A2IM, IMPALA Launch U.S. indie music Carbon Calculator

A2IM and IMPALA, with support from Merlin, have launched a tool to help independent labels measure and reduce their carbon footprints.

Independent music trade associations A2IM (USA) and IMPALA (Europe), in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle, are launching a free one-year pilot project of IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator in the U.S. with the support of Merlin.

The calculator will help music companies report in a standardized way that aligns with the GHG protocol and Race to Zero/SBTi commitments.

The project launched during this year’s Indie Week and will include workshops for A2IM members and 1-on-1 meetings between the developer team and company representatives to guide companies needing extra support. 

“We are very excited that the U.S. is the first territory in the internationalization of IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator,” said Dr. Richard Burgess, President & CEO of A2IM. “Thanks to Merlin‘s support, our members will be able to shape the tool for the U.S. market and play a key role in the expansion of its use.” 

IMPALA launched the Carbon Calculator in the UK in 2022 in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle. The calculator is based on Julie’s Bicycle Creative Climate Tools, tailored specifically to meet the needs of independent record companies with IMPALA.

The first membership Carbon Calculator report was released in 2023, with a second in the pipeline.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.