FAST. FRIENDLY. AFFORDABLE

Facilitating the payment of SAG-AFTRA audiobook projects

CONTACT:  

info@skywirepaymaster.com

845-405-5540

When an audiobook project is completed, the funds are to be sent to Skywire. A portion of those funds will be deducted, and sent to SAG-AFTRA for the actors' Pension and Health (P&H) contribution. The remainder paid to the narrator. The Paymaster fee sometimes comes out of the narrator's end, and at other times is paid by the hiring party.

Skywire takes care of all 1099s to narrators. If you need to send Skywire a 1099, please get in touch, and we'll send you our W9.

There are three types of Indie projects:

• 1) Traditional ACX - an offer is made and accepted through the ACX Platform, and the narrator uploads mastered files from their end. These projects are designated as ACX. 

• Currently, the minimum rate for union project with ACX is $250 PFH, or $100 PFH for Royalty Share Plus, and the P&H percentage is 13.75%

• 2) Projects through an Indie Publisher or Producer who is a Signatory of SAG-AFTRA. Files may be delivered as clean punch and roll, or as mastered files. These projects would be classified under the name of the signatory. 

• Minimum rates and add-ons, as well as P&H percentage may vary from signatory to signatory.

• 3) Projects done with a non-signatory publisher or producer, or with an author not going through traditional ACX channels. These projects would labeled as SKYWIRE. 

• The minimum rate for a Skywire project is $270.40 PFH for delivery of raw files, or $325 PFH for masters, with 14% for P&H, and paymaster fee on top. Please be advised that, as of January 1, 2026, the minimum rate for raw files will increase to $281.22, and $350 for masters. If a project begins in December of 2025, but is not completed until 2026, the new rates apply.

• For Skywire projects where there are multiple narrators, and there is collaboration on shared character voices (Dual Narration), there is a flat, $100 bump to the narrators' pay. If the project is being done with dialogue assembly, the bump is $200 per narrator, plus annotated/highlighted scripts must be provided.

These distinctions are important, as they can effect the minimum per finished hour (PFH) rate, and the percentage of pension and health contribution.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT INVOICES FOR ACX AND SKYWIRE PROJECTS ARE TO BE SENT OUT BY THE NARRATOR, OR PRODUCER, NOT SKYWIRE.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If your project has more than one narrator, and at least one of them will be processed as union, then ALL narrators on that project must be processed as union, whether they are members, or not. It's about the project as a whole, rather than the individuals. A PROJECT is either union, or it's not. The only exception would be if a narrator is non-union AND lives outside the U.S.

Additionally, if the project is being produced as a Dual Narration (alternating POV chapters where the same characters are voiced by both actors), there is a flat, $100 bump to the narrators' pay. This does not apply to ACX projects, but it does to Skywire, and, possibly, other signatories, as well.

If the project will be done in Duet Style, and the narrators are recording independently of each other, so that their dialogue can be stitched together in post-production, there is a flat $200 bump to their pay. As well, they must be provided with annotated scripts.

Skywire operates on a three-tiered, flat-fee system to process audiobook projects, which includes paying the narrator, reporting the earnings to SAG-AFTRA, paying the collected P&H contribution, and issuing 1099s.

$60: If the narrator earns $1200 or more.

$30: If the narrator earns under $1200.

$15: If the narrator earns under $600.

Skywire offers a variety of methods through which funds can be sent in for an audiobook project.

FOR ALL PAYMENT METHODS, PLEASE INCLUDE A MEMO WITH YOUR NARRATOR'S NAME, AND THE PROJECT TITLE.  THANKS!

THE FOLLOWING PAYMENT OPTIONS HAVE NO ADDITIONAL FEES CHARGED FOR SENDING FUNDS

PAPER CHECKS

Please make your check out to SKYWIRE PAYMASTER SERVICES, and mail it to:

13 N. Broadway, Third Floor

Nyack, NY 10960

If you are mailing a check, please do not use any method requiring a signature.  It will only delay your narrator/producer getting paid.

ZELLE

Zelle is an electronic funds transfer platform used by most major banks. YOU CAN SEND FUNDS, VIA ZELLE, THROUGH YOUR BANK, TO:  noah@skywirepaymaster.com

VENMO

Venmo is another electronic funds transfer platform.  You can find us there at:  SKYWIRE-PAYMASTER

If prompted to choose a transaction type, please FRIENDS AND FAMILY. If you choose GOODS AND SERVICES, a fee will be charged to Skywire, which we do not cover. Your funds will be returned, and you will need to select a different payment method. Please do not use a credit card to pay with Venmo.

MELIO

Melio is a secure electronic funds transfer platform for U.S. to U.S. BUSINESS transactions. You can send payment, with no additional fees, using your checking account. THERE IS NO NEED TO SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT. Click on the link below and follow the prompts to pay from your bank account. In the box where it says, INVOICE #, please type a memo rather than an invoice number, indicating this is a business transaction. Something to the effect of, "For services rendered. Audiobook production of [BOOK TITLE], by [NARRATOR NAME]." 

 https://melio.me/skywirepaymaster

THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FEES TO SEND FUNDS WHICH ARE TO BE COVERED BY THE SENDER

PAYPAL OR CREDIT CARD THROUGH PAYPAL

Funds can be sent to Skywire, via PayPal, at:  info@skywirepaymaster.com

PayPal charges a fee of 2.99% for transactions originating in the U.S., and 4.49% for transactions originating outside the U.S.  Please use the calculations below to ensure that, after the PayPal fee is taken out, your narrator is getting the contracted amount expected. Additionally, if you use a Credit Card through PayPal, they may charge you a separate fee for that.

Total due  / 0.9701 - For domestic, incoming transactions.

Total due  / 0.9551 - For international, incoming transactions.

MELIO

If you use a Credit or Debit card through Melio, they will charge you a fee of 2.99 percent. Follow the prompts after clicking on the Melio link below. In the box where it says, INVOICE #, please type a memo rather than an invoice number, indicating this is a business transaction. Something to the effect of, "For services rendered. Audiobook production of [BOOK TITLE], by [NARRATOR NAME]." 

 https://melio.me/skywirepaymaster

ACH/DIRECT DEPOSIT AND BANK WIRES

Please contact us for banking information.

Be advised that, while there is no additional fee on our end for ACH/Direct Deposit, your bank may charge you a fee. If you send a bank wire, there is an additional, incoming wire fee on our end of $15.  Please add that to the total amount due.

INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS

Skywire utilizes Wise (formerly TransferWise) for international payments.  We have bank accounts in The  UK, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other countries, as well.  If you do not have a Wise account yourself, please contact us for the appropriate banking information for the currency you want to send. Please be advised that daily changing currency conversion rates, and Wise fees will impact the amount due. If you're not sure how much to send, contact Wise at (888) 829-3669. Let them know the amount of U.S. dollars you are wanting to send, and they should be able to tell you how much of your own currency to send.

If you are a Wise customer, you can find us in their system under Skywire Paymaster Services. Please do not search using a @ tag, or email address. Once you find us, you should be able to send us USD directly to our Fulton Bank Account. 

SKYWIRE CONTACT:  

info@skywirepaymaster.com

845-405-5540

For projects designated as SKYWIRE, there are two or three documents (depending on the situation)  that will need to be signed.

THE PAYMASTER AGREEMENT

This is a contract that will need to be signed for all SKYWIRE projects. It is strictly between Skywire and the hiring party.

The document entails the services offered by Skywire, and the terms under which payment(s) must be made. The agreement is not project, or narrator-specific. It covers any project processed through Skywire. Certain publishers and producers may be exempt from this contract.

EXHIBIT A - THREE-PARTY

The Exhibit A document covers fair use of audiobook recordings in other types of media (film, television, etc), as well as issues surrounding the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The Exhibit is a three-party agreement between the hiring party, Skywire, and SAG-AFTRA.

This document must be signed by all authors/rights holders, as well as non-signatory publishers and producers. The Exhibit A is also not project/narrator-specific. It covers all project processed through Skywire.

EXHIBIT A - FOUR-PARTY

The Four-Party Exhibit is for when a Skywire project is produced by entity that is NOT the audio rights holder (RH). In this case, an Exhibit A must be signed by the RH, the producer, Skywire, and the union.

Once you have negotiated at deal with your narrator, please reach out to us with the following information:

• Legal Name (personal, and business, if applicable)
• Title (can simply be "Author" if there's no business name
• Address

The details of the agreement between you and your narrator are not required.

Once we receive this information, we will draw up the documents for your signature.

SKYWIRE CONTACT:  

info@skywirepaymaster.com

845-405-5540