ElevenLabs launches curated marketplace for verified iconic AI voices
ElevenLabs is rolling out a new storefront aimed at the upper‑echelon of synthetic speech. The company says the service will host a selection of high‑profile voices that have been cleared by their owners, rather than an open‑ended library of generic tones. By limiting access to creators who can prove ownership, the platform hopes to sidestep the legal gray area that has dogged many AI audio projects.
Prospective buyers will be able to peruse a hand‑picked list, submit a usage request, and then negotiate directly with the rights holder. The process is designed to keep the chain of consent clear from the start, ensuring that any commercial deployment is pre‑approved. For firms looking to embed a recognizable voice into ads, apps, or customer‑service bots, the promise is a smoother path to licensing without the back‑and‑forth that typically drags on.
In practice, that means a curated catalog where each entry has already cleared the necessary legal hurdles before a deal is struck.
Only verified talent and IP owners are eligible, so the platform features only well‑known voices. Rights holders must approve any commercial use in advance. Companies browse a curated catalog, submit a request, and connect directly with rights holders to set terms. Once approved, ElevenLabs' technol
Only verified talent and IP owners are eligible, so the platform features only well-known voices. Rights holders must approve any commercial use in advance. Companies browse a curated catalog, submit a request, and connect directly with rights holders to set terms.
Once approved, ElevenLabs' technology powers the project and delivers the results. The marketplace launched with 28 voices, including living celebrities like Michael Caine and Liza Minnelli, and historical figures like Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Alan Turing, whose voices were recreated from archival recordings. While open source cloning tools make it tough for rights holders to control their voice, the marketplace gives them a way to profit from their own likeness.
ElevenLabs also announced that actor Matthew McConaughey has been an investor in the company for some time, reflecting growing interest in AI voice technology from the entertainment industry.
ElevenLabs' new Iconic Voice Marketplace puts a curated catalog of AI‑generated celebrity voices at the fingertips of advertisers. Companies can browse names like John Wayne, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, submit a request and then negotiate directly with the rights holders. The platform markets itself as consent‑based and performer‑first, with only verified talent and IP owners eligible to list their voices.
Once a rights holder approves a commercial use, ElevenLabs supplies the synthetic audio through its technology. By acting as an intermediary, ElevenLabs streamlines the licensing workflow, but it also centralizes control over the distribution of synthetic voice assets. The Reader app also showcases the voices, letting users hear content read aloud in the same synthetic style.
ElevenLabs handles the technical side, while the legal agreements are settled between the buyer and the owner. The consent‑based model means no voice can be used without explicit pre‑approval, a policy that differentiates the marketplace from more open‑ended AI voice services.
But how many estates will actually participate, and whether the model scales beyond a handful of icons, remains unclear. Rights holders retain the ability to set terms, including fees and usage limits, though the specifics are not disclosed. The requirement that every commercial use receive prior approval could slow down campaigns, especially for fast‑moving media.
Because the catalog is limited to well‑known voices, smaller creators may find fewer options. Potential concerns about deep‑fake misuse are not addressed in the brief description. For now, the service offers a straightforward way for brands to add a nostalgic tone to ads, yet its broader impact on the industry has yet to be demonstrated.
Further Reading
- Announcing Partnership with Sir Michael Caine to Newly Launched Iconic Marketplace - ElevenLabs Blog
- Papers with Code - Latest NLP Research - Papers with Code
- Hugging Face Daily Papers - Hugging Face
- ArXiv CS.CL (Computation and Language) - ArXiv
More in Business & Startups
ADaSci Introduces AI Agentic Bootcamp to Build Leadership Skills and Certification
Why are companies scrambling for AI‑savvy executives? In a market where data‑driven decisions...
FalkorDB: GraphRAG beats vector retrieval 3.4× on structured benchmarks
Two years after the hype around vector databases began to settle, startups and analysts are...
Anthropic reports first AI‑orchestrated large‑scale cyberattack; most blocked
Why does this matter? Because a leading AI lab has just confirmed that an autonomous software...
Databricks unveils single-function PDF parser, cuts cost 3‑5× vs Textract
Databricks just rolled out a new PDF‑parsing function that promises to streamline the way...
Microsoft has full access to OpenAI's AI chip IP, says Satya Nadella
Microsoft’s push into custom silicon has long hovered between ambition and practicality.
Common Questions Answered
What is the purpose of ElevenLabs' new Iconic Voice Marketplace?
The marketplace is designed to provide a curated catalog of high‑profile synthetic voices that have been verified and cleared by their owners. It aims to give advertisers access to celebrity‑like AI speech while avoiding the legal gray areas that have plagued other AI audio projects.
Which types of voices are included in the initial launch of the marketplace?
ElevenLabs launched the platform with 28 voices, featuring living celebrities such as Michael Caine and Liza Minnelli, as well as historical figures like John Wayne, Judy Garland, and Mickey Rooney. All listed voices are owned by verified talent or IP holders who must approve any commercial use.
How does the marketplace ensure consent and rights‑holder approval for commercial use?
Only verified talent and IP owners can list their voices, and rights holders must explicitly approve each commercial request before any synthetic audio is generated. Companies submit a usage request, negotiate terms directly with the rights holder, and once approved, ElevenLabs' technology delivers the final audio.
What steps must a company follow to use a voice from ElevenLabs' curated catalog?
A company first browses the hand‑picked list of verified iconic voices, then submits a usage request outlining the intended commercial application. After the rights holder reviews and approves the request, ElevenLabs powers the project with its synthetic speech technology and provides the completed audio.