Karaoke Forums

Piracy is the only reason SC went down hill? I think not. Not at all. I would venture to say the much larger reason is due to their failure to keep up with the times. The entire music industry has shifted to files\downloads including most of karaoke. What did SC do? They tried to make it impossible (tried and failed) to convert their discs instead of embracing the change due to their own paranoia. How much time, effort and money went into the Disc protection deal they "tried" to employ versus investing in the future? I personally slowed\stopped buying SC because I had most of the stuff I needed and buying a full CD to get one song was ridiculous. I did a few custom discs but then I had to go through the hassle of ripping them. It was easier to just buy the files and download them ready to go. The path of least resistance. That's why the music industry has recovered from where it was. The pirates are still out there but the path of least resistance for most today is to buy it though Itunes or amazon. One click and it's done. Turns out people didn't mind paying, what they did mind is the hassle of buying the disc and converting the files. It's my opinion that SC's demise had mostly to do with their paranoia and some to do with pirates. Even today, the only way to buy a SC MP3+G is to buy 5999 more? Stupid crazy and it explains quite a lot..

Chris you know that my position is you have the right to run your business, anyway you see fit. Just like I have the right not to use the SC product. If it were effecting my business or my bottom line I might review and change my policy. Like they say if it ain't broke don't fix it. James has stated that the very use of the SC product makes you a suspect, and it is up to the host to establish if they do indeed have the right to use the product. You paid for an audit would you have done so without the pressure they are trying to exert over the whole industry? There would be no need for any of this, if they would act like other manus and stop trying to put the genie back in the bottle. Have a nice day.

I actually contacted SC long before I knew what was going on with the lawsuits to find out about licensing their entire catalog. I did the same with Chartbusters, Stellar and Sunfly. All of that took place before I hosted my first show.

There was never any pressure on my to do anything.

-Chris

Piracy is the only reason SC went down hill? I think not. Not at all. I would venture to say the much larger reason is due to their failure to keep up with the times. The entire music industry has shifted to files\downloads including most of karaoke. What did SC do? They tried to make it impossible (tried and failed) to convert their discs instead of embracing the change due to their own paranoia. How much time, effort and money went into the Disc protection deal they "tried" to employ versus investing in the future? I personally slowed\stopped buying SC because I had most of the stuff I needed and buying a full CD to get one song was ridiculous. I did a few custom discs but then I had to go through the hassle of ripping them. It was easier to just buy the files and download them ready to go. The path of least resistance. That's why the music industry has recovered from where it was. The pirates are still out there but the path of least resistance for most today is to buy it though Itunes or amazon. One click and it's done. Turns out people didn't mind paying, what they did mind is the hassle of buying the disc and converting the files. It's my opinion that SC's demise had mostly to do with their paranoia and some to do with pirates. Even today, the only way to buy a SC MP3+G is to buy 5999 more? Stupid crazy and it explains quite a lot..

That's nice, but why would you even bother asking people who want to SELL YOU PRODUCT those questions. For a guy who thinks SC's audits are simply the cost of doing business, it would seem that having YOUR independent IP attorney do the checking on IP questionswould be more worth the fee- and part of the cost of doing business.

Exactly, and it is going to keep hurting them, in the end. EVERY other company will and has surpassed them in service.

That's nice, but why would you even bother asking people who want to SELL YOU PRODUCT those questions. For a guy who thinks SC's audits are simply the cost of doing business, it would seem that having YOUR independent IP attorney do the checking on IP questionswould be more worth the fee- and part of the cost of doing business.

Yes, I did ask myself this. And I received answers when I contacted each of the three. No need for attorneys at all.

-Chris

@Lone & @Joe - You don't know nor have you bothered to inquire with me about what I spoke to the vendors about. So everything you have to say about it is speculation at best......or simply fabricated at worst.


-Chris