Chapter 1: Introduction to Erotic Voice Acting

This chapter includes an overview of the erotic voice acting industry. What it is, where it fits in the broader voice-over and adult entertainment worlds, and what kinds of content are in demand. The difference between audiobook narration, fetish content, and ASMR

💡 What is “Erotic” Voice Acting and Should I call Myself an Erotic Voice Actor?

Someone once said to me “Oh so like, watching porn with your eyes closed” but that doesn’t quite get the message across. Think of erotic voice acting as a form of performance art. The actor (you) uses only their voice to convey sensual, erotic, or sexually explicit content. Yes, there is usually some moaning involved but it’s generally not just moaning.

People who consume erotic audio are usually invested in the plot as well. Unlike traditional voice-over roles in commercials, games, or audiobooks, erotic voice acting focuses on intimacy, fantasy, and emotional or sexual tension. Both men and women consume erotic audio content even though it's fairly niche. You can still gain a large following and be successful in this industry if you want to pursue it. Being an erotic voice actor blends skills of acting, storytelling, and vocal control with adult entertainment.

Unlike visual porn or camming, erotic audio makes the listener rely on their imagination. It's up to the voice actor to deliver the right tone and immersive sound design to create connection and arousal for the listener. This makes it incredibly intimate and more emotionally impactful than just watching porn

Now, you don't need to go telling your friends and family that you are an “EROTIC Voice Actor”. A lot of times when I talk about my job, I refer to myself as just a “Voice Actress”. After all, at the core of it; that’s what you are! This way you don't need to have awkward conversations with people about what you do for work (unless of course, you are comfortable with it!)

When it comes to the business side of things you should also present yourself as a “Voice Actor” (minus the Erotic part) because lets be real; there is still a stigma around sex work. We will get into more details about platform restrictions, but when it comes to monetizing your Erotic Audio, you’ll want to be discreet with some payment processors and the information you give the government (depending on where you live) So while you may be pursuing becoming an EROTIC Voice Actor and there’s no shame in doing sex work - It’ll make your life easier to err on the side of caution and use “Voice Actor” as your official title

🧠 Origins of Erotic Audio and Rise in Popularity

When I was younger (and this may age me) my friends and I used to dial a 1-900 phone number on a payphone and it would connect to a phone sex operator. We would giggle and giggle and hang up the phone. Funny enough, those phone sex hotlines are the roots of erotic audio. Phone sex actually stretches back to the late 19th century. People actually paid to listen to suggestive stories via phonograph in American saloons!!

Over time, phone sex made it to the internet - Literotica was founded in 1998 and is still active! People share both erotic text and audio content on that platform and at this point, they have millions of users!! There were other platforms that encouraged people to post amateur erotic audio; “Sounds of Pleasure” on Tumblr and r/GoneWildAudio on Reddit It wasn’t until around 2010 where the transition to professionally produced, subscription-based platforms for erotic audio started to become popular. These were targeting mostly a female audience; platforms such as Dipsea (launched 2018) and Quinn (launching around 2019)

Erotic audio really exploded when the world shut down in 2020 (sorry for the PTSD this may trigger) During the COVID‑19 pandemic people were searching for connection and the demand for sexy audios surged: platforms like Frolicme and Dipsea had a huge subscriber increase!

Fast forward to today; the overall adult entertainment market is projected to grow to around $100 billion by 2029–2030. More specifically; the audiobook market is projected to reach $35 B by 2030. While erotic audio may account for only a small part of that number, it can still have a big impact on someone who finds success in the erotic audio niche.

You don’t need to be a trained actor or adult film star to succeed. Many creators in the erotic audio niche are hobbyists, ASMRtists, writers, or actors who build their brand and persona over time to find their niche within this complex space

🔥 The Core Types of Erotic Voice Content

Just like in visual porn, there are several styles and niches you can focus on when creating erotic audio. Understanding some of the different types will help you identify your strengths, preferences, and the type of audience you’ll be catering to

Sensual Audio Storytelling

This is more of an audiobook style format; just like reading an erotic short story or novel aloud. There can sometimes be voice acting, emotional beats, and seductive pacing but you are mainly speaking in a narration style. There is a bigger focus on romance, buildup, foreplay and the plot. Erotic Audiobooks, Personal Experience Stories, Boyfriend/Girlfriend Scenarios

This style is good for someone who enjoys storytelling or has strong reading/narration skills (I have done a few audiobooks in my time and while I enjoy the narrative style, I lean more towards erotic roleplay that focus on specific fetishes)

Erotic Roleplay

In these audios, (you) the actor takes on a character and you speak directly to the listener as if you are interacting with them in real time. It is a first person narration. This style focuses more on immersion, and creators will often choose to add sound effects to set the scene This style is good for someone who likes improv and getting into character. You can also find a lot of scripts for erotic roleplays online if you prefer scripted content over ad libbing 

Fetish and Kink Content

Fetish audios are designed to appeal to a very niche audience. These audios focus on specific desires, kinks, or scenarios like JOI (Jerk Off Instructions), Edging, orgasm denial, countdowns, degradation, praise, foot fetishes, teasing, objectification and the list goes on and on and on.... There are really no limitations here (except for the TOS of the platform you are posting on) but Rule 34 says no matter how non-sexual it is, someone will STILL turn it into porn. If you want to focus specifically on sucking on pickles, and brand yourself around pickle sucking, you’ll eventually find an audience that enjoys that; but I strongly suggest choosing themes and topics that you personally enjoy as you’ll be the one making the content. No one wants to work at a job they don't like, so it's important you pick themes you are personally into. And hey; if you enjoy sucking on pickles so much that you want to turn it into your job; then go for it. These steps will still help you, and you can write the pickles off as a business expense. Fetish content is one of the most monetizable niches in erotic audio, but also one that requires you to have clear (and strict) boundaries

This style is good for someone who is comfortable exploring niche material and custom content (This is the style I mainly focus on, and I like to dabble in many different niches. Where you focus will be a personal choice and largely depend on your comfort level and vision for what you want your brand and content to be)

Adult ASMR

This overlaps with the broader ASMR trend (ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) These are soft spoken audios that focus on specific erotic triggers like breathy whispers, soft kissing sounds, tongue clicks, fingernail taps or gentle moans. These audios focus more on sensory pleasures that give listeners a “tingly” feeling, and are not always explicit. They’re more sexually suggestive rather than vulgar or graphic. You can blend ASMR with some of the other types mentioned above or keep it as your main focus if this is what you prefer.

This style is good for someone who enjoys whispering (I sometimes dabble in ASMR triggers in my audios, but it’s never been my main focus because I am a loud human being. There are many very successful creators in the ASMR niche)

🎧 Who Listens to Erotic Audio?

Erotic audios appeal to a wide audience that are looking for imaginative, immersive experiences. All genders and orientations listen to erotic audio (and create it!). It's especially popular for people with visual impairments, neurodivergent audiences who prefer immersive audio, fans of BDSM, slow burn romance and emotional intimacy, and people who are looking for ethical, consent-based porn alternatives

Many listeners will form emotional connections with recurring characters or favorite voice actors, just like they do with actors on TV or in movies! This intimacy can be powerful and meaningful, and it’s one reason working as a VA can be both rewarding and at times; delicate (There will be a section in chapter 8 on Navigating Parasocial Relationships)