AIM and the BPI appoint Creative Zero’s Roxy Erickson to lead next phase of Music Climate Pact
Funding provided through partnership between AIM and creative industries climate charity, Murmur
Erickson to work closely with Pact’s stakeholders to deliver outcomes to benefit the entire music industry
AIM (The Association of Independent Music) and the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) have appointed Roxy Erickson, co-founder of sustainability consultancy Creative Zero, as Project Manager to lead on the next phase of the Music Climate Pact.
This key appointment, appropriately being announced on Earth Day, demonstrates the industry’s collective commitment to achieving its sustainability and decarbonisation goals, and will add further impetus to the Music Climate Pact and the work of its signatory organisations and the wider industry in support of its aims.
The Pact aims to bring music businesses together in response to COP26 and the urgent call for collective action to combat the climate crisis. It was initiated by AIM and the BPI, which together represent the diverse breadth of the UK’s record companies and labels. This next phase for the Pact has been facilitated by a partnership between AIM and Murmur, a new strategic climate fund uniting the music and visual arts industries to address climate change.
Erickson will work closely with the Pact’s signatories, and existing UK and global sustainability initiatives, to help them reach science-based climate targets. She will ensure communication between stakeholders to support progress and identify further work needed. Over the coming year she will communicate on the climate action undertaken by signatories so far and build towards the creation of a music industry hub for environmental impact.
Having co-founded Creative Zero in 2021, Erickson brings a wealth of experience in sustainability consulting for the creative industries. Her recent projects include sustainability work on the BRIT Awards and work as part of the steering committee for the United Nations global entertainment industry action group, Entertainment & Culture for Climate Action (ECCA). She is also co-manager of The Fuel Project, Film London’s decarbonisation resource for suppliers in film and television.
Erickson commented: “The music industry is such an important player in the fight for climate action. Where scientists can give us the data, music can speak truth to the hearts of so many. I am honoured and excited to take up this role and plan to take a pragmatic approach to helping lay the foundations for a music industry hub for environmental impact. I look forward to speaking with the signatories and supporters about the work that has begun over the past two years and priorities moving forward. There is much collective work to be done, but every meeting gives me faith that the people who work in this industry are up for the challenge.”
Among the Pact’s founding signatories are Beggars Group, BMG, Ninja Tune, Secretly Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Partisan Records has also since signed.
Signatories are required to sign up to either the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) or the UN-backed Race to Zero SME Climate Commitment. Other pledges include supporting artists to speak up on climate issues, working with suppliers and streaming platforms to obtain data, and establishing carbon measurement tools and frameworks.
Founding supporters of the Pact include A2IM, IFPI, IMPALA and other industry bodies, along with sustainability initiatives Earth/Percent, Julie’s Bicycle and Music Declares Emergency. Merlin and the Feature Artists Coalition (FAC) have joined as supporters more recently.
Since the Pact’s launch, its signatories and supporters have continued to develop collaborative climate initiatives, such as IMPALA’s carbon calculator and climate guidance for record labels, as well as taking steps to decarbonise their own operations.
AIM has meanwhile continued to ensure visibility around environmental issues, including through industry conferences AIM Connected and Beyond The Music, with its involvement with the Pact led by Head of Membership Nina Radojewski. The BPI has focussed on creating collective action with key stakeholders and lowering the carbon footprint of the BRIT Awards.
Gee Davy, Interim CEO and Chief Policy Officer for AIM, said: “Decarbonising our industry is essential to the future of music. This has been a core part of AIM’s mission, first spearheaded by Nigel Adams (Full Time Hobby) and Peter Quicke (Ninja Tune) in his time as AIM’s Chair, leading to the initial creation of the Pact by Jude McArdle and Paul Pacifico together with Will Hutton (Beggars Group). Thanks to our partnership with Murmur, and the collaboration with the BPI, we are looking forward to seeing the Music Climate Pact enter a new phase of collective action driven by Roxy’s wealth of specialist knowledge to create meaningful action on sustainability across the whole industry.”
Dr. Jo Twist OBE, Chief Executive of the BPI, said: “Supporting music creativity and consumption so that it can continue to thrive, but in ways that are sustainable and meet our decarbonisation targets, is a critical priority for us all. That’s why this latest strengthening of the Music Climate Pact, led by AIM/BPI and supported by a growing number of record labels and other signatories is so very important, not least as it demonstrates that our industry can work collaboratively to effect meaningful change that is collectively driven. Having a dedicated project manager thanks to the Murmur funding is great news, and Roxy Erickson is an excellent appointment who will help stimulate further positive action and engagement across the wider music community.”
Caius Pawson, Chair of Murmur and founder of Young record label, added: “Murmur sees this role as crucial to the recorded music industry’s low carbon transition. The Music Climate Pact was a landmark moment for our industry where ambitious organisations came together to make commitments to decarbonise. Making the commitments was in many ways the easy part - Roxy’s expertise will be invaluable to delivering them.”
Music Climate Pact Signatories:
Anjunabeats
Beggars Group
BMG
Brownswood Recordings
Full Time Hobby
Inside Recordings
!K7 Music
Ninja Tune
Partisan Records
Secretly Group
Sony Music Entertainment
Universal Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warp
Music Climate Pact Supporters:
Association of Independent Music (AIM) (representing the UK’s record labels, self-releasing artists and associated businesses)
A2IM (representing US independent music businesses)
The BPI (trade association for UK record labels)
EarthPercent
Featured Artist Coalition
IFPI (representing the recording industry worldwide)
IMPALA (representing Europe’s independent labels)
Julie’s Bicycle
Key Production Group
Merlin
Music Declares Emergency
Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) (representing independent labels globally)
To learn more, visit the Music Climate Pact website at www.musicclimatepact.com.
About AIM
AIM is the not-for-profit organisation representing and supporting the UK’s independent music community, which makes up a third of the UK’s recorded music market. Now in its 25th year, AIM’s members range from the largest, most respected record labels and associated music businesses in the world to DIY or self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs in music. These include 4AD, Black Acre, Beggars Group, Chrysalis / Blue Raincoat, CTRL Music, Domino Recording Co, FAMM, Finesse Foreva, Hospital Records, HQ Familia, The Leaf Label, Ninja Tune, NQ Recordings, Numbers, Partisan, Transgressive, Scruff of the Neck, Secretly Canadian, Stones Throw, Supernature, Warp, and XL Recordings.
AIM exists to level the playing field for UK independent music businesses - the beating heart of music. No matter their genre, their background, how much money they have, how they identify or their location, AIM provides access to the knowledge and contacts creative entrepreneurs need to create, build and win. AIM supports its members, not only through the difficult times, but also on a day-to-day level with practical support that makes a real difference to their lives and work, helping them take their businesses to the next level.
For more information visit www.aim.org.uk
About the BPI (British Phonographic Industry)
The BPI is the trade association for the UK’s record companies and labels and is the representative voice of British recorded music. Through its policy and public affairs-led work, it campaigns to foster an environment in which its members and their artists can thrive, championing the rights of more than 500 independent labels alongside those of world-leading record companies Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK, and of the artists, performers and label members of music licensing company PPL. The BPI safeguards recorded music through its Content Protection work, tackling digital piracy and counterfeit products, and actively promotes British music and artists at home and around the world, including through the Music Export Growth Scheme; international trade missions, including the LA Sync Mission; and participation at events overseas, such as SXSW. The BPI encourages innovation by bringing the Music + Tech communities together to create opportunities for mutual benefit, including through its Insight Sessions. It provides market insights, training and networking with its free masterclasses, member events, and its All About the Music yearbooks and other reports. The BPI is home to The BRIT Awards and the Mercury Prize, co-owns the Official Charts and administers the BRIT Billion award and The BRIT Certified Platinum, Gold and Silver Programme. Supported by its Equity and Justice Advisory Group (EJAG), the BPI works to achieve greater Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across British music, and is also committed to an industry that operates in a more sustainable way. The BPI recognises the fundamental importance of the talent pipeline and of music and creative arts education in enabling access and opportunities for people of all backgrounds to work in music and the creative industries, which it also supports through its charity The BRIT Trust.
For more information visit bpi.co.uk
About Murmur
Murmur brings together the worlds of art, music and climate science. This is a groundbreaking initiative in which visual arts and music organisations are committing to lead and drive change across their industries by funding the most impactful and effective environmental solutions.
For more information visit www.murmur.earth
About Creative Zero
Creative Zero UK is a Community Interest Company (CIC) and a collective bringing sustainability professionals together to generate positive environmental and social impact. It supports businesses across the stakeholder chains of the photo, film, music, events, beauty, art and advertising industries, bringing a holistic approach and providing services that go beyond simply counting carbon.
For more information visit creativezero.co.uk