The UK music industry is starting to take positive steps to clean up its act - and has launched a new cross industry group called Julie's Bicycle whose mission is 'taking the heat out of music'.

On the 6 July (on the eve of Live Earth) a breakfast launch was held in London at the Berkeley Hotel which was attended by heads of record labels, music publishers, collection societies, agents, managers and the live sector as well as envornmental change experts.

Julie's Bicycle aims to have three of four strategic actions in place between September 2007 and July 2008 focusing on energy sourcing and use, waste & recycling and transportation and travel.

The site has a new website (www.juliesbicycle.com) and will also provide environmental auditing and use the 'Beat the Heat' message to inform and educate people working in the music industry from their team of experts.

The group has already funded research with the Environmental Change Institute (part of Oxford University) and are piloting a carbon footprint tool for the music industry in the UK.