Karaoke Forums

Hello everyone, I'm Scott, my wife and I run a little Bar in Arizona, a few months back we lost our Karaoke Man, we've had a couple of different host's, but things just aren't 'clicking. For over a year I hosted my own Internet Radio Show, and we've decided to set up our own system and try things out. I've started investing a little money, I purchased an external hard drive already loaded with songs from a well known Vegas DJ service, and I have a newer model laptop with all cords to connect the 2 and connect to the TV, now for the Hard part, ............. speakers, mic's, amp, eq, am here hoping someone can steer me in the right direction to finish out this small system? Am DEFINITELY a Newbie, so ANY and ALL help is MUCH appreciated!! Thanks, Stoner.

Hi Scott,

First of all welcome to the forum, there's a lot of really knowledgeable people here so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Now the bad news... The hard drive you bought. Did the company you bought it from also supply you with the original discs? If not... RETURN IT ASAP!!!! and get your money back. Whatever you do, DO NOT use it in a show!!! Unless the original discs for every song on the drive were included, the drive is ILLEGAL no matter what the seller may claim.

If you check some of the posts on the forums you'll see that lawsuits have been filed against a number KJ's and venues using hard drives. I'm not going to get into the particulars but it really has opened up a nasty can of worms, with lots of different opinions on how things are or are not being handled by those involved. So far suits have been filed in three states, with AZ being the first.

That said, running a show off a computer is definitely the way to go, just make sure that you have the original discs to backup what you have on the drive. It could save you a lot of grief and legal hassles later on down the road.

Once again, welcome to the forum. There are lots of good people here who are more than willing to help steer you in the right direction to get things done correctly. Hopefully I haven't scared you off, just don't be afraid to ask for help.

Regards,
KarenB
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Thanks for the quick response, welcome, and info...... Yes, I did do that part right, The external I bought comes with all originals and paperwork, checked it out on our old karaoke man's advice, as well as the salesman himself telling me to check the business out as well as the system, it's new, comes with all software and paperwork(our previous dj had gone thru what you told me about a year ago, so I was able to learn from his experience at least). And as things generally do, they worked themselves out, he came in this morning and had found a good deal on a mixer and sub woofer/speakers, now we are set up except for mic's which I will be picking up next week while in Vegas. Will keep you all posted and comment and ask Questions along the way........... Thanks again everyone and Peace!!!! S.

I'm also assuming you pay all the appropriate fees to ASCAP and BMI and whoever else.

Is this the bar on top of the mountain between Phoenix and Nevada border on AZ 93 or the new 93?
If it is the old one I stayed at the little motel there in Dec 1983.

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O'kay, so this is a new one, why would I be required to pay fee's to ASCAP and BMI ? I mean, I've bought a licensed system with all paperwork included for the songs................?

You have paid for the Karaoke songs, but not a license to perform them in public.

IE... You have a live U2 cover band playing U2 songs next Sat night. You pay the band for that nights work, but who pays the BONO and EDGE for your establishment using their songs commercially???

ASCAP and BMI do...


Anyways welcome to the board and good luck.

PS hold on to the original karaoke discs that came with that hard drive, especially now that you have posted your address.
There are Karaoke manufacturers that INTEND to sue anyone that runs PC based karaoke shows, EVEN if you own all those discs you might be required to prove it to them via being named in a lawsuit.

If you have ANY entertainment TV's, Jukeboxes, Live Bands, Karaoke or just a radio playing in the background for you customers to listen to you have to pay ASCAP & BMI Fees as part of being a business owner that allows these functions to happen. You need to check them out as if they find you doing any of the above it could be a large fine.

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

Well, certainly glad everyone pitched in to answer............. I think I'll put our Karaoke on hold until I research all of this. I mean, I'm all for the artist getting credit for their work, but, having to buy all the music up front, and then pay for each song played individually afterward for each time you play it, seems to be taking it too far to me. Anyway, I know a Lot of you won't agree with me, but that's o'kay, very few people ever do, .................. This just smells of "Double Indemnity" to me, like buying a house and paying it off, but then being forced to continually pay a use tax to live in it, just my weird way of thinking about things I guess.

Anyway, Thanks Everyone for your input and info, and Keep on Rockin', we'll just stick with our Jam Bands that do only Original songs(no covers)and our Authorized Jukebox, at least that way, we pay the band, and we pay the Jukebox company and their fee's, as for ASCAP and BMI, as long as they're involved in things, our bar won't be having Karaoke, even their own members have sued them for non-payment of royalties, at least according to 80% of the articles I've read since hearing about them here.

Peace, Love and Sunshine folks, Stoner.

"Double Indemnity" ???
It is like buying a thousand BLU RAY movies, yes you paid for the discs... But can you ADVERTISE, charge admission, and sell popcorn without getting permission(licensing) from the producers????

BMI/ASCAP gets you permission to use those Karaoke discs, jukebox, music from TV... in public for profit.

You dont pay per song, and I know the last bar that talked to me about ASCAP... Fees broke down to about $14 per week.

And ASCAP/BMI is not just about karaoke, depending on size and other criteria(tvs/jukebox/radio/size). Their artists dont get paid if you play their song on the jukebox if you arnt paying them.

Thank you again, I could get into an entire debate on this subject, but even being a Newbie I know this isn't the forum................ I'd like to say first, that I submitted info and began a licensing inquiry with ASCAP this afternoon, we will be completely 'legal' when we start. As to making any money, our local ASCAP rep will make the determination, but we never charge a cover, and have no entry fee's, our Karaoke, and Jam Bands are free to all patrons, we're a Locals Bar with No Locals, trust me, we are remote, with the nearest overnight lodging is 50 miles away unless you have an RV or tent, .

I Thank Everyone for their Input and look forward to learning as I go along. P, L & Ss, S.

Also, our Jukebox is Registered and Compliant, I checked that today as well, as for radio, none, as for tv, we have basic satelite that 98% of the time is showing news..... and we do pay the commercial/bar rate in order to cover All artist, carrier, and network fee's, we Never order PPV........ so after we get ASCAP, BMI, and anyone else the 2 say we need we'll be 100% legal................ Thanks for ALL the Info Folks, you've saved me a Ton of headaches, no matter my personal feelings on their fee's, ............. P, L, & Ss. S.

Even jam bands, doesn't matter if they are a paid band or not - if they play cover music at all, then you should already be paying the publishing fees. Even a simple tv, or playing music from a radio, etc. Even if you have a dance floor or not will factor into the cost.
Also, ASCAP is only one of three, they only takes care of the songs that ascap covers, you also need to pay BMI and SESAC. Trust me, our bar didn''t feel they needed to and once karaoke started, they started receiving letters, but threw them away, until one of those letters were from the attorneys. They now comply and have since 94.

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Well as long as you are using a computer for your karaoke, you will never be 100% legal, as it is not legal at this time - even with original disc, however if you do have the original disc to match up to every song on the computer, you shouldn't have a problem, unless the writers of the songs themselves start to get involved, which is unlikely.

Also this thread is just for introductions for the most part. You may start a new topic in one of the other threads for actual discussion/debate

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Can't really offer technical help but I can cheer you on.
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