SoA Sounds

As we await regulation to ensure control, transparency and remuneration for writers in the AI space, how are readers to identify human-authored work? What can authors do to assert their human-authored voice in an increasingly noisy field? In this episode co-hosts Johanna Clarke and Theo Jones present an introduction to the Human Authored certification scheme from the Society of Authors. Featuring contributions from Head of Policy at the Society of Authors, Lindsay Bennett Ford as well as writers Alice Harman, Candy Gourlay originally presented as part of a special event chaired by James McConnachie. Also featuring John Degen, writer and Chief Executive Officer of the Writers' Union of Canada and chair of the International Authors' Forum.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society."

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

ALCS

Human Authored scheme launched as generative AI threatens authors' livelihoods - The Society of Authors

Human Authored Lunchtime Learning https://societyofauthors.org/resource/lunchtime-learning-human-authored/

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors

Human Authored - Identify books written by humans, not AI.

Homepage - The Authors Guild

Artificially Intelligent: the latest on collective licensing and parliamentary debate - The Society of Authors

James McConnachie - Royal Literary Fund

Alice Harman – children's author

aliceharman.substack.com

candygourlay.co.uk

houseofprocrastination.substack.com

John Degen on falling in love with the fight for authors' rights - The Society of Authors

Home page | The Writers' Union of Canada

Blank pages and empty studios – is that what we want? Join SOA Advisory Clinic co-hosts Johanna Clarke and Theo Jones as they catch up on the Don't Steal this Book campaign launched at the London Book Fair 2026 with the support of the Society of Authors and the Publishers Association. Featuring campaign organiser, Ed Newton-Rex.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society.

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

ALCS

Don't Steal This Book

Thousand of authors publish empty book to protest theft by AI companies - The Society of Authors

Ed Newton-Rex

Thousands of authors publish 'empty' book in protest over AI using their work | AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian

Is This What We Want? (campaign website)

Is This What We Want? - Album by 1,000 UK Artists | Spotify

Paul McCartney | News | Paul joins music industry protest against AI with silent song release

Paul McCartney joins music industry protest against AI with silent track | Paul McCartney | The Guardian

Statement on AI training — Ed Newton-Rex

A "hard-won moment" as the government scraps copyright exception for AI training - The Society of Authors

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors

As we continue to call for the responsible use and development of generative AI, we invite you to join us in solidarity with human translators and celebrate what makes human-authored translation so unique and irreplaceable by technology. We hear more about the campaign and bring you a selection of exclusive extracts from our recent translation duel event with Danie; Hahn chairing a battle between Frank Wynne and Ros Schwartz as they debate their own translations of the same text.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society."

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

ALCS

Online dictionary French-English - Larousse

SoA survey reveals a third of translators and quarter of illustrators losing work to AI - The Society of Authors

Stand in solidarity with human translators - The Society of Authors

Audible Expands Catalog with AI Narration and Translation for Publishers

Kindle Translate: AI-powered service for multilingual eBooks

Taylor & Francis to make more translated books available more quickly using advanced AI - Taylor & Francis Newsroom

Spotify's AI Voice Translation Pilot Means Your Favorite Podcasters Might Be Heard in Your Native Language — Spotify

Spotify Opens Up Support for ElevenLabs Audiobook Content — Spotify

Ian Giles - The Society of Authors

Alger, lavoir galant | Éditions Albin Michel

Daniel Hahn - About

Ros Schwartz | Literary translator

Frank Wynne – Translator, Writer, Mammal, Fool

Polly Barton

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors

BONUS SPECIAL – Making Tax Digital and making tax make sense with HW Fisher

In this bonus special episode, the SOA Advisory Clinic podcast returns to the offices of specialist accountant HW Fisher to discuss MTD, the biggest change to the freelance tax regime since the introduction of self-assessment, coming in the Spring. Podcast host and SOA Contracts Advisor, Theo Jones, hears from Principal at HW Fisher, Andy Levett, with what it is you need to know and how to prepare. And from apportioning expenses, setting up limited companies, double tax and record keeping, Andy answers those perennial questions from writers managing their tax affairs.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society."

Show notes:

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

HW Fisher - UK Chartered Accountants - London

Andy Levett - Senior Manager - HW Fisher

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax - HMRC guide

Nigel Kennedy | Warner Classics

Self Assessment - GOV.UK

Amish | Definition, History, Beliefs, Education, Children, Lifestyle, & Facts | Britannica

Choose the right software for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax - GOV.UK

Accounting software for every small business - FreeAgent

Quickbooks Alternative | Xero UK

Smart, Simple Accounting & Bookkeeping Software | QuickBooks UK

Sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax - GOV.UK

Rent a room in your home: The Rent a Room Scheme - GOV.UK

Tax on foreign income: If you're taxed twice - GOV.UK

Financial Conduct Authority | FCA

HW Fisher's Authors and Journalists Tax Guide

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors

Funding is everything to creatives. If writers are unable to access and maintain sustainable careers, taking in a wide range of creative disciplines, skills and intellect, the impacts for them and for society more widely would be far-reaching and profound.

And so then, what support is out there and how can writers access those funds? How do bodies with funding authority allocate their monies? And what of the wider network of funding initiatives and opportunities for writers?

Join SoA Advisory Clinic podcast host Theo Jones as we bring you another chance to catch up on this timely event thanks to the #SoAathome festival team. Featuring Pete Stones and Patrick Cash from the Arts Council England, Alan Bett from Creative Scotland and Leusa Llewelyn from Literature Wales.

Show notes:

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

ALCS

Funding Week | Industry Insider - Funding opportunities in England, Scotland and Wales - The Society of Authors

Anna Ganley - The Society of Authors

Alan Bett | Creative Scotland

Our Staff - Literature Wales

Creators' Rights Alliance

International Authors Forum – A forum for Authors' Organisations

The London Book Fair | Defining the Future of Creative Content

The Society of Authors – The UK trade union for more than 12,500 writers, illustrators and literary translators.

The Society of Authors Bookshop UK

Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre - Literature Wales

Arts Council England Homepage

Contact us | Arts Council England

Spread the Word – Helping London's writers make their mark on the page, the screen and in the world.

the87press

Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants | Arts Council England

Diversity | Arts Council England

Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) | Arts Council England

Home | Creative Scotland

Bloody Scotland | International Crime Writing Festival

Festival Info - Borders Book Festival

Gutter

New Writing Scotland - Association for Scottish Literature

Northwords Now

Open Funding | Creative Scotland

Open Fund for Individuals | Creative Scotland

Dundee and Angus Scots Scriever announced | Creative Scotland

Scottish Poetry Library - The world's leading resource for Scottish poetry

Moniack Mhor - Scotland's Creative Writing Centre

Life of a Book: Author Development Programme - Moniack Mhor

Scottish Book Trust - Reading, Writing & Literacy Charity - Scottish Book Trust

Gaelic Books Council - Supporting Scottish Gaelic writers and publishers

Literature Wales | Developing Literature in Wales

Arts Council of Wales | Arts Council of Wales

Children's Laureate Wales - Literature Wales

Alex Wharton, Children's Laureate Wales 2023-2025 - Literature Wales

Writers of Wales Directory - Literature Wales

Information and Background - Literature Wales

Hay Festival – After Hours Birmingham, 24 July 2025

Inspiring Communities Fund - Literature Wales

Individuals | Arts Council of Wales

Ineligible Application PROJECT GRANTS: Under £15,000

Rates and fees - The Society of Authors

Welcome to WGGB: The Writers' Union - The Writers' Guild of Great Britain

National Union of Journalists (NUJ): Home

DYCP case studies | Arts Council England

Contact Us | Creative Scotland

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors

Events The Society of Authors

Donate The Society of Authors – The UK trade union for more than 12,500 writers, illustrators and literary translators.

On the 25th of February 2025 the industry came together in an unprecedented show of support to recognise the importance of human-centred creativity as developments in the Artificial Intelligence space continued apace.

As government considers their next steps, we reflect on that work and bring you all the latest as the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) launch their limited licensing initiatives together with the CLA (the Copyright Licensing Agency) and the Authors' Guild in the US speak to us about their Human-authored Certification project.

We also bring you up to speed on a recent parliamentary debate on the impact of AI on the creative industries with author and Minister at DCMS Sir Chris Bryant attending for the government.

Featuring Richard Combes from ALCS, Umair Kazi from the Authors' Guild and a host of parliamentarians.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society.

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

ALCS

Ambre Morvan - The Society of Authors

The SoA's message to Meta: don't steal our books - The Society of Authors

Petition · Protect authors' livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training - United Kingdom · Change.org

ALCS | ALCS submission to Government's AI and copyright consultation

ALCS | Changes to Copyright Licensing Agency licences

Human Authored Certification - The Authors Guild

Intellectual Property: Artificial Intelligence - Hansard - UK Parliament

Government consultation on AI and copyright closes with unprecedented day of action by creative sector - The Society of Authors

SoA report into authors' views on the AI and Copyright consultation - The Society of Authors

Peter Kyle on X: "Thank you to everyone who responded to our consultation on Ai and copyright. As we work through the 11,000 responses I promise no changes will be considered unless we can be sure the solution works for creators- that is a red line and we will honour it. https://t.co/s6Y1OUpv2i" / X

Make It Fair - News Media Association

Pay the Creator — creators' rights alliance

Audio Drama - The Society of Authors

A-Brave-New-World-_ALCS_AI_Report.pdf

Hargreaves review of intellectual property and growth: government response - GOV.UK

Don't gift our work to AI billionaires: Mark Haddon, Michael Rosen and other creatives urge government | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

Public Lending Right (PLR): Eligibility & Registration - The British Library

Collective licence to ensure UK authors get paid for works used to train AI | Books | The Guardian

The Unbelievable Scale of AI's Pirated-Books Problem - The Atlantic

Federal Law Enforcement Arrests and Indicts Z-Library Operators with AG's Assistance - The Authors Guild

Fair Use Chapter 1 - Circular 92 | U.S. Copyright Office

Supreme Court sides against Andy Warhol Foundation in copyright case : NPR

FAQs on the Human Authored Certification - The Authors Guild

Parliamentlive.tv - Westminster Hall

James Frith MP for Bury North

Carolyn Harris

Home | Wendy Chamberlain MP for North East Fife

Caroline Dinenage MP | Gosport

Oh, I'm sorry, tech bros – did DeepSeek copy your work? I can hardly imagine your distress | Marina Hyde | The Guardian

Contact information for Alison Hume - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament

John McDonnell MP

Lizzi Collinge MP

Chris Bryant MP for Rhondda and Ogmore - Rhondda and Ogmore's Voice

The growth in audiobooks continues apace and as publishers and authors work to establish new routes to market, that growth is clearly a cause for celebration but as we celebrate its meteoric rise, we question its equity. With the rise of streaming on demand on subscription, we break down the definitions, interrogate the payment models and survey the landscape of who is offering what.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society.

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

https://www.alcs.co.uk/

https://societyofauthors.org/soa-profiles/ambre-morvan/

https://societyofauthors.org/2025/02/25/uk-creative-industries-launch-copyright-fightback-against-global-tech-firms-ai-models/

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-french/stream#:~:text=to%20stream,en%20streaming%20(film%2C%20TV)

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2003/10/16Audible-and-Apple-Announce-Availability-of-Exclusive-Content-Through-Apple-iTunes/

https://societyofauthors.org/2023/10/10/soa-demands-transparency-and-action-on-publishers-streaming-deals-with-spotify/

https://www.audible.co.uk/ep/memberbenefits

https://www.audible.co.uk/ep/audible-plus-member-benefit

https://www.spotify.com/uk/premium/

https://www.findawayvoices.com/earn

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/plus/plans?srsltid=AfmBOord248ssMNqpXRCAzytwzuG9mHwiBul6QlhKECzGo_foZamm6yw

https://www.audiobooks.co.uk/pricing?srsltid=AfmBOoraB1aYyuxLIjOIrXuvPGggrgQc4GkPEa3cPWNKp9VYQW62CbQK

https://www.overdrive.com/

https://www.listening-books.org.uk/

https://itunespartner.apple.com/books/partners

https://societyofauthors.org/2023/11/02/spotify-streaming-deal-send-a-letter-to-your-publisher/

https://societyofauthors.org/where-we-stand/fair-remuneration/#:~:text=The%20success%20of%20Britain's%20creative,in%20every%2011%20working%20people.

https://www.creatorsrightsalliance.org/paythecreator

On the 3rd April 2025, the Society of Authors organised a day of action in protest of Meta's alleged use of pirated works online to train their Llama AI without permission or payment. In this special podcast we take you back in support of that protest and thank all writers, readers and others for your continued and ongoing support as we continue to navigate the stormy weather wrought by the unregulated field of Artificial Intelligence, and the crucial role played by creators and their works in developments that threaten their future livelihoods and careers. Featuring contributions from Abie Longstaff, AJ West, Anna Ganley, Candy Gourlay, Piers Torday and Kate Mosse.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society.

ALCS

Discover A.J. West - Official home to author, A.J. West's novels, short stories and more

UK authors stage protest at Meta HQ against Zuckerberg's #bookthieves - The Society of Authors

The Unbelievable Scale of AI's Pirated-Books Problem - The Atlantic

Petition · Protect authors' livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training - United Kingdom · Change.org

The SoA's message to Meta: don't steal our books - The Society of Authors

abielongstaff.com

Why I – and other bestselling authors – are protesting outside Meta today | The Independent

Candy Gourlay

Home - Piers Torday

Send a Letter to AI Companies Telling Them They Do Not Have the Right to Use Your Work

Email Your MP — Creative Rights In AI Coalition

Statement on AI training

Join the SoA - The Society of Authors

Make It Fair - News Media Association

What can you expect from a traditional publisher and where do they add value? How can writers spot worthwhile publishing deals and run for the hills from a dodgy one? And what of pets for online marketing? Step into the SoA Advisory Clinic to learn about all this and more as we bring you another chance to catch up on an event originally produced as part of the London Book Fair's Writers' Summit 2025. Featuring the Deputy Chief Executive of the SoA, Sarah Burton, writers Penny Batchelor, Mark Edwards, and SoA Fellow and writer, Philip Womack.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society.

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

www.alcs.co.uk

Sarah Burton – The Society of Authors

Philip Womack - Royal Literary Fund

Penny Batchelor - Author Bookshop UK

Mark Edwards - Mark Edwards

Embla Books - Bonnier Books

The ADCI Literary Prize – The Society of Authors

Wildlord by Philip Womack (9781912417971/Paperback) | LoveReading4Kids

Ghostlord by Philip Womack (9781915071262/Paperback) | LoveReading4Kids

Fellows – The Society of Authors

Fair remuneration – The Society of Authors

A profession struggling to sustain itself – The Society of Authors

Home - Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency

Self Publishing | Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

LJ Ross - The Multi-Million Bestselling Author

Beautiful Books You Won't Forget | Salt Publishing

Bookouture

Storm Publishing - adult fiction publishing

Boldwood - Publishing Reimagined

Substack - A new economic engine for culture

A guide to the data protection principles | ICO

End bad practice in 'hybrid' / paid-for publishing – sign the open letter – The Society of Authors

Get in touch – The Society of Authors

The advisory team on: scams – The Society of Authors

Public Lending Right (PLR): Eligibility & Registration - The British Library

Two New Daggers Announced - The Crime Writers' Association

Children are the future and children's literacy in schools is therefore one of our greatest societal concerns. And so, as celebrations draw to a close on another World Book Day and co-host of the podcast Johanna Clarke steps away from the studio to welcome a child of her own, we speak to writers Ian Billings and Davina Hamilton on the role of children's writers in schools. We also hear from Deborah Maclaren all about her Love Reading for Kids initiative as she teaches us what parents, carers, teachers and librarians can do to support children's writing in schools and how writers can become involved.

This podcast is brought to you thanks to the the kind sponsorship of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society.

Not a member? Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first year's membership.

https://www.alcs.co.uk/

https://ianbillings.com/

https://www.davinahamilton.com/

https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/

https://literacytrust.org.uk/

https://societyofauthors.org/members-area/discounts-offers/tax-insurance/

https://societyofauthors.org/download/dbs-guide-for-members/

https://societyofauthors.org/2024/07/10/preparing-for-author-school-visits/