Editorial illustration for ElevenLabs Launches Marketplace to License Celebrity AI Voices for Ads
ElevenLabs Launches AI Voice Marketplace for Celebrity Ads
ElevenLabs launches AI marketplace to license famous voices for ads
The synthetic voice market is heating up, and ElevenLabs wants to turn celebrity audio into a tradable commodity. In a bold move that blurs the lines between technology and entertainment, the AI startup is introducing a marketplace that could fundamentally change how brands approach voice-based advertising.
Imagine hearing Morgan Freeman or David Attenborough narrating a car commercial - without either of them stepping into a recording studio. This isn't science fiction anymore. ElevenLabs is betting that companies will pay top dollar to license AI-generated versions of iconic voices.
But the startup isn't just throwing celebrity voices into the digital wild. They're positioning their new platform as a responsible approach to synthetic voice technology, promising to address the ethical minefields that have long complicated AI voice replication.
The stakes are high. With brands constantly seeking unique marketing angles, an AI voice marketplace could represent a lucrative new frontier in digital advertising. And ElevenLabs seems determined to be the gatekeeper.
ElevenLabs is launching an online marketplace that allows companies to license AI-replicated voices of famous figures for their content and advertisements. The AI audio startup says its new Iconic Voice Marketplace resolves some of the ethical concerns around using AI-generated celebrity voices by providing brands with the "consent-based, performer-first approach the industry has been calling for." ElevenLabs' new AI marketplace lets brands use famous voices for ads Some notable options include Michael Caine, Liza Minelli, and… Mark Twain? Some notable options include Michael Caine, Liza Minelli, and… Mark Twain?
It works by connecting companies with whoever owns the rights to a specific voice, with ElevenLabs' platform serving as a middleman that formalizes the licensing deal and synthesizes the voices. ElevenLabs says the marketplace is only open to a curated list of "verified, iconic talent and IP owners," to ensure that the voices of notable figures are only generated "with permission, transparency, and fair compensation." Some of the AI voices have been achieved using cloning technology, while others have been synthetically replicated by referencing historical or archival audio. I guess it would have been a mouthful to call this a "marketplace for voices of famous people," given the list includes historical figures like Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Alan Turing, and most people wouldn't recognize what they actually sound like.
Michael Caine is one of the few living celebrities to lend his voice to ElevenLabs, and said the company "gives everyone the tools to be heard." "It's not about replacing voices; it's about amplifying them, opening doors for new storytellers everywhere," Caine said in a statement on ElevenLabs' announcement.
ElevenLabs is betting big on a consent-driven approach to AI voice licensing. The startup's new Iconic Voice Marketplace represents a potential turning point for how brands might use synthetic celebrity voices in advertising.
By positioning the platform as a "performer-first" solution, ElevenLabs seems to be addressing longstanding ethical concerns around AI voice replication. Brands can now potentially access famous voices with explicit permission, which could reshape how commercial audio content gets produced.
The marketplace signals a significant shift in how AI-generated voices might be commercially used. While details remain limited, the platform suggests a more structured and transparent method for voice licensing in the digital era.
Questions linger about which specific celebrities will participate and how compensation will work. Still, ElevenLabs appears committed to creating a framework that respects performers' rights while offering new audio solutions for advertisers.
This approach might help normalize AI voice technology by prioritizing consent and creator control. Whether the marketplace will become an industry standard remains to be seen.
Further Reading
- Announcing Partnership with Sir Michael Caine to Newly Launched Iconic Marketplace - ElevenLabs Blog[4]
- Michael Caine, Liza Minnelli let AI company clone voices - The A.V. Club[6]
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Common Questions Answered
How does ElevenLabs' Iconic Voice Marketplace address ethical concerns around AI voice replication?
ElevenLabs introduces a consent-based, performer-first approach that allows celebrities to license their AI-replicated voices for commercial use. This marketplace provides a structured framework where voice actors can have control and compensation for the use of their synthetic voices in advertising and content.
What types of celebrity voices will be available in the ElevenLabs Iconic Voice Marketplace?
While specific details aren't fully disclosed, the marketplace suggests the availability of recognizable voices like Morgan Freeman and David Attenborough for commercial applications. The platform aims to offer brands the ability to use famous voices in advertisements without traditional recording studio constraints.
How might the ElevenLabs AI voice marketplace transform advertising and content creation?
The marketplace could fundamentally change how brands approach voice-based advertising by providing easy access to high-profile voices through AI technology. This innovation allows companies to potentially use celebrity voices in commercials and content with explicit permission and a structured licensing model.