Karaoke Forums

Anyone have any advice on how I can go about selling some of the karaoke songs I have made through the years?  If I may be so bold, I think they are better quality than the majority of karaoke songs I have heard.

Here is a link if you want to hear some samples.  That's me singing and playing all the real instruments  and I programmed all the virtual ones:

http://home.socal.rr.com/danielraybarnes/Dan%20Barnes%20Karaoke%20Demo%20sm.mp3[/url]

GOOD music.

BUT.....
I doubt if any karaoke company would want thoes songs, not that there is anything wrong with them, but since they have most of them already released, why would they want another version of the song they already have in "print"?

Now look at it this way....
Do it on your own.  Say someone like me, a KJ, wants a vocal free version of a song.  THey contact you, pay you, and you make the custom song for them.

For me, there are a LOT of songs that I would LOVE to have in karaoke, but that aren't very pouplar songs, and wont make the karaoke disc companies any money.  But if you could get through the legal aspects of copyright lawas, it could make you a decent ammount of money.

I did know there was, or maybe still is, a company dong what I dscribe.  I don't know if they are still in biz, since I had a PC crash and lost my favs, and I can't find them back for the life of me.  I know that they required that you send an ORIGINAL cd of the song(s) that you wanted vocal free.  THey would make a small sample mp3, send it to you for approval, and then would do a full vocal free version.  THe the would send you the vocal free version, and your ORIGINAL cd.

Not sure if owning the original cd is a loophole for the copyright requirments, but it may be somthing you might want to look into.

BTW...doing more current songs, not released in karaoke, is probably the way you will have to go, instead of dooing the "oldies"

Uuuhhmmmmm...the only thing I have to say is HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!

You are one fantastic singer and musician.   Why do you want to waste your time on karaoke (so says the karaoke fanatic!)?

Take this talent in the road and make millions (possibly thousands).

I think the biggest impediment would be the cost verses return.  Most karaoke companies can't afford good session musicians or they are losing money and going out of business.  The three main players who seem to recognize value in using real musicians are Priddis, Shound Choice and Chartbuster.  In Canada Karaokemaker and SingKing both have high production values.  Both these companies have professional studios as a part of their core business.

You could try to author your own but the cost of licensing is the major cost of any CDG.

Good luck and I hope to hear more from you.

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Terryoke
Krazy Kanuck Karaokeist

Karaoke is the only social disease that you can get in public and not get arrested.

Well, because hopefully mine are better.  I've heard some good ones out there, but some really bad ones as well and I would think companies would want to sell something with quality and true to the original song.



The problem there is that I do not plan to infrige on anyone's copyrights.  First of all, the owner's permission has to be obtained, then there is the rate per copy sold.  I know that if I were just releasing the song with my vocal on it, I wouldn't have to get their permission, I'd just have to pay the royalties, usually like $40 for under 500 copies sold.  Anythin over that is handled differently.  But my understanding is that karaoke songs are different.  I'm in the middle of looking into this and will report later wht I find.

thanks for the props, by the way.

[/quote]

Yeah, maybe, but I think there are a lot of "Baby Boomers" who are into karaoke.  But point noted.

Thanks very much.  I'm just trying to find a way to profit from a lot of hours spent over the years doing audio transcriptins of songs.  I am still recording and promoting my my original music,but as far as performing, I have done that all my life, but unfortunatly, talent and ability aren't all that go into making a successful music career.




Thanks very much for the advice.  It's taken to heart.

Dan I sent you a PM.  What do you think?

I'm not a lawyer, and don't play one on TV, but saying that.....

Like I said before, I want a song turned into a vocal free/karaoke/instrumental.  I belive the Harry Fox Agency would be the licensing authoritty you would have to turn to.  

Yes, Harry Fox does NOT cover KARAOKE songs, but you are not copying a karaoke track, you ar copying an original track.  And if they don't want to do the karaoke thing, just release them as instruimentals, and let the KJ turn them into true karaoke tracks with appropriate software.

Seriously contact the Harry Fox Agency, I thing that would be the way to go.   And when you  get the details worked out, contact me, I have at least 10-15 songs that I would be willing to get converted to instrumental tracks if the price is right!

YOu need to read what is on the Harry Fox Agency site and take a look at BMI/ASCAP. You get into the ares of Mechanical and Mastering liscensing, copyrights and if there are any video applications involved then there are yet more licensing areas to be addressed. Ive posted up on SS many original lyric compostions that Ive created and then recorded over either Karaoke or Cd instrumental tracs. But those are just a hobby for me. Anything that would involve sales or distribution would be entering into an entirely different arena. Best to consult an entertainment attorney to really find out your responsibiltys and liabilities for doing what u describe.

As to selling your material to karaoke companys--unless its original-its probly already been done and in circulation. Additionally karaoke companys pretty much only publish popular "HITS" that are going to already appeal to a mass audience. You find little or no 'ORGINIAL" or "INDIE" karaoke stuff out there---simply no market demand for it.

Sounds to me like you either have to market it yourself person to person or go the traditional hard route of  paying your dues getting a band together and buliding a following/fan base playing in all the little clubs or coffee houses.

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Yes!! Very good!!

Mr Barnes would you like to be my third husband?

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

I finally got around to answering your PM.

I would at least have to have a talk with your ex's...  

SwingcatKurt,  some good advice there, but some what you wrote sounds like you misunderstood my intensions.

"Anything that would involve sales or distribution would be entering into an entirely different arena. Best to consult an entertainment attorney to really find out your responsibiltys and liabilities for doing what u describe."

Right.  That's certainly what I will do when I'm ready.  Good advice.

"As to selling your material to karaoke companys--unless its original-its probly already been done and in circulation."

I don't know.  I see threads posted fairly often for songs either not available or for better quality versions.

"Additionally karaoke companys pretty much only publish popular "HITS" that are going to already appeal to a mass audience. You find little or no 'ORGINIAL" or "INDIE" karaoke stuff out there---simply no market demand for it. "

Not sure what your point is.  Do you think I'm trying to sell karaokes of my original music??????  Of course there would be no market.

"Sounds to me like you either have to market it yourself person to person or go the traditional hard route of  paying your dues getting a band together and buliding a following/fan base playing in all the little clubs or coffee houses."

What does that have to do with selling my karaokes?

By the way, I have paid my dues.  I've been a working musician for 40 years.

Dan

I only have one ex  LMAO

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Hmmm... so that means two of them have passed on or.... oh my God, you're a polygamist!???!!!!  

just hedging my bets  :yum:

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."