Article Contributed by Sacks and Company
Published on 2026-03-31
photo by Chloe Weir Photography
The Music Sustainability Alliance (MSA), a music industry coalition established to convene, educate and empower the industry to embrace sustainability, has announced the MSA Bobby Weir Sustainability Awards, a new annual honor recognizing individuals and organizations in music who are advancing environmental responsibility and climate action.
The inaugural “Bobby Awards” will be presented at the 2026 Music Sustainability Summit (MSS26), Tuesday, April 14, in Los Angeles.
Presented with the support of the family of Bobby Weir, the awards celebrate those who embody his long-standing commitment to protecting the natural world while strengthening the cultural power of music. From greener touring and sustainable venues to innovative supply chains and fan engagement, the awards will recognize leaders who are helping the music industry reduce its environmental footprint and expand its positive impact.
“Bobby always strived to leave nothing but bare footprints on the Earth. If it was helpful to the planet, animals, or others, it was always a yes for him,” says the Weir family. “He spent decades encouraging the music world to consider its impact on the land, the climate, and future generations. We appreciate the opportunity to support MSA as it recognizes leaders carrying that spirit forward.”
“Bobby Weir has long demonstrated how music can inspire care for the planet, and we’re honored to have the support of the Weir family to recognize the innovators and leaders transforming the music industry and turn that spirit into real environmental progress,” said MSA co-founder and CEO Amy Morrison. “We hope the awards will shine a spotlight on the people across the music ecosystem who are proving that sustainability and creativity can move forward together.”
The awards are named in honor of Bobby Weir, whose decades of environmental advocacy have helped bring sustainability into the mainstream of the music industry. Weir’s commitment to environmental stewardship spans over six decades, dating back to the earliest days of the Grateful Dead. Through benefit concerts, community-driven touring, and participation in events such as the Rainforest Benefit Concert, he consistently encouraged the music world to consider its impact on the environment. His work has included support for organizations such as WhyHunger, HeadCount, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reflecting a broad commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Through greener touring initiatives, partnerships such as REVERB, and his longstanding commitment to conservation and land stewardship, Weir has demonstrated how artists can use their influence to drive environmental progress. Additionally, Weir co-founded the Furthur Foundation, channeling decades of advocacy into direct support for environmental protection, regenerative agriculture, and community resilience. His efforts have expanded into broader conversations around sustainability, food systems, and climate responsibility, reflecting a lifelong belief that music can be a powerful force for environmental awareness and collective action. His work reflects a belief that the music community can play a powerful role in addressing climate challenges while inspiring fans to become part of the solution.
Nominations for the awards are being solicited from the MSA community, which includes artists, venues, crews, vendors, labels, promoters, managers, platforms, and others, along with the Weir family and other close-in partners. A distinguished judging committee – including a Weir family representative; Joel Makower, Trellis Group (formerly GreenBiz) Chairman; Rev Lennox Yearwood Jr., President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus; Kurt Langer, MSA Board Member; and Amy Morrison MSA CEO and co-founder – will select the honorees, to be recognized on stage at MSS26.
Nominees will be evaluated based on the impact, influence, and innovation of their work, as well as commitment to advancing sustainability across the music industry through education, collaboration and measurable action.
In addition to the awards ceremony, MSS26 topics will spotlight the most urgent sustainability challenges and breakthrough opportunities shaping the future of music, including: reducing the emissions of fan travel; developing zero-waste strategies for festivals; sustainable materials for musical instruments; decarbonizing backstage and logistics; sustainability in small and mid-sized venues; putting sustainability on the foodservice menu; music's impact on culture and climate; and “how to think about AI and Sustainability.”
Among the more than three dozen confirmed speakers are Lindsay Arell, Legends Global; Maggie Baird, Support+Feed; David Beame, Global Citizen; Kelly Brennan-Kleyn, KBK Management; Jamal Chalabi, Backlash Productions; Mary Conde, Another Planet; Erik Distler, AEG; Kristen Fulmer, Oak View Group; Adam Gardner, REVERB and Guster; Hanna Grahn, Spotify; Cheryl Liguori, Z2 Entertainment; Lesley Olenik, Live Nation; Scott Paul, Taylor Guitars; Carol Scott, TAIT; Dylan Siegler, UMG.
Registration for MSS26 is now open.
For more information, visit bit.ly/mss26
ABOUT MSA
The Music Sustainability Alliance mission is to embed sustainability in the music industry’s DNA. We convene diverse stakeholders to showcase and accelerate initiatives where sustainability becomes the norm, inspiring audiences to carry those values and empowering artists to advocate for sustainable behaviors by their teams, venues, and fans. In addition to its annual Summit, MSA (a 501c3 nonprofit) hosts The Green Room, a webinar series on music sustainability topics; a series of Working Groups to address solutions to industry challenges; and a variety of online resources. For more information, visit www.musicsustainability.org. Follow at: IG @msa.action
