For the final episode of series one, we're talking recorded music and its impact on the environment: from vinyl to CDs, cassettes to streaming. It's a massive, complicated subject full of nuance.

Nigel Adams – boss of independent labels Hassle Records and Full-Time Hobby – has been learning about this area for more than a decade. He joins hosts Fay Milton and Greg Cochrane to break down topics including recycled vinyl, "energy intensive" streaming and "how we need more knowledge" to move forward with recorded music and sustainability.

He's also part of the team who recently launched Near Mint – an initiative to make sure imperfect vinyl avoids destruction and still gets sold.

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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Links to things discussed in the podcast:

Near-Mint vinyl initiative

https://musicdeclares.net/gb/campaigns/near-mint

Full-Time Hobby

https://fulltimehobby.co.uk/

Association Independent Music Climate Group

https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/news/aim-climate-action-group-launches/

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This episode's recommendations:

Fay's recommendation

How green is your bank? Switch It

Make My Money Matter

https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/net-zero/

https://switchit.money/

Greg's recommendation

BBC Sport 2050: Future news from a warmer world

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/56972366

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Useful links:

Instagram – @soundslikeaplanpodcast

Fay Milton

Twitter – @faymilton

Instagram – @faymilton

Greg Cochrane

Twitter – @Gregcochrane

Melvin Benn – festival boss of Reading & Leeds, Latitude and many more – knows how to throw a party. For a long time he's also been a  committed environmentalist – having measured his festivals' carbon footprint for more than a decade, he's also employed a sustainability manager at his company for more than 10 years. 

He joins our hosts Fay Milton and Greg Cochrane to discuss his views on audience travel, foreign festivals and the difficult questions around event sponsorship, plus why he doesn't want to "burden" young music fans with climate anxiety. He also talks about "electrifying" his festivals, and introducing greener initiatives around things like food.

Melvin's contribution has been significant – his leadership has helped shape the sustainability policy of one of the world's largest concert promoters, Live Nation. And as that statement says: "we have a responsibility to preserve the live music experience for generations to come."

Before we go, we'll also leave you with our weekly recommendations. Thanks for listening. 

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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This episode's recommendations:

Fay's recommendation

Ecolibrium app

https://ecolibrium.earth/introducing-the-ecolibrium-travel-log-app/

Greg's recommendation

Signals Amidst The Noise newsletter

https://globaloptimism.com/newsletters/signals-amidst-the-noise-april-6/

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Useful links:

Instagram – @soundslikeaplanpodcast

Fay Milton

Twitter – @faymilton

Instagram – @faymilton

Greg Cochrane

Twitter – @Gregcochrane

We're talking local action on this week's episode. Our guest KAM-BU isn't just one of the UK's best new MCs, he's also a keen conservationist. The 24-year-old south London musician has been doing his bit for the local community, the environment and his own wellbeing by volunteering with The Conservation Volunteers – they spend time bringing people together to nurture neighbourhood green spaces, before handing their caretakership over to their newly established communities. Plus, he talks about how nature and sustainability makes its way into his art – and growing tomatoes at home.

Hosts Fay Milton and Greg Cochrane discuss the balance between everyday, personal actions and the wider climate crisis and also leave you with some recommendations.

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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KAM-BU's music

'Black On Black'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c67Nbr3ePu8

'Are You On?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2zzNZumGpo

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The Conservation Volunteers

https://www.tcv.org.uk/

Green Gym 

https://www.tcv.org.uk/greengym/

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This episode's recommendations:

Fay's recommendation

'The Book Of Trespass' by Nick Hayes

https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Nick-Hayes/The-Book-of-Trespass--Crossing-the-Lines-that-Divide-Us/24600439

Greg's recommendation

'Where's Our Climate Anthem?' podcast episode from How To Save A Planet

https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet/llhl9xr

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Useful links:

Instagram – @soundslikeaplanpodcast

Fay Milton

Twitter – @faymilton

Instagram – @faymilton

Greg Cochrane

Twitter – @Gregcochrane

A couple of years ago musician Heidi Lenffer, keyboardist with the band Cloud Control, was shocked when she looked into her band’s touring carbon footprint. Her response was fantastically positive: she formed FEAT. (Future Energy Artists) an investment scheme created by musicians that funded the build of a clean energy solar farm. It was a way for some of Australia's best known acts to offset their touring, but also invest in their future along with everyone else's. It's an example of music and climate action colliding with true innovation and the power of collective thinking. And who knows, maybe it's a scheme that can make its way around the world?

Hosts Fay Milton and Greg Cochrane also discuss the latest headlines in music/climate, and leave you with some recommendations.

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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This episode's recommendations:

Fay's recommendation

Shesaid.so

https://www.instagram.com/shesaid.so/?hl=en

Black Lives In Music 

https://www.instagram.com/blacklivesinmusic/

Greg's recommendation

Co Go app

https://cogo.co/

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Useful links:

Instagram – @soundslikeaplanpodcast

Fay Milton

Twitter – @faymilton

Instagram – @faymilton

Greg Cochrane

Twitter – @Gregcochrane

The 1975 have been one of the biggest and most influential voices in music and climate action the past couple of years – from organising reforestation campaigns to collaborating with Greta Thunberg. Their record label, Dirty Hit, have also taken industry-leading steps to become more sustainable.

On this episode the band's manager Jamie Oborne talks about how their 2019 collaboration with Greta came about, the story of meeting the "punk" climate activist for the recording session in Sweden and some of the subsequent criticism the group received from certain areas of the media.

Jamie also discusses The 1975's current plans to develop a new light-weight, less carbon-heavy live show, the influence of his children on his climate passion and his thoughts on this year's UN COP26 summit in Glasgow in November.

Hosts Fay Milton and Greg Cochrane also look back on Earth Day 2021 and what was a massive week for music and climate action, and leave you with some recommendations.

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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This episode's recommendations:

Fay's recommendation

Kerrang! cover feature: 'How rock music is answering the climate crisis call'

https://www.kerrang.com/features/no-music-on-a-dead-planet-how-rock-is-answering-the-climate-crisis-call/

Greg's recommendation

'The Future We Choose' by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac.

https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Christiana-Figueres/The-Future-We-Choose--Everyone-should-read-this-book-MATT-HAIG/25586844

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Useful links:

Instagram – @soundslikeaplanpodcast

Fay Milton

Twitter – @faymilton

Instagram – @faymilton

Greg Cochrane

Twitter – @Gregcochrane

We're at a point where the music world is full of people who want to be more sustainable and take some form of climate action but don't know where to start. The route to making a useful contribution begins with understanding... then making a plan. The UK not-for-profit organisation Julie's Bicycle are all about education – they help the creative industries understand their environmental impact (measuring their carbon footprint, for example) and then work with them to create their own green strategies. They've collaborated with artists, festivals and venues.

On this episode Chiara Badiali joins hosts Fay Milton and Greg Cochrane to discuss the tools and guidance Julie's Bicycle provide, hear about the most common questions they get asked and take a peek at what a more sustainable music industry looks like – electrified festivals and pints of lager made from recycled urine could become more common! Cheers!

Fay and Greg also look ahead to a momentous week of music/climate action, and leave you with some recommendations.

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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This episode's recommendations:

Fay's recommendation

Rough Trade and Music Declares Emergency present Music in the Climate: How can record labels, record stores, and artists respond to the climate crisis? Wednesday 21 April 2021, 7pm GMT. Livestream event:

https://bit.ly/3261PSz

Greg's recommendation

#PlaylistsForEarth – listen to playlists from Coldplay to Anna Calvi, Kelly Lee Owens to Squid. It's all about raising awareness around the work of Client Earth, an organisation using the law to protect our planet. 

playlistsforearth.com

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Useful links:

Instagram – @soundslikeaplanpodcast

Fay Milton

Twitter – @faymilton

Instagram – @faymilton

Greg Cochrane

Twitter – @Gregcochrane

Radiohead have spent almost two decades supporting green causes and writing about the ecological emergency in their music. On this podcast, we speak to guitarist Ed O'Brien about his band's longterm interest in sustainability, the impact of nature on his mental health and the music community's response to the climate crisis. Clue: he's watching Coldplay with interest. He also does a very passable impression of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Fay and Greg also look ahead to a busy month of climate action, and leave you with some recommendations. 

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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Recommendations:

Fay's recommendation

Surfers Against Sewage's clean up campaign 

https://www.sas.org.uk/

Greg's recommendation

It's Freezing In L.A. 

https://www.itsfreezinginla.co.uk/

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Useful links:

Instagram – @soundslikeaplanpodcast

Fay Milton

Twitter – @faymilton

Instagram – @faymilton

Greg Cochrane

Twitter – @Gregcochrane

Welcome to Sounds Like A Plan. The guest on our debut episode is none other than our podcast co-host Fay Milton from the band Savages. Where better to start than hear from a leading voice in music and climate activism? Fay speaks to Greg Cochrane about the beginnings of Music Declares Emergency – a movement bringing people from across the music industry together to make progress on climate – how she personally got into environmental action, and what urgently needs to happen next. We'll also leave you with some recommendations.

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Sounds Like A Plan series 1 is supported by Bulb – the green energy company. Listeners of the podcast can take advantage of £50 credit when they switch to Bulb's renewable energy, via this link.

https://join.bulb.co.uk/refer/soundslikeaplan

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Useful links:

Sounds Like A Plan

Instagram

Fay Milton

Twitter / Instagram

Greg Cochrane

Twitter

Recommendations:

Fay's recommendation 

Music Declares Emergency

Official website / Instagram / Twitter

Greg's recommendation

A Matter of Degrees podcast – 'Give Up Your Climate Guilt' 

The climate crisis is the most urgent issue facing the planet right now. But can music help save the world? Sounds Like A Plan is the new podcast series that'll find out. 

Each episode chats to a name in the music world taking action – and not just those in front of the mic... from festival bosses to artists, record labels to data analysts.  

Hosted by journalist Greg Cochrane and musician and activist Fay Milton, from the band Savages and co-founder of Music Declares Emergency. 

Series One coming 6 April 2021.