It's with great regret that I have to announce that due to the completely unfair practices of the music publishers in this country, the iCroons.com project will have to be abandoned indefinitey. We tried to play fair and offer KJs a simply source for legally purchasing and downloading MP3+G content, but evidently, even linking to sites in other countries is something that will invite a lawsuit.

You KJs need to really understand how absolutely ruthless the music publishers are in this country. They are the reason that Sound Choice can't offer downloads and had to sell out their catalog to the karaoke channel in Canada, the reason why Digitrax can only offer music rentals, and the reason why over in the UK they're doing so well because they don't have the level of greed and complexity that exists with publishers in this country.

That being said, although I can't legally promote piracy, I can give an opinion on the matter, and that opinion is that until the music publishers of this country play on a level playing field, I personally have no problem with the thought of KJs downloading millions of karaoke songs for free every day. Why wouldn't they? It's the easiest route and the music publishers frankly deserve it for their lack of vision and their lack of caring about the people who would want to legally purchase their content here in the U.S., and they refuse to offer a simplified system like they have over in the U.K.. I don't have the resources to influence congressmen or fight them in court. In fact, the entire American karaoke industry combined doesn't have the resources. All I can do is to inform you KJs of what the situation really is and let you decide for yourselves.

Evidently, the situation has changed according to their latest post. It would seem the publishers have finally caved on the download rules in the U.S. It's about time. It only took them how many years?

?? Can you please share us the link for their latest post. Inquiring minds want to know.

An update to the previous post. I just got off a 3 way phone call with representatives of karaoke.com (also here in Baltimore) and Digitrax (karaoke cloud). I don't know if it's timing or pure coincidence, but the evidently the American publishers have finally caved on their downloading rules. I was called to be informed that Digitrax will be offering MP3+G downloads (not rentals) and now has the legal authority to do so, and they will be carrying content from Amercian karaoke producers as early as next month when their site goes live.

However, because of the fact that the music publishers have different contracts in each country, the concept of iCroons and a single one stop portal to connect you to all the different sites around the world would still be a legal liability for us, so instead of integrating just an American site's catalog into Karma, we will stick with our current model of having web links to all of them so users can "shop" different sites and decide for themselves.

I can't emphasize enough that this is good news, and that my point about a little rebellion being a good thing still holds true. The pirates, combined with other countries leading the way have forced the American publishers hand and this is a good thing. I've already been invited to speak again at the next karaoke summit in Las Vegas and I will still push for making the KJs job easier and still push for the legal right to offer something like iCroons that can combine different countries offerings.

We are making progress, and the future of karaoke is bright. Stay tuned, and we'll keep you posted.

No he pulled it down....said it went "viral"

I thought "going viral" was a good thing.

If it's the wrong info I guess not.

watch his page for the update to be removed as Digitrax has said he misunderstood something and NO download licence is available for US use. The original rant post is available on the "other forum"

Athena

Smoothedge69,

I agree...renting music is not for me either. The problem that remains is that the producers will not allow licencing for downloads in this country. If one good thing came from Latshaw's rant it was to explain that the domestic producers have been UNABLE to offer downloads.