Learn the jargon of the audiobook world!

• Finished Hour - The runtime for an audiobook. This amount excludes time spent by the producer preparing to record the book, recording the book, and time spent on post-production efforts. The work time for a book is typically five-to-six times the finished hour time - for example an audiobook with a run time of eight finished hours might easily require forty-to-forty-eight hours of effort by multiple people.

• Per Finished Hour - How expense billing for an audiobook is typically calculated. For example, if an audio engineer takes twelve hours to polish an eight-hour book, they are only paid their rate for eight hours.

• Post-Production - The work that happens after the narrator has recorded their performance in order to get the project ready for retail distribution. This involves proofing the book (listening for errors and accuracy), at least one round of audio edits, and mastering the book for final audio levels to ensure that the volume and timbre of the book is consistent and comfortable for the listener.

• Distribution - How listeners get their ears on your book. There are many paths down the mountain.

• RS - “Royalty Share” is any kind of arrangement between the rights holder and the narrator to split the royalties from audiobook sales. These RS arrangements come in different forms. (See Option #4.) An “RS+” or “hybrid” deal is one type of RS deal.

• SAG-AFTRA - A union that many narrators participate in. In addition to helping actors (narrators) have a livable wage and fair treatment, it enables them to have good insurance and retirement options.

• Pay-Master - The payment manager between a client, a narrator, and the union.