***IMPORTANT UPDATE – Sunday Dec 12th 2009***
I am sorry but the offer outlines below is now closed. We were absolutely overwhelmed with willing participants and we don’t have enough books to go around.
I really want to complete this test project before opening it up again to see how it pans out for all involved.
Again, a big thank you to the Voice Over community for your kind support of what we are trying to achieve here. Hudson Audio Publishing is a young company and we are finding our way by trialing new ways of doing business in the publishing space.
I will keep you informed as we progress.
Adam Hudson
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Original post >>>
Earlier today I decided to test what I believe is a totally new business model. To date our clients (authors) have paid voice over talent to read and produce their audio books up front. This works great but once the talent has been paid that’s it for them financially.
Here at Hudson Audio Publishing we get all kinds of authors though. Some wouldn’t dream of sharing their royalties with the voice talent because they believe the royalties will far outweigh the talent fees over the term of the audio book (and they are often right), while others take a different view and are happy to share royalties in exchange for the talent taking the risk on the project – like we do. In fact, just this morning I was speaking with a very accomplished author based in San Diego who has had more than 130 books published in print throughout his long career. This client is willing to partner with voice over talent in this ‘profit share experiment’ and will share the royalties in exchange for their contribution to the process.
So here’s a the deal.
I have 100 books here, a mix of fiction and non-fiction, written by a published author and ready for immediate production. We are offering any reader who is up to standard and willing to produce the audio files for free, 30% of the royalties on the audio books for life – the same as Hudson Audio Publishing makes. You will be paid every 90 days, the same as the author, in US dollars via PayPal. The audio books will be sold worldwide through iTunes stores, Audible.com as well as Amazon.
On average these books are 60,000 words and each must be recorded chapter by chapter as MP3 files with a bit rate of at least 128 kbps.
If you want to participate in this experiment and grow your passive income, you will need to send an email to courtney@hudsonaudiopublishing.com . She will give you a short script which will serve as your audition. We will need to know how many of the 100 books you want and will allocate a maximum of ten to any one author, depending on how quickly you can do them. At this stage we are looking for North American readers only.
I will keep you posted on this blog in regard to how this project turns out. Good luck and we look forward to sharing the long term love with a few entrepreneurial readers.
UPDATE – 10 books have been taken in the first 24 hours! Let us know if you want to get involved. It’s a great way to build a portfolio and a long term income stream.
i am interested
Doug Barron
This sounds like an interesting development of the whole audio book model.
I’d be pleased to share the risk. I guess I’d need to have confidence that the book would be one that had a market out there. Do I get to choose? or am I allocated a book by you?
i’d be really keen to get involved so please put me down on your list!
I’m British but can master a;most any accent [my Voices site is http://www.voices.com/people/johnvenn, am doing a read for you at the moment (Mountains of the Sea with Toni Pallent) … so the options are wide open
Hope to hear from you soon
simon ainley
I am a voice talent that has been a professional speaker for 19 years. I can delivery the voice style you desire. I like the concept you have created and look forward to working with you. Please send a written agreement for review in reference to the compensation terms of the book project(s) Thanks for the opportunity. Frank George
I am interested in this program.
Dear Toni,
I think this an excellent win-win situation for both author, reader and publisher and would happily and enthusiastically wish to participate.
Please let me know in future emails how to go about auditioning and being accepted as a reader for this program.
Blessings on you and your Hudson family in this holiday season.
Stephen Grant Reynolds
I am an author myself titled “Changed Destiny” and possibly interested in you doing the same for my book. It is for sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble now. My personal site, http://www.stevenJyoung.com has a page devoted to the book.
I am interested in your royality plan for narration. Send me your script.
Steve Young
Hi there,
Toni Pallent suggested I check out this fascinating business model. Sure, I want in! Please send your audition chapter, or otherwise tell me how to proceed.
Thanks much,
Paul Christy
I’ll bite. I’d be interested in one book and could promise it within 30 days of receipt of script and paperwork. Please send the audition thru Voices.com. I’ll return the audition asap. Thanks. ~~bb
Yes I would love to participate in this opportunity! I will send an email to Courtney immediately!!
Sincerely,
Julie Nagode
Yes, please include me in this opportunity.
Aaron
I think it is a brilliant idea! Thanks for the heads-up and invite. I have sent Courtney an email.
Cheers!
Marianne
Hello
I think this could be a great opportunity and makes great business sense. Like everyone else I would like to know the details involved. Meanwhile, count me in !
Bob Jordan
Yes, please include me.
Peter
Please send me more information; I’m definitely interested!
Thanks!
David Overly
I’m interested in participating in this opportunity to produce audiobooks for free and receive 30% of the lifetime royalties. I will contact Courtney for the audition materials.
Evelyn
Yes, include me. I am interested. Send a script and the agreement to the e-mail address included in this post.
I definitely would like to be included. I’m used to reading books for no money up front as I read for Houston Taping for the Blind. This would be an added bonus of reading a book as usual with the possibility of some income afterwards.
Anyone who doesn’t want to try this could be making a mistake. Speculate to accumulate.
Email to Courtney on its way right now.
Thanks
Pearl
This sounds like a great idea. I’m very interested, please include me.
Ready, set, GO!
Thanks for the info.
Please provide further terms and conditions information as well as a sample of the type of books to be read. He who hesitates is lost!! I would like to be included.
Very Best,
Eric Anderson
Yes, I would like to participate in this experimental program.
I will send Courtney and e-mail right away requesting the audition script.
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this new program.
I would love to be included as a participant…reading, speaking, earning money for it…what’s not to love?
Thank you for inviting me.
Kind regards,
Eve
Thanks for sharing this information. This is a risk I’ml willing to take! Please send the audition script ASAP.
Regards, Veida
I’m interested – please include me.
Michael Orenstein
Okay, I ‘ll give this a try sounds interesting and like a good future model.
Interesting concept!
I’m interested in participating!
Thanks!
I’ve sent Courtney an email too. Sounds interesting
Thanks!
I’m quite interested! Please forward the audition.
I’d be happy to audition and then learn more about the books available and the company I would be dealing with. Thank you. Michael Turnbull
I will give it a go. Hard Raspy Rock to Light AC voice. Several variations can be done.
Count me it all the way! It is a great concept. My voice is suited well poetry, (think a higher version of Delilha), romantic, thought provoking, proper speaking. Characters for childrens books are one of my specialties.
I had auditioned on voices.com and Adam Hudson contacted me with this project. I am interested in the project. Please send me more details.
Sincerely,
Roy Bunales
http://www.TheVoiceOfRoy.com