Usage fees, or licensing fees, compensate voice actors based on where and how widely their voice is used. These fees apply to paid promotional content like ads and typically cover a specific campaign period (typically 12 weeks to 2 years). Buyouts grant unlimited usage rights in perpetuity and are commonly used for internal content or voice overs used organically (without paid advertising).
- Usage fees are added to the basic session fee (BSF), which covers the voice actor’s recording time.
- A buyout represents a “bundled payment” that covers both BSF and usage.
- Usage fees are affected by platform (TV, radio, web, social media), geographic reach (local, regional, national, international), campaign duration, and audience size.
- Fees increase when the same recording is used across multiple channels.
- Clients can renew expired usage rights with an additional payment, usually increasing by 10% each year.
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Usage agreements can be negotiated and customized based on your specific distribution needs.