Impact
OUTCOMES OF 2022 + 2023 PRIZES
- HIGHLIGHTED A DIVERSE GROUP OF CULTURAL LEADERS (WITH A CUMULATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA REACH OF 20+ MILLION) WHO CARE ABOUT NATURE AND HAVE THE POWER TO TOUCH AND INFLUENCE FANS
The 47 Finalists in 2022 and 2023 Finalists included:
Midnight Oil, Flume, Emily Wurramara, Tash Sultana, Xavier Rudd, Mo’Ju, King Gizzard, Paul Kelly, Woodes, King Stingray, Lime Cordiale, Jack River, L-Fresh The Lion, Ziggy Alberts, Briggs, Bowerbird Collective, Holy Holy, In Hearts Wake, Troy Cassar-Daley, Wildfire Manwurrk and some wonderful Indigenous, female and non-binary artists. - ENERGISED DIVERSE AUDIENCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
People from 59 countries voted for. the songs that moved them in 2023 and 58 in 2022. - $40,000 DONATED TO FUND FRONTLINE CONSERVATION BY PRIZE WINNERS
– 2023 Winner XAVIER RUDD donated $20,000 to Environs Kimberley, Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue, The Forever Reef Project, and Save Sunshine Glossies
– 2022 Winners KING GIZZARD donated $20,000 to The Wilderness Society - ‘EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL SONGWRITER’ AWARD RECOGNISED A FIRST NATIONS ARTIST
Received by Nidala Barker for her participation in ‘Our Song’ by Tambah Project - CAPTURED MEDIA ATTENTION AND RECEIVED OUTSTANDING COVERAGE
258 PIECES IN 2023 = 40.9 MILLION OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SEEN
Highlights included:
– The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, WA Today, Brisbane Times // Can a song really help to save the planet? – double page print in in Saturday Paper and digital feature focused on emerging eco-artists (7.5M readership)
– Australian Associated Press // Indigenous musicians shine light on caring for country – syndicated across 16 publications (5.4M readership)
– The Australian // Xavier Rudd wins the $20000 Environmental Music Prize (3M readership)
– ABC Radio // broadcast feature about Xavier, interviewed Sunfruits, played several finalist songs and mentioned the prize (1.4M listenership)
– Environmental Music Prize celebrates music with a message // RTR Radio
– Environmental Music Prize Returns // The Music Network
– Interview with Environmental Music Prize Founder // The Sustainable Hour
– What’s in store for Sustainability in 2023 // Green + Simple
– ABC Triple J // King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard win first-ever $20k Environmental Music Prize
– Music Feeds // King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Win Inaugural Environmental Music Prize
– Music Victoria // Stories from the Scene: Earth Day
– NME // Jack River, Lime Cordiale and Briggs among finalists of inaugural Environmental Music Prize
– The Music Network // Environmental Music Prize Searches for Green Theme Song
– Green + Simple // Montaigne on becoming a Climate Activist
– Green + Simple // Heidi Lenffer: Musician, Activist and Entrepreneur - 50+ ENVIRONMENTAL AND IMPACT FOCUSED ORGANISATIONS AMPLIFIED THE PRIZE
Including: Green Music Australia, Greenpeace Australia, Wilderness Society, Ocean Impact Organisation, Australian Youth Climate Coalition, World Wildlife Fund, Australian Parents For Climate Action, Tomorrow Movement, APRA AMCOS, Universal Music Australia, Unified Music Group, Music Victoria, Nightlife Music, NEXUS Australia, NEXUS Global, Australian Progress, Australian Communities Foundation, Green+Simple, Future Super and Humanitix. - 4 WORKSHOPS CO-DESIGNED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS EMPOWERED ARTISTS TO USE THEIR VOICE STRATEGICALLY
– Music Conservation Workshop with The Wilderness Society
– Music ClimateWorkshop with Dr Joelle Gergis
– Music Climate Workshop with Green Music, Greenpeace, Australian Progress, Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Lime Cordiale, Heidi Lenffer (FEAT Initiative, Solar Slice and Cloud Control, Lisa Mitchell
– Environmental Music Prize Discovery Session with Montaigne - ARTISTS AND AMBASSADORS CALLED ON FANS TO CONSIDER CLIMATE IN THE LEADUP TO THE 2022 FEDERAL ELECTION
– Lime Cordiale climate concert with Angus and Julia Stone for Dr Sophie Scamps in Avalon
– L-Fresh The Lion made a video on socials saying “enough isn’t being done” and reiterating that the messages conveyed in Mother were more relevant than ever - PARTICIPATED IN THE ‘NO MUSIC ON A DEAD PLANET’ CAMPAIGN
T-shirts gifted to 2022 Finalists so they could participate in Green Music’s Australia rollout of the international campaign. - INVITED TO PRESENT AT HIGH PROFILE MUSIC AND IMPACT EVENTS
– NEXUS GLOBAL SUMMIT 2023 in New York
– BIG SOUND 2023 in Brisbane
– SeventeenX 2023 in Sydney
– VIVID SYDNEY Bring Artist Brand Summit 2022
– Electronic Music Conference 2022 at The Powerhouse Museum
– NEXUS Australia Summit 2022 at Carriageworks
HOW MUSIC CAN HELP ACCELERATE A CULTURAL SHIFT
CONTEXT
THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS INTENSIFYING
The 2021 IPCC Report confirmed climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying.
It’s increasing the frequency and intensity of hot extremes, marine heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts and intense tropical cyclones. It is reducing Arctic sea ice, snow cover and permafrost and its consequences are dramatic and irreversible.
In the 2021 UN Sustainable Development Report, Australia was ranked dead last for Climate Action (out of 193 countries) for failing to tackle the fossil fuel emissions associated with our imports and exports and not having a carbon price.
The last election helped to end Australia’s divisive ‘Climate Culture Wars’, but WE STILL NEED TO MOVE MILLIONS FROM APATHY TO ACTION.
To make a real change, we need to touch people on a personal level, capture their hearts and make climate top of mind.
ISSUE
NOT ENOUGH CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CELEBRATEs NATURE AND INSPIRES US TO PROTECT It
We need a new songs and new stories that reflect the unprecedented times in which we live.
Artists can create a new narrative, help us to dream big and have the power to influence vast audiences in a way that is deeply personal.
Music builds identity, community and connection and is a constant through history and across cultures.
Every great social movement has used memorable songs to spread messages, share knowledge, unite people and galvanise support, but the climate movement doesn’t many instantly recognisable songs.
Listen to: ‘Where’s Our Climate Anthem?’
We need more mainstream music to touch us and remind us that we need to protect our incredible planet.
Whilst some incredible songs do exist, they are not receiving the attention and recognition they deserve and are not being widely used to inspire change or bring the movement together.
Triple J’s Hottest 100 is a hugely popular annual music poll that reflects Australian popular culture.
Over the last 5 years, Only 1% of songs in the Hottest 100 directly referenced environmental issues.
That contrasts sharply to the fact that music 75% of Australians are concerned about climate change.
OPPORTUNITY
INCENTIVISING ARTISTS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL MUSIC THAT INSPIRES ACTION
Incentive prizes encourage us to dream big and harness the collective genius of many.
This new $20,000 prize will reward those already doing incredible work and encourage others to consider creating masterpieces.
EMPOWERING MUSICIANS TO BECOME POWERFUL ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE
Popular artists are persuasive communicators with storytelling built into their DNA, and they have extraordinary reach.
By helping them to speak out about the climate crisis, we will engage millions of music lovers from across the political spectrum and make climate action cool.
COLLABORATION FOR IMPACT AND SCALE
The ENVIRONMENTAL MUSIC PRIZE has been specifically designed for PARTNERSHIP and COLLABORATION.
Green Music Australia is a great charity that was already working with a core group of engaged musicians and music industry organisations.
They are our key impact and charity partner (tax-deductible donations are made to them to fund the prize).
This strong partnership ensures we:
- avoid replication and duplication
- have reach, scale, impact and speed-to-market
The Prize also amplifies Green Music in its mission since it:
- attracts new artists who then become involved in their sustainability campaigns.
- creates a new proof point as to the validity of its mission
