Arts Management and Technology Laboratory

Arts Management and Technology Lab

This monthly podcast explores the intersection of technology and arts management through interviews, product reviews, humorous dialogue, and more! The Technology in the Arts podcast is produced by the Arts Management and Technology Lab, a research center of the Master of Arts Management program in Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. The AMT Lab staff currently includes Dr. Brett Crawford (Executive Director), Lutie Rodriguez (Chief Editor of Research), Angela Johnson (Podcast Producer), B Crittenden (Technology and Interactive Content Manager), and Devyn Hinkle (Social Media and Marketing Manager).

  1. From Dystopia to Utopia, an interview with Sarah Turner, New Media artist

    FEB 11

    From Dystopia to Utopia, an interview with Sarah Turner, New Media artist

    Show Notes Sarah Turner: Website Sarah Turner: YouTube Sarah Turner: @sarahsarahturnerturner2 But...You're A Dolphin! Lecture with Sean Hallowell and Sarah Turner Projection Portals: Live Video Machine in the Hall of Architecture

    35 min
  2. Free Press, Bad Press, and the Muscogee Nation: A Conversation with Filmmakers

    FEB 6

    Free Press, Bad Press, and the Muscogee Nation: A Conversation with Filmmakers

    In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, host Luna Lu speaks with Bad Press co-directors Rebecca Lansberry-Baker and Joe Peeler, alongside journalist and film subject Angel Ellis, about the making of their Sundance 2023 award-winning documentary. The conversation explores how the team came together, the ethical and creative challenges of documenting press censorship within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and the tension between tribal sovereignty and press freedom. Through Angel Ellis's experience as a journalist turned whistleblower, the episode highlights the vital role of independent Indigenous media, transparency, and civic participation, while also reflecting on trust, community-based storytelling, and the power of individuals to effect democratic change.   Speical thanks to Stephan Caspar, Dept of Languages, Cultures, and Applied Linguistics, Professor Anne Lambright, and CAS Center for Arts in Society, and all the students and staff at CMU who supported this event!   SHOW NOTES Bad Press (Official Film Website) Rebecca Lansberry-Baker Joe Peeler Angel Ellis

    25 min
  3. The Algorithms in Your Ears: Looking Into the making of your music feeds

    12/04/2025

    The Algorithms in Your Ears: Looking Into the making of your music feeds

    In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Samantha Childers explores why so many songs recommended by streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music sound strikingly similar. She breaks down the inner workings of music streaming algorithms—how metadata, collaborative filtering, content-based filtering, and continuous feedback loops collectively shape the "perfect playlist." Samantha also examines Spotify features such as Discover Weekly and Discovery Mode, uncovering how these tools influence music discovery, artist visibility, and even compositional trends as musicians increasingly write with algorithms in mind. Alongside these technical insights, she raises critical ethical questions about data privacy, algorithmic bias, pay-to-play practices, and the shrinking role of human curation. Ultimately, the episode invites listeners to rethink how algorithm-driven platforms shape not only what we hear but also how we discover, value, and experience music.   SHOW NOTES Samantha Childers A Critical Research of Spotify's Business Model—The Case of Discover Weekly We Tested Popular Music Streaming Services — These Are the Top 6 You Should Check Out In 2025 About Spotify- Newsroom The Role Of Music Streaming Algorithms In The Industry Algorithmic Symphonies: How Spotify Strikes the Right Chord Algorithms in Music: Blessing or Curse? Understanding recommendations on Spotify How to Break Free of Spotify's Algorithm Pay-to-Playlist: The Commerce of Music Streaming Impacts of AI on Music Consumption and Fairness

    14 min
  4. Ludus: a Ticket Selling Platform Changing the Game

    11/21/2025

    Ludus: a Ticket Selling Platform Changing the Game

    In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Andrew Wolverton and Zachary Collins explore how arts-focused technology can transform nonprofit ticketing and operations, tracing Ludus's journey from a side project for a single high school musical to a nationwide platform serving more than 4,000 organizations. Collins explains how Ludus was built from the ground up around the real needs of drama teachers and community theaters, growing into an end-to-end system for ticketing, fundraising, marketing, volunteers, and concessions—while staying anchored in a people-first culture summed up by the company's core value, "Give a Shit." He reflects on navigating the COVID-19 shutdown through livestreaming and social-distancing tools, choosing the right growth equity partner, and why he believes AI shouldn't replace arts workers but instead act as a "superpower" that frees them to focus on human-centered work and shared live experiences. SHOW NOTES Andrew Wolverton Zachary Collins Link to Ludus

    31 min
  5. Michael Cioni on Ingenuity and the Future of Entertainment

    11/15/2025

    Michael Cioni on Ingenuity and the Future of Entertainment

    In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Alexann Sharp and Cara Flanery sit down with four-time Emmy-winning innovator Michael Cioni to unpack how technology and creativity converge in modern media workflows. Cioni introduces Strada, a peer-to-peer platform designed to enable remote collaboration without cloud storage, and shares career lessons on building networks through industry events (NAB, Cine Gear, IBC) and assembling complementary teams ("Swiss-cheese" collaboration). He distinguishes generative vs. utilitarian AI, predicts a shakeout and rebound for GenAI, and outlines his Skills Gap Principle and "Technative" mindset for balancing creative and technical strengths. The conversation closes with candid advice on taking smarter risks and betting on yourself. SHOW NOTES Michael Cioni's IMDB page Link to Strada Michael Cioni's YouTube interview: Using AI to fill your skills gap

    41 min
  6. The Art of Language: Daniel Temkin Reveals The Inner Workings of Esolangs

    10/30/2025

    The Art of Language: Daniel Temkin Reveals The Inner Workings of Esolangs

    In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Daniel Temkin and Luna Lu discussed the artistic possibilities of code, focusing on esoteric programming languages (esolangs) and how they can function as a medium for art and human expression. Temkin explained that his interest began with experimenting in existing esolangs (like Brainfuck) around 2007-2008, leading him to create his own and document them conceptually, moving away from overly technical documentation. The conversation highlighted how giving up on the idea that programming must be practical allows for artistic exploration, connecting esolangs to idea art, constraint-based work (such as the Oulipo Group), and performance art. Temkin detailed the structure of his book, which presents programming languages as idea-based art, containing both realized works and conceptual prompts inspired by artists like Yoko Ono, and described how his languages — such as Fat Finger, which inspired code poetry, and Folders, which manipulates file system hierarchy — explore themes of collaboration, human irrationality, and the extreme constraints of logical systems. Listeners were also encouraged to explore existing esolangs on the Esolang Wiki before trying to design their own. See AMT Lab Website for transcript SHOW NOTES Book: Forty-Four Esolangs—The Art of Esoteric Code Website: https://danieltemkin.com/About Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danieltemkin_/?hl=en

    31 min
  7. Politics and Portrayal: The Impact of AI and Our Lives

    10/28/2025

    Politics and Portrayal: The Impact of AI and Our Lives

    In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Melida Hernandez and Christine Rivera dive into the intersections of technology, identity, and representation in digital spaces and media. Melida explores how AI-based recognition systems, often trained on biased datasets, misclassify transgender and non-binary individuals, which impacts their self-presentation, psychological well-being, and digital agency. Melida also discusses how these technologies replicate real-world prejudices, limiting the fluidity of gender expression online, and highlights the lack of diversity in AI research teams, where women make up only 10–15% of staff. Christine's research, on the other hand, focuses on how scripted and streaming television depicts motherhood and women's reproductive choices, connecting these portrayals to broader issues such as policy, workplace inequality, and the "motherhood penalty." Together, they unpack how media archetypes, algorithmic bias, and social platforms shape public perception and reinforce gender roles, calling for more inclusive storytelling, equitable AI design, and better systemic support for women and marginalized communities. See https://amt-lab.org/podcasts-interviews for transcript Show Notes The Politics of Portrayal: Motherhood Narratives on Television During Policy Transformation Christine Rivera Melida Hernandez

    25 min

  8. 08/21/2025

    The Future of Technology in the Performing Arts: VR versus Broadcast

    Alexann Sharp and Lehan Xu discuss the impact of technology on performance industries, particularly VR concerts and broadcast theater. They note that COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of VR concerts, initially by smaller artists due to cost and uncertainty. Examples include Sabrina Carpenter and Kid Leroy's Meta collaborations. They highlight technical challenges like audio quality and headset comfort. In broadcast theater, historical examples date back to the 1930s, with modern initiatives like the Met Opera's "Live in HD" and National Theater Live. Both discuss the balance between accessibility and maintaining the authenticity of live performances.   SHOW NOTES: National Theatre Live/ Met Opera "Live in HD" Amaze VR Transcript available at the Arts Management and Technology Lab: Podcasts

    23 min
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About

This monthly podcast explores the intersection of technology and arts management through interviews, product reviews, humorous dialogue, and more! The Technology in the Arts podcast is produced by the Arts Management and Technology Lab, a research center of the Master of Arts Management program in Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. The AMT Lab staff currently includes Dr. Brett Crawford (Executive Director), Lutie Rodriguez (Chief Editor of Research), Angela Johnson (Podcast Producer), B Crittenden (Technology and Interactive Content Manager), and Devyn Hinkle (Social Media and Marketing Manager).

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