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Articles by David Hepworth

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If you’ve never been to a Word In Your Ear evening before, this is how it works. 

November 7, 2015 David Hepworth 0

It usually takes place at The Islington, which is helpfully located in Islington, not far from Angel tube station and King’s Cross. The Islington is […]

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Pictures from last night’s WIYE 80s at the Islington

July 7, 2015 David Hepworth 0

    We had a corking time at the Islington last night with special guests Clare Grogan, who was talking about her time in Altered […]

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Great press for next Tuesday’s guests

March 28, 2015 David Hepworth 0

  In next Tuesday’s show at The Islington Mark Ellen and I are talking to a couple of veterans of music writing in the sixties, both of […]

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Talking Sandy Denny with Ashley Hutchings, Simon Nicol and Mick Houghton

March 14, 2015 David Hepworth 0

Thanks to everyone who came to Monday’s recording at the Slaughtered Lamb where we talked to Mick Houghton about his excellent new biography of Sandy […]

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Word In Your Ear 2014 season climaxes with Danny Baker, Smash Hits, Quantick and more

December 8, 2014 David Hepworth 0

We’ve had brilliant words in your ear over the past few weeks with Danny Baker, whose highlight was an impression of Tommy Cooper which few […]

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One small step for Word In Your Ear, one giant stride for Monday nights in the pub

September 23, 2014 David Hepworth 0

Last night’s show was our best yet. Thanks to the people at the Islington we managed to get the visuals working and so we we could put on […]

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Stevie Nicks biographer Zoe Howe added to our Ben Watt live podcast recording

September 13, 2014 David Hepworth 0

We’re delighted to say that Zoe Howe‘s joining us at our next Word In Your Ear Podcast recording at the Islington on September 22nd.  She’ll be […]

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A Quiet Word with Ben Watt at the Islington

September 8, 2014 David Hepworth 0

Ben Watt’s worn a variety of hats in the last thirty years: half of Everything But The Girl, solo artist, deejay, producer, club owner and […]

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An evening at the Islington with Simon Napier-Bell

August 25, 2014 David Hepworth 0

We had fun talking to Simon Napier-Bell at the Islington last week. You can hear the results as a podcast here or via this clip. […]

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An indiscreet podcast with Simon Napier-Bell – if you don’t want to miss any of it, you’d better be there

July 20, 2014 David Hepworth 0

There’s not a lot you can say about pop music that isn’t true. Whatever your prejudices you’ll find in the history of pop music the evidence […]

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The Word Podcast

Word In Your Ear
Word In Your Ear

David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and chums cast an occasionally jaundiced eye over the goings-on in the worlds of music and entertainment.

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Star Ratings – do we love/hate/need them? Five-star debate here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
byMark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold

Star Ratings are now ubiquitous and inescapable and it’s not just music, films and books. Everything we encounter tends to be rated which colours our judgement before we try it. Choice can be paralyzing but do we read anymore or just count? Benji Wilson’s ‘Rate This Book: How Star Ratings Took Over the World’ traces their origin – back to 350 BC! – paints a picture of modern life and wonders here where we’re heading, along with …

 

… Aristotle’s 2,500 year-old system of star-rated animals

 

… how Michelin cooked up starred restaurants to get you to wear out your tyres

 

… can we spot fake reviews and the people who sell them?

 

… do we only tend to read one- and five-star reviews? And why writers hate the system

 

… the ingenious deceit of the Krays movie poster

 

… the value of reviews in a world where time and tickets costs are escalating

 

… “Star Ratings are the democratisation of criticism, the least-worst method”

 

… why a 2016 episode of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror now seems prophetic

 

… the “hidden hands” that manipulate the ratings system

 

… and mass Amazon ratings and the power of Mob Rule.

 

Order copies of ‘Rate This Book’ here: https://linktr.ee/newmodern_books#560826579

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rate-This-Book-Ratings-World/dp/1917923651?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock’n’Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear


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Star Ratings – do we love/hate/need them? Five-star debate here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Star Ratings – do we love/hate/need them? Five-star debate here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 11, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Brian Epstein & the Beatles – what he did and what he hid
June 9, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Are we nearing Beatles Overload? plus the rock star with the most children (41!)
June 8, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
The glorious story of Funk from James Brown to Off The Wall
June 3, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Leo Sayer has met everyone – rock legends, sport superstars, future presidents …
June 2, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Songs about sweltering heat, Willie Nelson’s braids and is vinyl now ‘luxury goods’?
June 1, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
How Daniel Lanois made those adventurous records with Dylan, U2 and Willie Nelson
May 29, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Siouxsie, Nico, Cocteaus, Shangri-Las, Bobbie Gentry … a celebration of the sound of Goth!
May 28, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Blondie and Clem Burke remembered by devoted pal Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s
May 27, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Nick Lowe’s miracle payday, Rock feuds and a giant inflatable Jarvis
May 25, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
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