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Erggo

Karen@KarenCommins.com

Karen Commins

Award Winning

Atlanta Audiobook Share-rator™

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Narrators

How to Narrate Copyrighted Books

25 September 2023

I received this comment on my article Public Domain Narration Headquarters. Since the question involves a book still under copyright, I decided to create a new article, redacting some of the identifiable aspects of the message.

I would love to record a memoir by a great [person]. Once recorded, I think there would be a market for it. The book was published in 2002, therefore is not public domain. It’s sold by Amazon but there is no audiobook of it.

I know I’ll have to contact the publisher but I don’t know where to go from there. I don’t know how to set up a contract for the job (I’d be willing to do royalty share). I don’t know how to get the audiobook onto Amazon and Audible so people can buy it.

I’ve recorded more than X books, mostly for Learning Ally. I have a good home studio. I got two jobs from [a Big 5 publisher] but have not been having much luck with auditions of late. My work of late has focused on [certain]-themed books. I haven’t figured out Findaway or Spoken Realms. I’m getting my business education from you and APA but there’s a lot I need to learn. Any advice you can give will be appreciated.

Thanks for the note.

First, this article may seem more of a general answer than you’d hoped. It needs to benefit the most people. Obviously, each discussion and negotiation about audio rights and audiobook production will be unique. I can’t anticipate or explain every possible scenario, and the scope of the topic is beyond what I can cover in an article. I can only give you a basic game plan and some resources.

Second, I need to state a few general facts about copyright so we’re all on the same page:

  1. The audio rights holder (RH) could be the author, literary agent, or publisher.
  2. Every book published in the US after 1963 remains copyrighted. Only the audio rights holder has the legal right to make an audiobook of these titles.
  3. Titles published in the US before 1928 are in the public domain. Anyone can make an audiobook of these books without obtaining any permission or paying any licensing or royalties. A new year of books enters the public domain every 1 January, meaning that books published in 1928 will be public domain on 1/1/24.
  4. Books published in the US between 1928 and 1964 may be public domain or could still retain copyright.

You must research the publication and copyright renewal dates to determine a book’s copyright status, and, if it is still copyrighted, the rights holder. If it’s public domain, head over to my Public Domain Narration Headquarters for more info and resources.

This article concerns only those books still in copyright. 

 

[Read more…] about How to Narrate Copyrighted Books

Filed Under: Away From the Mic, Business, Copyright, Narrators

Art, Blurbs, and Critics for PD Books

9 March 2023

I want to share a few ideas to help you promote your public domain audiobooks with interesting pull quotes from critics’ reviews, publisher marketing text in your descriptive blurbs, and authentic cover art.

[Read more…] about Art, Blurbs, and Critics for PD Books

Filed Under: Marketing, Narrators Tagged With: All in the Day's Work, Grace Livingston Hill, Ida Tarbell, Kirkus Reviews, New York Times, public domain, Publishers Weekly, The White Flower

Revoked Findaway’s License to Apple for Machine Learning

2 February 2023

Last updated 10/7/23

 

Update 4 added 10/7/23:

Earlier this week, Findaway finally removed the Machine Language clause from the Distribution Agreement.


As I wrote in 2021, taking steps to remove the human voice and replace it with a synthesized one destroys the art form.

I certainly do not want or intend to participate in any attempt to create artificial voices meant to replace human narrators.

However, I unknowingly may have done that very thing by choosing to distribute audiobooks through FindawayVoices.com. Today, I took action to revoke Findaway’s license to Apple to use my audiobooks for machine learning.


[Read more…] about Revoked Findaway’s License to Apple for Machine Learning

Filed Under: Authors, Narrators Tagged With: Apple, FindawayVoices.com, machine learning

TDIMH – Frustration Is Temporary

23 January 2023

I often look at my journals from the past with the thought “What happened X years ago today?”

When entries are at least 10 years old, I sometimes re-publish them here on my blog in the category of This Date in My History (TDIMH). They helped me see how far I’ve come and hopefully encouraged others along their path.

Today, I happened to wonder about my life 20 years ago. I hadn’t planned to write on my blog, but the story that day was too good to pass up.

[Read more…] about TDIMH – Frustration Is Temporary

Filed Under: Narrators, This Date in My History

Narrator’s Cup of Joe — Woo Woo Blend

14 January 2023

When the fabulous Daniela Acitelli interviewed me in 2021 on Narrator’s Cup of Joe, her fantastic YouTube video show, we talked about a lot of different topics. She invited me on the show again in December, this time to discuss “woo woo” subjects: affirmations, visualizations, and manifestations.

Long-time readers will feel no surprise in my belief in and usage of affirmations and visualizations! Daniela and I enjoyed the sort of deep, meaningful conversation I could have all day, and I hope you like it, too.

Of course, I have additional stories and many resource links to share! I’ll add the video timecode for your reference.

[Read more…] about Narrator’s Cup of Joe — Woo Woo Blend

Filed Under: Books, Interviews, Law of Attraction, Narrators Tagged With: Byron Katie, Daniela Acitelli, Henriette Anne Klauser, Louise Hay, Mike Dooley, Narrators Cup of Joe, Sandra Anne Taylor, Wayne Dyer

Embracing Life and Work

1 January 2023

When I was young, I had this poster or similar ones taped on my bedroom wall.

Embed from Getty Images

You probably recognize David Cassidy from his work on The Partridge Family TV show.

I adored David when I was young, and I learned a valuable lesson from him as an adult.

[Read more…] about Embracing Life and Work

Filed Under: Away From the Mic, Business, Narrators Tagged With: Alan Bean, David Cassidy, Jeff Goins

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