Karaoke Forums

I have read comments by karaoke hosts that went to the DJ conventions and felt they were second class citizens. While karaoke may not be a fad I think it's heyday came with the inception of American Idol. While the show is still on it has gone through many changes just like karaoke. Who knows someday there might be virtual karaoke with a hologram 3d audience and all the applause any singer could want, no waiting on the rotation. Eventually karaoke will go the way of disco and mechanical bulls. The Baby Boomers are the single largest segment of the market. For years they have been the egg going through the snake. They might even break the social safety net due to their numbers. I would say the audience because of them will be stable at least for the next 10 to 20 years. After that who knows, new music tastes don't lend themselves to the karaoke format, as well as older forms of music. Every form of entertainment has it's era, when the last time Holly Wood made a musical other than a Broadway Show? I think the main reason karaoke has gotten the notice it has, is because of the SC legal process, getting the attention of the publishers. It might be the kind of notice that the karaoke industry would be better off not getting.

Lone Ranger, we DJs don't complain because there is nobody to complain to, nobody cares. I'm sure I've lost gigs to DJs with illegal music, most likely because of price. I can't worry about it, it would just be silly to waste my time on it.

KJs seem to be much more obsessed with the piracy issue, maybe due to the limited number of gig possibilities, many more private events available to DJs than to KJs so more opportunities to make money.

I compete for the very same venues for trivia that KJs do for karaoke, and I'm certain most of the individual trivia hosts cut and paste their questions from the internet. Do I care? No. Do they all charge less than I do? Almost exclusively. So how does my company succeed in spite of this? We deliver a better product, my hosts all look and act professionally, they have brand new equipment and I only hire folks who can engage the crowd and provide the entertainment that we are paid to do. Pretty Simple. "Question Piracy" doesn't affect my business plan.

Which reinforces the point I made on an earlier post Rick, you provide a superior product at a fair price. American Capitalism at it's best. Go Rick!

You are confusing trademark and copyright law. In trademark law, using a confusingly similar mark to another's senior mark can be infringement. You are assuming that no one should be confused by a karoake singer impersonating an artist. Now let's turn to copyright law where the expression (original words, lyrics, music) that one artist may set forth in a tangible medium (paper, recording, computer disk) is protected from copying (or from a substantially similar work). These are totally different concepts. One is trading without authorization on another's good name and/or good will that was built in the marketplace through use of the mark associated with the goods or services (trademarks, service marks, even recognizable voice - see Tom Waits case), while the other (copyright infringement) is a rip off of the artist's original creative work where no prior use is necessary and reputation is not a factor.

Now that SC has settled with CAVS and it has been revealed by Jim that Kurt's insurance paid to clean up the mess. I was wondering if this is setting the stage for a final settlement scenario for the EMI suit as well. It would seem the best outcome would be for SC to settle with the details kept secret, rather than risk a final court judgment that could bankrupt the company. Of course if SC went down in flames I'm sure they would pull a CB Phoenix and rise from the ashes. Jim can always use the lame excuse that they wanted to fight it out but the Insurers forced them to settle like KTS did. Which brings up the question if settlements can't be counted as wins or losses, why does SC put settlements with hosts in their win column?

LR, you keep harping on insurance paying in lawsuits like it's something dirty. Most businesses carry O&E (Omissions & Errors) insurance plus other types of insurance just like doctors, lawyers, and other professionals carry malpractice or similar insurance. It's no big deal.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Tim I don't have a problem with insurance companies selling their products. It is important to know how insurance companies work, however. They have share holders like any other company and they have guidelines determining risk, how much they charge in premiums. A good adjuster determines when it is to the advantage of the insurer to fight in court, and when to make a settlement. If the case is weak it is a good option to settle to limit liability. That is what KTS's insurer did. Then Jim said oh KTS wanted to fight but their insurance company wouldn't back their play. It is a way out for any company to merely say we wanted to fight but our insurer felt it was in their best interests to settle. They have to make that call since they are the one's on the hook to pay the final tab. Now it just remains to be seen if they will go the settlement route with EMI. Hosts that settle with SC are viewed as pirates that chose to settle. If SC settles with EMI will they be viewed as pirates, or will the old cheerleader double standard be applied again?

Maybe EMI will list Sound Choice on their web site under Certified Karaoke Producers? That way they can go on about their business and not have to answer any more questions about it.

Does that mean SC would have to have an audit Rick?