live music.
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The study found that in the U.K., fan travel created 77% of emissions in live music, with that number falling to 62% in the U.S., across nearly all show sizes, from one-off shows and club tours to local tours and stadium shows.
These results are consistent with previous reports that have found that flights, car rides and other carbon-emitting forms of travel to shows are the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in live music. (It’s an issue that artists like Billie Eilish have attempted to solve by offering fans information on sustainable transport options ahead of tour stops.)
The second biggest carbon emitter is food and beverage, contributing to 16.9% in the U.S. and 7.6% in the U.K. These numbers are largely the result of animal-based products, with methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide all emitted by the raising of livestock, along with deforestation related to pasture creation, transportation of animal-based products, and more. The study notes that “a shift toward plant-based menus could reduce these emissions by 40% or more.”
To wit, Eilish’s team worked with all venues on her 2024-25 Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to ensure that vendors sold at least one plant-based meal, with the team also consulting with venue food and beverage teams to provide education on the preparation and benefits of plant-based food.
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The study continues that when excluding fan travel, touring-related trucking and freight are major contributors to carbon emissions, with trucking making up 14% of U.S. emissions. In the U.K., air freight accounts for nearly 35% of emissions.
Additionally, the study finds that large-format shows like stadium tours “generate a disproportionate share of total emissions, making festivals and stadium tours powerful catalysts for innovation and scalable climate solutions.”
The report was created by MIT’s Climate Machine, with help from Coldplay, Warner Music Group, Live Nation and sustainability consultant Hope Solutions. The complete report is available here.
“The research and analysis that has now resulted in the total greenhouse gas emissions attributable to live music in the U.K. and U.S. marks a new anchor for meaningful actions,” MIT Climate Machine co-founders Professor John Fernández and Dr. Norhan Bayomi said in a joint statement. “This detailed accounting of emissions sources and amounts guides a set of recommendations that point to a new era of emissions reductions and sustainability practices across all of live music.”
“For the first time, the live music industry has a clear picture of where our collective impact lies,” added Live Nation’s head of sustainability, Lucy August-Perna. “For Live Nation, this data empowers us to continue taking smarter, more coordinated action in partnership with artists, venues, and fans to preserve a strong future for live music and the communities that support it.”
