ElevenLabs launched a striking update to its Reader app on July 2, 2024: a feature called Iconic Voices that lets users listen to AI recreations of deceased Hollywood legends — James Dean, Judy Garland, Burt Reynolds, and Sir Laurence Olivier — read any article, PDF, newsletter, or e-book aloud, completely free.
How ElevenLabs Iconic Voices Works
The ElevenLabs Reader app converts any digital text — articles, PDFs, ePubs, newsletters, and e-books — into narrated audio using AI-generated voices. With the new Iconic Voices feature, users can select a legendary voice that matches the mood or material they are reading. The app is free to download, and listening does not consume monthly web-plan credits.
The iconic voices are exclusive to the Reader app for personal streaming and are not available in ElevenLabs' broader Voice Library for creating shareable content.
Estates and Rights Holders
The deals were brokered by CMG Worldwide, the Beverly Hills-based firm that manages and protects the intellectual property rights of living and deceased celebrities. Dustin Blank, Head of Partnerships at ElevenLabs, described the agreements as "a major step forward in our mission of making content accessible in any language and voice."
Liza Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland, welcomed the technology with a statement: "It's exciting to see our mother's voice available to the countless millions of people who love her. Through the spectacular new technology offered by ElevenLabs, our family believes that this will bring new fans to Mama, and be exciting to those who already cherish the unparalleled legacy that Mama gave and continues to give to the world."
Bringing Legends to Life
The pairing of voice and text opens some evocative possibilities. Judy Garland's AI voice can narrate L. Frank Baum's original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while Sir Laurence Olivier can deliver a Sherlock Holmes story. The recreations were developed in close collaboration with the estates to preserve the distinctive character of each performer.
Future Expansions
ElevenLabs has indicated that Iconic Voices is only the beginning. The company plans to add more legendary voices to the Reader app's library in coming months, broadening the range of iconic Hollywood talent available to users.
How to Try It
The ElevenLabs Reader app is available as a free download. Open it, browse the Iconic Voices selection, pick a voice, and start listening. No subscription is required for basic use, and the feature works across the full range of content formats the app supports.
