PETITION

For the first time, a headline artist at a festival in Marseille (FR), forced to take a private jet to ensure his concert on time, has been deprogrammed for environmental reasons.

This choice of transport by the artist was merely the consequence of a “double-booking” — which is, scheduling two performances only a few hours apart but over a thousand kilometers away. This practice, unfortunately common in the music industry, is ecologically and socially aberrant.

Being faster has never made us more sustainable. This ultra-polluting means of transport, which emits 50 times more CO2 than a train [1], is systematically refused by Le Bon Air Festival (organized annually at Friche la Belle de Mai in Marseille), on which this event occurred. The festival contractually requires that any transportation booking must be pre-approved by both parties.

This example illustrates the antionomic tensions currently running through the live music sector: its transition is hindered by the alienating acceleration of profits.

The report from the Déclic project, Décarbonnons le Live Collectivement (english translation : Decarbonize Live Collectively), carried out by the french syndicat specialized in the music industry Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles, as well as FEDELIMA which was published last April, is unanimous: mobility (of audiences and artists) accounts for more than half of a festival’s carbon emissions. The efforts needed to reduce the environmental footprint are considerable, but the stakes are even higher when looking at the symbolic aspect and the construction of the overall narrative. How can we encourage the public to choose decarbonized means of transport if artists are crossing the planet every week in private jets?

At a time when the French government aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the live music sector must also take action to address these challenges.
The Centre National de la Musique is refining its financial aid programs, initiatives are flourishing, voices are rising: it is urgent to align our ambitions and put them into action.

Therefore, we demand:

• A common commitment from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, its Transport Delegation, and the Ministry of Culture to support cultural structures in their actions regarding cultural mobility[2];
• An acceleration of dialogue between the State, local authorities, cultural organizations, and the public to strengthen infrastructure and diversify the rangeof soft and decarbonized mobility options as announced by the Ministry of Culture;
• Raising awareness of environmental issues and encouraging decarbonized mobility as well as good practices in the criteria for eligibility for public funding;
• Encouraging ecological and social transition through collective agreements, regulation of contracts, and limiting geographical exclusivity clauses for artistic performances;
• A change in the practices of partners, collective management organizations, funders, patrons, and GAFA towards greater sustainability.

Whether for gender equality, combating discrimination, sexism and sexual violence, or environmental issues, the live music sector has always been in tune with its time and at the forefront of societal themes. Our organizations unite and inspire young generations.

Music is the leading cultural practice in France, and as members of this sector, we have a collective responsibility to transform our mobility habits to meet the great societal challenges.

First signatories:

AGORIA, Artist
BARBIER Solweig, Delegate General et Co-founder of ARVIVA
BEAUVOIS Alice, General Manager of Aremacs
CHAO Antoine, Journalist at Radio France
COPPOLA Jean-Marc, Deputy Mayor for Culture for the City of Marseille
CORBIER-LABASSE Alban, Head of la Friche la Belle de Mai
DECÈS Laurent, President of Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles
DENIAUD Jean-Paul, Head of Pioche! Magazine
IRLE David, Eco-adviser at Bureau des Acclimatations
JOHNNY HOSTILE, Artist
JOUCLARD Alexandra, Lawyer at the Paris bar
KRASNIEWSKI Stéphane, Head of the festival Suds, in Arles (FR)
PAYEN Magali, Founder of On est Prêt
PUPAJIM, Artiste
RENIER Jérémie, President of CUT! collective
SIMO CELL, Artist
TOMAS-CIMMINO Cyril, Head of Festival Le Bon Air
VALENSI Samuel, La Poursuite du Bleu / The Shift Project
WEBER Anita, President of Observatoire des Politiques Culturelles

Press contact :
Aurélie Hannedouche – 0033 6 99 10 75 75 – dg@sma-syndicat.org
Cyril Tomas-Cimmino – 0033 4 950 495 62 – cyril@bi-pole.org