Hozier’s eco donation uses streaming royalties to fund global conservation projects.
Singer-songwriter Hozier is using his music to help protect the planet. On May 16, 2025, the Irish artist released a 10-year anniversary version of his popular 2014 track “Like Real People Do.” This version is different not only in sound but in purpose. It features real nature sounds—birdsong, rainfall, thunder, and crickets—from Wicklow, Ireland, where Hozier grew up. Even more importantly, 50% of the royalties from this remix will go directly to conservation projects around the world.
This effort is part of a global initiative called “Sounds Right,” led by the Museum for the United Nations: UN Live. It’s one of the first projects to credit nature as an official artist on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. By doing this, the initiative collects royalties from songs that feature natural soundscapes and redirects those funds to environmental causes.
Hozier’s eco donation is more than a symbolic gesture. Every time someone streams this remix of “Like Real People Do,” part of the royalty payments support biodiversity projects. These funds are managed by EarthPercent, a nonprofit organization that directs donations to ecosystems in danger of collapse. Since 2024, the initiative has raised more than $200,000 through artist royalties and individual donations.
At least 50% of the royalties from any track that features nature sounds and credits “NATURE” as a collaborator will be donated. Hozier’s eco donation follows this model, making it easy for fans to contribute to conservation just by listening.
In the updated version of the song, listeners can hear the natural ambiance of Hozier’s hometown in County Wicklow. The sounds include birds, crickets, rain, and thunder, recorded in the same Irish landscape that inspired much of his earlier work. These audio elements lend the song an earthy, immersive quality while also serving a larger purpose.
This connection between music and nature is central to the Sounds Right campaign. The project aims not only to raise funds but also to change how society values the environment. By treating nature as a creative partner, the campaign highlights the idea that ecosystems are not just resources to be exploited—they are contributors to culture and human well-being.
Hozier is one of many artists joining the Sounds Right effort. Others involved include Ellie Goulding, Lykke Li, Raveena, Brian Eno, Steve Angello of Swedish House Mafia, Yann Tiersen, and Indian pop singer Armaan Malik. In April 2025, the campaign released a 30-song Earth Day playlist, but Hozier’s track stands out with its solo release and ties to the anniversary of his debut album.
By crediting nature as an artist on music platforms, Sounds Right ensures that royalties are shared. This idea opens a new funding path for environmental work and sets an example of how the entertainment industry can support sustainability.
This is not Hozier’s first time using his art to make a difference. Known for songs that explore social and political issues, Hozier—whose full name is Andrew Hozier Byrne—has often spoken out on climate justice, refugee rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. He uses both his lyrics and his platform to promote awareness and change.
The choice of “Like Real People Do” for this project also reflects his broader message. The lyrics speak of acceptance, love, and shared humanity, regardless of background. The natural sounds layered into the remix deepen that theme by reminding listeners of their place in the world and the importance of preserving it.
Music streaming has become a massive industry, with billions of plays generating billions of dollars. Hozier’s eco donation shows how just a fraction of those profits can fund real-world environmental solutions. His contribution joins a growing trend where art is used as a force for change.
For listeners, this means a new way to make a difference. You don’t need to donate large sums or attend a protest. Simply listening to a song that features nature sounds can support environmental causes. It’s an easy, low-barrier entry point into climate action.
The Sounds Right project hopes to shift the way nature is valued in society and the economy. In many cases, nature is seen only as a source of materials or a dumping ground for waste. This initiative challenges that idea by showing that nature also gives creatively, and should be compensated accordingly.
By incorporating Hozier’s eco donation into a larger global movement, the project creates opportunities for fans, artists, and the music industry to support conservation without altering their daily habits. It also creates space for important conversations about how to build a more respectful relationship with the natural world.
“Like Real People Do (featuring NATURE)” is now available on major platforms. It will also appear on the upcoming 10-year anniversary vinyl release of Hozier’s self-titled debut album. As part of the Sounds Right initiative, the song continues to generate funds with every stream.
Meanwhile, EarthPercent and Sounds Right will continue to add artists and songs to the project. The goal is to create a self-sustaining pipeline of donations from the entertainment world to environmental causes.
As Hozier’s eco donation proves, even a single track can support large-scale conservation work. When fans press play, they’re not just enjoying music—they’re helping to protect the planet.
