Stage Talks with Bellingcat

Bellingcat

Join Bellingcat and a live audience in our discord server, where every two weeks we host discussions with leading voices within open source research and investigations. Be part of the audience at the next stage talk by joining our discord community here: https://discord.gg/bellingcat

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94 episodes
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Oct 25, 2024 · 59 min
"Researching Central Asia: Strategic Insights and Defence Data" with Michael Hilliard
This week, we talk to Michael Hilliard. He and his colleagues at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs recently released their report titled "The Armed Forces of Central Asia". We discuss the complex geopolitical landscape in Central Asia, and what defence capacity the countries have to tackle their strategic challenges. The talk was hosted by Merel Zoet on Thursday October 24th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcat You can find the first chapter of the report "Tajikistan" here: https://oxussociety.org/the-armed-forces-of-central-asia-tajikistan/
Oct 11, 2024 · 58 min
"Researching Online Extremism and Terrorism" with Elizabeth Pearson
This week we talk to Elizabeth Pearson. Together with her colleagues she recently worked on the REASSURE report (https://voxpol.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Online-Extremism-and-Terrorism-Researchers-Security-Safety-Resilience.pdf )- which is published with the online extremism and terrorism research network VOX-Pol. The report describes experiences regarding safety and security of researchers who work on digital extremism and terrorism. We explored her learnings and took questions from the audience. The talk was hosted by Merel Zoet on Thursday October 10th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcat For advice on looking after your mental health as a researcher you can look to our guide https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/ and find helpful resources on the DART center's website (https://dartcenter.org/)
Sep 27, 2024 · 57 min
"Revealing the Bellingcat Toolkit" with the Bellingcat Team
This week's stage talk is focused on our new and updated toolkit! We've packed every useful open source research tool into one place to help assist new and old researchers, journalists and NGOs. Johanna Wild, who lead the project, joined us on stage to talk through the new developments. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday September 26th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcat Links discussed: Link to article on the Toolkit launch : https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2024/09/24/bellingcat-online-investigations-toolkit/ New toolkit: https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit Bellingcat volunteer community: https://sites.google.com/bellingcat.com/bellingcat-volunteer-community If you have questions around joining the Volunteer Community - reach out to volunteer@bellingcat.com Invid: https://www.invid-project.eu/ Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/
Sep 13, 2024 · 59 min
“Investigating a Massacre in Burkina Faso" with The Bellingcat Team
This week's stage talk is about a militant attack in Burkina Faso that happened in late August, in which over 100 unarmed civilians died. We explore how Bellingcat investigators went to work trying to locate and verify graphic imagery claiming to be associated with the massacre. Content warning: Discussion of civilian harm, abuse and death. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday September 12th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcat Links discussed: The investigation: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/09/04/burkina-faso-barsalogho-massacre-attack-jihadi-militia-military-human-rights/ (You can find the 'screenshots' referenced repeatedly in the recording in the investigation link above) ACLED: https://acleddata.com/ Wagner in Africa Discord Channel: https://discord.com/channels/709752884257882135/1054884622955184228 Detail about Chirpwire: https://disinfo.africa/inside-al-shabaabs-digital-propaganda-machine-05cbdb04ed4f Bellingcat's auto-archiver tool: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/09/22/preserve-vital-online-content-with-bellingcats-auto-archiver-tool/ How to prevent, identify and address vicarious trauma: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2018/10/18/prevent-identify-address-vicarious-trauma-conducting-open-source-investigations-middle-east/ Giancarlo's how to maintain mental hygiene as a researcher https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/ Wassim Nasr: https://x.com/SimNasr Héni: https://twitter.com/MENASTREAM/
Sep 2, 2024 · 56 min
“Tracking Deforestation with Open Data” with Luiz Toledo
This week's stage talk is about using open sources in environmental focused investigations. We spoke to freelance journalist Luiz Toledo about his recent work covering deforestation policy gaps. He uncovered his stories using open databases and FOIA requests. Note that Luiz's mic has some distortion in the recording. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday August 29th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcat Links discussed: Luiz's investigations: https://www.icij.org/investigations/deforestation-inc/ https://piaui.folha.uol.com.br/desmatamento-amazonia-embargos-icmbio/ https://www.occrp.org/en/feature/criminal-gangs-are-logging-the-worlds-last-brazilwood-trees-to-make-violin-bows https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/operation-do-re-mi-the-brazilian-bow-makers-under-investigation-for-dealing-in-endangered-wood Luiz's newsletter: https://news.fiquemsabendo.com.br/ FOIA tools: https://www.404media.co/foia-forum-with-a-pacer-expert-7-31-1pm-est/ https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/ https://x.com/JasonLeopold/status/1804630789205942322 https://portaldatransparencia.gov.br/ Environmental/deforestation resources: https://brasil.mapbiomas.org/ https://infoamazonia.org/en/ https://ambiental.media/ https://dadosabertos.ibama.gov.br/dataset/fiscalizacao-auto-de-infracao https://cruzagrafos.abraji.org.br/ https://climatecrimeanalysis.org/ https://oxpeckers.org/ https://eia-international.org/
Aug 16, 2024 · 59 min
"Investigating protest movements and the police response using open sources" with the Bellingcat team
In this week's stage talk we discuss open source research methods of covering protest movements and any corresponding violent action. Using the example of recent clashes in Bangladesh, our team unpack how they go about reporting on this topic, sharing their favourite resources, techniques and advice. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday August 15 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcat Links discussed in the recording: Investigation: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/08/07/bangladesh-overthrow-resignation-sheikh-hasina-footage-open-source Links from UN/ Amnesty on policing and weapons here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2023/10/repression-trade/ Regarding rubber bullet usage https://www.amnesty.nl/content/uploads/2023/03/Amnesty-position-paper-kinetic-impact-projectiles.pdf Policing manual from Amnesty https://www.amnesty.nl/content/uploads/2017/01/book_1_0.pdf UN : Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/basic-principles-use-force-and-firearms-law-enforcement UN: Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons In Law Enforcement https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/LLW_Guidance.pdf Bellingcat Auto-Archiver tool: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/09/22/preserve-vital-online-content-with-bellingcats-auto-archiver-tool/ Bellingcat's Search Grid Generator tool: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2024/08/05/tracking-your-search-a-guide-to-the-grid-generator/ NASA-FIRMS: https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/ Bellingcat guide to NASA-FIRMS: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/10/04/scorched-earth-using-nasa-fire-data-to-monitor-war-zones/ Bellingcat's guide to maintaining mental hygiene as an open source researcher: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/
Aug 2, 2024 · 55 min
"A Collaborative Model For Big Impact With Local Investigations" with Sam Stecklow
This week we were joined on stage by Sam Stecklow, from the not-for-profit newsroom The Invisible Institute. Within the talk we discussed their work on making police complaint data publicly accessible and explored their collaborative models, funding and large data projects. The talk was hosted by Giancarlo Fiorella on Thursday August 1 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcat Find the full list of links shared by Sam during the talk below: Civic Data Project Live site: http://CPDP.co Kicking the pigeon: https://invisible.institute/kicking-the-pigeon Code of Silence: https://theintercept.com/series/code-of-silence/ https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/61e475d6-97b0-4eef-8d62-23766553a041/1121846.pdf https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/02/laquan-mcdonald-shooting-a-recently-obtained-autopsy-report-on-the-dead-teen-complicates-the-chicago-police-departments-story.html https://champaign.cpdp.co/ https://invisible.institute/ypp https://invisible.institute/somebody-podcast https://chicagopolicetorturearchive.com/ https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/10/15/mauled-when-police-dogs-are-weapons https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/the-killing-of-harith-augustus/ https://www.btsurface.com/ https://chicagomissingpersons.com/ https://invisible.institute/illinois-police-data https://invisible.institute/data-access-transparency https://ipmnewsroom.org/sean-grayson-sonya-massey-sangamon-county-sheriff-misconduct/ https://www.chicagocopa.org/data-cases/case-portal/
Jul 22, 2024 · 53 min
“Tracking Wildfires Using Open Sources” with Aram Shabanian
This week we were joined on stage by Aram Shabanian, the Open-Source Information Gathering Manager at the New Lines Institute and long time Bellingcat contributor. Aram shared a long list of interesting open source tools that citizens and journalists alike can use to help monitor wildfires. Find the full list of tools shared by Aram here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SJHzw5cSenCvEq7iGEyhHhRKAHq1vOcVlJy4sYAcchM/edit?gid=0#gid=0 And additional tools referenced in the chat here: Aram's livestream guide https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/11/09/using-livestreams-to-monitor-crises-in-gaza-and-beyond/ Look up your local area's wildfire pocket card with this link: https://www.wildfire.gov/wims/pocket-card-table Bellingcat's OSINT Forest area tracker https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/08/18/a-new-tool-shows-what-war-has-done-to-ukraines-forests/ Canadian map resource shared by an audience member: https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/interactive-map OnXMaps: https://www.onxmaps.com/ Link to our Discord channel for tool idea pitches: https://discord.com/channels/709752884257882135/1173992891945861160 Wildcad.net: http://www.wildcad.net/WildCADWeb.asp Oregon specific references: Odffire https://odffire.com/ Arcgis view: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6329d5e4e13748b9b9f7f33f06a3c376/?fbclid=IwAR2HH7Zxyi-vqihq8pWQJKzynrFK19bKFow-VjTAn3Puz6lZtHpz5JrTgP4 Inciweb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/ Oregon Dept of Forestry Course: https://odftraining.thinkific.com/courses/media-access The IMSR report shows national fire deployments in the US. In the off season it's updated every Friday. Peak fire season it's daily. : https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday the 18th of July in the Bellingcat Discord server. Music courtesy of Artlist.
Jul 5, 2024 · 57 min
"Mapping the destruction of cultural heritage sites in Gaza"- with the Bellingcat and Scripps News team
This Stage Talk is about the impact of conflict on cultural heritage sites and how, as open source researchers, we can monitor the scale of destruction. The discussion was based around our latest documentary with Scripps News, which you can watch in full here Tools: Planet Sentinel Hub Google Earth Ollie Ballinger's damage probability map tool of Gaza Wikimapia Annique's analysing satellite imagery to monitor settlements, video guide Relevant research: The Byzantine mosaic https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/emergency-safeguarding-recently-discovered-al-bureij-mosaics-gaza Jake's X thread on the demolition of the mosaic https://x.com/JakeGodin/status/1805965185653395721 Bellingcat's investigation into the 8219 IDF unit. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/29/weve-become-addicted-to-explosions-the-idf-unit-responsible-for-demolishing-homes-across-gaza/ CNN visits a destroyed graveyard: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2024/01/29/idf-gaza-graveyard-destruction-diamond-pkg-lead-vpx.cnn Damage to Ukraine's cultural heritage sites by Bellingcat and Scripps News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HiGgcuB2y4 Organisations referenced: EAMENA: https://www.eamena.org/ Heritage for Peace: https://www.heritageforpeace.org/ Aliph Foundation: https://www.aliph-foundation.org/ Caucus Heritage Center (Cornell) https://caucasusheritage.cornell.edu/ This talk was recorded on July 3rd, 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download Discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
Jun 21, 2024 · 56 min
"Extremism in Gaming Spaces" with Rachel Kowert and Linda Schlegel
In this Stage Talk we discuss extremism on digital gaming platforms with experts Rachel Kowert and Linda Schlegel. We talk about how and why extremists are using digital gaming spaces for radicalisation and mobilisation efforts, but also about prevention efforts to stop extremists from exploiting these gaming communities. You can find Linda and Rachel's book here: www.routledge.com/Gaming-and-Extre…ok/9781032482996 Other links that were mentioned in the talk: www.takethis.org/2024/05/resilient-resources/ www.stopspying.org/banned-for-being www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUoIVZ3vEHk www.theguardian.com/games/2024/mar/…ame-consultants www.isdglobal.org/explainers/discord-extremism/ www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.…791/html?lang=de This talk was recorded on June 20th, 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download Discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
Jun 7, 2024 · 1 hr
“Getting Started In Open Source Research” with Sofia Santos
In this week's Stage Talk we were joined by Centre For Information Resilience's Sofia Santos. Sofia also runs a website called Gralhix.com which provides exercises and guides for those needing to practice their open source research skillsets. The discussion on stage was all about how to get into our industry, Sofia provided invaluable tips and resources for beginners. The links we shared during the talk can be found here: Centre for information resilience https://www.info-res.org/ Eyes of Russia Project: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/07/24/over-500-days-of-the-russia-ukraine-monitor-map/ When starting to write up your conclusions its also worth checking your work against this list too: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2024/04/25/oshit-seven-deadly-sins-of-bad-open-source-research/ Bellingcat's video guide to working with OSINT tools without coding knowledge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymCMy8OffHM&list=PLq6cQ--4f90icDJUwiGcPrFFLLguuZ0ht Bellingcat's mental health hygiene guide: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/ Sofia's colleague Ben Strick's OSINT YouTube 'Bendobrown': https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrFPX1Vfqk3ehZKSFeb9pVIHqxqrNW8Sy This talk was recorded on June 5th 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
May 24, 2024 · 57 min
"Exploring the Digital Profiles of Human Smugglers” with Carlos Gonzales
In this week's Stage Talk we were joined by Bellingcat' Research Lead, Carlos Gonzales. Carlos unpacked a series of recent investigations, delivered by Bellingcat and partners into human smuggler operations across South America and into the US. You can find a link to Bellingcat's investigation into the digital coyote here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/30/a-phantoms-tale-the-coyote-influencer-on-tiktok/ And the wider series of investigations via our partners El Clip: https://www.elclip.org/traileres-trampa-migrantes/ The following investigations were also mentioned in the talk looking at other regions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001z1st https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/117240-001-A/data-sources/ This talk was recorded on May 23rd 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
May 11, 2024 · 57 min
"Publishing on closed messaging platforms” with Sipho Kings
In this week's episode, co-founder and director of The Continent, Sipho Kings joined us. The Continent is an award winning journal, distributed weekly to audiences, covering 54 countries. It's published as an old fashioned newspaper of sorts, on a beautifully designed PDF, and distributed via word of mouth, on closed messaging platforms. In the talk we spoke about the benefits and limitations of distributing on these platforms, and what it's like working in a small newsroom covering so many regions. Links: The Continent Chat 263 The Oxpeckers Code For Africa The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday the 9th of May in the Bellingcat Discord server. Music courtesy of Artlist.
May 1, 2024 · 58 min
"Justice and Accountability with Open Source Research" with Natasha Pereverzina
This week we spoke to a representative from Bellingcat's Justice and Accountability Unit, Consultant Natasha Pereverzina. Bellingcat’s Justice and Accountability Unit is a joint project with the Global Legal Action Network. Through years of collaboration, we have developed and tested a step-by-step methodology for investigators to follow, hopefully ensuring the viability of open source information in a court setting. Its aim is to ensure that any material discovered by Bellingcat’s dedicated Justice and Accountability Unit is gathered in accordance with rules on admissibility of evidence so as to make it suitable for use in future legal proceedings and other accountability processes. Natasha unpacks what its like working within the unit and what their end goals are. You can find more information on the unit on Bellingcat's website here: https://www.bellingcat.com/what-is-bellingcats-ja-unit-december-2022/ And on GLAN's website here: https://www.glanlaw.org/online-open-source-methodology You can also find the mock trial recordings here: https://www.glanlaw.org/osint-mock-trial and Nick Waters talk on this unit at the International Journalism Festival here: https://www.journalismfestival.com/programme/2024/war-crimes-investigations-and-accountability-using-open-source-techniques The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday the 25th of April in the Bellingcat discord server. Music courtesy of Artlist.
Apr 15, 2024 · 59 min
"Researching the Troubled Teen Industry" with Bellingcat Discord community member Allison Jenkins
This week's live Stage Talk was slightly different, we were joined by a Discord community member/open source researcher, Allison Jenkins. Allison was speaking on an ongoing project that she was looking for support on. Allison has lived experience of the Troubled Teen Industry and realised there was a lack of comprehensive and easy to access information on the industry for concerned parents or for potential future accountability. So over the last few years she has been building a publicly accessible information database on the institutions and companies involved in the industry, using open source techniques. At the time of the talk Allison was having difficulty finishing the project and getting it ready for public view, due to funding and resource restrictions. If you want to help Allison with her work, join our Discord server and ask for further information: www.discord.gg/bellingcat Links that were mentioned in the chat: The background article on the TTI: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/08/cult-spawned-tough-love-teen-industry/ https://xjdp.aspi.org.au/ WASP: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Association_of_Specialty_Programs_and_Schools Allison (and her ArchivEye tool) is featured in the article of the 2023 Bellingcat Hackathon here: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/06/16/third-hackathon-open-source-tools/ Project from the Bellingcat hackathon: https://github.com/eastrd/ArchivEye The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday the 11th of April in the Bellingcat discord server. Music courtesy of Artlist.
Apr 4, 2024 · 1 hr 4 min
”Politics in the Age of Disinformation” with Sasha Issenberg
In this week's live Stage Talk we were joined by Sasha Issenberg, an author and political writer, speaking on how political parties around the world but particularly in the US, have previously and are currently responding to election mis and disinformation. You can find Sasha's full list of books here: https://www.sashaissenberg.com/copy-of-sasha-s-other-writings And he can be found on X here: https://twitter.com/sissenberg The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday the 28th of March in the Bellingcat discord server. To join the server, download discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
Mar 19, 2024 · 1 hr 5 min
"The Role Of The Fact Checker" with Alice Milliken and Hannah Ajakaiye
In this week's Stage Talk we were joined by fact checkers, Alice Milliken and Hannah Ajakaiye. In the talk we discussed the role of a fact checker in this digital age and how these skillsets are vital for journalists, researchers and the wider public. We also spoke about how AI has had an impact on verification techniques. Hannah's profile A link to one of the social videos produced with Hannah for the combatting health misinformation campaign Alice's profile Bellingcat training sign ups Bellingcat YouTube *Please note that during the course of this live talk we faced technical issues in the Discord Server. These issues are reflected in the recording. This talk was recorded on March 15th 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
Mar 8, 2024 · 57 min
"Investigating An Oil Spill With Open Sources" with Logan Williams
In this week's Stage Talk we were joined by Bellingcat reseracher, Logan Williams and some Discord community members who have recently become Bellingcat contributors. They were there to speak on a series of investigations into an environmental disaster which had been evolving since February 7th in Trinidad and Tobago. Bellingcat and these discord members used open sources to reveal details about the vessel leaking oil and who was likely responsible. Find all three investigations here: https://www.bellingcat.com/?s=tobago And find our partners the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian's version of the third investigation here: https://guardian.co.tt/news/oil-spill-secrets-panamanian-firm-at-centre-of-tobago-oil-spillcargo-valued-at-us2m-6.2.1940419.ae386d7e8e In the talk we also referenced our work on the Russian grain smuggling operations, you can find that research here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/08/21/russias-ghost-ships-and-the-evolution-of-a-grain-smuggling-operation/ This talk was recorded on March 7th 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
Feb 16, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
"Teaching Media Literacy" with Giancarlo Fiorella
In this week's Stage Talk we were joined by Bellingcat' Director of Research and Training, Giancarlo Fiorella. Giancarlo detailed Bellingcat's efforts in the education space and how training high school students in media literacy may be one solution to the issue of disinformation. You can find a link to the Student View project here: https://thestudentview.org/resources-hub/ And our available workshops here: www.bellingcat.com/workshops/ This talk was recorded on February 15th 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.
Feb 2, 2024 · 1 hr 2 min
”The Secretive World of AI Pornography” with Kolina Koltai
Warning: This episode discusses explicit adult content and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This week we were joined by Bellingcat Researcher Kolina Koltai, discussing her latest research focus into nonconsensual sexual AI generated imagery and the communities and companies set up to create and distribute AI porn. Her research so far has led to restrictions on one company's payment providers and the closure of the discord server set up for their creator community. You can read her research into the company AnyDream here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/11/27/anydream-secretive-ai-platform-broke-stripe-rules-to-rake-in-money-from-nonconsensual-pornographic-deepfakes/ This talk was recorded on February 1st 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.