A dedicated space for high-quality, peer-led insights on how to grow, differentiate, and succeed.

Tips & Education

Let’s just say it: you don’t understand the meaning of commercial rights. 

No, not that garbled nonsense that fiverrian sellers “pitch” as commercial rights. I’m talking about 

And while we’re at it, let’s put this up on the board: you don’t understand copyright as opposed to master ownership. Plus, you haven’t the slightest clue about publishing, work for hire, hired gun, session work, the difference between BMI and the Harry Fox agency, which agencies do what or how to register and protect your work. 

Each week we witness buyers ask about their “rights” to a piece of audio that they’ve purchased. Or, even scarier, some seller is here quoting fiverr terms of service as though it supersedes publishing law. Suddenly, the flood gates open and out from the depths of a foggy, red hell - sellers from every vertical are weighing in on a clients “rights,” or a sellers “ownership.” And rarely … and I mean RARELY … is any of it even close to accurate. 

1. Fiverr is attempting to broadly place various forms of publishing under one banner. Which - ya know - makes sense for a company that has the enormous task of designing widely fitting rules over not just one vertical - but all verticals. The issue, of course, is that not all publishing is made the same. Certainly not all standards are similar. And in the case of an originally written and recorded song - the whole affair is messier than your first apartment. 

2. VO and music - while both being considered “audio” have vastly different rules. The standards of “work for hire” and its inclusion of “release for purpose of commercial usage” is completely different. I mean that both professionally and in the freelance realm. The rules aren’t interchangeable - which makes the opinions of some graphic designer from Toronto completely useless - when he chimes in to “educate” some young songwriter on their rights to use a master recording they purchased on fiverr by applying his knowledge of having worked with a voice over artist. 

3. A lot of you aren’t nearly as professional as you’re representing to people. Listen, I get it. To a certain degree, the word “pro” has become a prerequisite “buzz term” that’s been made to appear as a crucial step in getting anyone to even 

 your profile. Even worse, if we held an open debate about the term “professional” we’d walk away with less clarity than when we started. 

 - there’s some absolutes that seem unilaterally accepted when networking with other professionals. A pro songwriter, for example, has received royalty payments (notably mechanical ones) that have exceeded your monthly bills on a consistent basis. A professional songwriter has pitched credible production firms and singed artists and looked at projection totals that the firm estimates after recoupable’s. A professional songwriter has had at least one publishing deal, including a retainer, and gotten legitimate cuts from the deal. 

These are circumstances where you’re likely to find entertainment (music) attorneys. You’ll know them, they’re the really hairy gents hanging off the wall like a wretched insect, usually in a big watch and stroking their Rolodex while saying “it’ll only cost you your soul to have a peek at these numbers.” And here - here - is where you’re likely to really familiarize yourself with various ownership legalities. 

If you’ve never been in this situation - you probably know less about the validities of ownership - and it’s fees (or lack there of) than you think you do. Many of you are simply repeating erroneous talking points that you’ve picked up from uneducated sellers, mimicking bad insights from laughably terrible threads or quoting Fiverr’s terms of service. Which, is fine in most scenarios - but again, fiverr is applying the most broad written rules in order to protect itself … it’s not actually reciting the laws, practices or standards that will survive a “master ownership” dispute in court. 

I’m sure you’re extremely talented. But that doesn’t make you a publishing expert. Actually, I’m not even positive what 

 make someone a publishing expert. I have sat with entertainment attorneys who confused themselves so profusely - they literally had to stop and consult Google. Which is 

 make it worse (yes, I had to pay for that meeting). 

Meanwhile … none of that means anything in the world of VO. What makes up “social proof” of a voiceover artist’s professional credentials is well beyond my understanding. To me, if the guy can tell me about an upcoming movie in a really low voice - well, that sounds pretty damn professional. Fortunately, my standards aren’t 

 standard. But in every conversation involving professional VO artists, some of whom I know personally, it’s extremely clear that their protocol is different from mine. Radically different. 

Musicians are constantly answering “rights” questions regarding voiceover and vice versa. Not only does this not help us - it runs the risk of placing people in financial harm. Our standards aren’t the same. Our laws aren’t the same. 

As a musician, it’s totally acceptable - even expected - to show up to a zoom client consultancy call with sunglasses in doors, drunk, possibly fornicating, puffing a cigarette and yelling “that would make a great song,” after every five statements. None of that would fly in the VO realm (which really sucks for you and I take no pleasure in holding it above your stuffy heads). 

Maybe we make interesting “bedfellows” - but let’s be honest, no one should be 

 confused while in bed. Especially in a scenario where your performance is being judged. 

Possibly the time has come to part company. In our own environments - buyers and sellers would receive advice from people who, at least, purport to be professionals in the correct field. Sure, it will probably still be bad advice - but at least it would be from the correct hemisphere. 

And - supposing that this idea doesn’t fall on deaf ears and immediately get filed in the “junk that’s too long to read” category - I’m openly accepting any defectors to join us in the swamp fire that would surely be an exclusive musician hangout. Think about it: you VO folks are one harmonica solo away from the life of your dreams. As a musician you’ll enjoy many perks that VO doesn’t provide you. Perks like: 

Blaming a drug binge when you tell your client off - only to have the client “completely understand.” 

Looking like you raided your grandmother’s jewelry and having people compliment your “uniqueness.” 

Sleeping until 1pm and calling it your “process.” 

Making something entirely different than what your client wanted and calling it “a think piece.” 

Making lewd comments at your client and being called “untamable.” 

Drinking at 3 pm because you got a “late start.” 

Blaming your “creative process” for all the physical intimacy that you “can’t control.” 

The rules of our respective fields are tricky enough. We do each other no favors by trying to articulate them for the other. And no one does 

 any favors by not being in our industry and “helping.” These fields aren’t as cut and dry as many others. The less clutter, the better. Maybe it’s time to part ways? 

So let’s sit the kids down and tell them. Let’s divide the belongings and figure out who bought what. Let’s leave while only remembering the good times. And let’s be our best selves in this weird circumstance of “goodbye.” 

It’s time for VO and music to part ways.

A home for meaningful connections, peer support, and professional growth.

Fiverr Community

Job Title

Login to the Fiverr Community community to connect with others, attend community events, and more!

Login or Sign Up for even more

To unlock all parts of the community and get the best experience, complete your profile.