The MI AMI BEATs project, developed within the Alta Scuola Politecnica program and in collaboration with MI AMI Festival organizers in Milan, addresses the challenge of designing a transparent, accessible, and data-driven sustainability evaluation framework for music festivals. It aims to bridge the gap between rising environmental expectations and the lack of standardized tools for sustainability assessment in the music industry.
Better Days s.r.l., organizer of MI AMI, played a central role in defining goals: the objective was to create a framework of indicators usable by organizers to monitor, score, and communicate sustainability performance. The project followed a mixed-methods approach including literature review, benchmarking of protocols, field data collection at MI AMI Festival 2024, and structured engagement with experts and festival actors.
The challenge is relevant as many organizers lack resources to adopt certifications and rely on non-standardized practices. Audiences and institutions increasingly demand proof of responsibility, yet no unified model exists to measure or compare performance credibly. To address this, the project analyzed stakeholder needs, including organizers, staff, artists, and attendees, through meetings with Better Days, academic consultations, and extensive fieldwork at MI AMI 2024. Interviews with 30 stakeholders and a survey of 700 participants provided data, perspectives, and practical suggestions.