GREEN MUSIC GROUPS CELEBRATES OFFICIAL LAUNCH WITH LA CONCERT

Guster

Green Music Group (GMG), a coalition of environmental non-profit Reverb, celebrated its official launch over the last weekend in January in Hollywood, CA. The high-profile coalition brings together musicians, industry leaders and music fans to create widespread environmental change within the music industry and around the globe.

To celebrate its launch, Green Music Group founding members and friends gathered at Jane’s House in Hollywood for live performances by members of Dave Matthews Band, Guster, and Maroon 5. Guests were treated to eco-friendly appetizers and drinks provided by Shin’s BBQ, VeeV, ZICO, Eel River, and Newton’s Vineyard.

“Tonight we celebrated a watershed moment – music industry leaders and fans coming together to create significant change. Reverb has been helping individual artists and venues green their tours and shows for the last six years. We wanted to do more – our founding artists, venues and labels wanted to do more, and our fans were calling on us to take the lead,” said Guster guitarist/vocalist Adam Gardner, who founded Reverb with his wife, environmentalist Lauren Sullivan. “Green Music Group answers that call by using the collective power of the music community to bring about real lasting environmental change.”

Since 2004, Reverb has greened over 80 major music tours while conducting grassroots outreach to over 10 million music fans. The nonprofit group has also worked with various entities within the music world from record labels to radio stations. Green Music Group will build upon what Reverb has already accomplished, creating and implementing industry-wide green guidelines and standards while providing a dynamic online community where fans can take action and learn more about environmental issues.

“DMB has been working with Reverb for a number of years to green our tours and have seen amazing results both backstage and from our fans’ response,” said Dave Matthews Band. “We are excited to exponentially multiply these results by joining forces with other like-minded bands through the Green Music Group.”

Prominent music industry leaders agree. “We are proud to have several of our venues as Founding Members of GMG,” expressed Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. “We look forward to continued growth of our environmental efforts to follow the example set by these standouts and the other founders of Green Music Group.”

GMG also participated in The Roots‘ 6th Annual Jam Session later Saturday night as co-hosts with the band – also a GMG founding member. Widely considered to be one of the most electrifying nights held during award season, this year’s Roots Jam Session was a who’s who of music’s best paired. GMG joined The Roots for a continuous, spontaneous night of musical celebration and environmentalism for a packed, invite-only audience where guests were invited to screen print recycled t-shirts and where artists signed limited edition Jam Session posters, the proceeds of which will benefit GMG.

Born out of the Internet age, Green Music Group has launched GreenMusicGroup.org, which provides fans and artists with a vibrant online community to engage in regular calls-to-action, beginning with the GMG Challenge, set to launch next month. As additional incentive to join, fans who sign up in the next month are entered to win one of three eco-friendly guitars signed by GMG Founding Artists.

“Green Music Group’s incredible reach and deep connection to young people has the power to be a major megaphone for our organization’s environmental campaigns,” said Mike Brune, incoming Executive Director of the Sierra Club, a partner of GMG. Other non-profit partners include: Oxfam America, Union of Concerned Scientists, Hip Hop Caucus, HeadCount, DoSomething.org, StopGlobalWarming.org, Music For Relief, Climate Counts, and Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance.