Artists team up with Reverb for sustainability
Reverb is an organization that helps 'green up' musicians' tours.
Published Oct. 23, 2009
Guster, Kelly Clarkson, Jack Johnson and Avril Lavigne have all toured with Reverb. But it isn't a band. It's an organization trying to make a difference.
According to the Reverb Web site, Reverb is a non-profit organization Guster guitarist and vocalist Adam Gardner started with his wife to help "green up" musician's tours.
With a few alterations to the normal touring routine, Reverb has done a lot to contribute to environmental sustainability. Since its beginning in 2004, Reverb has turned at least 70 tours and more than 1,000 shows green and reached out to 7.9 million fans The organization has sold eco-friendly merchandise, given the bands reusable bottles instead of plastic and reduced the carbon dioxide emissions by 53,000, to name a few of their services.
In the past five years performers, such as John Legend, The Fray, Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more have gone on "green tours" and informed their audiences of the importance of taking action toward a more sustainable future.
Bands aren't the only ones doing things to help save the planet. The on-campus group Sustain Mizzou promotes awareness and scatters recycling bins all across campus.
"There are a variety of ways to make any type of endeavor more environmentally sustainable, and I'm glad that someone is working to improve the impact of the music industry," former Sustain Mizzou President Ben Datema said.
He said sustainability can benefit people in cost savings and overall health and fosters other beneficial effects.
"The business world, and undoubtedly the music industry, have yet to realize the full benefits that increased environmental sustainability can provide, although this type of program is certainly a step in the right direction," Datema said.
Reverb has also started the Campus Consciousness Tour, in which bands tour university campuses across the United States informing college students of the urgency of this issue and telling them ways to help.
MU was left off the Campus Consciousness Tour, said Elliot May, the Development and Tour Support coordinator for Team Reverb. May said though they would love to come to the campus, the bands' booking dictates which schools the tour hits. They will be starting the booking process at the end of this year or beginning of next year.
Editor's note: This article was held from a previous issue, and we had it slated to run this Friday before learning of Tracy Fisher's death. There is no reason why Tracy's story shouldn't be published. We hope by running the story, it gives her family and friends one more look at Tracy's accomplishments. Our condolences go out to those who knew her.
— Mary Daly, managing editor
8:30 a.m., Oct. 25, 2009
Tracy's Mom said:
It is so lovely, and comforting, to stumble across little pieces of Tracy throughout these challenging days. Thank you so much to the Mizzou community for embracing her as you did. She was so very happy to be there with you.