Melanie Fedl: Striking the Right Note
Melanie Fedl has redefined her voice and shows how creative work, entrepreneurship, and AI can be meaningfully combined today.
From Hobby to Calling
The beginning of Melanie Fedl’s story probably sounds very familiar to many creative people. After all, Melanie—a member of our C hoch 3 network—had always viewed her singing as nothing more than a hobby. It’s a talent that comes easily, brings her joy, and at the same time, there’s that inner voice telling her she should do something “proper.”
Melanie did exactly that for a long time, until she realized that this path was no longer right for her. On the verge of a burnout, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and suddenly with time to reflect, she realized that things couldn’t go on like this.
The voice was always there. Even back then, in a radio play she was once allowed to be part of. “I enjoyed it so much that I knew: I’d love to do that again.”
Melanie Fedl
But it wasn’t until this period of transition that the idea turned into a concrete plan. At ORF, she met voice-over artist and voice coach Andrea Radakovits and decided to pursue professional voice-over training. The turning point came with a simple but honest question: What am I good at, what do I enjoy doing, and how can I make a living? The answer was closer than she had thought.
The voice is emotion, timing, and attitude
Today, Melanie works as a trained voice-over artist and singer. She narrates commercials, promotional videos, and phone messages; gives speeches; sings at special events; and knows that a voice is never neutral.
“We can often tell how someone is doing just by a single word.”
This sensitivity to nuances shapes her work, and this is also where her approach to AI comes into play. Melanie uses artificial intelligence not as a substitute, but as a tool. She records the text herself, incorporating all the elements that make for good speech—such as emotion, pauses, emphasis, and rhythm. Afterward, an AI voice can be layered over the recording upon request. The timbre of the voice changes, but the naturalness remains.
The result is voices that don’t sound like “typical AI.” These voices don’t have awkward intonations or emotionless sentences; instead, they sound like living, breathing language.
This opens up new possibilities, especially for agencies or companies that need different vocal tones for promotional videos or phone announcements—and for Melanie herself as well.
AI as a Reality and as a Conscious Choice
“It was clear to me early on: AI is here to stay.”
At this point, many creative professionals face a fundamental decision: set boundaries or integrate?
Melanie deliberately chose the latter. Not simply out of a passion for technology, but based on a realistic view of the industry. She loves public speaking, yet she also knows that her profession is changing rapidly.
In German, in particular, she says, humans still have a clear advantage at the moment. There is less training data than in English, and nuances are difficult to replicate artificially.
“Maybe someday it will get so good that 90 percent of people won’t be able to tell the difference anymore. But for now, humans still have a clear advantage.”
This discussion led to another project. Today, Melanie also offers AI training, primarily for sole proprietors and the self-employed. Her focus is on audio, podcasts, and practical AI strategies for everyday business operations. Her approach is neither abstract nor overly technical—it’s practical. She explains what really helps, what you can do without, and where human expertise is still needed.
Pricing and Economic Responsibility
As creative as the profession is, some aspects of reality are quite sobering. Melanie speaks openly about how being self-employed isn’t just about a microphone, a voice, and inspiration—it’s also about taxes, pricing, proposals, and financial responsibility.
“I really love my core business. But as a self-employed person, you quickly realize that there are many tasks that have nothing to do with the actual creative work.”
Melanie Fedl
When it comes to certain topics, Melanie seeks out specific help—such as with taxes—and she knows how crucial financial stability is. That’s another reason why she speaks openly about how important her personal life has been: “Without my husband, I probably wouldn’t have started my own business.”
Pricing was particularly challenging for her. Putting a price on her own work—especially when it comes easily or is emotionally charged, such as singing at a funeral or giving a speech. “That’s exactly when you’re quick to think, ‘I can’t possibly charge money for this.’” Melanie therefore made a conscious effort to seek support and invested in a pricing course. There, she learned how to calculate fair rates based on experience, time, technique, and infrastructure—not undervaluing her work, not setting unrealistic prices, but setting rates that allow her to make a living.
The Importance of Voice and Posture
“In our industry, the real USP is often simply the voice itself.”
Melanie Fedl
Not every voice is right for every brand, every movie, or every situation. At the same time, Melanie’s approach to working with AI opens up new possibilities for her clients as well as for herself.
Agencies and companies appreciate having just one point of contact who can handle a variety of voices, tones, and formats. This reduces friction and increases flexibility.
This approach is also evident in the AI Masterclass she offers together with a copywriter and a lawyer. They take an interdisciplinary, practical, and concrete approach. Her goal is clear: Participants should not only go home feeling motivated, but also with something they can actually use. “There are many courses where you come home feeling motivated, only for everything to fall by the wayside once you’re back in your daily routine. That’s exactly what we wanted to do differently.”
Big dreams and a clear vision for the future
What does someone who works with their voice dream about? For Melanie, it’s very clear that she wants to dub a movie one day. Preferably a Disney movie where she gets to sing, too. She’d also love to perform on stage with a big band someday.
At the same time, she’s looking ahead to all those who are still struggling with AI. “Many people approach the topic with uncertainty and skepticism.” She especially wants to show sole proprietors and the self-employed how to use AI sensibly and wisely—and what’s best to avoid. That’s why she also launched her podcast, “Besser. Gut. EingeFEDLt.” In it, Melanie talks with fascinating guests about how AI truly helps in everyday business life. No hype, no tech talk for its own sake—just real-world experiences.
What We Can Learn from Melanie
Melanie Fedl’s journey shows that creativity and technology don’t have to be at odds with each other. It’s possible to incorporate new ideas without losing one’s own identity. Entrepreneurial thinking isn’t a betrayal of art—it’s often a prerequisite for it. For us, this is a wonderful message: Take your own voice seriously—both literally and figuratively.