150. Earth Day Special: The Environmental Music Prize! with Edwina Floch

By Global Optimism

Outrage + Optimism

21/04/22·57m 18s

Australia is turning up the volume on environmentalism for the world to hear!

If you turned on your favorite music radio station, would you know we’re in a crisis?

Only 1% of songs in National Australian premier radio station Triple J’s Hottest 100 (2.5M+ votes) over the last 5 years directly referenced environmental issues…and that’s following mass bleaching of The Great Barrier Reef, The devastating Australian Bushfires of 2019-2020, AND a recent study before COP26 that reported 75% of Australians are concerned about climate change.

So why is Australian mainstream music so culturally disconnected from a population overwhelmingly environmentalist? We know artists, bands, and musicians have been and are currently creating environmentally-minded music, so how do we get those songs into the mainstream?

Our guest today, Edwina Floch, recently launched The Environmental Music Prize - A new $AU 20,000 prize that amplifies the voices of artists who inspire action for climate and conservation. The prize launched during the UN Climate Summit, and it's a global first and a call-to-action for artists to create and submit powerful music videos that celebrate nature and encourage us to defend it.

Every movement needs anthems. The search is on!

Enjoy the show and stick around to hear some amazing music from music artists Montaigne, In Hearts Wake, Little Green, Billy Otto, and King Stingray!

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Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

WATCH: All the Music Videos by the finalists for The Environmental Music Prize!

VOTE: Vote for your favorite Environmental Music Prize finalists!

DONATE: Keep The Environmental Music Prize going!

LEARN: Learn more about The Environmental Music Prize!

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