With Charles Umney

With Charles Umney

This week I’m joined by Charles Umney, Professor of International Work and Employment at the University of Leeds. We talk about AI and creative work, Charlie’s idea of the politics of value, and why the real question may not be whether AI replaces musicians, but how it reshapes the conditions under which creative work is valued, paid for and understood. We also explore platforms and algorithms, worker voice and collective bargaining, and what musicians, performers and entertainment professionals may need to think about as AI becomes part of the landscape. Learn more about Charlie and his work: Google Scholar Charles Umney Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Xh3WJfF8OTc&utm_source=chatgpt.com] University of Leeds Charles Umney at University of Leeds [https://business.leeds.ac.uk/departments-people-work-employment/staff/545/professor-charles-umney?utm_source=chatgpt.com] If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet [https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Music by Pete Faint Website: Pete Faint [https://www.petefaint.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: @petefaint_ [https://www.instagram.com/petefaint_/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

Notes - on being organised

Entertainment Matters Notes – on being organised inspired by Claire Owen-Jones In this notes episode, John Blackburn reflects on a moment from his conversation with Claire Owen-Jones, where she offers a simple definition of what being organised might actually look like. Rather than treating organisation as a personality type or moral judgement, John explores the idea that being organised may be less about becoming a certain kind of person and more about discovering practical ways of doing things that genuinely work for you. Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod [https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod] Theme music by Pete Faint [https://www.petefaint.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. @petefaint_ [https://www.instagram.com/petefaint_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]

With Claire Owen-Jones

This week I’m joined by Claire Owen-Jones, an accountant who works with freelancers in the creative industries. We talk about Making Tax Digital, getting organised, and why your relationship with your accountant might matter more than you think. Along the way we discuss: Making Tax Digital and what is actually changing. Why HMRC wants people doing more regular bookkeeping. The benefits of streamlining your finances and separating business and personal spending. Software options for freelancers and creative businesses. What “being organised” really means in practice. Why communication with your accountant matters more than most people think. How to think about finances as a story rather than just a list of numbers. And why accountants probably hear more fear, shame and avoidance than most people realise. Find out more about Claire: www.loudandclearaccounting.co.uk [http://www.loudandclearaccounting.co.uk] With thanks to Pete Faint for the Entertainment Matters theme tune. @petefaint_ [https://www.instagram.com/petefaint_?utm_source=chatgpt.com] petefaint.com [http://petefaint.com] Stay up to date with Entertainment Matters and receive the Cue Sheet: john-blackburn.com/pod [http://john-blackburn.com/pod]

Notes - on compliments

In this Notes episode, John reflects on compliments, and why people in live entertainment often struggle to receive them. Part of that seems to come from how seriously people take their craft, and how much of their attention is placed on technical detail. That can lead to quietly judging whether a compliment is “correct” before accepting it. What gets lost in that process is what the compliment is really about. Most people aren’t scoring technique. They’re describing the effect something had on them. And that effect is, ultimately, the point of the work. That same distinction shows up in criticism as well. Not all feedback carries the same weight, and timing, source, and context all matter. But separating the message from the messenger can make both compliments and criticism easier to handle, and sometimes more useful. — If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:  https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod [https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod] And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

Notes - inspired Jillian George-Lewis

Notes inspired by Jillian George Lewis In this Notes episode, John reflects on something Jillian said early in their interview: “I just got a sense for what the right show in the right venue means.” He looks at what that “sense” might actually be. The idea isn’t mystical. It’s repeated exposure, noticing what happens, and adjusting. There’s a tension in that process: ignore feedback and your instincts don’t sharpen; ignore your instincts and you never act. — If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod [https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod] And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.