Annual Report : State of the Voice Over Industry

 

At the beginning of each new year, Voices.com presents a comprehensive overview of industry statistics that directly affect voice actors, including updates on broadcast television, radio, podcasting, video games, audiobooks, and other mediums and applications. Current trends are reported on and are diligently sourced for accuracy. The key highlights are as follows:

Television

Broadcasting 2007: Report on the Industry
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) is the national industry association that represents Canada’s private broadcasters - including private television and radio stations and networks, and specialty, pay and pay-per-view television services.
• 101 Television Stations
• 49 Analog Specialty Stations
• 13 Pay-Per-View Services
Source: Canadian Association of Broadcasters November 2007

Radio

Broadcasting 2007: Report on the Industry
In Canada, there are:
• 184 Private Commercial AM Stations
• 465 Private Commercial FM Stations
Source: Canadian Association of Broadcasters November 2007

Current History of Broadcasting in the US
• The number of FM stations passed the number of AM in 1983; in 1998 there were 6,179 commercial FM stations on the air, and 2,400 noncommercial stations.
• The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established in 1968 as a not-for-profit, nongovernmental agency to finance the growth of noncommercial radio and television; by 2003 the PBS network served more than 200 television and nearly 800 radio stations.
Source: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Internet

Internet Advertising in Canada
• The growth of spending on internet advertising has increased dramatically versus growth for television, and radio. Internet advertising revenues are increasing rapidly in Canada and in other countries around the world, including the UK and the US.
• In Canada, internet ad revenues increased from $176 million in 2002 to $1.0 billion in 2006, based on a compound annual growth rate of 55%. By comparison, television ad revenues have increased over the same period by 5.7%, while radio has increased by 6.5%.
Source: Canadian Association of Broadcasters November 2007

Podcasting

Podcast Market Research
• 6.6 Percent of adults downloaded audio podcasts within the last 30 days
• 37% of the US population has heard of podcasting (up from 22% in 2006)
• 13% of the US population has listened to a podcast (up from 11% in 2006)
• 11% of the US population has watched a video podcast (up from 10% in 2006)
• Podcast listeners in the US are nearly even between men and women with 51% being male and 49% being female in 2007
• 12.3 million U.S. households will be listening to podcasts by the end of the decade
Source: Forrester Research compiled by in Podcast Market Research

Podcast Advertising
Ad spending on podcasts will reach $300 million, while social network ad spending is expected to rise to $2.5 billion worldwide by 2010, from just $350 million in 2006.
Source: eMarketer

Audiobooks

Audiobook Sales on the Rise Nationally
• This year’s survey showed a 6 percent increase over 2005 with audiobook sales now estimated at $923 million in North America.
• The Audio Publishers Association (APA) released the results of the 2007 APA Sales Survey, conducted to gather data and measure the growth of the audiobook industry. Independent research firm Lewis & Clark Research surveyed audiobook publishers during the summer of 2007, analyzing reported consumer sales data from 2006 and comparing current statistics against the previous year’s findings.
Source: Audio Publishers Association

Animation

Celebrity Voice Actors in the Animation Studio
• Competition. The trend of casting well-known actors in newly released animations is reducing demand for career voiceover actors.
Source: Animation World Magazine

Videogames

Advertising in games is expected to rise to $800 million in 2009
• $266 Million, or more than one-third of advertising in games in 2009, will come from “advergaming,” when advertisers create a game around a product rather than place their brands within a well-known title, according to Yankee Group senior analyst Mike Goodman at the Advertising In Games Forum.
Source: The Yankee Group 2007

Voice Over Industry Research

Vox Daily
Vox Daily is a blog that offers daily dose of voice acting news, articles, tutorials, interviews, intelligent conversation and business ideas.
• Vox Daily has been read 83,908 times
Source: FeedBurner, December 2007

Vox Talk
The voice acting entertainment podcast covering voice acting news, business tips, technology, and an assortment of voice actor contributions. This show is produced weekly.
• Vox Talk podcast has been downloaded 20,575 times
Source: FeedBurner, December 2007

Voice Over Experts
The educational podcast featuring renowned voice over coaches from US, Canada and abroad. Join us each week for pearls of wisdom and tricks of the trade to improve your voice over career.
• Voice Over Experts podcast has been downloaded 14,535 times
Source: FeedBurner, December 2007

Salaries
• High-paying contract jobs with residuals can range from $150,000 or $200,000 a year.
• Nonunion freelance jobs fall between $150 and $500.
Source: Goliath Business News

Outlook for 2008

Future is Bright for the Voice Over Industry
Voice acting is finally becoming part of the mainstream. The days when voice actors were referred to as “voice talkers” or asked, “So, what is it that you do?” are fading quickly into the history books as mass media embraces the art and profession of voice over. The combination of technological progress, public awareness and celebrity endorsement have elevated voice acting to a new plateau and social status within the broader entertainment industry.