Making sense of the Ed Sheeran situation; The million-pound fake vinyl factory; Will there be a new Oasis album?; AI pioneer speaks to TPOM; and The Ace Of Shatner!

It's a MEGA-BUMPER episode this week, as Stu and Joe not only go over the biggest stories of the week, but also track down the man who pioneered AI generated music – and give him a good grilling*...

(*it actually turns out he doesn't like most AI generated music either...)

This week on The Price Of Music:

→ Just how many records were found by police when they raided the factory owned by a British businessman who’s just been sent to prison for vinyl fraud?

→ The show goes on for Ed Sheeran in his US stadium tour, but without any support acts or backing band. This is the fallout from the decision to remove support artist Macklemore from the tour after he spoke out about Palestine from the stage. Sheeran is taking the brunt of criticism for that decision, but is this fair?

→ In news that will surprise absolutely nobody who’s been on the internet this year, Oasis are playing some more concerts next year. But tickets WON’T be going on general sale. Why not? Plus, Joe explains his "Oasis will release a new album" theory.

→ AI music pioneer François Pachet speaks exclusively to TPOM...

Joe went to the Reeperbahn conference in Hamburg, and speaking at it was François Pachet, the man who helped pioneer AI generated music (so it’s his fault).

Jokes aside, he was fascinating to speak to, because he's a musician himself, and is more critical of the music industry's approach to AI music and of the AI music platforms than you might imagine.

AND FINALLY…

→ William Shatner is 95, and he's singing (kind of) The Ace Of Spades with his new band... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzTfH3MZZ84&t=94s)

And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our ⁠⁠Patreon Superfans⁠⁠, Stu and Joe prop themselves up at the bar – in this week's bonus material:

→ More thoughts on the interview with François Pachet, AI music pioneer (and huge Beatles fan).

→ Listener Gez explains his unusual home record filing system that Stu and Joe both appreciate; and an approach to CD filing that also makes them both seethe.

→ SHATNER! We've done "what other songs would we like William Shatner to do" before; but which other celebs would we like to see pivot to cover songs, and what would those songs be?

→ Joe proposes the idea of forcing politicians to sing the songs they claim to like, like David Cameron singing “This Charming Man”, and Andy Burnham covering "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash".

→ UK PM Andy Burnham's top 13 albums, which Stu and Joe appraise (mostly enthusiastically):

• The Beatles – 1962–1966 (The Red Album)

• The Smiths – Hatful of Hollow

• The Pogues – Rum Sodomy & the Lash

• The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses

• The Wedding Present – George Best

• The La's – The La's

• Billy Bragg – William Bloke

• Radiohead – OK Computer

• Doves – The Last Broadcast

• The Strokes – Is This It

• Big Thief – Capacity

• New Order – Power, Corruption & Lies

• Courteeners – Falcon

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As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!

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See you next week!

Stuart and Joe

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