Post-grad soul at Oxford

[Rob Hall]

A very interesting little story about Ahmet Ertegun's widow funding 35 humanities post-graduate scholarships at Oxford:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17198710

No doubt there's a cynical take on this, but I'll leave that to others; in my book it's a fine gesture.

[nikki akinjinmi]

Yes, I read about it too, and I guess that I am one of those cynics. My immediate thought was to think about how Anthony Wilson of Factory Records invested the money of the artists without their permission. Ok, perhaps not the same - as in this case it's money resulting from a will/ legacy.

But the fact that Mr Ahmed Ertegun and his wife have bequeathed all this money to one of the most high profile educational establishments in the world, that does not have the same kind of problems attracting funding as other just as worthy but lesser known educational establishments, doesn't make me any less cynical. It is up to them whom they give their money away to. When one reads about how many artists didn't get paid properly, not only artists/ but others (writers) signed to Atlantic, or whose work was put via Atlantic Records - where did money go? On well known surrealist paintings such as one I saw that was loaned by a "Mr & Mrs Ertegun" to a Tate Modern exhibition I saw several years ago. I find it interesting that they didn't give it to an educational faculty within America to fund scholarships for the "under priviledged", or for arts and humanties in black universities within America. It would have made more sense to me had they given the money for music education somewhere like Detroit which is really struggling, or even New York. The cynic in me says they had their eye on what would be their legacy. I'm not saying he is a good or bad person, but just like Bill Gates gives away millions and millions for global vaccination programmes obviously has benefits for millions and millions of people, but it is just as important to not lose sight of what one does (the methods used)to accquire and hold onto the substancial wealth they manage to donate to others. Don't be fooled.

[Rob Hall]

Fair enough Nikki. For my part, I was pleased to see that the money was given over specifically for the purposes of studying humanities subjects. You make a good point that Oxford probably has little difficulty in attacting scholarship money, but I would be wary of automatically assuming that this money will go to toffs - maybe Andy can answer, but I don't know that you have to have taken your first degree at Oxford to apply for a post-grad scholarship there. As for the question of how the Erteguns acquired the money in the first place: yes, you are of course quite right to say that there are questions to be asked as to whether or not early artists and writers were suitably paid for their efforts. That is a whole discussion in itself and I accept that, if we were to have that discussion, it would reflect on the issue at hand here, and I would probably agree with your position. But let us not forget that Atlantic earned an *awful* lot of its money from stadium rock acts such as the Stones and Le Zeppelin - though I'm not familiar the figures, so I can't say if this represented more or less than was earned from the classic soul/R&B artists of the earlier days. Nor am I sufficiently familiar with the finances of the Ertegun family to be in a position to say that they aren't also contributing to the type of funds that you suggest. We only have this report to go on and, in and of itself, it seemed to me a fine gesture.

PS: I apologise for using the word "cynical" - it carries a pejorative weight that I didn't really intend.

[nikki akinjinmi]

But let us not forget that Atlantic earned an *awful* lot of its money from stadium rock acts such as the Stones and Le Zeppelin - though I'm not familiar the figures, so I can't say if this represented more or less than was earned from the classic soul/R&B artists of the earlier days. Nor am I sufficiently familiar with the finances of the Ertegun family to be in a position to say that they aren't also contributing to the type of funds that you suggest. We only have this report to go on and, in and of itself, it seemed to me a fine gesture.

I know where you're coming from, and I don't question that Atlantic Records -(or perhaps I should say The House That Ruth (Brown) Built) - made lots of money from stadium rock acts such as The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin, who are incidentally two acts who still have huge earning power stadium, concerts, and back catalogue re-packaging releases. Did/do they have savvy management? Ruth Brown made very little income from those early releases. Perhaps Soul Brother Ray Charles could see that it was in his interests to leave so early?

The Erteguns weren't poor to begin with (they were well connected people)- in giving this money to the Oxford group of universities - to me, it's a case of the well-connected helping the well-connected yet again. I am not disputing their legacy or their love, enthusiasm for the music along with Jerry Wexler, Herb and Miriam Abramson in acts they signed, and recorded, etc. To me that is not in question, but I was trying to remember a quote by the Russian poet Irina Ratushinskaya, not a writer that I am a particular fan of, asking something along the lines of can a cannibal speak on behalf of those he has consumed?

[Rob Hall]

Well, I concede Nikki, that I was guilty of taking the story at face value without considering the background. However, a quick search reveals that Ruth Brown's fight for royalty reform led to the creation of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation (the history is here: http://www.rhythm-n-blues.org/abouthistory.php) which was seeded with a $1.5 million donation from Ahmet Ertegun. You may know better than I, but it's not clear from these facts to what extent her campaign was specifically targeted at Ertegun himself, nor whether or not she considered his donation a satisfactory settlement in respect of his obligations. For my part, I'm bound to conclude that she must have done.

I'd forgotten that Charlie (a Cambridge graduate - perhaps Mrs Ertegun should have sent the money there!) wrote a book about Atlantic Records. I haven't read it, but I see that it is still available so I'll order a copy to see what he had to say on the matter.

[john poole]

From Charlie's "Making Tracks" -

"During the time I've been working as a freelance music journalist in Britain, I've continually noticed how performers, who invariably criticize their record companies, would have some positive comment to make about Atlantic. In particular, I was impressed by the strong loyalty toward Atlantic of Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King ..."

"Atlantic was known for paying royalty checks in those early days of rock'n'roll, a time when many other companies regularly held pirate recording sessions, paid musicians under the union rates, and rarely considered coughing up royalties"

[nikki akinjinmi]

However, a quick search reveals that Ruth Brown's fight for royalty reform led to the creation of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation (the history is here: http://www.rhythm-n-blues.org/abouthistory.php) which was seeded with a $1.5 million donation from Ahmet Ertegun. You may know better than I, but it's not clear from these facts to what extent her campaign was specifically targeted at Ertegun himself, nor whether or not she considered his donation a satisfactory settlement in respect of his obligations. For my part, I'm bound to conclude that she must have done.

I'd forgotten that Charlie (a Cambridge graduate - perhaps Mrs Ertegun should have sent the money there!) wrote a book about Atlantic Records. I haven't read it, but I see that it is still available so I'll order a copy to see what he had to say on the matter.

And

From Charlie's "Making Tracks" -

"During the time I've been working as a freelance music journalist in Britain, I've continually noticed how performers, who invariably criticize their record companies, would have some positive comment to make about Atlantic. In particular, I was impressed by the strong loyalty toward Atlantic of Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King ..."

"Atlantic was known for paying royalty checks in those early days of rock'n'roll, a time when many other companies regularly held pirate recording sessions, paid musicians under the union rates, and rarely considered coughing up royalties"

I note your comments, John. Thank you. I still haven't read Making Tracks. It is a book I would love to read. And I know that Charlie did state on more than one occasion that Atlantic Records was like a spur for he and Gordon to start up Oval Records in the UK. And Rob, when I see you next mention Making Tracks to me.

Back to the subject of the donation which is very generous - but the cynic in me thinks that this amount of money had it been given to Vassar,Princeton, Brown, Yale, or Hampton College, or Spelman College, or Julliard College of Music - the press coverage would not be as great, perhaps. I am thinking of cases where extremely wealthy people have given vast amounts of money to various universities and colleges while still living (for example Bill Cosby and his wife gave around $100 million dollars to Moorhouse University some twenty years ago). I suspect there would have been a footnote. Perhaps I am too cynical?

[AndyM]

To answer Rob's query above, you could apply from anywhere. But on the point of Oxford & toffs, the place does exude codes of exclusion which can make non-toffs very uncomfortable. All quite subtle of course (this is England!) but the power of the privileged is very assiduously sustained.

[NormanD]

...But on the point of Oxford & toffs, the place does exude codes of exclusion which can make non-toffs very uncomfortable. All quite subtle of course (this is England!) but the power of the privileged is very assiduously sustained.

From yesterday's Guardian story, this pally populism from Tory Chris Patton makes me feel quite sick:

Oxford's chancellor, said the scholarships were something very rare in terms of their "scope and vision". Asked if Oxford was the most deserving recipient, he said: "If you're asking whether I think Oxford is a great enough university to attract generosity on this scale, the answer is unequivocally: 'It is.' "

He said Oxford was one of the best universities in the world for the teaching and study of the humanities. "We're generally recognised as being top of the league. If not Manchester City, then maybe Manchester United."

[Rob Hall]

Apart from the pally populism, according to the report, he singularly failed to answer the question that was put to him, preferring instead to answer a question of his own devising. Such behaviour from a Tory grandee - who'dathunkit?

[Philellinas]

Quoth Chris Patten: "We're generally recognised as being top of the league. If not Manchester City, then maybe Manchester United".
Generally recognised by Oxford University itself, I suspect. Such unsubstantiated claims are just worthless. In any case Man City (as of today) are top of the league with Man U second. Either you're top of the league or you're not. Make your mind up.
As a callow youth contemplating 'A' Levels I had the opportunity to apply to Oxford but I somehow thought that the system was unfair with a gravy train maintaining a first-class only service between certain (public) schools and Oxbridge. I ended up in the real world of Leeds University. I could have been a contender for "higher" honours. Je ne regrette rien, товарищи. (My Desmond is in French and Russian).

[Ted]

In 2010 Oxford admitted one undergraduate student of Black Afro-Caribbean descent. I don't know what the figures were last year. Two maybe. Cambridge makes significantly more effort to attract inner city kids.

[AndyM]

I gave a research paper at All Souls College, Oxford, which was seen as a tremendously prestigious thing and which was a tremendously dispiriting and suspicion-confirming exercise in alienation. To beging with, I had to report to the Manciple's Office (what exactly the flying fuckeroo is a Manciple??), whereafter I was ushered into the rose garden to have afternoon tea with the Master (sadly not the Dr Who one), who purred condescendingly about how many Tory Cabinet ministers were Fellows.... etc etc etc.....

The only time I felt comfortable was when I bare-faced lied that I hadn't got the email about dressing for dinner, and enjoyed my meal in a short-sleeved shirt and no tie. Then they showed me what is apparently the second-best collection of 18th century books in the world, smiling broadly about how many regulations were in place to stop the public from ever getting in.

My favourite Inspector Morse episodes are those where the academics get killed.

[Adam Blake]

Nice one, Andy. Chuckles galore. I was going to recommend "Down With Dons" by John Carey but then I realised he is professor of English Literature at Oxford University. It made me laugh when I read it but you may take a sterner view.

[AndyM]

Carey's all right. Smart, witty, engages with the real world. An actual communicator. Loathed by the Oxford elite, of course.