Among the many complicated issues the globe is reckoning with, CO2 emissions and climate change have increasingly become the forefront of discussion. Coldplay, among other groups, has decided to take action in implementing sustainable practices for their concerts. To harness the power of their fans, the band added unique dance floors and energy-storing bicycles to their latest world tour. This will allow concertgoers to power the show while they dance and shift around the arena. Bassist Guy Berryman suggested music fans will be more likely to accept changes to the concert experience if it is "a kind of opportunity to do something fun."
The specially made dance floors can accommodate many people turning the fans' kinetic energy into electricity. Coldplay also holds competitions before their performances challenging their fans to see who can generate the most electricity. On the other hand, the bikes can each create an average of 200 watts of energy, captured in batteries that help run special effects for the show. "Being green is a good business model. That's what we'd like to show," commented Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin. “We are very blessed that we have the resources to be able to do it because it’s very expensive to try these things for the first time,” said Martin. “We’re so privileged that we’re in a position where we can change.”
As previously stated, Coldplay is not the only effort on the music industry front working to reduce the effects of its tour's impact on climate change. Other famous musicians and bands are also taking such steps, including Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, The Lumineers, Dave Matthews Band, Shawn Mendes, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Lorde, The Chicks, and The 1975.
Shawn Mendes has promised to reduce his tour's effects on the environment and cut emissions by 50 percent by utilizing green materials in tour clothing and aircraft fuel. The "Music of the Spheres" tour stage used recycled steel to support the effort. The band hopes to deploy the world's first tour battery system, made from 40 repurposed BMW electric car batteries. The goal is to power the show's entire duration with the batteries. Adam Gardner, a representative of Reverb, a nonprofit organization designed to help entertainers construct sustainable concerts that reduce carbon footprints, exclaimed, "The relationship that musicians have with millions of their fans is unlike any other relationship of any other public figure. It can be a walking, talking example." With these musicians' fascinating actions, the industry remains to see how others will innovate.
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