Phonoautobothy
Pioneering sustainable music production in Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is committed to environmental sustainability. A pioneering project led by Professor Matt Brennan and Dr Graeme Hunt in collaboration with Idlefield Art Lab, and co-funded by Canada Council for the Arts and the GALLANT Innovation Fund, is spearheading the adoption of low carbon behaviours within Glasgow’s thriving music scene.
The Phonoautobothy – a solar powered, mobile music recording and live production studio – was constructed by Idlefield Art Lab using upcycled materials. This off-grid studio is designed to produce high-quality recordings and power live music events without relying on diesel generators.
Traditionally, diesel generators play a significant role in powering music events. However, their combustion releases greenhouse gases, polluting the air and contributing to climate change.
The future of sustainable music production
The Phonoautobothy not only provides a practical solution for mobile sustainable music production but also serves as a research platform – testing the viability of solar power as an alternative energy source at events.
By monitoring energy use and gathering data, the project aims to offer valuable insights that could assist event organisers in transitioning to more sustainable practices.
The project supports local artists and communities and has the potential to influence broader changes in the cultural sector, both in Glasgow and beyond. By showcasing sustainable energy in action, it is redefining the possibilities for producing live and recorded music. The Phonoautobothy embodies the University’s mission to drive environmental transition through dynamic interventions. The project aligns with Glasgow’s status as a UNESCO City of Music, leveraging the city’s rich musical heritage to adopt low-carbon behaviours.
Broader implications
Beyond its immediate application in music production, the Phonoautobothy project plays a key role in research exploring how Glasgow’s cultural sector can influence public attitudes and drive the city’s environmental transition. This research is crucial for understanding the role that arts and culture can play in achieving sustainability goals.
Dr Inge Sorensen, from the University’s School of Culture and Create Arts, has been looking at how to make film and TV making in Scotland more environmentally sustainable. Dr Sorensen said:
The film and TV industry relies on a carbon-intensive infrastructure network with significant overlap to the music sector. We now have an opportunity to help inspire industry leaders, audiences and shift behaviours around sustainability.
Through initiatives like the Phonoautobothy, the University is helping to pave the way for a more sustainable future. As Glasgow strives to become a Net Zero city by 2030, the Phonoautobothy stands as a symbol of what is possible when innovation, creativity, and sustainability converge.
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News release