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karaoke database
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Author:  flic [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:41 am ]
Post subject:  karaoke database
is it illegal to purchase a database of karaoke songs without the CD's?  There are 10 - of these listed on ebay.  

Question for all those who I am sure have beaten this topic to death:  I know there are two companies that regulate (charge) for you having music/karaoke/viedos.  Do you as a DJ/KJ need to pay them?  If so,  why....is it your responsibility to do so or is it the venue you play.     Last question:  Has ANYBODY ever been fined or other for having a karaoke song(s).   I know a lot of places that have them but non STOP... whats the deal?
Author:  flic [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: karaoke database
nevermind  just saw a huge archived article on this.. that went way off topic.. lol
I ve never heard of anybody even checked by either one of ASCAP/BMI in my 5 plus years in. (which I know, isnt much)
Author:  Dr Fred [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: karaoke database
The bar or other business is responsible for paying the fee to the record companies. There is no fee for home/private use.

As for legal databases of Karaoke songs, most likely not, although there may be a few exceptions.

Expect to pay about $0.50 -$2.00 minimum for a song if it is being done legally and is not a a closeout/overstock. More if you are buying one song at a time.

Anything less than that is probably partially illegal. Some of the karaoke sellers copy disks without paying royalties, and that  allows them to make cheap disks. The price of paying all of the royalties comes to about $.30-$.40 per copy of a song, in high volume. The only time you should be able to buy songs cheaper than that is if they are old traditional songs out of copyright, or if it was a product that was made legally, and did not sell, and the overstock was sold at a high discount.

Regardless unless you are selling the songs yourself your chance of getting caught are slim.

On the other hand if you start a KJ setup with illegal downloads, your bar/venue is legaly responsible if they know about it.  It can get THEM in trouble, but I know of only a few cases where that has happened.

Additionally many KJ professionals, and some singers will dislike you if you are obviously flaunting the laws on the matter. Just because they have spent so much money attempting to be legal, often thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.
Author:  Lonman [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: karaoke database
flic @ Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:32 am wrote:
nevermind  just saw a huge archived article on this.. that went way off topic.. lol
I ve never heard of anybody even checked by either one of ASCAP/BMI in my 5 plus years in. (which I know, isnt much)


Just because YOU haven't heard about it, don't mean it hasn't happened, the bars may have complied or quit karaoke altogether blaming other reasons.
Author:  flic [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: karaoke database
so as a mobil DJ/KJ/VJ, I cannot get licensed???????       IF I can, where do I go and what type of cost am I looking at  with ASCAP/BMI ??????

this is getting complicated as I have read a lot of threads on this foum and see both answers.. some say yes.. others say no..

on the data base files, I am lost also, cause I have music stores trying to see me preloaded systems and telling me I dont get the disks with it or need to pay more. These are not run of the mill stores or product lines..... I am confused!!!!!

I just want to be competitive and still be legal.
Author:  Lonman [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: karaoke database
flic @ Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:12 pm wrote:
so as a mobil DJ/KJ/VJ, I cannot get licensed???????       IF I can, where do I go and what type of cost am I looking at  with ASCAP/BMI ??????

this is getting complicated as I have read a lot of threads on this foum and see both answers.. some say yes.. others say no..

on the data base files, I am lost also, cause I have music stores trying to see me preloaded systems and telling me I dont get the disks with it or need to pay more. These are not run of the mill stores or product lines..... I am confused!!!!!

I just want to be competitive and still be legal.


Mobile dj / kj as in playing clubs?  It's the clubs responsibility, not yours as a dj / kj.  No you cannot get licensed for that manner.  If you are doing certain private venues in commercial setting, like hotel ball rooms & the like or public performance in a park type setting then you can get a temp license for those individual events & you include that in you price quote to the customer.

On the database files, there are some unscrupulous stores that did & may still create their own hard drives & sell them loaded in systems, don't make them legal.  There 'supposedly' legal systems like the cavs that use SGB, NuTech, BMB/Nikkodo garbage & that's what they are loaded with.  But then who would want to steal these brands  LMAO .  I knew of one store locally (by his own admission) that would get their shipments, open the discs they would want or didn't have in their hard drive, load it into their hard drive, then reshrink wrap the disc & sell it as new while making copies of his drive for multiple shows they ran at night.  Luckily his store is now closed down & most of his systems are no longer in operation.
Author:  flic [ Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: karaoke database
thanks for the help.! Everybody!

I can say this; that even though I ve been a DJ/KJ for some years, I never thought it would be so difficult to start my own.  I know by reading a lot of your previous threads there are those that use "illegal" systems and those that WILL NOT regardless if it gives their competitors an edge.  Still what troubles me is that I just got off the phone with ASCAP who confirmed whay you all have said. Also, when asked about the legality of the Karaoke system I got a similar type answer to some of my questions on this board.  One second he told me it was illegal for those type data bases, then backtracked and said that monitoring every DJ and or Karaoke system would take a monumental task and they did not have the resources.  He also said that some companies actually pay for the rights to distribute some sysems.  

I will continue to use this forum as a source cause I believe after reading most of the posts that a lot of you are quality Dj/Kj's. (not cheap).  In fact a lot of you are pretty talented I am sure and put on great shows. I hope someday I can get out of Dubuque, IA to check one out.  

Still not sure where to start but I am going to buy my first piece of equipment tomorrow and go from there.  This last week has just been tough with the legal jargon and pricing of systems.  Thanks again
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