Indie Record Label Launches Sustainability Pledge for Touring Artists
Domino Recording Co. Launches First-Ever Sustainability Pledge for Touring Artists
Independent Label Introduces Carbon Budgeting Tools, Financial Incentives, and Green Logistics Partnerships to Cut Touring Emissions 50% by 2030
LONDON, November 19, 2025 — Domino Recording Co., the independent label behind Arctic Monkeys and Wet Leg, today announced the launch of a groundbreaking sustainability pledge specifically designed for touring artists—the first program of its kind in the independent music sector. The initiative provides direct financial support, carbon measurement tools, and supply chain partnerships to help artists reduce live performance emissions while maintaining commercial viability.
The program arrives as sustainability becomes a core competitive advantage for music companies. According to a July 2024 Billboard report analyzing IMPALA’s research, labels implementing green measures report measurable cost savings, stronger artist recruitment, and improved employee retention. The study revealed that 71% of 18-24-year-old music fans will pay premium prices for eco-conscious physical products and merchandise, with 50% of all consumers willing to spend more on environmentally responsible formats. Domino’s pledge directly monetizes this shift by investing in touring infrastructure that meets fan expectations. Read the full report here: https://www.billboard.com/pro/green-initiatives-record-labels-impala-report-sustainability/
Through the initiative, artists gain access to IMPALA’s touring-specific carbon calculator to measure emissions across transportation, venue energy, and merchandise production. The label commits up to £15,000 per tour for artists adopting biofuel-powered transport, renewable venue electricity, and plastic-free merch. Strategic partnerships with DHL Green Logistics and the Green Venue Coalition unlock 20-30% discounts on sustainable alternatives. “Our artists were demanding real solutions, not just statements,” said Laurence Bell, Founder and CEO of Domino. “This transforms sustainability from rhetoric into resources, funding green touring methods that actually work financially.”
The pledge targets scope 3 emissions—the indirect carbon impact throughout Domino’s value chain that represents approximately 30% of an average label’s total footprint when accounting for artist travel, freight, and venue operations. While manufacturing, particularly vinyl pressing, remains the sector’s largest emissions source per IMPALA’s 2024 data report, touring has emerged as the fastest-growing component due to increased global festival circuits and production scale. Domino’s program bridges this gap by standardizing measurement and providing capital for emission reduction where artists need it most.
Pilot data from three Domino artists—testing the program during summer 2025 European festival runs—demonstrates a 42% average reduction in per-show emissions. Key strategies included switching from air to sea freight for stage production, mandating venue renewable energy contracts, and eliminating single-use plastics. The label will expand the pledge to all 47 roster artists by June 2026, with quarterly emissions reporting via a public sustainability dashboard. This transparency aligns with Music Climate Pact requirements, which bind over 200 signatories to 50% reductions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.
Industry analysts note that independent labels face unique challenges in decarbonization, lacking the vertical integration of majors. Domino’s approach—providing direct artist funding rather than prescriptive mandates—reflects the collaborative ethos of the independent sector. The program also addresses talent retention, as IMPALA’s research shows sustainability commitments significantly improve job application quality and employee loyalty. “Artists and staff increasingly choose partners based on environmental values,” Bell added. “This pledge ensures Domino remains their preferred home.”
About Domino Recording Co.
Founded in 1993, Domino Recording Co. is a leading independent label representing innovative artists across genres including rock, electronic, and alternative. With offices in London, Brooklyn, and Berlin, the company has released career-defining albums for Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, The Kills, and Wet Leg. Domino is a founding signatory of the Music Climate Pact and active member of IMPALA’s sustainability task force, committed to halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050.
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