The diverse roster of musicians spans continents and genres, electronic music superstars like Amelie Lens and Swedish House Mafia's Steve Angello to classical composer Evgeny Grinko, each bringing their unique interpretation to the collaboration. Many artists have incorporated field recordings from wildlife sound specialists or captured their own environmental audio.
Several tracks carry deeper environmental messages. British DJ and producer I. JORDAN featured endangered UK birds on the "Red List" while Rosa Walton highlighted moth sounds, drawing attention to their declining populations due to climate change. Alice Boyd created a poignant comparison of birdsong recordings from the same location nearly five decades apart, subtly demonstrating nature's diminishing presence against increasing human activity.
Led by the Museum for the United Nations, the initiative has proven remarkably successful since its launch. NATURE has amassed 130 million total listeners across platforms, according to a press release, generating substantial royalties that directly fund conservation efforts. Last year, the program committed $225,000 to protect biodiversity in the Tropical Andes, including work to safeguard Colombia's endangered cotton-top tamarin monkeys.
"We asked a question: what if nature could speak—and be credited—through music?" said Gabriel Smales, Global Programme Director for Sounds Right at UN Live. "A year later, the answer is clear. Millions are listening, and directing real funding to communities protecting the planet’s most vital ecosystems."
Looking ahead, the organization plans to commit over $500,000 to conservation projects by 2025, with a focus on key biodiversity areas in the Amazon and Congo Basins ahead of the crucial COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil.
All tracks are available on the "feat. NATURE" playlist, which you can listen to below.
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