Have you ever wondered what it takes to use creativity to drive global change? In this episode of the Innovation Storyteller Show, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with AY Young, CEO and flagship artist of the Battery Tour. AY is not your average musician—he’s redefining how we think about performance, energy, and sustainability.
As someone named one of the UN’s 17 Youth Leaders, AY has taken on the ambitious challenge of aligning his music with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through his Battery Tour, he’s powered over 950 concerts globally using renewable energy while inspiring communities and corporations like General Motors and Samsung to get involved.
Our conversation dives into AY’s journey, from his early inspiration watching his parents transform their Kansas City neighborhood block by block to his innovative approach to creating music that powers real change. We also explore his groundbreaking Project 17, an album featuring one song for each of the SDGs, created in collaboration with some of the world’s top artists.
This isn’t just a story about music; it’s about how each of us can be an outlet for change. Tune in to hear AY’s incredible journey, the obstacles he’s faced, and how he’s building a movement that bridges music, sustainability, and innovation.
Name: AY Young
Title: CEO & Flagship Artist
Company: Battery Tour
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AY Young is the dynamic force merging music and global change. A singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur, AY isn’t just making waves in the music industry; he’s creating a tidal wave of positive change. As the CEO and flagship artist of the Battery Tour, AY has transformed the concert scene with his commitment to 100% renewable energy-powered performances, lighting up stages worldwide while keeping the planet cool. To date, he has powered over 950 concerts globally, demonstrating alternate solutions for live music.
Born to groove and driven to improve, AY’s accolades include being named a United Nations Youth Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His unique initiative, Project17, harmonizes the power of music with the urgency of global sustainability, producing one anthem for each of the UN’s 17 SDGs in collaboration with Earth’s leading artists and major corporations like BNP Paribas, General Motors, and Samsung. Each track isn’t just a song; it’s a call to action, supported by impact-driven partners aiming to orchestrate a better tomorrow.
AY’s commitment to sustainability is amplified through partnerships with influential NGOs such as the National Wildlife Federation, Global Resilience Partnerships, and the Plastic Coalition, leveraging music to address pressing environmental challenges. From powering his first Times Square concert entirely through solar energy to orchestrating the SDG benefit concert at COP28, AY’s resume boasts performances that aren’t just heard but felt deep in the societal roots.
Whether on global stages or local community initiatives, AY’s mission remains clear: to plug the world into sustainability, making every beat count towards a healthier, kinder planet.
