How to handle ACX offers

ACX

Many narrators are confused by the ACX offer screen. It only shows the rate and the date the offer expires.

You need to click on the title to see the details of the offer. You should see the rights holder’s (RH) proposed schedule on the resulting page in the same area as the rate.

New RHs typically don’t know the work involved in producing a retail-ready audiobook and often will request the full book in a ridiculously small amount of time.

You are in control of your workload and schedule. You can suggest new dates for the15-minute and full book deadlines based on:

  • how long it takes you to create a finished hour
  • your estimated finished hours in the book, which may vary from the estimate given by ACX
  • your other priorities
  • your editor’s workload

If I am doing an Royalty Share or Royalty Share Plus (RS/RS+) title, I will extend my proposed deadlines by 1 or more months to allow time for work that pays a PFH rate.

You can and should communicate with the RH using the ACX messaging system to negotiate the schedule. If you auditioned, I would not attempt to negotiate the rate unless it was listed as Unspecified. You knew the rate when you sent the audition, and you could have inquired about any flexibility on the posted rate before or with your audition. However, rate negotiation is acceptable when someone contacts you directly without an audition.

If the RH agrees to your dates, you will want to advise them that they cannot change their offer. Instead, you must decline it, and then the RH must send a new offer with the revised dates.

It’s important to have the correct dates on the offer so that you and the RH have the same expectations. Once you accept the offer, ACX doesn’t monitor the schedule or any changes to it.

Note that once you begin work, the RH and you may agree to communicate outside of ACX. However, you will want to send any messages about schedule changes through ACX as it is the official record and would be used in any disputes.

The RH will directly pay you or, in the case of SAG/AFTRA members, your paymaster for any PFH work. ACX does not coordinate or accept payments from the RH or pay you for your PFH work. Audible only pays the royalties earned on RS/RS+ projects.

 

How SAG/AFTRA members can use ACX

The RH must send an offer for either:

  • at least $250 PFH
  • minimum $100 PFH with RS+

Audible does not contribute to union H&R for straight royalty share projects.

In order for the RH to use the RS+ option, they should:

  1. Click the option for Royalty Share Plus
  2. Check the box to send the offer per the SAG/AFTRA agreement

Disclaimer: One narrator told me their RH did not see an option for Royalty Share Plus. I believe this situation was caused by the way the RH created the book listing. In that case, the RH had to select Royalty Share and then check the box for the SAG/AFTRA agreement.

When you accept the offer, you will click the button for “Accept with SAG/AFTRA H&R”. You’ll be prompted to enter your SAG/AFTRA number. Follow the instructions on this ACX page about contacting your paymaster..

Union narrators tell me that you don’t have to accept a PFH offer with the SAG/AFTRA button. The Union doesn’t check with ACX/Audible about earnings.

You would need to use that button for an RS+ deal since Audible will pay SAG/AFTRA for royalties received in eligible RS+ deals per item 1 at the bottom of this page.

You will need to ensure that the RH makes all PFH payments through a paymaster. ACX’s preferred paymaster is Eljin Productions, but you may choose another one such as Skywire.

 

Regardless of whether you accepted a PFH or RS+ contract, do not click the “I’m Done” button until you have received the PFH payment from the RH or paymaster.

 

Other resources on this topic:

  • Be sure the project isn’t among the ACX Projects to Avoid before accepting an offer.
  • ACX has extensive help pages, including ACX Offer and Acceptance Procedures and the section ACX Accept or Decline Offers.
  • I send each Rights Holder a link to this information page, which outlines my policies and process. You’ll see that I request the RH pay a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the estimated PFH cost at the time the first 15 minutes are approved, with the balance due at book completion.
  • My 3-hour webinar titled Put Yourself in the ACX Driver’s Seat is available on my Shop page and comes with its own set of resources.