Reverb Brings Sustainability to the Music Industry

Based in Portland, Maine, Reverb is a non-profit organization that educates and engages musicians and their fans to take steps toward a more sustainable future. Deeply rooted in the music and environmental communities, Reverb was founded in 2004 by environmentalist Lauren Sullivan and her husband Adam Gardner, guitarist for alternative rock band Guster. Reverb creates comprehensive, custom greening programs for music tours; educates and connects with fans on a grassroots level; and works with record labels, radio stations, and venues to reduce the environmental impact of the music industry.

With the opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of fans every year, Reverb spreads a positive message of environmental sustainability in a number of ways, including setting up an Eco-Village at concert venues; Eco-Villages are festival-like villages that are equipped with environmental displays and activities and host environmental groups to engage and educate music fans. Reverb also presents eco-trivia, tour greening information, and text messaging campaigns on Jumbotron slideshows; provides eco-concert takeaways for fans that describe the green initiatives of the tour and offer simple calls to action; and creates custom tour-specific websites that feature green resources and calls to action for fans.

Behind the scenes, Reverb carries out and oversees all greening elements of each tour; coordinates with the production team and drivers to arrange local and sustainable biodiesel fuelings; works with tour caterers and local farmers to provide healthy and organic food options for the band and crew; and  makes recycling on tour easy by supplying bins and signage for all dressing rooms, production offices, and other locations. Further, Reverb replaces paper and plastic catering products with reusable items when possible and with biodegradable and recyclable items when not. Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews Band, and Mumford & Sons are among the artists that have recently partnered with Reverb to green their tour.