Montreal Leonard Cohen Memorial Commemorative Box Set

[meglos2000]

While I was hoping for a box set of archive tour recordings, I am happy the tribute concert has got a release.

It is part of Leonard’s story and great to be able to access the full concert for those of us who couldn’t make it.

I look forward to future Unified Heart releases and I’m very pleased they are set up as an organisation to keep Leonard’s legacy alive. Glad also to be supporting the charitable cause it is in aid of.


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[clive cass]

Like the memorial concert itself, which I have only seen on screen, it was disappointing and expensive (Tickets had I gone to it) and this box set demonstrates that the organisers of that event have learnt nothing from it as they try to bleed it dry.

I am very disappointed that it has taken so long to bring out a sensibly priced recording of the concert but expected this new boxed set to be a worthwhile addition to my collection of Cohen live and studio recordings perhaps including rarely performed songs, outtakes, versions, etc in the style of Neil Young and Bob Dylans Archove and Bootleg Series.

Regarding Price Bob Dylan has been selling 8 and 10 CD box sets with a DVD bonus disc in his Bootleg series for $99 over the past few years in collectors boxes with booklets. I accept that the Leonard Cohen box has some additional stuff in it but fewer discs but does include a donation but I simply cannot see how they can justify £350.

Finally Not everyone including myself has Blu Ray so for that reason alone (as well as all of the above comments) I will not even contemplate buying this box set.

[its4inthemorning]

In my opinion some people are not looking at this boxed set in the correct manner.

I have some familiarity with non-profit charitable organizations. When they conduct fundraising programs, the majority of each donation is for, and goes to, the charity. For example, our local art museum has annual dinners which allow patrons to see special exhibits before they are opened to the public. To attend the dinners one must donate $250, and the receipt that is given states something like, "$50 of your payment is for the dinner and is not tax-deductible and $200 represents your donation and is tax-deductible." I look at the boxed set offer as being similar, one is paying $350 ($250 with the discount code) to support UHPF, for which he receives merchandise valued at, let's say, $50. So the decision to purchase the boxed set should really be a decision as to whether or not you want to support UHPF, not your determination of the monetary value of the boxed set.

You may also want to keep in mind how difficult it is for a charity such as UHPF to raise funds to fulfill its mission. We all sadly know that people who are familiar with Leonard and his work represent a tiny fraction of the overall population, so it would be futile, and a waste of money, to try to solicit donations from the general public. UHPF's only source of donations is from Leonard's fans, and it is reaching out to us for support via this offer; the boxed set is merely a gift in appreciation of that support. Viewed that way, the boxed set seems like an awfully good expression of their appreciation. Anyway, that is how I choose to view it.

4

[clive cass]

I fully appreciate the Charitable Donation aspect of this boxset but still feel it is pitched wrongly both in terms of price and content in the same way that the original concert itself was in terms of being quite underwhelming and over priced (in contrast for example to the amazing show put on by First Aid Kit).

I feel that I want to be able to buy better value stuff and now that Leonard has passed on and doe not have to take his profit from sales this could now all go to charity and so that would be a win win for fans and charity without having to rinse fans for this one off expensive low value box set.

[Joe Way]

Marie, Jarkko & Robert Kory had asked me to help them test the website which I most gladly did. In appreciation, Robert Kory sent two of the pins included in the set, one for me and one for Anne. They just arrived this morning and they are understated and elegant, they will fit in very well with the collection of pins that we have accumulated by attending the many Leonard Cohen Events over the years (Leonard would send such gifts for all of the participants).

Speaking of the Events, I've been thinking of Leonard a lot right now and all of our friends who we have made throughout the years at Events and Concerts. Had it not been for the pandemic, we would have been enjoying ourselves in Ghent right now.

I have the DVD of the Memorial concert which was a bonus for a donation to our local public television station, but it is not the complete concert. We had a wonderful, very moving time in Montreal and all of this will help us remember it. We are looking forward to its arrival in November.

With all that said, I can certainly understand that not everyone can afford it and it might not appeal to everyone. I do hope that the charitable aspect of this is successful as someone else has mentioned, without this type of support early in his career, Leonard may never have been brought to our attention.

Joe

[LisaLCFan]

In my opinion some people are not looking at this boxed set in the correct manner.

I have some familiarity with non-profit charitable organizations. When they conduct fundraising programs, the majority of each donation is for, and goes to, the charity. For example, our local art museum has annual dinners which allow patrons to see special exhibits before they are opened to the public. To attend the dinners one must donate $250, and the receipt that is given states something like, "$50 of your payment is for the dinner and is not tax-deductible and $200 represents your donation and is tax-deductible." I look at the boxed set offer as being similar, one is paying $350 ($250 with the discount code) to support UHPF, for which he receives merchandise valued at, let's say, $50. So the decision to purchase the boxed set should really be a decision as to whether or not you want to support UHPF, not your determination of the monetary value of the boxed set.

You may also want to keep in mind how difficult it is for a charity such as UHPF to raise funds to fulfill its mission. We all sadly know that people who are familiar with Leonard and his work represent a tiny fraction of the overall population, so it would be futile, and a waste of money, to try to solicit donations from the general public. UHPF's only source of donations is from Leonard's fans, and it is reaching out to us for support via this offer; the boxed set is merely a gift in appreciation of that support. Viewed that way, the boxed set seems like an awfully good expression of their appreciation. Anyway, that is how I choose to view it.

4

Fair enough, but I do not think that it was made clear enough, upfront, that this box-set was a fund-raising endeavour. The announcement of the upcoming announcement was presented in the same way that we've learned about new albums by Leonard, new books by Leonard, and even new concerts/tours by Leonard, back in the glory days. Therefore, I think that many people probably assumed that we might be getting some new work by Leonard himself. Of course, this may have been wishful thinking on our parts, but we were given no hints as to what this new thing might be, nor as to what it might not be, and so why not hope for the best? Surely the people who raised our hopes knew what many of us might be thinking -- people were offering ideas and suggestions as to what they thought/hoped it might be, and never once did anybody try to redirect those ideas.

Then, when it was finally revealed that it was a box set to commemorate the Memorial concert, etc., the charitable aspect was mentioned almost as a footnote: it was primarily presented as a new bit of merchandise for people to buy, with the rather vague mention that, by the way, proceeds would go to support un-named charitable causes (the exact nature of which we had to search for on the website -- we were not even told, upfront, precisely who would get the money). Most charity fundraisers are transparent as to what the money is being raised for, as well as what portion of the total cost goes to the charity, and what portion covers the costs of whatever they are selling (be it a dinner or some merchandise). That break-down information was not given in the announcement for this box-set, nor could I find it on the website.

And, why all the secrecy? Why not just announce that a new charity has been set up to support Leonard's favourite causes, and for those who may wish to donate, they are selling some new merchandise? It was not presented to us that way at all: it was presented as an exciting new box-set that every Cohen fan should want to have.

If one wants to compare it to something like the fundraisers that PBS TV has, first of all, PBS always makes it very clear that they are conducting a fundraiser, and they also offer different amounts of merchandise for different donation amounts: for $50 you get one DVD, for $100 you get a DVD and t-shirt, etc. -- there are choices that people can make, and rewards at every level. And again, right upfront, with no doubt and no secrecy and no unanswered questions, PBS lets people know that, "Hey, we're raising funds for our programming, asking for donations, and then giving you some stuff as a bonus!". People are not led down a garden path wondering what surprise lies in store -- they're simply told upfront what's really going on! I think that would have been a far more appropriate way to present all of this to us -- telling us that it was a fundraiser, first and foremost.

[its4inthemorning]

Re: Charitable aspect not made clear enough.

When you click on the "cohenboxset" link, the page that comes up prominently displays information on the Unified Hearts Productions Foundation.

And if you then click on "Learn More," the Foundation is discussed in greater detail.

Finally, there is an "FAQ" link which includes:

Question: "Who profits from the sale of items by UHPF?"
Answer: "UHPF is a charitable foundation. All profits will be donated to arts councils and organizations in Canada, fulfilling Leonard's commitment to assisting young Canadian artists."

Question: "Is the Box Set Tax Deductible?"
Answer: "This depends on your personal or business situation. You will receive an official receipt for each purchase. Whether or not you can deduct the expense from your taxes is subject to your personal tax situation and should be discussed with your accountant."

So certainly there can be no issue of nondisclosure.

The fact that Jarkko did not speak to the charitable connection in his preliminary lead up means nothing, as there is no way anyone who read the information provided on the page with the "Purchase" button could not have known about UHPF and its involvement. What is in play here seems like nothing more than disappointment.

Perhaps someone should start a new topic called, "UHPF--Here is What We Really Want," comments would be interesting, and there is always the possibility that ideas presented may be seen and considered by UHPF.

4

[clive cass]

its4inthemorning makes a great point

We should ask Sony to start releasing Archive material aka Bob Dylan and Neil Young (as I also previously mentioned) but he suggests a new thread. If anyone knows enough about what to ask for as in what is believed to be available in their vaults then I hope someone will do this or be able to ask them direct.

(I note that the Unified Heart Foundation website does say they will be selling more stuff in the future although this fills me with dread based on their first offering)

[da2008]

This boxset is not for me, but I'm glad something is going on.

[LisaLCFan]

...What is in play here seems like nothing more than disappointment....

No, actually, that is not "what is in play here". Based on the information we were given on this forum and how it was presented from the beginning (which is, actually, relevant), I felt that we were somewhat misled upfront as to the true nature of this whole enterprise, and I have not changed my mind about that.

The fact that the subject line for this thread is "Montreal Leonard Cohen Memorial Commemorative Box Set", and not "The Unified Heart Productions Foundation (UHPF)" clearly indicates where the focus lies. None of us knew about this foundation previously -- that could have been the focus of the announcement, but it was not, as I noted in my very clearly stated previous remarks.

Nothing more to say on the matter.

[icecreamtruck]

From reading the site it seems quite clear that the charitable foundation functions as a way to create products related to Leonard Cohen and his work. It is a financial structure that serves the goals of its directors. I really think it’s a bit rich to talk about this organization as a charity. I understand that it meets the definition as an organization that promotes the arts and intends to make financial contributions to the arts. I guess it’s ok, and I’m not really cynical about it. But this product is all exclusivity, trinkets and luxury. It is prohibitively expensive. It is limited and not sold in stores. The copy relentlessly communicates the idea that there is special information and deeply meaningful multi-media in this package that will not be available anywhere else. I can’t believe that the first overtly public activity of this foundation is to produce an item of this opulence, overpriced and oversold to this precious community, which Leonard himself freely shared with often. Leonard’s work was characterized by its density and value, always shared with the world for a very modest price or for free. When we shelled out for the expensive concerts, Leonard Cohen gave us a 3 hour show and everything about how he behaved on those tours was about preserving his ability to give us his best every night.

This thing feels empty in comparison. Perhaps that’s natural considering that Leonard is no longer here to provide that value. Someone said that the foundation’s existence could have been the announcement and I agree that if this thing was really a charity whose primary goal was altruistic, the existence of the foundation may have been news worthy.

I think the forum was probably encouraged to make a really big deal about this. Our members are probably the most likely people to buy something like this, after all.

Leonard shared with us the most precious, most exclusive work of his life freely here on the files and on the forum. Don’t sell his final wishes and exclusive access to the celebration of his life for $350...sorry $250 if we are members and act now.

I’ll stop now except to say that the included special “all access pass” kind of sums up the feeling of this whole project. It is the essence of meaningless kitch. It is so antithetical to Leonard’s work and life. My feeling is that he would never, ever stand behind the manufacturing and selling of fake “all access passes” to a past event. I like to think he would especially not appreciate this kind of thing being sold to us, whom he shared so authentically with out of an impulse from his own heart when he had nothing to gain financially.

[da2008]

This really brings back the memories of presale discussions. Nobody owes anything to anybody.

I thought the announcement and the countdown were supposed to be a bit of fun?

[Kush]

I just wonder what Mr. Cohen would have thought about this release.

Possibly with zen-like detachment ??

It is what it is, folks

[clive cass]

This reminds me of the sale of tickets for the memorial concert when there was a lot of ill feeling when people felt forced to buy expensive tickets in the pre sale in case they got not tickets in the public sale. These tickets were also crazy prices at the cheapest at most expensive end of the range.

This was in contrast to all the enjoyable times we had buying pre sale tickets to concerts when Leonard was alive for regular tours (even if the tickets were not cheep they were fair for 3 hours shows and were set prices).

I did not understand until today that the box set was not a Sony Legacy but was a Unified Heart Foundation edition and this should have been upfront and obvious.

I would like to know how much is going to charity per box.

I do however recognise that a lot of people will welcome this box set in all its aspects and I do not intend any criticism of those who do nor the way it was counted down. I have made my comments above and before so I think I will stop now. If UHF sell 5000 boxes at $350 then good luck to them.

[MaryB]

You all can debate this issue to no end. Some people can afford it and bought it, others that can afford it, don't want it for whatever their reason, others want it but can't afford it, others for whatever reason don't want it at all. But I bought it, even though I do not have a blu ray player, because I knew that the money was going to the the Unified Heart charity which Adam (I think?) set up in his father's name to help other artists. Done! Now crucify me if you want.