NARRATOR TERMS OF SERVICE & PRODUCTION AGREEMENT
Anthony Pica Productions, LLC (d/b/a Academy Voices)
Agreement Overview
These Terms of Service ("Agreement") govern the relationship between Anthony Pica Productions, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company, doing business as Academy Voices ("Company"), and the individual narrator ("Narrator") who auditions for, accepts, or participates in audiobook production through Academy Voices. By checking "I Agree" below, accepting a project, or otherwise participating in production, the Narrator acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by this Agreement.
Independent Contractor Relationship
Narrators participate as independent contractors, not employees, partners, or agents of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment relationship, joint venture, or fiduciary obligation. Narrators are solely responsible for their own taxes, insurance, equipment, and business expenses.
Human Voice Performance & Consent
Human-Originated Performance. The Narrator affirms that all narration provided under this Agreement is performed personally by the Narrator, using their own natural human voice, spoken into a recording device in real time. Synthetic speech, AI-generated voices, voice cloning (including a synthetic replica of the Narrator's own voice), and automated voice substitution are never permitted in any part of any recording. There are no exceptions.
Voice Consent. The Narrator grants the Company consent to record, reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, and otherwise use the Narrator's voice solely in connection with: the specific audiobook(s) produced; promotional and marketing materials as described under Promotional Use; distribution on authorized platforms and retailers. This consent does not authorize voice cloning, AI voice training, synthetic reuse, or biometric modeling of the Narrator's voice.
Pseudonyms & Identity
Use of Pseudonyms. Narrators may elect to perform under a pseudonym, stage name, or pen name, particularly for explicit, erotic, or sensitive content. The Company will use the Narrator's chosen pseudonym in public-facing metadata and promotional materials where reasonably possible.
Identity Disclosure & Limitation of Liability. The Narrator acknowledges and agrees that: absolute anonymity cannot be guaranteed; third-party platforms, retailers, distributors, data aggregators, search engines, or listeners may independently connect, infer, or disclose identity information; public metadata systems, external databases, archives, or fan communities may associate works with the Narrator despite pseudonym use. The Company shall not be held liable for any disclosure, association, inference, or identification of the Narrator's real identity arising from third-party actions or public data aggregation. The Narrator assumes all risks related to pseudonym use.
Ownership of Audio & Rights Assignment
Ownership. All audio recordings produced under this Agreement are works made for hire to the extent permitted by law. To the extent any rights do not qualify as works made for hire, the Narrator irrevocably assigns all right, title, and interest in the recordings to the Company. This includes rights of reproduction, distribution, public performance, and derivative use related to audiobook publishing. For projects owned by an author, the recordings belong to that author under the author's agreement.
Portfolio Use. The Company grants the Narrator a non-exclusive, revocable license to use brief excerpts of the audio solely for personal portfolio and self-promotion purposes, provided such use does not misrepresent ownership or endorsement.
Promotional Use. The Narrator grants Anthony Pica Productions, LLC and its brands, including Academy Voices and VO's Journey Academy, a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to use, in any media: the recordings (the complete audiobook where the Company owns it, otherwise excerpts only); the audiobook's title, cover art and description; and the Narrator's name or chosen pseudonym, biography, and any photo the Narrator provides. These may be used to promote the audiobook and the Company's brands, products and services. This license covers every audiobook the Narrator has recorded with the Company, including those completed before this version of these terms, and continues after the audiobook's royalty term or this Agreement ends. Where the Narrator performs under a pseudonym, only the pseudonym is used. This license never permits any use listed under Prohibited Uses by the Company.
Compensation Models
Narrators are compensated under one of the following models, as agreed per project.
Royalty Share Model. Narrator receives 50% of net revenue. Revenue may include sales, subscriptions, library distribution, and advertising. Royalties paid quarterly via PayPal. Term: 20 years from first publication. After 20 years, no further royalties are owed.
Per Finished Hour (PFH) Model. Fixed PFH rate agreed in advance. Payment due upon completion and approval. Upon payment, all rights transfer to the Company. No royalties owed.
Personal Nature of Royalty Rights / Death of Narrator. Royalty payments under the Royalty Share Model are personal to the Narrator and are not transferable, assignable, or inheritable. In the event of the Narrator's death, incapacity, or legal dissolution, all royalty payment obligations to the Narrator shall immediately terminate as of the date of death or incapacity. No royalties shall be payable to the Narrator's estate, heirs, beneficiaries, or any third party after the Narrator's death. Any royalties that have accrued but have not yet been paid as of the date of death may be paid to the Narrator's estate upon receipt of appropriate documentation, but no additional royalties will accrue after the date of death. The Company shall retain all remaining royalty interests and revenues generated from the audiobook following the Narrator's death.
Minimum Payment Threshold. Royalty payments will be issued quarterly provided the total amount owed to the Narrator equals or exceeds $10 USD. If the accumulated royalties are below this threshold, the balance will roll forward to the next payment period until the threshold is reached. If the Agreement expires or terminates and the remaining balance is below the threshold, the Company may issue the remaining balance or retain the balance at its discretion.
Unclaimed Royalties. If royalties remain unpaid due to the Narrator's failure to maintain current payment information, inactive payment accounts, failure to respond to reasonable payment attempts, or inability to verify entitlement to payment, the Company will retain such royalties for a period of three (3) years from the date the payment became due, after which any unclaimed royalties may be deemed abandoned and retained by the Company, unless otherwise required by applicable law. The Company shall not be liable for royalties that cannot be delivered due to inaccurate payment information or failure by the Narrator to claim payment.
Explicit, Erotic & Mature Content
Nature of Content. The Narrator acknowledges that some projects may include explicit, erotic, sexually graphic, or otherwise mature material, including but not limited to explicit sexual acts, strong sexual language, fetish content, power dynamics, or adult themes. Participation in such projects is entirely voluntary.
Content Legality & Eligibility. The Narrator affirms that they are at least eighteen (18) years of age and legally permitted to perform and record the content assigned. The Narrator further affirms that no performance will involve illegal content, non-consensual acts, or prohibited material under applicable law. The Company relies on these representations and does not independently verify narrator eligibility or legal compliance in all jurisdictions.
Informed Consent for Mature Content. By accepting a project containing explicit or mature material, the Narrator affirms that they have reviewed the content description or script sample, understand the nature and explicitness of the material, and consent to performing and recording such material.
Voluntary Participation & Withdrawal. Narrators may decline any project prior to acceptance. If a Narrator withdraws from any project, including an explicit or mature project after acceptance but before completion, the Company may reassign the project and decline compensation for incomplete work unless otherwise agreed in writing. Withdrawal prior to final delivery does not constitute breach.
No Liability for Listener or Public Reaction. The Company shall not be liable for listener reactions, public criticism, social or professional consequences, reputational harm, or platform categorization decisions arising from explicit or mature content. The Narrator assumes all risks associated with performing such content.
Artificial Intelligence & Automation
The Narrator affirms that no AI-generated or synthetic voice technology, including a replica of the Narrator's own voice, has been used in any recording delivered to the Company. There are no exceptions. Standard production tools (noise reduction, EQ, compression, mastering software) do not constitute AI voice generation and do not require disclosure.
Company Use of AI-Assisted Tools. The Company makes available certain internal tools to Narrators — including Script Prep (manuscript analysis and prep-pack generation), Picatron (a content-accuracy self-check comparing a script against recorded audio), and Social Clips (automatic captioning for short promotional video clips) — that use third-party, commercially licensed AI-powered services, including automated transcription and text analysis, to process audio and text a Narrator voluntarily submits to those tools. This use is limited to the operation of those internal tools; it is not used to generate, alter, or substitute any narration, and does not affect the human-performed nature of any delivered production audio, which remains governed by Section 3 above. These services are accessed through paid, commercial API subscriptions rather than free consumer AI products, and under the Company's agreements with these providers, Narrator-submitted audio and text are not used to train AI models. The Company may make additional AI-assisted internal tools available from time to time, governed by this same disclosure.
Prohibited Uses by the Company
The Company agrees that Narrator recordings will never be used for AI training, voice cloning, synthetic voice modeling, or biometric profiling.
Platform Availability & Revenue Dependency
Royalty payments are contingent upon actual revenue received by the Company. The Company shall not be liable for reduced or eliminated royalties resulting from platform policy changes, content removal or de-listing, demonetization, distributor actions, or regulatory decisions. Continued platform availability is not guaranteed.
Narrator Responsibilities
Narrators agree to meet agreed deadlines, maintain professional conduct, deliver audio meeting technical standards, and ensure originality and human performance. Active membership may be required for access to new auditions, but royalties for completed projects are not contingent on membership status.
Working Through Academy Voices
Academy Voices invests in bringing authors and narrators together. If the Narrator meets an author or rights holder through Academy Voices (through an audition, Find Talent, a message, or any other part of the platform), any audiobook narration work for that author must be arranged and paid through Academy Voices for 24 months from their first contact on the platform.
Until the author's production fee is paid, the Narrator agrees not to share or ask for email addresses, phone numbers, social media handles, websites or other contact details in messages, and the platform may hide them automatically.
This doesn't apply to an author the Narrator had already worked with before they met on Academy Voices.
If the Narrator takes narration work outside the platform from an author they met here, the Company may suspend the Narrator or remove them from the roster.
No Guarantee of Work
Acceptance of this Agreement does not guarantee casting, project selection, or ongoing opportunities. The Company retains sole discretion over project assignments and production decisions.
Termination
The Company may terminate this Agreement if the Narrator materially breaches its terms. Termination does not affect royalties already accrued prior to termination. No future royalties will accrue after termination unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Moral Rights Waiver
To the extent permitted by law, the Narrator waives any moral rights or rights of attribution, integrity, or objection relating to the use of the recordings as authorized under this Agreement, including objections based on personal, professional, or reputational considerations.
Electronic Acceptance & Records
By checking "I Agree," the Narrator acknowledges that this constitutes a legally binding electronic signature. The Company may maintain electronic records of acceptance, including date, time, and version of terms accepted.
Modifications to Terms
The Company may update these terms from time to time. Material changes require renewed acceptance. Continued participation after acceptance constitutes agreement.
Indemnification
The Narrator agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from claims arising from breach of this Agreement, misrepresentation of performance or identity, unauthorized third-party material, or false disclosures.
Dispute Resolution
The parties agree to attempt mediation before arbitration. If mediation fails, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
Survival
Sections relating to ownership, consent, prohibited uses, indemnification, dispute resolution, governing law, and pseudonym limitations shall survive termination of this Agreement.
Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior versions or agreements.
ACCEPTANCE
By checking "I Agree," the Narrator affirms that they have read, understood, and accepted this Agreement.
