Encounters

Encuentros: Paula Raez (Part 1)

Sustainability has become an unavoidable topic in the music industry — especially when it comes to festivals. In this timely conversation, Paula Raez, a lawyer and consultant specialized in sustainability in the cultural and creative sectors, offers an honest reflection on the real limits and possibilities of applying sustainable practices in an industry that, by nature, generates impact. Rather than chasing unattainable perfection, the goal is to take responsibility and act with awareness and coherence. Using cases like the pioneering SOS 4.8 in Murcia —which as early as 2008 integrated environmental and social criteria into its operations— Raez calls for a critical reassessment of today’s festival model. As Spain positions itself as a major hub for music tourism, the sector’s lack of data and transparency around sustainability remains a barrier to creating effective, shared policies. This episode highlights the urgent need for festivals to measure and report their environmental and social impact, tailoring their approach to the specific nature of each event. In a landscape defined by rapid expansion and short-term goals, this conversation encourages us to rethink sustainability not as a marketing label, but as a long-term process. A path that requires commitment, a willingness to change, and a deeper connection with the natural, social, and cultural contexts in which our musical events unfold.