I promised two weeks that I will be sharing a wish list for every sub-industry within the entertainment and arts space. We have already looked at the film industry and my wish list for it.
It was simple really… My wish for the film industry is for the Namibian government and policymakers to use the film industry as a vehicle to catalyse both direct and indirect employment for people in different sectors of the economy.
This week I want to focus on a form of artistry that rarely gets the time and day. I want to focus on the men and women with brilliant and captivating voices, and who rarely get the financial reward and accolades they deserve. Voice acting is the art of performing voice overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. You know… the voices on all the adverts you hear on radio or TV? Yes, these are actual human beings who rarely get the attention and financial reward they deserve.
Voice artistry in Namibia is probably the lowest-paying gig. You will get anything from N$150 to N$1 000. A N$1 000 is really stretching it. Like any other industry, there are a few elites who have the bargaining power. These elites can quote their fee and clients would have no qualms in meeting that fee. However, for the good majority of the voice over artists, it’s a take it or leave it situation.
My wish list is for some sort of framework or policy that can govern and protect the interest of voice over artists.
This framework or policy would spell out the minimum payable fee for a voice over artist; a minimum fee that will reflect the true financial might of a said campaign. It cannot be correct that a campaign to promote a new product has a budget running into millions, but the voice that essentially captivates the customer only gets paid N$150. Notwithstanding that, my wish is for this framework or policy to enact a clause that will compel clients to pay royalties.
Music royalties are payments that go to recording artists, songwriters, composers, publishers, and other copyright holders for the right to use their intellectual property. In this case, the intellectual property would be the voice. In my 10+ years of operating at the highest level in this industry as an entertainer and consultant, I have yet to come across a voiceover artist who was privy to royalties.
The general practice in Namibia is that clients “buy out” the right to use your voice. In other words, they own the result of the work. With this framework or policy, it will spell out the different types of agreements clients can enter into with voice over artists.
When we say, the commerciality and formalisation of the entertainment and arts space in Namibia is years away, this is what we mean.
The abuse will continue unchallenged. But like I said, this is but a wish list with the hope that it reaches some passionate folk who can take up the fight and march until we get the desired results.
Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM
*Need an MC? I do not post naked pictures or have 100k followers but after 10 years of MCeeing, I think I can do the job. Contact me for a quote at
naobebsekind@gmail.com.