DOWNTOWN'S MIKE SMITH ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHANGE

Downtown Global Music Services President and climate activist Mike Smith will give the opening address at the first annual Climate Music Blowout conference, on 10/17 at EarTH in London.

Sponsored by Sonos, the confab will feature panels on how record labels, the live-music community, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and artists can play a part in greening up the music business—and use their power to encourage action by fans.

Following the day's programming, an evening concert will present buzzworthy U.K. acts like Mercury Prize nominees Porridge Radio and Black Country, New Road.

The U.K. music industry has combated climate change with the help of, among others, Beggars Group and Ninja Tune—home of Black Country, New Road—which recently vowed to be carbon-negative at their U.K. headquarters by 2022 and in the U.S. by 2024.

More information on the Climate Music Blowout can be found here. Now if we could only get this solar-powered lawnmower to work...