MUSIC CLIMATE PACT PARTNERS WITH DEEZER TO PUBLISH ‘SOUND CHOICES’: 10 EASY TIPS FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE MUSIC STREAMING
London, 26th June 2026
The Music Climate Pact (MCP) has teamed up with music streaming service Deezer to publish Sound Choices – a best practise guide on how all of us as music fans can reduce the impact our streaming has on the environment without lessening the listening experience we all cherish.
The top 10 easy tips have been developed by the Music Climate Pact’s Digital Working Group (DWG) based on researched best practise.
The guidance was launched at EarthFest 2026 – the Future of Music & Entertainment summit held at Sony Music UK, London on 24th June and was discussed on a The Journey of a Song panel featuring Music Climate Pact Working Group Co-Chairs Caroline Hanson (Warp Records) and Ian Stanton (Beggars), moderated by Music Climate Pact Project Manager, Roxy Erickson.
With just a few easy modifications in the way that all of us as music fans discover and access our favourite songs and albums online and via our personal devices, we can readily reduce the impact our music listening has on the environment – but without diluting the sonic experience and pleasure this gives us. And if all music fans were to do this consistently and across the planet, these relatively marginal actions could have a measurable collective impact on creating a more sustainable future. Read the Music Climate Pact’s statement here and see top 10 easy tips below and here.
The Streaming tips are part of a range of important initiatives that Music Climate Pact Signatories and Supporters have been collectively working on over the past 24 months to identify and act on opportunities for the recorded music sector to reduce the environmental impact of the industry and beyond. These are outlined in the Music Climate Pact’s Annual Report for 2026, which can be found here.
MCP Digital Working Group Co-Chairs, Caroline Hansen (Head of Operations, Warp Records), Lewis Jamieson (CEO, Music Declares Emergency) and Helen Smith (Executive Chair, IMPALA), jointly said:
“This exercise is about helping fans to reduce their impact while listening to all their favourite music. With the busy lives we all lead it’s useful to have a few simple tips in one place. To collaborate with Deezer on this is a privilege as we all look for ways to work together to contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Cynthia Rouilly, Workplace & Sustainability Director, Deezer, said:
“At Deezer, we believe music streaming and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. We are proud to support the Music Climate Pact’s Fan Tips, which empower listeners to enjoy music while reducing their environmental footprint. Small actions, multiplied across millions of fans, can make a real difference.”
Roxy Erickson, Music Climate Pact Project Manager, added:
“The Pact’s Signatories and Supporters have been making quiet strides with Working Groups focusing on priorities around vinyl production, digital engagement, and climate training, because we know that a sustainable music industry requires change everywhere. While much of the effort in creating sustainable digital music distribution clearly rests with the industry and with streaming providers, fans can play their part too – and we want them to feel empowered as partners in this process to help drive meaningful change. We are excited to share these top 10 easy tips for streaming – and our thanks to Deezer and all the stakeholders for their support on this.
“This is just the beginning, and the Music Climate Pact will look to ramp up its communications and education initiatives going forward, drawing also on the powerful voices of artists who champion environmental sustainability.”
‘Sound Choices’: 10 easy tips for more sustainable music streaming – link to asset here
- Hold on to your devices for longer
Delay your next upgrade. Purchase refurbished tech. Repair rather than replace when possible.
- Switch to a renewable energy provider at home
Look up green energy suppliers in your area. Ask your landlord about switching.
- Opt for audio-only streaming (when video isn’t needed)
When possible, use platforms or settings that allow audio-only playback, and disable video, especially when you are listening rather than watching.
- Avoid using multiple devices simultaneously
Choose one “main” device for listening and disconnect others.
- Reduce screen brightness and battery usage
Use the app in dark mode, listen with the screen off or enable battery saving settings while listening.
- Limit data use and choose lower audio quality when possible
Select “standard” or “low” quality for non-critical listening, use data saving mode if available, turn off autoplay and avoid AI-powered features when not needed (e.g. DJ, Mix, and Ask For).
- Download music at home on Wi-Fi (not using mobile data)
Pre-load your favourite albums or playlists on Wi-Fi before heading out. Use offline mode on your streaming service when on the move.
- Make music listening intentional, close apps when not in use
Reduce background use, be mindful of autoplay, use a sleep timer and close apps and devices when not listening. Consider a ‘music hour’ to really enjoy an album in full.
- Download music instead of streaming repeatedly
If you play the same album more than three times a week, it’s worth downloading it.
- Review your settings regularly
Adjust as many settings as you can on your streaming service and device. Disable unnecessary push notifications, limit AI functions, etc. Set reminders to check settings.
About the Music Climate Pact
Convened by the Association of Independent Music (AIM) in 2021 in collaboration with UK record labels association the BPI, the Music Climate Pact was established by its founder Signatories and Supporters to harness the power of the music industry towards inspiring transformational action on the climate crisis and ‘decarbonise’ the global music business in alignment with the latest climate science. By 2022, the founding Signatories had signed up to either the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) or the UN-backed Race to Zero SME Climate Commitment – ensuring their ability to work with experts to set and execute actionable climate targets on which they will report regularly. The Pact, developed with support from the UN Environmental Programme, marks a significant step in aligning the global music business, and the measures already taken by individual companies, around a coherent and industry-co-ordinated strategy. This will seek to unite and take forward existing climate initiatives.
By aligning as a sector, it stands to de-politicise sustainability and address its biggest environmental impacts in an efficient and collaborative way. There is much to be done to become a more sustainable industry, but the MCP will be guided by climate science and take tangible, unified action and regularly update on its progress.
The founder Signatories are: Anjunabeats, Beggars Group, BMG, Brownswood Recordings, Full Time Hobby, Inside Recordings, !K7 Music, Ninja Tune, Partisan Records, Secretly Group, Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Warp.
The founder Supporters are: Association of Independent Music (AIM) (representing the UK’s record labels, self-releasing artists and associated businesses), American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), BPI (the trade association for UK record labels), EarthPercent , Featured Artist Coalition (FAC), IFPI (representing the recording industry worldwide), IMPALA (representing Europe’s independent labels), Julie’s Bicycle, Key Production Group, Merlin, Murmur, Music Declares Emergency , and the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN).
The Signatories, with the encouragement and backing of the Supporters, have committed to:
- Take individual and collective action to measure and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1, 2 & 3).
- Sign the Science Based Targets standard commitment letter stating that we will commit to setting science-based targets or to have joined the Race to Zero programme.
- Work as an industry to establish carbon measurement methodologies, tools and frameworks backed by climate science.
- Collaborate with suppliers and digital streaming platforms (DSPs) to obtain data and drive emission reduction projects.
- Support artists in speaking up on climate issues.
- Communicate openly with fans about the impacts of the music industry.
To learn more, visit the Music Climate Pact website at www.musicclimatepact.com and follow #musicclimatepact.
About IMPALA
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents over 6000 independent music companies in Europe. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. IMPALA works on a range of key issues for its members and started a new co-funded work programme as an EU cultural network in 2025. IMPALA runs various award schemes and has a programme aimed at businesses who want to develop a strategic relationship with the European independent sector – Friends of IMPALA. This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary with a series of interviews Faces of the Independent Sector and other features, see more here.
