Karaoke Forums

I've personally known Doug Stevens (Red Peters) for years (yeah, his "real name" is Douglas Stevens). He has provided me with permission as well as studio instrumentals to produce the karaoke versions. I've had "The Closing Song, The Spelling Song, I Wanna Polka, Polka" and others for years. However, these are not for general distribution and that's why I asked where you got it.

As a matter of fact, years ago --on another forum-- I had gotten into a debate with Bob Clifford (studio manager for SC at the the time) about SC's licensing practices. To give you an idea of time frame, this was about 3 years after SC had issued one of their "Mama" disc with the Red Peters songs that Mr. Clifford ("BC Studio Manager") had claimed was one of the all-time-best-selling disc from SC.

I contacted Red and asked him if he had licensed any of his songs -to anyone- for karaoke production. His response was not something I can post here due to the nature of the response... unless you want to read: "@#?%#@***". To make a long story short, based on what Red Peters said, it appears that SC had produced, pressed distributed and sold his tracks with no permission at all. Red had his attorney contact SC to license (late) the tracks. If you check the date the disc was first offered and sold and the date on the licensing paperwork, you'll find that there is a substantial gap.

Recently, I had an exchange of email with Paul Storm of "DaVinci's Notebook" regarding the song "Enormous P*nis." He informed me that he was unaware of any licensing of the song for karaoke use.

SC over the years, has claimed that often they will get a preliminary A-OK on the production of a disc and after the disc is produced, find that the publisher or artist denies any licensing. (Like the Eagles disc). However, in this case, Red says he had never been approached, not directly nor through the publisher, nor through HFA. Can anyone explain how they would have the rights to produce, press, package, distribute and sell and profit from these songs?

I guess HarringtonLaw would be the person to answer this question Chip.

damn you Chip.........
i have been hoping for that one to come out. i get requests for it almost nightly they love it so much.
stupid favors between friends

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

The Spelling Song is my personal favorite from the ones Chip produced. It makes a great duet.

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Birdofsong

How about specific distribution?

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KNOW THYSELF

I'll make a call this week and see what we can do. He's been wanting to put some out on karaoke, but obviously the past history has left a bad taste. And I can't blame him. (The Spelling song is cool because I did it like an eye-chart... and the audience has to think about it as they "connect the letters" to spell the words.

Earthling;
I'll see... but I'm sure either way it won't be free.

Who knows? This could be a whole new distribution method: "Exclusive Release"

"Exclusive Release".....sounds expensive.

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KNOW THYSELF

And worth every dime......

I've also asked artists ( mostly southern rockers) over the years about their material. They have no knowledge about permissions in most cases because they have a publishing company or some type of agency that takes care of all that crap. Sorta like abkco.

i stopped paying attention to this stuff though.

Red Peters had taken back control of his material from a previous publisher and maintains his own publishing/controls on his material. If it's licensed for anything, he knows about it. I would venture to guess that many artists know if their material is licensed or not for karaoke.

Why not just have him use your karaoke tracks and create his own karaoke CD and sell right off his website along with the other stuff he has for sale there. Shouldn't be too difficult to do, especially if he's taken back publishing control.

I think I'd rather see his tracks sell individually (like Karaokeversion.com) at $2.99/track. That way, you can get only the ones you want/need.

"The Closing Song" is really a great way to end the evening.... except you can't do that at Lonman's gig or really much of any of his material at Lonman's gig....

Just sayin'....

I had a nice conversation with Red Peters this morning....

We're working on releasing his entire catalog in an MP3+G format (and possibly disc format too) on an individual track basis. Just like karaokeversion.com except of course, these won't be re-recorded versions.

He's got a new Christmas song, so we'll see how it works out. His material is not for the faint-of-heart and I doubt that Lonman will be able to use very many.... if any at all. But they are hilarious!

Obviously, there's a few tracks "already in the can" so to speak. The web site is already in the works, and the url repeterskaraoke.com is already registered.

That's what Jonathan Coulton does.
Seems to work well for him.

http://www.jonathancoulton.com/

Great news! Thanks!

Nope, that's a fact! But never had any requests or interest let known to me for any of his stuff either in 20 years, more of a rock/newer country crowd, so not a big loss.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

He doesn't have profanity in ALL his songs.... These don't:
"Ballad of a dog named Stains"
"You Promised the Moon"
"The Two Gay Irishmen"
"I Wanna Polka, Polka"

Doesn't matter, I only buy 'primarily' on request basis only - not always, but it has to be something I know will get sung which is usually by artist popularity. I log each request in a database at home since 96, not one Red Peters song ever requested on our request a song sheet, nor anything verbally to me (the 'do you have anything by' question) - in which I mark down & add to the database. So the profanity doesn't matter, it's not an artist of interest for our shows - at least at this time, if I start getting requests, I may pick some up. I do have 3 of his tunes from SC, but again, never been requested nor asked about.

{edit}Actually I take that back, I do recall 'Blow Me' being sung at a private party once probably 10-12 years ago.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

We don't seem to be in a Red Peters area, either, but I like the idea of independant artists making their songs available on karaoke. I had emailed a Colville Indian artist (Jim Boyd/Thunderwolf Records in case Lonman is familiar with him) about putting some of his stuff out as he has his own recording studio and puts out his own stuff but I don't think anything came of it. Maybe he needs to talk to Chip.

Will anyone be allowed to purchase these tracks?? I've always wanted a legal version of the closing song for karaoke.

i wouldn't even care if it was $3-4 for a track.


-james