Karaoke Forums

Some interesting blurbs from across the world dealing with karaoke...

Song publishers say karaoke packages violate copyrights

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Several Nashville song publishers have filed a federal lawsuit against a Knoxville-based firm that supplies Karaoke fans with the lyrics and tunes to hundreds of popular songs.

Warner/Chappell Music, House of Gold Music, Rightsong Music and five other publishers contend that copyright laws are being violated by the Chartbuster Karaoke products of Tennessee Production Center Incorporated.

The publishing houses seek an injunction to stop the company from selling the products, which they contend go beyond traditional karaoke packages by offering recorded vocal performances of the songs in addition to musical accompaniment.

The suit says Chartbuster Karaoke has released nearly 600 packages containing compositions owned and/or administered by the eight publishing houses listed as plaintiffs.

The songs include those by country star George Strait, rocker Eric Clapton and pop act Smash Mouth.

MOBILEOKE

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 5, 2006) - SilverBirch Inc., (TSX VENTURE:SVB) (SilverBirch) announces today that its wholly owned subsidiary SilverBirch Studios Inc. has entered into a distribution contract with TeliaSonera - the largest wireless carrier in Scandinavia to launch MobilokeTM for mobile users in Scandinavia. The groundbreaking mobile karaoke application Mobiloke along with other SilverBirch mobile content will be distributed in cooperation with Telia Sonera, making it available to all TeliaSonera subscribers throughout Scandinavia, Eurasia, Turkey and Russia.

Mobiloke allows users to transform their mobile phone into a fully functional, portable Karaoke experience, incorporating pitch and tempo controls, progressive lyrics display, downloadable tracks and an online "CD Case" to manage and store tracks.

"SilverBirch enjoys first mover advantage with their Mobiloke product. The application allows users to create a karaoke party anywhere they carry their cell phone," said Kevin Birch, President & CEO, SilverBirch Inc.

"SilverBirch's Mobiloke will build on the worldwide popularity of Karaoke singing and television productions like 'American Idol,' added Birch. "We anticipate significant recurring revenue streams from song file downloads and community building initiatives that are part of the overall vision for this application."

"We believe the Mobiloke product is well positioned to penetrate and capture a significant amount of the content download revenue currently being generated," commented Juhani Kivikangas, Director, 3rd Party Services and Messaging, TeliaSonera Finland.

Fake Karaoke tracks result in charges against a Brantford, ON man

HAMILTON, ON, Dec. 23 /CNW/ - As a result of a 14-month investigation,
the Hamilton RCMP Federal Enforcement Section has charged a Brantford, ON man
with illegally copying and selling Karaoke tracks in violation of the
Copyright Act.
   It is believed that this is the first incident where charges have been
laid under the Copyright Act involving the illegal reproduction and sales of
copyrighted Karaoke tracks.
   The charges stem from a complaint by the Canadian Alliance Against Music
Piracy (CAAMP) about the unauthorized reproduction and sale of Karaoke tracks.
The rights to these Karaoke tracks belong to several companies who produce and
package the programs for the karaoke industry. Karaoke is a popular form of
entertainment in which people sing along to sound tracks while reading the
words to the song from a screen.
   In Canada, CAAMP estimates that $2 Million dollars are lost annually to
the karaoke music industry as a result of illegal copying and re-selling of
Karaoke programs.
   "Not only is there a financial loss to the industry, but also a huge loss
of jobs from the manufacturing sector down to the retail store. We need to get
the message out that there is a penalty to be paid for the infringing upon the
intellectual property rights of Karaoke track producers as well as the rights
of the producers of all other forms of musical works," said Ken Stuart,
president of CAAMP, an umbrella group representing many Karaoke track
producers.

   Murray Dulphis McLean, 36, of Wellington Street, Brantford, ON is charged
with:
   -  one count of did knowingly and unlawfully makes for sale an
      infringing copy of a work or other subject-matter in which copyright
      subsists, contrary to Section 42(1)(a) of the Copyright Act.
   -  two count did knowingly and unlawfully offering for sale and selling
      an infringing copy of a work or other subject-matter in which
      copyright subsists contrary to Section 42(1)(b) of the Copyright Act.

   McLean's first appearance is set for January 27, 2006 in the Ontario
Court of Justice in Brantford, ON.

Guangzhou mulling royalty fee on karaoke singers

People who sing in karaoke bars in south China's Guangzhou City may have to count the number of songs they choose as local authorities are mulling over imposing a one yuan (0.13 US dollar) royalty fee on each song, according to a newspaper report.

According to the Beijing-based Workers' Daily, the Guangzhou municipal government is planning to install in the city's karaoke bars a monitoring system to record the hit rates of songs and singing time as a basis to charge consumers.

The price charged for each song is set temporarily at one yuan per song. The move, designed to settle long-standing intellectual property rights (IPR) disputes over the use of songs in karaoke bars, is expected to bring an annual several billion yuan of profit to the city's music industry.

But on hearing the news, the managers of more than 20 karaoke bars in the city objected.

"They just offer me a bill, but no related services, you tell me if I'll install it ?" a manager queried, claiming that the move would oppress karaoke bar operators and customers.

In addition, they contended that the Music Copyright Society of China is the only institution permitted by the central government to charge fees over the use of music compositions.

Only a few managers agreed that the move would help them reduces their potential risk of being sued by music producers over IPR infringement.

A random survey among ten local citizens showed that none of them thought singing a song deserved one yuan fee.

"We pay for singing in a karaoke bar. It's unfair that we have to pay extra money for each song," said a consumer who only wanted to be identified by her surname Zhou.

"There should be a hearing on the pricing," said another respondent.

Lian Guangsheng, deputy secretary general of an entertainment recreation association in Guangzhou, said it's still premature to implement the plan as a couple of issues remain undecided, such as which government body should be responsible for the charging and how effectively the monitoring system works.

CHINA: Digital network to keep piracy out of Guangzhou karaoke bars

Guangzhou authorities yesterday unveiled plans to create a fee-based pool of copyrighted audiovisual material for karaoke bars to access through an optical-fibre network.

The city's press administration and copyright protection authorities said the scheme was designed to clamp down on the widespread unauthorised use of copyrighted songs in the industry.

Zhou Qingxin, director of Guangzhou's Copyright Bureau, said: "The use of pirated music discs and unauthorised use of music videos is still very serious in local karaoke bars."

Municipal authorities said the idea was a first for China and that if the system worked well in Guangzhou, it might be extended to the rest of the province. But they did not say whether the karaoke operators would be required to join the system or could sign up voluntarily.

Authorities were also unable to say exactly when the system would be implemented and what fees would be charged.

The plan was welcomed by producers of audiovisual products, but less eagerly embraced by karaoke bar operators.

"We really look forward to the introduction of the system because it may help reduces our losses from copyright infringements," said Li Xianmin, vice-chief of the Dealer Association of the Guangdong Audiovisual Sector.

Hong Kong movie producer Raymond Wong Pak-ming also said he supported the plan.

But the manager of a Guangzhou karaoke chain said it would heavily increase the cost of karaoke and hurt the industry.

"They [the government] didn't even tell us about the plan until we read about it in the newspaper," the manager said. "I think they should hear our opinions and ask for our suggestions

Lian Guangsheng, secretary-general of the Guangzhou Association of Culture and Entertainment, also said it would be premature to implement such a system now because of the many grey areas in existing copyright law.

Guangzhou has about 1,000 karaoke bars.

Lane Fox launches private karaoke clubs

Martha Lane Fox – the internet entrepreneur who founded lastminute.com with Brent Hoberman in 2000 – is behind plans to develop a chain of upmarket karaoke clubs, the first of which opened in London on 28 June.

Lucky Voice Private Karaoke is the creation of advertising executives Jonny Shaw and Julian Douglas, who were first inspired by Shaw’s experience of Japanese-style karaoke when he worked in Tokyo in 1997.

The Soho Lucky Voice club – which has been funded by Lane Fox and managed by her former business colleague Nick Thistleton – features nine private rooms which can each accomodate between four and 10 people.

The rooms are equipped with touchscreen technology for browsing and choosing from the 4,000-strong song library, wireless microphones and percussion. The club also has a fully licensed bar and serves drinks and food with a Japanese twist.

The team hopes to open more Lucky Voice clubs in London and other cities, such as Manchester, over the next few years.

Fox’s latest project comes just over a year after a car accident in Morocco nearly killed her and left her temporarily paralysed.

It also follows the sale of lastminute.com to Travelocity for £577m in May, which netted Fox a reported £13.5m. Details: www.luckyvoice.co.uk

What the heck is wrong with those people?

Maybe I'll get slammed for my opinion, on the other hand I could just get ignored, but on the other hand (not that I have three hands or anything, LoL).......



I'm gonna have to go back and read your whole post more carefully, rather than do my "scan the whole thing really fast & form my own ticked off opinion too fast" way of reading things......... but is it the ORIGINAL SINGERS of the songs who are protesting karaoke? Heaven forbid, are they so vain they're thinking someone out there might can sing the song better than they did? Cause that's stupidity. I for one have many times paid for a song/CD- wether legitimately online through something like AOL Music or Rhapsody, or by buying the cd from a store- JUST because I've heard it on here or at a K-Bar & started liking the song & it sparked my interest in that singer. Whenever I hear something new that really catches my attention- I want to hear the original. Sometimes.......I think alot of times....... karaoke may actually benefit cd sales.

Okay, I'm gonna shut up now & go BACK and read the entire post word for word now & see if I've been too hasty in my opinion.  

 Hiya Tig

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

hi ya charmin... hubba hubba...

Yeah, keep those hubba-hubba's private Tig, I told ya that!!  

Lol, okay THAT took me a few minutes to read. You're doing some serious surfing tonight...... wife asleep & kids on Nyquil? LoL

Interesting stuff..... but the day they start telling me I gotta pay some royalty every time I sing one song in a karaoke bar here...... I'm gonna tell 'em to bite me.....and bare it so they take me seriously. That's crazy........ and totally changed MY mind about my possible move to China's Guangzhou City.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

there are already clubs that charge a fee per song here in the states...

Earnings

Bottom of page 47

Music Publishing revenues increased by $6 million to $607 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2005, compared to $601 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2004, and represented approximately 17% of consolidated revenues for the twelve months ended September 30, 2005

Continuing on pg48 it loke like their biggest loss was a decline in sheet music sales  further down less artist releases.. Could it be the artists are going elsewhere?

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I once went to a new place...... the Ranch (in Woodburn, not a great town to karaoke in)....... where they had the "put $1 in the machine and select your song jukebox style thingamajiggie". I never went back again. It was actually kinda fun, most people there wanted to spend their money on booze (naturally) and I chose to spend mine on singing (naturally) so I got to sing quite a few songs. But I spent I think about $15 on singing alone, and the next day felt kinda dumb, cause that coulda bought me a new cdg of my own. (or about 3-4 drinks...........or an extra set of guitar strings for that matter)  The whole concept was stupid I thought. There was a KJ there. (being a jukebox system, maybe he was a JKJ?) All he did was kinda stand there & do nothing, and then he would throw a music cd on every 4th or 5th song, which I thought was realllllyyyyy stupid.  What a dingy bar for even paying him to be there at all, I sure didn't see him turn any knobs or anything the whole night. That's as close as I'll EVER come to "paying per song"..... and I'd never do it again.  But reading that article, Tig, I'd never have someone count my songs, then charge me at the end of the night for "royalties".

Oh, and I'm lying. I guess I've done that twice. One hillarious nite in Salem I did karaoke at the lounge at Kyoto's on Lancaster. (a chinese restaraunt) But, lordy, that was a priceless experience I'd absolutely pay to do over. Nothing like karaoke in a Chinese restaraunt, and it was a tiny little karaoke machine sitting on the edge of the bar that accepted quarters to put your song up. I could go up and cue up to 4 songs for myself right in a row, but I swear, they maybe had 1000-2000 songs, that was it. But the joy of the night there was listening- not singing myself.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Okay, I went there.......... and all that jazz reminds me too much of the job I just quit, , so I'm not reading all that. I did see where you were talking about- makes you wonder. (if you GUYS just have too much time on your hands, haha- kidding) But that's a bit too much info for my brain to read at  11:15 tonight when I gotta be out job searching tomorrow. I'll be back tomorrow to see if Tig has started another flame war when all the sleepy heads who went to bed by 9 PM get up and get on here.  G'nite everybody.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

charmin.. you kill me girl... g/l on that job search

heya Tig.. wow that was quite interesting reading!

Charmin ~ Was that place on Lancaster once called the Blue Willow.  Of course this was back about 30 years ago.  Chinese restaurants do seem to make the better karaoke places.  Sometime we'll have to go to Chopsticks in Portland, or maybe the Canton!  Kenny and Terri like that place!  --- Don

The Canton has changed soooo much over the past couple of years. I no longer like it, and their kjs are just button pushers!

I wonder - hmmm Who gets the $1 a song. Does the money go to the bar owner
or the KJ? I would feel like a heal charging a $1 a song. Does the KJ collect te money?
What a pain in the butt.

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Hiya Cindy.......good to see you back in the nuthouse g/f.  :wave:  Am I makin' ya laugh? Cause I was being all serious you know.  :wink:

Don- No, it's called the Kyoto Lounge..... I think it's right in that strip mall....... with Chuck E Cheeses. (great, now I'm hungry...) Haven't been there in ages, me & Lonnie went out for our anniversary & that was about all we could find that night in Salem, it was I think a thursday. But it's been about 5 or so years ago. , Kenny would not have lasted there, I tell ya, he would have gotten kicked out for laughing at people. hahaha  That guys got strong opinions & doesn't mind sharing them. But it's all good- I love when he's around at the bar, he's fun. And DON.......30 YEARS AGO..... I was roughly 7!! Nowhere near the age to go bar hopping & looking for karaoke.  :shock:

Babs...... I dunno WHO got that money, coulda been the KJ for all I know. I really didn't ask, just thought it was kinda stupid. And really, the bar was PACKED and there were only like 4 of us singing. So that should tell ya somethin'. Don't know how they run it overseas, but aparently (from what I gleaned off of Tig's post) it's gonna be collected for royalty type fees.

Whut's the world comin' to anyhow?!?!?!? Next they'll put some kinda tax on guitar strings & mic cords and all that stuff.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Good point.  I guess it has changed alot.  I haven't been there that much, mainly my friends have.

Charmin ~ Oh, I know you weren't singing All Jacked Up or something like it at a karaoke bar at age 7!  LOL  It was age 10 wasn't it?  I was just curious if this place used to be called the Blue Willow.  They had good food there, that's what I remember........ After last night at Denny's, I decided there should be some kind of a law that all KJ's need to adjust  the volume of each song and each singer if necessary.  Keep the vocals at a good balance with the music and keep the overall volume consistant.  Not so quiet that you can barely hear it and not so loud that your teeth start to rattle!  Am I asking too much here?

Thank you Cindy. I actually got called in from 2 places I sent resumes to, so cross your fingers for me- I interview tomorrow. Well, maybe don't cross 'em yet, I don't know what either job will be like.  They may have jerks for bosses too...... and if so, I'm gonna just turn around & run like h3ll.  :)  I want my next job to last longer than a year like this one did...... so I need to learn to accurately judge people when I first meet them. Part of my new years resolution actually. So, they aint just gonna be interviewing ME, I'm gonna be scoping THEM out too.



Yes, actually I WAS, , you just didn't know me then Don. hahaha

And it's the people at our karaoke place that need to learn a lesson or two about turning knobs. Lemme guess, it was Troy? And gosh, are you there EVERY nite of the week? I couldn't go to work at all if I did that. But wait, I dont' have a job now, haha, so maybe I can go every nite.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Charmin ~
Actually it was Stacey. Troy was out in the audience looking annoyed because he was the only country singer and he felt out numbered.  But all of them get lazy sometimes.  If there's somebody that the KJ wants to talk too, they start talking instead of paying attention to the singer and the song.  Wednesday, i cut it short, plus I don't have to get to work until noon.  I really do have to get a life someday.