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{{Short description|Canadian based job search website}}
{{Infobox dot-com company
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2014}}
| name =Voices.com
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
| logo = <br />[[File:Voices.com logo.png|300px]]
{{Infobox website
| company_type =
| name = Voices.com
| traded_as =
| logo = Voices.com logo.png
| foundation =15 December 2003
| founder =
| company_type =
| dissolved =
| traded_as =
| foundation = 15 December 2003
| location =150 Dufferin Ave. Suite 800, [[London, Ontario|London]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], N6A 5N6
| founder = David Ciccarelli <br> Stephanie Ciccarelli
| locations =
| dissolved =
| incorporated =25 October 2005
| location = [[London, Ontario]], Canada
| area_served =Global
| locations =
| key_people =David Ciccarelli (CEO), Stephanie Ciccarelli (VP)
| area_served = Global
| industry =Media / Entertainment
| key_people = Jay O'Connor (Interim CEO) <br> Dheeraj Jalali [[Chief technology officer|(CTO)]] <br> Ann Walton (VP), People and Operations <br> Colin McIlveen (VP), Customer Operations| industry = Media / Entertainment
| products =
| services =
| products =
| revenue =
| services =
| revenue = $10 million (2014)<ref name="pmontigny">Philippe de Montigny, [http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/debt-financing-route-helps-keep-business-in-the-family "Debt-financing route helps keep voice-over business in the family,"] ''[[Financial Post]]'', 8 September 2014.</ref>
| operating_income =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| total_assets =
| net_income =
| total_equity =
| total_assets =
| owner =
| total_equity =
| num_employees =25
| owner =
| num_employees = 100+ (2017)<ref name="GN"/>
| parent =
| divisions =
| parent =
| subsid =
| divisions =
| company_slogan =
| subsid =
| ipv6 =
| ipv6 =
| url = {{URL|https://www.voices.com/}}
| alexa ={{IncreaseNegative}} 32,340 ({{as of|2014|4|1|alt=April 2014}})<ref name="alexa">{{cite web|url= http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/Voices.com |title= Voices.com Site Info | publisher= [[Alexa Internet]] |accessdate= 2014-04-01 }}</ref><!--Updated monthly by OKBot.-->
| website_type =
| accessdate = 25 May 2011
| advertising =
| publisher = Alexa.com
| registration =
| title = voices.com
| num_users =
| quote = Voices.com is the industry leading service that connects clients with professional voice over talents and voice actors. Radio and television stations, advertising agencies, marketing executives, casting directors and voice talent agencies rely on Voices.com to easily search for and hire language service providers such as translators, narrators and professional voice over talents.
| language =
| url = [http://www.voices.com Official website]
| website_type =
| launch_date =
| advertising =
| current_status =
| registration =
| screenshot =
| num_users =
| caption =
| language =
| footnotes =
| intl =
| launch_date =25 October 2011
| current_status =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
}}


'''Voices.com''' is a job search website focusing on voice actors and voice actor employers, headquartered in [[London, Ontario]].<ref name=MatiszTwo>{{cite news |url=http://metronews.ca/news/london/328108/local-voice-over-company-up-for-province-wide-business-award-2/ |date=7 August 2012 |title=The voice of success – Local company up for province-wide biz award |accessdate=5 March 2013 |author=John Matisz |publisher=''Metro''}}</ref> The company has a global user base of more than 200,000 registered individuals and companies.<ref name=Matisz />
'''Voices''' is a job search website focusing on [[voice actors]] and voice actor employers, headquartered in [[London, Ontario]].<ref name=MatiszTwo>{{cite news |url=http://metronews.ca/news/london/328108/local-voice-over-company-up-for-province-wide-business-award-2/ |date=7 August 2012 |title=The voice of success – Local company up for province-wide biz award |access-date=5 March 2013 |author=John Matisz |publisher=Metro |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202135056/http://metronews.ca/news/london/328108/local-voice-over-company-up-for-province-wide-business-award-2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company has a user base of more than 500,000 registered individuals and companies, and is reportedly the largest business of its kind.<ref name="GN"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Voices.com Plans to go Global With $2 Million in Funding|newspaper=Financial Post|url=http://business.financialpost.com/investing/voices-com-plans-to-go-global-with-2-million-in-funding|author=Claire Brownell|access-date=14 November 2017|date=29 April 2015}}</ref> In 2017, Voices.com had over 100 employees with clients and voice talent in 160 countries.<ref name="GN">{{cite web|title=London's Voice.com to Acquire VoiceBank.net|publisher=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3657742/londons-voices-com-to-acquire-voicebank-net/|author=Jacquelyn LeBel|date=9 August 2017}}</ref>


==Company history==
==History==
Voices<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-24|title=The Future of Voices as a Creative Services Marketplace|url=https://www.voices.com/blog/ceo-series-future-of-voices/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Voices.com|language=en-US}}</ref> was founded in 2003 by husband and wife David and Stephanie Ciccarelli and was officially incorporated in 2004 in [[Ontario, Canada]].<ref name=Matisz /> Prior to founding the company, David studied audio engineering at the [[Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology]], and operated a recording studio.<ref>David Ciccarelli, [http://blogs.wsj.com/accelerators/2015/03/03/david-ciccarelli-when-creating-an-online-marketplace-start-local-and-think-global/ "When Creating an Online Marketplace, Start Local and Think Global,"] ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', 3 March 2015.</ref> Through the studio, Ciccarelli met his eventual wife, a musician and vocalist studying at [[University of Western Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Backing Raises Voices Among Elite Firms|publisher=westernu.ca|url=http://news.westernu.ca/2017/11/backing-raises-voices-among-elite-firms/|author=Adela Talbot|access-date=14 April 2018|date=16 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://londonfuse.ca/stephanie-ciccarelli-co-founder-voices-com/|title=10 Questions With Stephani Ciccarelli, Co-Founder of Voices.com|publisher=Londonfuse.ca|author=Angela McInnes|access-date=14 April 2018|date=19 July 2017}}</ref> As his studio received more and more inquiries from actors looking for voiceover work, the pair saw the opportunity to connect the actors with businesses looking to hire voice talent and decided to focus on creating an online marketplace instead of producing content.<ref>{{cite web|title=How London, Ontario-based Voices.com Optimized its Services for Foreign Markets|publisher=canadianbusiness.com|url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/global-report/voices-com-export-translation/|author=[[John Lorinc]]|access-date=14 November 2017|date=10 September 2014|archive-date=15 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415064129/http://www.canadianbusiness.com/global-report/voices-com-export-translation/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
The company was founded in 2004 by husband and wife David and Stephanie Ciccarelli and was officially incorporated in 2005 in [[Ontario, Canada]].<ref name=Matisz /> The couple first developed the business on the back of a paper napkin while sitting at their kitchen table.<ref name=MatiszTwo /> The original name for the business was Interactive Voices, and eventually purchased the website Voices.com for $30,000 from the medical journal ''Silencing the Critical Voices in your Head''.<ref name=Sprouter>{{cite news |author=Sprouter |title=Voices.com founder: Be quick and always give great service |date=17 October 2010 |publisher=''[[Financial Post]]'' |url=http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/17/voices-com-founder-be-quick-and-always-give-great-service/ |accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref> It allows employers in small markets to connect with voice actors in other regions, as well as connecting larger companies with voice actors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/opinion/13friedman.html?_r=0 |title=The Do-It-Yourself Economy |accessdate=5 March 2013 |date=12 December 2009 |author=Thomas Friedman |publisher=''[[New York Times]]''}}</ref> In 2011 Voices.com had revenues of $2,266,887, 97% of which came from exports.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profitguide.com/microsite/profit200/2012/41-Interactive-Voices |title=Voices.com (Interactive Voices Inc.) |publisher=''Profit Guide'' |accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref> That year the company moved its headquarters from an industrial park to a larger space in downtown London. The company has not paid profit sharing bonuses to employees since mid-2014, as it grapples with rapidly accelerating expenses and expanding red ink. A recently announced expansion to New York City has prompted speculation over the company's future commitment to employment levels at its London, Ontario offices.<ref name=MatiszTwo />
| access-date = 25 May 2011

| newspaper = The New York Times
==Business overview==
Voices.com has a store function that provides prices for different kinds of voice services, such as commercials or voicemail messages. It also has a library of articles to educate users about the voice acting industry and trends in the field.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/09/voiceover-talent-small-business-review-voices-com.html |title=Voiceover Talent for Your Small Business: Review of Voices.com |author=TJ McCue |date=14 September 2010 |accessdate=5 March 2013 |publisher=''Small Business Trends''}}</ref> The site offers freelancers in more than 100 languages. Beside each freelancer's name there is a small sample of the person's voice that employers can listen to.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/06/11/voice.actors/ |title=Internet gives voice to unseen actors |accessdate=5 March 2013 |date=11 June 2007 |publisher=[[CNN]] |author=Steve Mollman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2012/10/05/six-figure-jobs/3.html |title=Surprising six-figure jobs: Voice actor for TV commercials |accessdate=5 March 2013 |date=5 October 2010 |publisher=[[CNN]] |author=Blake Ellis}}</ref> In May 2012 the website launched an app for iPad and iPhone devices,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/news-story/1357782-voices-com-launches-new-mobile-app-for-iphone-and-ipad/ |date=7 May 2012 |accessdate=5 March 2013 |title=Voices.com launches new mobile app for iPhone and iPad |publisher=''London Community News''}}</ref> followed by the release of an app for android devices in January 2013, both allowing job seekers to interact with potential employers directly over their mobile devices.<ref name=Matisz>{{cite web |url=http://metronews.ca/news/london/517965/voices-com-in-london-gets-more-interactive/ |title=Voices.com in London gets more interactive |date=21 January 2013 |accessdate=5 March 2013 |author=John Matisz |publisher=''Metro''}}</ref> Clients that have already worked with Voices.com include ESPN, PBS, The History Channel, Reader’s Digest, and Greer & Associates.<ref>{{cite news
| accessdate = 25 May 2011
| location = http://www.nytimes.com
| publisher = The New York Times
| title = The Do-It-Yourself Economy
| title = The Do-It-Yourself Economy
| quote = We had a script that called for 4 to 5 voices. Rather than hiring local voice talent — for $250 to $500 per hour — we searched the Internet for high-quality voices that we could afford. We found several sites offering various forms of narration or voice-overs. We selected www.voices.com. In less than one minute, we created an account, posted our requirements and solicited bids. Within five minutes, we had 10 to 15 ‘applicants.
| quote = We had a script that called for 4 to 5 voices. Rather than hiring local voice talent – for $250 to $500 per hour – we searched the Internet for high-quality voices that we could afford. We found several sites offering various forms of narration or voice-overs. We selected www.voices.com. In less than one minute, we created an account, posted our requirements and solicited bids. Within five minutes, we had 10 to 15 'applicants.
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/opinion/13friedman.html
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/opinion/13friedman.html
| first=Thomas L.
| first=Thomas L.
| last=Friedman
| last=Friedman
| date=13 December 2009}}</ref>
| date=13 December 2009}}</ref>


The original name for the business was Interactive Voices. Later, it purchased the website Voices for $30,000 from the medical journal ''Silencing the Critical Voices in Your Head''.<ref name=Sprouter>{{cite news |author=Sprouter |title=Voices.com founder: Be quick and always give great service |date=17 October 2010 |newspaper=[[Financial Post]] |url=http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/17/voices-com-founder-be-quick-and-always-give-great-service/ |access-date=5 March 2013}}</ref> In 2006, the company's CEO was criticized for claiming that the [[Google]] radio ad product, was nearly identical to the one offered by Voices despite having not seen it.<ref>{{cite web
==People==
| access-date = 25 May 2011
David Ciccarelli has been nominated for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Business Development Bank of Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techvibes.com/author/david-ciccarelli |title=David Ciccarelli |accessdate=5 March 2013 |publisher=''Tech Vibes''}}</ref> David Ciccarelli and Stephanie Ciccarelli are the authors of the book ''[[For Dummies|Voice Acting For Dummies]]''.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=''[[For Dummies]]'' |url=http://books.google.ca/books?id=I54eGO2szL4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=David+Ciccarelli+and+Stephanie+Ciccarelli+%22Voice+Acting+For+Dummies%22.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fk42Ua3kJbLa2wWL34DwBw&redir_esc=y |title=Voice Acting For Dummies |author=David Ciccarelli and Stephanie Ciccarelli |accessdate=5 March 2013 |year=2012}}</ref> David currently serves as CEO of the company, while Stephanie serves as chief marketing officer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/45740721/page/2 |title=Easy High-Paying Jobs – Voice Actor |publisher=[[CNBC]] |author=Mary Knox Merrill |accessdate=5 March 2013}}</ref>

==Awards==
* In 2007 Voices.com was awarded an Elite Market Award by ''CRM Magazine''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.destinationcrm.com/Articles/Editorial/Magazine-Features/The-2007-Market-Awards-Elite----Voices.com-41851.aspx |publisher=''CRM Magazine'' |accessdate=5 March 2013 |date=September 2007 |author=Phillip Britt |title=The 2007 Market Awards: Elite -- Voices.com}}</ref>
* In 2012 the business was awarded the business of the year award by the London Chamber of Commerce.<ref name=Matisz />

==Controversies==
In 2006 CEO of Voices.com David Ciccarelli claimed that the Google radio ad product, which was in Beta testing at the time, was nearly identical to the one offered by Voices.com. Ciccarelli admitted, however, that he hadn't actually seen Google's product, and neglected to mention that Google's offering was based on technology developed by dMarc, which Google had acquired the previous year.<ref>{{cite web
| accessdate = 25 May 2011
| location = http://www.techcrunch.com
| publisher = Tech Crunch
| publisher = Tech Crunch
| title = Startup Cries Foul at Google's New Radio Ads Product
| title = Startup Cries Foul at Google's New Radio Ads Product
| date = 12 December 2006
| quote = Voices.com CEO David Ciccarelli is crying foul at part of Google’s new radio ad product, which is in beta testing with select Google Adwords customers.
| quote = Voices.com CEO David Ciccarelli is crying for food at part of Google’s new radio ad product, which is in beta testing with select Google Adwords customers.
| url = http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/11/startup-cries-foul-at-googles-new-radio-ads-product/}}</ref>
| url = https://techcrunch.com/2006/12/11/startup-cries-foul-at-googles-new-radio-ads-product/}}</ref> In 2011, the company moved its headquarters from [[University of Western Ontario|Western University]]'s research park to a larger space in downtown London, Ontario.<ref name="MatiszTwo"/> From February to May 2013, the company participated in the Canadian Technology Incubator in Silicon Valley.<ref>{{cite web|title=Voices.com Participating in the Canadian Technology Accelerator in Silicon Valley|publisher=techalliance.ca|url=https://techalliance.ca/voices-com-participating-in-the-canadian-technology-accelerator-in-silicon-valley/|author=Greg Picken|access-date= 5 December 2017|date=20 February 2013}}</ref>


The Ciccarellis' book, ''[[For Dummies|Voice Acting for Dummies]]'' was published in 2013. In 2014, the company launched its first non-English site, for Spanish speakers in Latin America.<ref name="pattfield">Paul Attfield, [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/the-challenge/voice-over-entrepreneurs-tapped-to-write-for-dummies-book/article18404367/ "Voice-over entrepreneurs make their own good vibrations,"] ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', 5 May 2014.</ref> That same year, the company began a $3.6 million expansion project supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|title=Voices.com Embarks on $3.6-million Project With Federal Support|publisher=communitech.ca|url=http://news.communitech.ca/news/members/voices-com-embarks-on-3-6-million-project-with-federal-support/|access-date=14 April 2018|date=30 October 2014}}</ref> In April 2015, Voices raised $2 million in funding from a division of the [[Business Development Bank of Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|title=BDC Capital Invests $2mln in Voice-Over Marketplace Voices.com|publisher=pehub.com|url=https://www.pehub.com/canada/2015/4/bdc-capital-invests-2-mln-in-voice-over-marketplace-voices-com/|author=Kirk Falconer|access-date=14 April 2018|date=30 April 2015}}</ref> As part of the 2015 Canada Technology Accelerator, the company set up a temporary office in New York City.<ref name="sdsouza">Steven D’Souza, [http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadian-tech-companies-look-to-make-it-big-in-new-york-1.3078037 "Canadian tech companies look to make it big in New York,"] [[CBC News]], 18 May 2015.</ref><ref>Brenda Bouw, [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/starting-out/canadian-startups-take-bite-out-of-big-apple-through-federal-program/article23226424/ "Canadian startups take bite out of the Big Apple through federal program,"] ''The Globe and Mail'', 2 March 2015.</ref> In 2016, the company relocated to a roughly 45,000 square foot location in downtown [[London, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Voices.com Needs Room to Grow|publisher=lfpress.com|url=https://lfpress.com/2016/06/29/voicescom-needs-room-to-grow|author=Norman De Bono|access-date=14 April 2018|date=29 June 2016}}</ref>
In 2014, voice talent Todd Schultz wrote a review of his experiences with Voices.com, specifically the Professional Services division, that exposed questionable practices involving Voices.com employees "trolling their own membership for low-budget talent, pocketing the lions share of the client's budget. The nasty part is, neither the client nor talent are aware of what's going on." The entry accuses Voices.com of misleading talent and mistreating its own staff - allegations which have prompted significant discussion and debate on social media.


Voices raised $18 million in funding from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital in July 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Voices.com Raises $18 Million to Scale Global Operations For 200,000-Strong Voice Actor Network|publisher=betakit.com|url=https://betakit.com/voices-com-raises-18-million-to-scale-global-operations-for-200000-strong-voice-actor-network/|author=Amira Zubairi|access-date=13 November 2017|date=14 April 2018}}</ref> In August 2017, the company purchased the California-based Voicebank.net, an online casting and project management platform for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite web|title=London, Ont.-based Voices.com Acquires California-based Rival|publisher=itbusiness.ca|url=https://www.itbusiness.ca/news/london-ont-based-voices-com-acquires-california-based-voicebank-net/93611|access-date=14 April 2018|date=9 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=London's Voices.com to acquire VoiceBank.net - London {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3657742/londons-voices-com-to-acquire-voicebank-net/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=980 CFPL |language=en-US}}</ref>
He writes: "I've heard personally from former employees at Voices.com who have been threatened....now in fear of coming forward. Those that work there are rumoured to have been told to tow the line or be fired. Further still, talent who make noise about this issue are blacklisted ('Do Not Submit to Client') and staff are instructed to only submit 5 voices (out of several dozen in most cases); the 'short-list' for client review. I have worked for people like this in the past; early in my radio days. They preyed on the young & inexperienced; those just learning the world of business. Go figure that Voices.com's staff are all in their early 20's; easy to mould and manipulate. What kind of people do this sort of thing? I'll tell you. People who can't be trusted."<ref>{{cite web
| accessdate = 13 Aug 2015
| location = http://www.toddschick.com
| publisher = Todd Schick
| title = What every voice talent and client needs to know about Voices.com
| quote = It appears that Voices.com has been trolling their own membership for low-budget talent, pocketing the lions share of the client's budget. The nasty part is, neither the client nor talent are aware of what's going on.
| url = http://www.toddschick.com/What_Every_Voice_Talent_and_Client_Should_Know_About_Voices.html}}</ref>


==Overview==
2015 was the year the site’s Professional Services Division became a major focus of the company and a major source of contention for talent and producers. In addition to charging talent a minimum of $399 annually plus 10% on every job booked, through the newly created PS Division the site took the job over, removing it from the control of the client and preventing talent and client from communicating with each other. As more and more jobs were funneled through this division, more and more talent discovered they were being paid less than half of the rate these jobs had offered when posted directly by the client.
Voices is a platform that provides prices for different kinds of voice services, such as commercials or voicemail messages. Actors are not required to join a union to secure work on Voices and can audition for all jobs after joining the company's marketplace, however some of the clients seeking voice actors for national network campaigns, feature films, movie trailers and video game work require that talent joins the [[SAG-AFTRA]] union.<ref>{{cite news|title=Voice-over Actors Are Talking Up the Apps that Help Them Get Work|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-voiceover-tech-20150909-story.html|author=Siddarth Vodnala|access-date=14 November 2017|date=8 September 2015}}</ref> It also has a library of articles to educate users about the voice acting industry and trends in the field.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/09/voiceover-talent-small-business-review-voices-com.html |title=Voiceover Talent for Your Small Business: Review of Voices.com |author=TJ McCue |date=14 September 2010 |access-date=5 March 2013 |publisher=Small Business Trends}}</ref> It allows employers in small markets to connect with voice actors in other regions, as well as connecting larger companies with voice actors.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/opinion/13friedman.html?_r=0 |title=The Do-It-Yourself Economy |access-date=5 March 2013 |date=12 December 2009 |author=Thomas Friedman |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The site offers freelancers in more than 100 languages and dialects. Beside each freelancer's name there is a demo of the person's voice that employers can listen to.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/06/11/voice.actors/ |title=Internet gives voice to unseen actors |access-date=5 March 2013 |date=11 June 2007 |publisher=[[CNN]] |author=Steve Mollman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2012/10/05/six-figure-jobs/3.html |title=Surprising six-figure jobs: Voice actor for TV commercials |access-date=5 March 2013 |date=5 October 2010 |publisher=[[CNN]] |author=Blake Ellis}}</ref> In May 2012, the website launched an app for [[iPad]] and [[iPhone]] devices,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/news-story/1357782-voices-com-launches-new-mobile-app-for-iphone-and-ipad/ |date=7 May 2012 |access-date=5 March 2013 |title=Voices.com launches new mobile app for iPhone and iPad |publisher=London Community News}}</ref> followed by the release of an app for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices in January 2013, both allowing job seekers to interact with potential employers directly over their mobile devices.<ref name=Matisz>{{cite web |url=http://metronews.ca/news/london/517965/voices-com-in-london-gets-more-interactive/ |title=Voices.com in London gets more interactive |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=5 March 2013 |author=John Matisz |publisher=Metro |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202135100/http://metronews.ca/news/london/517965/voices-com-in-london-gets-more-interactive/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company added an app for the Apple watch in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Voices.com Launches Apple Watch App|publisher=Techvibes.com|url=https://techvibes.com/2015/04/23/voicescom-launches-apple-watch-app-2015-04-23|access-date=14 November 2017|date=23 April 2015}}</ref> Clients that have worked with Voices.com include [[ESPN]], [[PBS]], [[The History Channel]], ''[[Reader’s Digest]]'', [[NBC]], [[DreamWorks Animation]], [[Sony]], and Greer & Associates.<ref name="MatiszTwo"/><ref name="Matisz"/><ref>{{cite news|access-date = 25 May 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|title=The Do-It-Yourself Economy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/opinion/13friedman.html|first=Thomas L.|last=Friedman|date=13 December 2009}}</ref>


==Controversies and criticism==
It was on this backdrop that Edge Studio's Graeme Spicer interviewed Voices.com's Founder and CEO David Ciccarelli . As Spicer began asking Ciccarelli about specific cases, it became clear that this wasn’t going to be a simple PR piece and the discussion became heated. Following the interview there was a outcry by talent who began canceling their subscriptions to Voices.com. This webinar was supposed to have been posted online following the interview, but it wasn’t, however the audio is publicly available through the link below. <ref>{{cite web
In 2015, Voices was accused by several voice actors of funneling client's budgets intended to pay the actor's fee to the company by installing an opaque system of "managed services" fees. Neither the talents nor the clients had been informed about how much of a given budget would be taken by Voices.<ref>{{cite web|title= Voices.com Secretly Pockets Almost 40% (or more) of Talent Fees|url=http://andrewrandall.com/voices/|access-date=16 January 2021|date=April 2015}}</ref> In an interview with Graeme Spicer, David Ciccarelli finally admitted to this practice.<ref>{{cite web|title= THE INTERVIEW VOICES.COM DOESN'T WANT YOU TO HEAR.|url=https://soundcloud.com/voices-dot-com-complaints|access-date=28 January 2021|date=9 November 2015}}</ref> After realizing the backlash the interview would create, it was not published as intended.
| accessdate = 24 November 2015
Over the following months and years, more voice actors have voiced their concerns about Voices.com's business ethics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Voices.com Review by Todd Schick Professional Voice Talent|url=https://www.toddschick.com/voices-com-review/|access-date=16 January 2021|date=13 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Voices.com Reviews…MAJOR UPDATE! Why did all the top talent leave?|url=https://www.bryansaint.com/voices-com-reviews-major-update/|access-date=16 January 2021|date=October 2016}}</ref>
| location = https://voicescomplaints.wordpress.com
| publisher = VoicesComplaints
| title = The interview Voices.com doesn't want you to hear
| quote = "More and more jobs were funneled through this division and it wasn’t long before talent discovered they were being paid less than 50% of the rate these jobs had offered when posted directly."
| url = https://voicescomplaints.wordpress.com/2015/11/09/the-interview-voices-com-doesnt-want-you-to-hear/}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Online shopping]]
*[[Voice over]]
*[[Voice over]]
*[[Online marketplace]]
*[[IMDb]]
*[[Voice casting]]
*[[Voice cast]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.voices.com/ Voices.com]
* [http://www.voices.com/ Official website]


[[Category:Internet properties established in 2003]]
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2014}}
[[Category:Companies based in London, Ontario]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
[[Category:Online companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Voice acting]]
[[Category:IOS software]]


[[Category:Articles created via the Article Wizard]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:Companies established in 2003]]
[[Category:Companies based in London, Ontario]]

Latest revision as of 02:19, 24 October 2023

Voices.com
Founded15 December 2003
HeadquartersLondon, Ontario, Canada
Area servedGlobal
Founder(s)David Ciccarelli
Stephanie Ciccarelli
Key peopleJay O'Connor (Interim CEO)
Dheeraj Jalali (CTO)
Ann Walton (VP), People and Operations
Colin McIlveen (VP), Customer Operations
IndustryMedia / Entertainment
Revenue$10 million (2014)[1]
Employees100+ (2017)[2]
URLwww.voices.com

Voices is a job search website focusing on voice actors and voice actor employers, headquartered in London, Ontario.[3] The company has a user base of more than 500,000 registered individuals and companies, and is reportedly the largest business of its kind.[2][4] In 2017, Voices.com had over 100 employees with clients and voice talent in 160 countries.[2]

History

[edit]

Voices[5] was founded in 2003 by husband and wife David and Stephanie Ciccarelli and was officially incorporated in 2004 in Ontario, Canada.[6] Prior to founding the company, David studied audio engineering at the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology, and operated a recording studio.[7] Through the studio, Ciccarelli met his eventual wife, a musician and vocalist studying at University of Western Ontario.[8][9] As his studio received more and more inquiries from actors looking for voiceover work, the pair saw the opportunity to connect the actors with businesses looking to hire voice talent and decided to focus on creating an online marketplace instead of producing content.[10][11]

The original name for the business was Interactive Voices. Later, it purchased the website Voices for $30,000 from the medical journal Silencing the Critical Voices in Your Head.[12] In 2006, the company's CEO was criticized for claiming that the Google radio ad product, was nearly identical to the one offered by Voices despite having not seen it.[13] In 2011, the company moved its headquarters from Western University's research park to a larger space in downtown London, Ontario.[3] From February to May 2013, the company participated in the Canadian Technology Incubator in Silicon Valley.[14]

The Ciccarellis' book, Voice Acting for Dummies was published in 2013. In 2014, the company launched its first non-English site, for Spanish speakers in Latin America.[15] That same year, the company began a $3.6 million expansion project supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.[16] In April 2015, Voices raised $2 million in funding from a division of the Business Development Bank of Canada.[17] As part of the 2015 Canada Technology Accelerator, the company set up a temporary office in New York City.[18][19] In 2016, the company relocated to a roughly 45,000 square foot location in downtown London, Ontario.[20]

Voices raised $18 million in funding from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital in July 2017.[21] In August 2017, the company purchased the California-based Voicebank.net, an online casting and project management platform for an undisclosed amount.[22][23]

Overview

[edit]

Voices is a platform that provides prices for different kinds of voice services, such as commercials or voicemail messages. Actors are not required to join a union to secure work on Voices and can audition for all jobs after joining the company's marketplace, however some of the clients seeking voice actors for national network campaigns, feature films, movie trailers and video game work require that talent joins the SAG-AFTRA union.[24] It also has a library of articles to educate users about the voice acting industry and trends in the field.[25] It allows employers in small markets to connect with voice actors in other regions, as well as connecting larger companies with voice actors.[26] The site offers freelancers in more than 100 languages and dialects. Beside each freelancer's name there is a demo of the person's voice that employers can listen to.[27][28] In May 2012, the website launched an app for iPad and iPhone devices,[29] followed by the release of an app for Android devices in January 2013, both allowing job seekers to interact with potential employers directly over their mobile devices.[6] The company added an app for the Apple watch in 2015.[30] Clients that have worked with Voices.com include ESPN, PBS, The History Channel, Reader’s Digest, NBC, DreamWorks Animation, Sony, and Greer & Associates.[3][6][31]

Controversies and criticism

[edit]

In 2015, Voices was accused by several voice actors of funneling client's budgets intended to pay the actor's fee to the company by installing an opaque system of "managed services" fees. Neither the talents nor the clients had been informed about how much of a given budget would be taken by Voices.[32] In an interview with Graeme Spicer, David Ciccarelli finally admitted to this practice.[33] After realizing the backlash the interview would create, it was not published as intended. Over the following months and years, more voice actors have voiced their concerns about Voices.com's business ethics.[34][35]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Philippe de Montigny, "Debt-financing route helps keep voice-over business in the family," Financial Post, 8 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Jacquelyn LeBel (9 August 2017). "London's Voice.com to Acquire VoiceBank.net". Global News.
  3. ^ a b c John Matisz (7 August 2012). "The voice of success – Local company up for province-wide biz award". Metro. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  4. ^ Claire Brownell (29 April 2015). "Voices.com Plans to go Global With $2 Million in Funding". Financial Post. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  5. ^ "The Future of Voices as a Creative Services Marketplace". Voices.com. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b c John Matisz (21 January 2013). "Voices.com in London gets more interactive". Metro. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  7. ^ David Ciccarelli, "When Creating an Online Marketplace, Start Local and Think Global," Wall Street Journal, 3 March 2015.
  8. ^ Adela Talbot (16 November 2017). "Backing Raises Voices Among Elite Firms". westernu.ca. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  9. ^ Angela McInnes (19 July 2017). "10 Questions With Stephani Ciccarelli, Co-Founder of Voices.com". Londonfuse.ca. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  10. ^ John Lorinc (10 September 2014). "How London, Ontario-based Voices.com Optimized its Services for Foreign Markets". canadianbusiness.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  11. ^ Friedman, Thomas L. (13 December 2009). "The Do-It-Yourself Economy". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2011. We had a script that called for 4 to 5 voices. Rather than hiring local voice talent – for $250 to $500 per hour – we searched the Internet for high-quality voices that we could afford. We found several sites offering various forms of narration or voice-overs. We selected www.voices.com. In less than one minute, we created an account, posted our requirements and solicited bids. Within five minutes, we had 10 to 15 'applicants.
  12. ^ Sprouter (17 October 2010). "Voices.com founder: Be quick and always give great service". Financial Post. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Startup Cries Foul at Google's New Radio Ads Product". Tech Crunch. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2011. Voices.com CEO David Ciccarelli is crying for food at part of Google's new radio ad product, which is in beta testing with select Google Adwords customers.
  14. ^ Greg Picken (20 February 2013). "Voices.com Participating in the Canadian Technology Accelerator in Silicon Valley". techalliance.ca. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  15. ^ Paul Attfield, "Voice-over entrepreneurs make their own good vibrations," The Globe and Mail, 5 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Voices.com Embarks on $3.6-million Project With Federal Support". communitech.ca. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  17. ^ Kirk Falconer (30 April 2015). "BDC Capital Invests $2mln in Voice-Over Marketplace Voices.com". pehub.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  18. ^ Steven D’Souza, "Canadian tech companies look to make it big in New York," CBC News, 18 May 2015.
  19. ^ Brenda Bouw, "Canadian startups take bite out of the Big Apple through federal program," The Globe and Mail, 2 March 2015.
  20. ^ Norman De Bono (29 June 2016). "Voices.com Needs Room to Grow". lfpress.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  21. ^ Amira Zubairi (14 April 2018). "Voices.com Raises $18 Million to Scale Global Operations For 200,000-Strong Voice Actor Network". betakit.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  22. ^ "London, Ont.-based Voices.com Acquires California-based Rival". itbusiness.ca. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  23. ^ "London's Voices.com to acquire VoiceBank.net - London | Globalnews.ca". 980 CFPL. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  24. ^ Siddarth Vodnala (8 September 2015). "Voice-over Actors Are Talking Up the Apps that Help Them Get Work". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  25. ^ TJ McCue (14 September 2010). "Voiceover Talent for Your Small Business: Review of Voices.com". Small Business Trends. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  26. ^ Thomas Friedman (12 December 2009). "The Do-It-Yourself Economy". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  27. ^ Steve Mollman (11 June 2007). "Internet gives voice to unseen actors". CNN. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  28. ^ Blake Ellis (5 October 2010). "Surprising six-figure jobs: Voice actor for TV commercials". CNN. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  29. ^ "Voices.com launches new mobile app for iPhone and iPad". London Community News. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  30. ^ "Voices.com Launches Apple Watch App". Techvibes.com. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  31. ^ Friedman, Thomas L. (13 December 2009). "The Do-It-Yourself Economy". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  32. ^ "Voices.com Secretly Pockets Almost 40% (or more) of Talent Fees". April 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  33. ^ "THE INTERVIEW VOICES.COM DOESN'T WANT YOU TO HEAR". 9 November 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Voices.com Review by Todd Schick Professional Voice Talent". 13 November 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Voices.com Reviews…MAJOR UPDATE! Why did all the top talent leave?". October 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
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