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GLOBAL MUSIC DATA AND BLOCKCHAIN There has been lots of debate around the music rights data problem in recent years, and a number of initiatives are underway to tackle the issue. Though Spotify's mechanical royalties dispute and the lack of songwriter credits on the streaming platforms shows the problem persists. As Music 4.5 puts the spotlight back on all things data, CMU Trends reviews discussions to date, challenges to be met, and where progress is being made. [READ MORE] |
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THE RIGHTS OF ARTISTS AND SONGWRITERS POST-ASSIGNMENT - PERFORMER AND MORAL RIGHTS Copyright provides creators with control over that which they create, but what happens when the creators themselves don't own the copyright in their work? Artists and songwriters who are no longer in control of their copyrights do still have some rights, sometimes by contract, and via performer and moral rights. CMU Trends considers what the law says about the rights of artists and songwriters after their copyrights have been assigned. [READ MORE] |
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THE VALUE OF MUSIC Rarely a week goes by in the music business news these days without at least one catalogue acquisition. But who - other than labels and publishers - is buying music rights, and why? Are there opportunities for individual artists and songwriters to do deals with professional investors? And how do you even value music rights? CMU Trends reviews the music rights market - past, present and future. [READ MORE] |
| TOP STORIES | Hope & Glory festival assets fall far short of £900,000 debts to creditors READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LEGAL | Kanye West calls for insurers' countersuit in St Pablo tour dispute to be dismissed READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LABELS & PUBLISHERS | Concord Music buys the Savoy Label Group READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LIVE BUSINESS | Metropolitan Police to review controversial form 696 Sheffield Arena secures Doncaster Sheffield Airport sponsorship READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| MARKETING & PR | Cosa Nostra PR hires Charley Bezer for US expansion READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Paloma Faith announces political new album, tour dates READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| GIGS & FESTIVALS | Frank Zappa 'hologram' to tour next year READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Lady Gaga, Rapsody, Anne-Marie, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Beef Of The Week #373: Frank Turner v Punk Rock READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
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KOBALT - SOCIETY RELATIONS ASSISTANT (LONDON) Joining a growing Neighbouring Rights team in London, Kobalt's Society Relations Assistant will help manage our client roster at neighbouring rights societies around the world. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT - CLIENT ASSISTANT (LONDON) Joining a rapidly growing Neighbouring Rights team in London, Kobalt's Client Assistant will be a key contact for clients with regards to any issues or queries relating to their catalogue. For more information and to apply click here. |
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KOBALT - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT (LONDON) Kobalt is looking to hire a highly organised, self-driven and detail oriented Executive Assistant to support both the President of Kobalt Music Recordings and SVP Recordings Operations in our London office. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MUSIC CONCIERGE - ACCOUNT MANAGER (HERTFORD) Award-winning music agency is looking for a passionate Account Manager who loves the type of brands we work with and the service we offer, to oversee key accounts and create long-term, trusting relationships with our clients. For more information and to apply click here. |
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PARAMOUNT ARTISTS - BOOKING AGENT ASSISTANT (BRIGHTON) Paramount Artists is looking for someone who has a passion for organisation, a highly motivated individual with a great eye for detail, superb administration skills and a pro-active approach. The nature of this role requires a confident, professional, positive and unflappable individual. For more information and to apply click here. |
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LEEFEST - FESTIVAL MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON) Leefest is looking for a dynamic, fast moving, strategic marketing manager to direct the marketing for two award-winning summer festivals. Working in a supportive and entrepreneurial environment the successful candidate will help to grow the organisation. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MUTE - LABEL ASSISTANT (LONDON) Mute are hiring. We are looking for a talented young individual to join our creative and independent team, based in the London office. The main responsibilities of the role will be assisting various departments across the company including marketing, digital, production and A&R. For more information and to apply click here. |
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HALF MOON - VENUE MANAGER (LONDON) An exciting opportunity has arisen and we are looking for someone with solid experience of running a live music and entertainments programme at the Half Moon in Putney who is looking to take their career to the next level in a key role at this iconic London venue. For more information and to apply click here. |
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LISTEN UP - NATIONAL RADIO PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT (LONDON) Listen Up is currently recruiting for a passionate and driven National Radio Promotions Assistant to join our established National Radio Team. You will be a paramount part of the team assisting in key tasks. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MYTICKET.CO.UK - TICKETING MANAGER (LONDON) MyTicket.co.uk is the ticketing website for promoters Kilimanjaro Live, Raymond Gubbay and Flying Music. We are recruiting a Ticketing Manager to look after the management of the ticket allocations and to ensure accurate content on the website. For more information and to apply click here. |
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NAME PR - SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/ACCOUNT MANAGER (LONDON) Based in London, Name PR is one of the UK’s leading music business communications consultancies. You will become an integral member of our team, working across both business and consumer accounts. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DHP FAMILY - VENUE PROGRAMMER (LONDON) DHP Family is a leading name in the live music industry where we pride ourselves on having an innovative and creative approach to what we do. As the London Venue Programmer you will be responsible for a successful, profitable events programme across our four London venues. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DHP FAMILY - CONCERT PROMOTIONS ASSISTANT (LONDON) DHP is constantly expanding (be it concerts, festivals, venues or ticketing) and this role is all about supporting the development of the company's live music marketing in London. For more information and to apply click here. |
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MUSIC CONCIERGE - MUSIC TEAM MANAGER (HERTFORD) Award-winning music agency Music Concierge is looking for a natural leader who knows how to run a team of creatives. We are looking for someone who can motivate a team making sure they are working efficiently, on-brief, and on-schedule. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DOMINO RECORDS - SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON) Domino Recording Co is looking for a Senior International Marketing Manager with five years+ proven experience in international marketing and promotions, including the running of global campaigns. The International Marketing Manager’s core responsibility is to oversee international campaigns for our artists from the inception of the campaign strategy to rollout. For more information and to apply click here. |
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How The Music Business Works SEMINARS | from Monday 25 September 2017, London | INFO Our 'How The Music Business Works' programme consists of eight two-hour seminars which together cover: the various ways the music industry generates revenue, building and engaging a fanbase, the business partnerships artists form with music companies, and how the artist/label relationship is changing. |
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Enforcing Music Rights - Safe Harbours And Piracy MASTERCLASS | Monday 20 November 2017, London | INFO In this half day masterclass, CMU MD and Business Editor Chris Cooke will look at how the music industry enforces its copyrights, at the long-running battle with online music piracy, and at the controversy around the copyright safe harbour. |
Hope & Glory festival assets fall far short of £900,000 debts to creditors
The company behind the shambolic Hope & Glory festival has, somewhat unsurprisingly, very little in the way of funds to pay off the nearly £900,000 it owes creditors, according to documents newly filed at Companies House.
A 'statement of affairs' document, actually prepared at the end of August, shows that the company has assets of just £63,600. Of that, £6600 is money owed to the company. There is also the possibility of a VAT refund up to £63,987, although it is uncertain if this will be granted. Even if it is, the company - which began liquidation proceedings earlier this month - will be a long way short of the £900,000 still owed to 32 creditors.
Among those creditors, the largest debt owed by Hope & Glory Festivals Ltd relates to a £270,000 loan from company director Ian Kerr. Ticketing firms Eventbrite and Skiddle - which paid for refunds on the event out of their own pockets - are also owed over £138,000 and £73,000 respectively. And Liverpool City Council is owed in excess £70,000 for various costs, including the clean up operation after the festival was cancelled.
As previously reported, although plenty of bands did play on the first day of the city centre Hope & Glory festival, gates opened late, stages ran behind all day, sets were cut short and Charlotte Church's set was cut entirely, while festival-goers reported massive queues at the gates, bars and toilets. It was also tricky moving around the festival's site, while many expressed concern about the dangerous levels of overcrowding.
Day two was cancelled via a social media post that simply read "no festival today". The festival's official Twitter account then began sparring with angry ticket-holders, while on Facebook a statement told punters to direct their anger at a single production manager who had allegedly failed to complete the event's site on time.
A lengthy and rambling statement from promoter Lee O'Hanlon published the next day did apologise for the shambles, but spent much more time laying into the aforementioned production manager and Liverpool City Council. It also dedicated plenty of page space to complaints that council officials had sent food intended for day two's riders to a local charity without the permission of the festival's management.
Eventually, social media accounts related to the festival went offline and the previously all too public face of the event, O'Hanlon, fell quiet. Companies House records show that he was actually only appointed a director of Hope & Glory Festivals Ltd on 9 Aug, after the event fell apart, and then resigned on 17 Aug. His own company, Tiny Cow, is listed as a creditor, owed £71,400.
O'Hanlon's wife Samantha, who had been a director since the H&G company was formed in 2016, resigned on 10 Aug, which leaves Kerr the only director remaining. Records also show that Kerr owns between 25 and 50% of the company. Two other companies of which Kerr is a director - Melodi Ltd and Hunky Dory Media - are also listed as creditors, owed £65,000 and £60,000 respectively.
Skiddle director Ben Sebborn previously told the BBC that he felt it was "very unlikely that Skiddle will receive reimbursement from the festival organisers" for the money it is owed. Liverpool City Council, meanwhile, is currently completing an investigation into what went wrong and how it can avoid a similar situation in future.
Kanye West calls for insurers' countersuit in St Pablo tour dispute to be dismissed
The dispute between Kanye West and the insurers of his abandoned 2016 'St Pablo' tour continues, with legal reps for the rapper having now responded to a countersuit filed by insurers based at Lloyd's Of London.
As previously reported, West prematurely ended his US tour last November after particularly erratic behaviour at a couple of his shows. He was subsequently admitted to the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital Center, with one news agency stating at the time that "the decision to hospitalise West was for his own health and safety".
West sued his insurers last month. He claimed that he ended his 2016 tour early on the advice of doctors, and therefore the insurance policy taken out on the shows should pay up and cover the losses incurred by West and his company Very Good Touring. The rapper's lawyers accused the insurers of employing delaying tactics and putting unnecessary hurdles in the way, all in a bid to avoid having to honour the insurance policies taken out for the 'St Pablo' tour.
Then the insurers countersued, accusing West of not fully co-operating with their investigation into the circumstances around the 'St Pablo' cancellation. Legal reps for the insurers also alleged that there were "substantial irregularities in Mr West's medical history".
West's lawyers filed new paperwork with the court this week calling for the countersuit to be dismissed. The new submission states that: "The counterclaim is another manifestation of defendants' efforts to complicate Very Good's effort to collect on the subject policies, and to proliferate needless pleadings. The counterclaim serves no useful purpose, as it is simply a reworking of the matters raised in the [original] complaint and the defendants' answer to it". Therefore, "the counterclaim should be withdraw or stricken".
We now await the insurers' response to West's response to their response to West's litigation. Fun times.
Concord Music buys the Savoy Label Group
US-based Concord Music - "one of the largest integrated music publishing and record companies in the world" apparently, and who doesn't like some integration - has acquired the Savoy Label Group and its catalogues of jazz, rock and classical music.
Across the 3000 odd master recordings that Concord has bought in the deal are tracks featuring the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Erroll Garner on the jazz side, as well as music from the likes of Meat Loaf, Boz Scaggs, Paul Rodgers, Little Feat, Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven, Dr John, Mick Fleetwood, Bruce Hornsby, Roberta Flack and Joe Cocker.
Confirming the deal, Concord Music's Chief Operating Officer Glen Barros said: "Savoy is a great combination of both legendary masters and incredible recent recordings by a number of wonderful contemporary artists. We are so very proud that it is now a part of Concord Music. And as Steve Vining has done a great job of building Savoy over the recent past, we very much look forward to all that he will bring to our company in the future".
Steve Vining, by the way, is the former owner of the Savoy Label Group. He will now consult for Concord. Under that alliance, he "may deliver new recording projects to Concord's various labels".
And look, here he is with some words: "Concord's enormous success in many of the same musical genres SLG has pursued convinces me they will be outstanding stewards of both the rich catalogue as well as the new recordings to come from our very talented artists".
Metropolitan Police to review controversial form 696
London's Metropolitan Police has confirmed it will review its often controversial 696 form, which critics claim discriminates against certain genres of music and certain ethnicities of music fan.
As previously reported, form 696 asks for the names, stage names, addresses and phone numbers of all promoters and artists at events where pre-recorded backing tracks are used.
An earlier version of the document also asked about the specific genre of music being performed and likely ethnic make-up of the audience, though those questions were dropped in 2009 after a number of artists and music industry groups campaigned against what was seen as racial profiling.
Nevertheless, concerns have persisted about the form, and other similar documents now used by sixteen other British police forces, some of which - according to a BBC report earlier this year - still ask one or both of the more controversial questions dropped in London.
Culture (now Digital) Minister Matt Hancock wrote to London mayor Sadiq Khan about the continued use of the form earlier this year, stating: "I am concerned that the form is not only potentially stifling young artists and reducing the diversity of London's world-renowned musical offering, but is also having a negative impact on the city's night-time economy by pushing organisers and promoters of urban music events outside London".
Khan seemingly subsequently spoke to a number of promoters, venues, artists and DJs himself, and has now asked the capital's police chiefs to review the form, stating that policing efforts to ensure public safety at live events "shouldn't compromise the capital's vibrant grassroots music industry or unfairly target one community or music genre".
London police have generally played down the impact of the form, while insisting that the bureaucracy is never used to racially profile potential audiences at any one gig or club night. But a number of artists and promoters dispute both those claims.
Alan Miller, Chair of the Night Time Industries Association, has welcomed the review, telling The Guardian: "This form has been a big problem for venue and promoters and it's stifling certain types of nightlife. Obviously we want events to be policed and to be safe, but it is being used by police to target nights by black artists because they see those nights as being more aggressive and harder to control and more associated with gang crime".
Miller added: "And if there is an incident at an event where it's a bunch of white lads, it's treated as an isolated incident, but if it's mainly black kids involved then it becomes associated with an entire event or genre of music, so that's how it's decided that grime or garage nights as a whole are too dangerous to put on. The 696 form means that keeps happening".
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Sheffield Arena secures Doncaster Sheffield Airport sponsorship
Sheffield Arena has announced the end of its two year headline sponsorship drought, having sold its naming rights to Doncaster Sheffield Airport. It will henceforth be known by the not at all daft sounding name, the FlyDSA Arena.
Opened in 1991, the Sheffield Arena became the Hallam FM Arena between 2002 and 2007. It then called itself the Motorpoint Arena from 2010 until 2015, when the Derby-based car sales company shifted its sponsorship money to the Nottingham Arena. Motorpoint also sponsors the Cardiff Arena, a deal signed in 2011.
DSA operator Peel Airports has signed a three year deal to have a logo slapped on the front of the Sheffield Arena building, making a "six figure investment" for the privilege.
Peel Airports Chair Robert Hough says: "DSA is an airport the Sheffield City region and Yorkshire can be proud of; currently the fastest growing in the UK with more destinations and airlines than ever before and officially rated the best small airport in the UK. DSA and the Arena are key parts of Sheffield and the region's leisure offering, so by working together we hope to attract even more visitors to the region".
Alex Pettifer of the Sheffield City Trust, the charity that owns the Sheffield Arena, adds: "We are absolutely delighted to be working with DSA on this new chapter of the Arena's history. Both DSA and the Arena are integral to the region's economy and the significant contribution from both organisations supports the continued growth of visitor's to South Yorkshire, from across the county and further afield. This is a brilliant example of positive collaboration between two integral local businesses and we look forward to welcoming visitors to FlyDSA Arena very soon".
Cosa Nostra PR hires Charley Bezer for US expansion
UK rock and metal PR agency Cosa Nostra has announced its expansion into the US with the hiring of Charley Bezer, who is now based in LA.
Commenting on the new hire, Kirsten Sprinks, who co-founded the agency with Michelle Kerr, says: "This is the natural evolutionary step for Cosa Nostra to take; allowing us to deliver market-specific campaigns for our clients and still maintain a cohesive message. The challenge was always how to achieve it whilst maintaining the high standards and exceptional results that we have a hard-earned reputation for".
She goes on: "Having Charley on board allows us to achieve that and so much more. Charley's experience and skills in the industry, combined with exactly the kind of love for the heavy music genre that Cosa Nostra was founded on, make her the perfect person to represent us and our clients. I'm delighted to have her working with us".
Bezer adds: "I couldn't be more honoured to have been asked to work with Michelle and Kirsten overseeing Cosa Nostra's US expansion. They are two of the very best in our profession. Their roster speaks for itself and they share my vision for what music PR can and should be".
She adds: "Having offices on both sides of the pond means Cosa Nostra will be in the unique position to provide clients with truly aligned campaigns, with one team spanning both territories, able to offer a forward thinking alternative to traditional and somewhat dated music PR offerings. We feel it's time for the game to change and I cannot wait to get started".
Sprinks and Kerr launched Cosa Nostra in 2012, following the closure of Roadrunner Records' UK office. Bezer was formerly Head Of PR at Live Nation UK.
| Vigsy's Festival Tip: Hospitality In The Park Hospital Records presents the second edition of its definitive London drum n bass festival in Finsbury Park this weekend. The main draw for me is that Roni Size will perform his 1997 Mercury Award winning album 'New Forms' - which celebrates its two decades this year - live on the main stage. The full potential of a live version of that album was on show when I saw them at Tribal Gathering all the way back in 1997 in a rather pokey DnB tent. I think we are in for a full-on live offering of this awesome seminal album this time around. Also taking to the main stage will be the London Elektricity Big Band, fronted by Hospital Records founder Tony Colman, with vocals from Liane Carroll and Dynamite MC. There will also be DJ sets from Alix Perez, Danny Byrd, Sir Spyro, Fred V and Grafix. Over seven more stages are a whole host of movers and groovers, including Calyx and Teebee, Kenny Ken, Randall, LTJ Bukem, ST Files, Chris Goss, Dom Servini, Clipz, DRS and Calibre doing a Marcus Intalex tribute set. A big old line-up! Saturday 23 Sep, Finsbury Park, London, N4, 11am-12.30pm, £50. More info here. |
Paloma Faith announces political new album, tour dates
Paloma Faith has announced that she will return with her fourth album, 'The Architect', on 17 Nov. Her last LP, 'A Perfect Contradiction', was released in 2014.
Working with Sia, John Legend, Starsmith, Tobias Jesso Jr, Eg White and Rag N Bone Man, as well as actor Samuel L Jackson and journalist Owen Jones, among others, the record sees Faith taking a political view on the state of the world
"'The Architect' is a social observation record", she says. "I was adamant that I wouldn't write about love. I wanted to look outside of myself. I'm coming at politics from the perspective of the common man or woman, observing why people are suffering. Each song on the record is about a different pocket of the socio-political world that I've been delving into".
She continues: "I wanted to write something more modern. On previous albums I've been more concerned with the past, but now I'm looking forward because of motherhood and wanting to change things for a better future. It's a marriage of old and new".
Alongside the album announcement comes the video for first single 'Crybaby'. Watch that here.
She's also announced UK tour dates for March next year, which are as follows:
2 Mar: Leeds, First Direct Arena
3 Mar: Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
5 Mar: Aberdeen, BHGE Arena
6 Mar: Glasgow, SSE Hydro
8 Mar: Manchester Arena
9 Mar: Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
11 Mar: Bournemouth, BIC
12 Mar: Brighton Centre
14 Mar: London, O2 Arena
17 Mar: Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
20 Mar: Liverpool Echo Arena
21 Mar: Birmingham, Genting Arena
23 Mar: Belfast, SSE Arena
24 Mar: Dublin, 3Arena
Frank Zappa 'hologram' to tour next year
Frank Zappa will be heading out on tour next year. Well, a 'hologram' representation of Frank Zappa. Him being dead and all.
The Frank Zappa Family Trust is working with hologram production company Eyellusion on the project, with plans to bring the musician back to the stage in 2018. It's hoped that a number of musicians who performed with him while he was alive, and others who didn't, will join the virtual representation of Zappa for the shows.
"I'm THRILLED that Frank Zappa will finally be going back out on tour playing his most well-known music as well as some rare and unheard material", says Ahmet Zappa, son of Frank and executor of the Trust, as if it was always a foregone conclusion.
"We can't wait to bring his creative work back to the stage with the musicians he loved to play with" he adds, "such as Steve Vai, Ian Underwood, Adrian Belew, Arthur Barrow, Vinnie Colaiuta, Scott Thunes, Mike Keneally, Denny Walley, Warren Cuccurullo and Napoleon Murphy Brock, among others who are committed to being part of this epic endeavour. When I spoke with them, they were excited at the prospect of performing alongside Frank once again and can't wait to give fans an unforgettable experience".
Also, he continues: "How radical would it be to have [Zappa's daughter] Moon singing 'Valley Girl' onstage with Frank? Or to see [his other son] Dweezil side by side with our father playing duelling guitar solos? That would be my greatest wish and I look forward to bringing this special celebration of Frank's legacy to a town near you. But if that wasn't enough Zappa coolness, we're also planning on staging [Zappa's rock opera] 'Joe's Garage The Musical' with none other than Frank Zappa himself starring as the Central Scrutinizer".
Eyellusion CEO Jeff Pezzuti adds: "We are THRILLED to welcome such a monumental and important artist to our line-up of planned live music hologram productions. Frank Zappa was an incredible musician, unmatched in his output, tackled so many different genres and influenced a generation of artists that would go on to help further shape rock and pop for decades to come. We are music lovers first and can't wait to get to work on yet another show that lets fans experience such timeless and important music in a live concert setting".
As well as helping to oversee the Frank Zappa hologram project, Ahmet Zappa is also joining Eyellusion to head up its global business development team. As previously reported, the company launched last year with a virtual performance by Ronnie James Dio at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.
Lady Gaga, Rapsody, Anne-Marie, more
Other notable announcements and developments today...
• New Lady Gaga documentary 'Five Foot Two' is now available on Netflix.
• Kendrick Lamar and Lance Skiiiwalker appear on Rapsody's new single 'Power'. Her debut album, 'Laila's Wisdom', is also out today.
• Anne-Marie has released new single, 'Heavy'.
• Kelela has released a behind-the-scenes view of the video for her latest single, 'LMK'. Her debut album proper is set for release by Warp on 6 Oct.
• Charlotte Gainsbourg has released the video for new single 'Deadly Valentine'.
• Angel Olsen will release a new collection of rarities called 'Phases' on 10 Nov. From it, here's 'Special' and 'Fly On The Wall'.
• The Cornshed Sisters have released new single, 'Running'. Their new album, 'Honey & Tar' is out on 4 Nov.
• Corbin (fka Spooky Black) has released the video for new single 'Hunker Down'.
• Having been given a credit on Taylor Swift's 'Look What You Made Me Do', Right Said Fred have now released a live version of 'I'm Too Sexy sampling the Swift song. It doesn't quite work.
• Fall Out Boy will play Electric Brixton in London on 11 Jan. Tickets on sale now.
• The nominees for this year's UK Music Video Awards have been announced. Check them out here.
• Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Beef Of The Week #373: Frank Turner v Punk Rock
Frank Turner has announced that he's putting on his own outdoor event in the US next summer, called Campfire Punkrock. It's not a festival, more a five day camping trip with Turner and his band. There'll be food, music lessons, you'll all write a song together, and it will only cost a minimum of $999. If you fancy sleeping indoors, the prices go up as high as $2499 for a luxury cottage option.
While four nights on a campsite for $999 inclusive of meals, non-alcoholic beverages, activities and some live music performances isn't actually terrible value, a wide assortment of people were quick to point out that the whole thing didn't seem particularly 'punk rock'. In fact, if you consult the official list of things that aren't punk rock, you'll find these:
7. Events that are prohibitively expensive
12. Instrument lessons
32. Campfires
76. Luxury cottages
So really the beefing here comes down to the name. Had the event been called Frank Turner's Old-Timey Music Education Camp, perhaps no one would have complained. No one would have bought tickets either, but that's beside the point.
Actually, the venue for all this - the Full Moon Resort in New York State - puts on this sort of thing quite frequently, under the name Music Masters Camp, which is a lot snappier than my suggestion. Artists such as Dweezil Zappa, Richard Thompson and Steve Earl have also lain under the stars writing music with their fans.
Perhaps Turner didn't feel right referring to himself as a 'music master'. Certainly, had he consulted the list of non-punk rock things, he would have found that at number four.
Either way, Turner decided to name his version of the Music Masters Camp concept after his debut EP. First 'Campfire Punkrock' the record, now 'Campfire Punkrock' the event, it must have seemed like his whole solo career had been building up to this point. It really must have seemed perfect.
And it may well have been, had the cheapest ticket not been $999. And that's before you factor in actually getting to the campsite. Because, in hindsight, putting 'punk rock' into an event's name when the price point means your average fan is unlikely to be able to afford to attend is quite a silly idea.
The event's website describes the whole hurrah thus: "Ultimately, the common thread through the Campfire Punkrock experience is the integration of instructional and social elements, as well as personal interface with the artists - not only at workshops and jam sessions, but also at breakfast, lunch and dinner and throughout evening activities".
26. Jam sessions
It continues: "Whether you are a musician or an enthusiastic fan, Campfire Punkrock is specifically designed to provide an inspirational and interactive experience, offering the opportunity to truly take a step 'Beyond Backstage'".
97. Considering oneself inspirational
137. Truly taking a step 'Beyond Backstage'
Upon arrival there will be a "meet and greet, including open bar and served hors d'oeuvres, followed by gourmet dinner, camp orientation and an opening night solo performance by Frank Turner".
57. Meet and greets
64. Hors d'oeuvres
82. Gourmet dinners
104. Camp orientations
236. Frank Turner solo performances (someone has pencilled this in at the bottom of my copy of the 'things that aren't punk rock' list, I'm not sure it's an official one)
Over the five days "you and your fellow PUNKROCKERS will help Frank Turner write a new song which will be performed by Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls at the closing night concert! Other activities include masterclasses, open rehearsals, ensemble workshops and specific instrument lessons".
136. Referring to a group of people as 'PUNKROCKERS'
61. Masterclasses
62. Open rehearsals
63. Ensemble workshops
The announcement was mainly met with ridicule on the social networks. And a little annoyance in some quarters. At least one Frank Turner superfan I seem to be Facebook friends with announced angrily that they were now entirely done with him.
But the ridicule and annoyance is unfair, reckons Turner.
"Like Peter Buck, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Todd Rungren, Richard Thompson and many others before me, I'm doing a Music Masters Camp next summer in upstate New York, in amongst the rest of my regular touring schedule", he told the NME. "It's an all-inclusive package, four nights full bed and board in a resort, so it might not be for everyone, but it's just one small event among everything else I'll be doing next year - releasing a new record, with the usual run of tours, festivals and benefit shows that comes with thatBottom of Form. I work hard to make sure that what I do is accessible to everyone. If I don't see people at the camp, there will be plenty of other shows where we can hang out".
4. Referring to yourself as a 'music master'
189. Doing anything that Todd Rungren has done previously
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