Music industry veteran Shawn Kilmurray has always had a passion for music and a compassion for the environment. When the opportunity arose for him to combine both of those interests into one dream job, he jumped at it. As the current Executive Director of Rock the Earth, a not-forprofit national public interest environmental advocacy organization, Kilmurray is now working closely with the music industry and its fans to help defend America’s natural resources and bring about positive and beneficial change to people's relationship with the environment.
Rock the Earth has already made high-profile appearances at major festivals like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, and has secured partnerships with such notable touring ASCAP members as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Dave Matthews Band, The Pretenders, Alanis Morissette, Guster, Jack Johnson, Keller Williams, Michael Franti, Ray LaMontagne and many more.
Rock the Earth is now reaching out to more music creators at every level to get involved and to help raise awareness in their ownway, in their own musical communities. As Rock the Earth and ASCAP partner to launch a cell phone recycling drive, Playback's Erik Philbrook talked to Kilmurray about Rock the Earth's mission.
There are a lot of environmental organizations now.What is unique about Rock the Earth and how do you see it having the most impact?
Rock the Earth is the only environmental organization that is of, by and for the music community. We lend our support to smaller, regional groupswhomight not otherwise have the necessary resources, and we also collaborate with better known environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Greenpeace, providing legal and technical expertise to litigatemajor issues.We strive to engage the music community, including: fans, artists, managers, record labels, promoters, venues, instrumentmanufacturers, and other organizations.
That is our niche. We aimto informand involve concert-goers and the musicians alike. We also seek out artist suggested environmental issues. Our goal is to identify and support issues that are important to the artists who support us. Whether it's an old Redwood grove in California that Bonnie Raitt wants protected, a coral reef in Hawaii that Jack Johnson suggests, or power lines in Upstate New York which members of moe., and Gov't. Mule have recently discussed with us, we want to encourage artists to bring issues to our attention that we can attack or defend on their behalves.
In addition, we believe it's important to sow the seeds of thought, working to inspire fans to go back to their communities better informed and more socially active. For the past five years, Rock the Earth has produced much of the environmental programming at Bonnaroo, leading the Social Change Through Music panels each day which have featured interviews and Think Tanks with artists and activists such as Bob Weir, Bonnie Raitt, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Michael Franti and Warren Haynes, among others. This past summer saw us also presenting Green Screens, a nightly screening of environmental film documentaries at Bonnaroo (as well as Summer Camp Music Festival), which included the premiere of Earth Days, as well Mountaintop Removal; Flow: The Privatization of Water; and River At Risk: Grand Canyon Adventure, with special guest Q&A's.
As someone who has worked in the music industry for several years, how have you been able to use your experience from that realm in this new initiative?
My industry background and connections have certainly helped to ease access to record labels, artist management, concert promoters, etc. Being involved in the development of worldwide marketing, promotion and publicity strategies certainly provides me with an understanding of what'd involved in the Business of Music'.
I am confident that support for a Cause like Rock the Earth provides an artist with a non-traditional marketing platform that can deliver a steady stream of positive impressions that resonate with peoplewhomight not pay attention to label release schedules and album reviews. An artist or label that supports a fan-engaging community-improvement initiave like our mobile phone recycling drivewww.rtephonedrive.comor sponsors something like our summer outreach tour or Green Screens, has the ability to realize a tremendous return on their investment.
Instead of a billboard or a newspaper advertisement, why not a donation that delivers the same result? Exposure and brand equity can be obtained via a number of different avenues. As a consumer, I appreciate the artist exposure that comes to me naturally and does not seem forced and manipulative.
Why do you think music creators are generally so supportive of environmental causes and why do they make good leaders of the movement to do something about them?
Creative personalities seem to have the guts to act upon personal feelings and impulses that "normal" people are scared to do. That's why they become writers, actors, artists or musicians, while their peers pursue a surer career path. Musicians especially, have always been at the forefront of social change. They act as the "canaries in the coal mine" when it comes to reflecting societal issues, whether they be political, environmental, or social in nature.
From Bob Dylan and John Lennon, through Marvin Gaye, BobMarley, R.E.M., Bono, Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, and so many others. These people may be music icons but they're human beings first, living in the same world as the rest of us. Because our society is so consumed by the power of celebrity, our media is happy to provide
the platform for artists to express their opinions. Thankfully, fame and glory does not blind themall to the social imbalance and injustice that is so prevalent. Of course, sometimes when an artist speaks out they risk isolation and being marginalized by that same media, as happened a few years ago when the Dixie Chicks simply stated "they were not proud to hail from the same state as the President (Bush)" in response to the Iraq invasion. I personally prefer to be exposed to both sides of a story so that I can weigh the pro and con's and develop my own opinion.
Sadly, many American don't seem to want to take the time to do that. It's very sad, but it seems thatmany Americans prefer to have popular opinion spoon fed to them so that they’re sure to be on the winning side of any debate. It's amobmentality that unfortunately is very often bought and paid for. To combat these forces, we need the freedom to disagree. There is nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree and I applaud those artists who have enough self confidence to speak out in support of alternative viewpoints when they recognize these dark forces gaining the upper hand.
Rock the Earth has worked with many bigname acts and festivals. What do you feel is the most important message Rock the Earth has been able to impart to these
artists and their fans?
Our goal is to make everyone aware that their voice is important and that they have the right to demand a healthier environment for themselves and their offspring. A trustworthy food supply, clean air and water, and more sustainable energy resources are our birthright and should be the American way. As a father of two small children, I want my kids and grandkids (and yours) to be able to enjoy our public lands and wilderness areas. I often find myself backstage at a festival talking to an artist about some back packing trip I'vemade out West ormy love for scuba diving in the Caribbean.
Rock the Earth adds tremendous value to the environmental movement and provides the music community with the ability to participate as public advocates, educators, fundraisers, spokespersons and positive change ambassadors. Reaching hundreds of thousands of concert and festival attendees each year, we are able to take issues which have the potential to negatively impact everyone, and educate, activate and litigate if necessary, to bring about the best result.
As an environmentalist, what do you say to people in the music business community who are worried about making changes that could affect their bottom line?
Going Green need not be more costly. Insist that your packaging / posters / programs/ and promos all be manufactured with post-consumer recycled paper/plastic. Require aggressive recycling at your shows, label, office/home; make your merchandise with organic, sweat-shop free cotton, hemp or something even better like t-shirts they now make from recycled soda & water bottles. Power your buses and trucks with biodiesel and utilize recording studios that use alternative energy sources. All of these options are available now and I'm happy to help connect you to all the right folks.
Yes, we are negatively influenced by the non-stop campaign to turn us into addicts on the consumer consumption treadmill. Why is it that improvements in our health and safety always seem to face tremendous resistance from the status quo who are motivated simply by the bottom line? I'm encouraged by recent examples of the public demanding change after decades of resistance - food nutrition labels, seatbelts/airbags, and public cigarette smoking bans – are a couple good examples. It's about giving back to the community and minimizing negative impact in operations. The concept is also known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); where business decisions are not based solely on dollars; but social and environmental consequences of business activities.
Old cell phones are a particular scourge for the environment, and Rock the Earth has been attacking that problem, especially since more and more people are using these devices, not just for phone calls but for entertainment as well. What should people know about their old cell phones and what should be done?
Cell phones contain a large number of hazardous substances, which leach into soil and drinking water when buried in landfills. Many of these toxic substances, including antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc belong to a class of chemicals known as persistent toxins, which linger in the environment for long periods without breaking down. Some of them, including the metals lead and cadmium, also tend to accumulate in the tissues of plants and animals, building up in the food chain to dangerous levels evenwhen released in very small quantities. These persistent toxins have been associatedwith cancer and a range of
reproductive, neurological, and developmental isorders.
They pose a particular threat to children, whose developing systems are especially vulnerable to toxic assault. Lead has adverse effects on the central nervous system, immune system, and kidneys, and has been linked to developmental abnormalities.
Now the real scary part…. There are an estimated 1 Billion out-of-use cell phones in the US alone! Considering that less than 10% are ever recycled and that leaves 900 Million cell phones bound for landfill. Even worse, the average life span of a cell phone is now only 13 months, so those numbers are only going to get bigger.
