By Taylor Grimes

As global warming has become an increasingly relevant issue, more and more artists have joined the fight for environmental responsibility. The July 7 Live Earth concerts are exemplary of the environmentally friendly direction in which the music industry is headed. Several organizations -- some new, some old -- have begun the push to help make artists and their tours greener.

One of the oldest is MusicMatters, a small marketing firm that has been working in this field for 17 years. Through partnerships with various artists, the company has achieved many milestones in making the process of touring more ecologically sound. The organization began its foray into environmental reform in 1990, when it started a series of completely green Earth Day shows in Washington D.C., featuring artists like Paul McCartney, Don Henley and Melissa Etheridge. Since then, they've converted Foxboro Stadium into a green venue, produced the first and largest renewable energy festival and, perhaps most significantly, fostered the launch of SMART.

SMART (Sustainable Minded Artists Recording & Touring) was developed as a resource for artists who want to ensure that their tours are as environmentally sound as possible. The organization provides valuable knowledge from leading environmental experts, as well as a partnership with eco-friendly vendors to provide discounted access to environmentally friendly products. The organization will also give a tour its SMART certification, provided the tour passes a number of requirements, including the use of biodiesel fuel on tour buses and the necessary availability of at least one line of organic merchandise for fans.

If SMART provides the ideas, then Reverb provides the means. Founded by Guster's Adam Gardner, the organization coordinates biodiesel fill-ups for tour buses, powers concerts with renewable energy and establishes recycling programs at the venues, among other initiatives. In addition, Reverb builds upon the foundation of the "green highway" concept started by Bonnie Raitt.

The concept is a way for bands to reach out to fans by setting up interactive "eco-villages" at shows that educate about innovations in environmental technology.

Artists aren't the only industry movers and shakers concerned with the environment, though, and the Dogwood Alliance is doing its part to ensure that music labels pitch in too. The Dogwood Alliance is an organization that works to protect the endangered forests of the southern United States. By pushing labels to move to enviro-friendly, renewable packaging, the group hopes to replenish the ever-diminishing forests in the South. The organization applauds companies like Warner Music Group and Groovehouse Records, who have already made efforts to create sustainable music packaging, but is urging the rest of the music industry to follow suit.