Evolution Music is shaking up the music industry with bioplastic LPs and a net zero carbon goal

Evolution Music is a media company with a difference. The founders want to shake up every element of the music industry for the better.?

They’re working on solutions that apply a methodology of ‘treading lightly on the earth’, redefining existing materials to decarbonise the music industry.

Engaging with Innovate UK EDGE has enabled Marc and his co-founders to effectively expand their board and enjoy greater access to specialist expertise.

It’s time to shake up the music industry?

Did you know that vinyl records are made from PVC, a non-recyclable oil-based plastic?

Not great news for music lovers and fans of the vinyl revival trying to do their bit for the planet.

Of course, you could always stream your music. But that uses energy for data storage, processing and transmission, that mostly comes from coal, uranium and gas.

Streaming music creates potentially higher greenhouse gas emissions than the petrochemical plastics used in LPs. ?

Fortunately serial entrepreneur, sustainability consultant, long-time member of the Green Party, record label owner and music media businessman, Marc Carey, CEO of Evolution Music, is making it his business to do something about it.

“I wear two business hats. One is business development and R&D, specifically focused on ultra-low carbon material research and clean tech.

The other is working in media and the music industry.”

The two came together when Marc and his fellow directors at Evolution Music, Adrian Clarke and Steve Charter, decided things needed to change in the music industry.

“At Evolution Music, we have a very, very simple statement.

Music made better. That's it. Better in every sense.”

The team has two key goals for achieving this: ????

1. Decarbonise Evolution Music – achieve ‘net zero’ by 2030 for Evolution Music’s products, services and supply chains. ?
2. Support the conversion of the music industry – by working alongside industry experts and organisations to help model and create a standard the whole industry can access and replicate.

Why does an already successful, experienced entrepreneur need the help and support of Innovate UK EDGE?

Marc needed planning and fundraising support to help him achieve his goals, which is where Fiona Anderson, Innovation & Growth Specialist, and her team come in.

“They act like non execs in the business. I get expert advice, at?C-suite or director level. That's worth a lot of money to me.”

So how will Evolution Music go about revolutionising the music industry? Marc explains:

“Steve and I are long-term members of the International Permaculture Association, which looks to design regenerative systems and reduce human impact on the earth. The three ethics at its heart are: Earth care, people care and fair share.

We apply these ethics in our business. They’re the thread that connects all the businesses and the work we're doing with Fiona at Innovate UK EDGE in particular.

It's redefining some of the materials that are used, to decarbonize the music industry.”

Some of the innovations Marc and Evolution Music are working on include:

Vinyl alternatives?- Replace vinyl as a physical media with naturally based and/or compostable material. Evolution Music already has its first recording, which was mastered and lacquered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.?

UK-based pressing plants - With the near demise of vinyl, many pressing plants closed. Fortunately, this is changing and pressing plants are on the increase. Evolution Music is working with one of the world’s greatest, a British independent manufacturer, to press their bioplastic LPs in the UK.

Eco music festivals and recording equipment - Speakers, recording equipment, even the copper and gold in cables all come from ever-diminishing resources.

Marc and the team at Evolution Music plan to introduce a circular resource flow to every element of the music industry.

“It allows growth and a system whereby consumerism is not about waste. It's a cycle where we’re taking existing natural renewable materials and then finding ways to reuse them, put it back into the system.”

Proactive support ?

While Marc is busy with the project delivery and R&D side of the business, Fiona and her team have been working in the background, asking questions and flagging important areas of consideration for the business, such as R&D tax credits and ensuring Marc has robust Intellectual Property protection in place. ???

“They do the proactive stuff about the project planning, while I’m dealing with the reactive stuff. ?

The value Innovate UK EDGE offer is in their mixture of expertise and advice. For us, Fiona fills in the gaps, it feels more like we've got an advisory board or a non-exec director sitting there.”

How does this work in practice?

“Say we catch up fortnightly. Fiona just asks, ‘Where are we? By the way, I’ve found out about this funding. Or I've got these investors for you to speak to. Or I did a bit of research on that supply chain and found this...’ It’s having that proactive input. That director-level conversation.”

Support with funding??

“I’ve been around the block, and I've done many pitches, especially in investment. I've raised funds. I've invested myself and I've had investment in my businesses.

Along the way you kiss a lot of frogs.

With Innovate UK EDGE, you know you've got somebody who's backed by a government funded organisation.

You know, you're not kissing a frog.

If they say they've got a network, that they've got someone they think you should talk to, you know it's going to be worth your while. You should talk to them.”?

What’s next for Marc, Evolution Music and Innovate UK EDGE?

Creating a Growth Map with Fiona and working towards his next big announcement. The team at Evolution Music hope to announce their first product launch with leading independent music labels and Abbey Road Studios during Earth Week – April 2022.

The product pipeline for Evolution Music looks incredibly impressive with iterative projects on the horizon. Speaking on behalf of the team, Marc was adamant:

“If it’s in the music industry, made of plastic or has a detrimental impact on the environment, the EM team will be looking at creating viable and earth friendly alternatives”

Watch this space! Keep an eye on Evolution Music and Abbey Road Studios for the next innovation in music.

Any last words from Marc?

“As a nation, I don't think we do enough to support the embryonic business evolution and R&D.

If I'm a struggling business that's got the next big thing that's going to break the market, but I can't afford to even pay the rent from the office or my intern. Even ￡1000 is useful there. But where's that money?

Innovate UK is one of those organisations that’s really good at putting their money where their mouth is. To make sure innovation happens.

Giving access to grants, match funding, and full-funding projects around innovation to early-stage businesses, Innovate UK is very much part of the solution.”