Karaoke Forums

Makes you wonder if all this "catalog renting" is a loophole they found in the system, which could be classified as operating in the gray area...not a bad place to be... JK

Joined to find out more about this thing that I've seen (I was wondering about it myself because I thought it was some sort of spyware trap), and it sounds like they want to try to make digital distribution (DD) work.

The problem is that some manus have to come forwards and accept the technology and why people want to use it and why they go to illegal means to get some things.

It's the simple fact of convenience. For one, who want to lug all those discs around? And who wants to keep waiting and waiting for something to come into the mail or wait until a store has it in stock when you can have it downloaded within seconds from a place that cuts out the middle man, would not be expensive at all (because you're not factoring in the manufacturing costs of making the physical media or the store's cut of the sale), and it would ALWAYS be in stock (no rain checks)? It would be convenient for the person that wants it, and also good for the manufacturer because they don't have to pay manufacturing costs.

It's the sole fact that if you don't give them any other option than a cumbersome, archaic one that just alienates every person who would be a legitimate customer, then sooner or later, the people are going to speak up and just not buy your product. But if they LIKE the product otherwise, then they WILL find the way, and right now, the torrents ARE the only way that one can get digital distribution of the SC catalog, and SC refuses to believe that DD is in any way a good thing, even when iTunes has been...well, successful and has changed the face of how music is bought. Hell, I never thought I would be in a position where Steam would be THE place for me to buy games, but I right now have about 15 or so games that I bought through Steam, and I've been able to take advantage of some out there deals for games I've always wanted to play. But I've ended up upgrading my entire PC just so I can play some of those game because it's just so nice to be able to not have to go out to the local Gamestop and hope that a game I want to play is in stock. And USA Today reported that sales of Blu Ray movies are down because of things like Netflix streaming taking center stage.

See, the thing is that if SC WERE to licence their tracks to this Cloud thing (which is a terrific idea and something I thought should've been done a LONG time ago), then I assure you that many people who do the illegal DLs would legalize themselves because that's what they would WANT SC to do: to provide an easier, more productive means of getting the product they want to get. That would mean DD would be what the doctor ordered (and some have been saying the CD will become extinct soon). Examples like what I've stated above are proof that people aren't going around TRYING to be immoral. They just want to have an easier time picking and choosing what they want out of their catalog, and if SC doesn't provide that on their own, then the would-be customers will find another way.

But SC won't stop the lawsuits or anything like that until we stop accepting them doing so. Until judges brick wall them, and until they stop being able to find any loophole and scare tactic they can, they won't stop because it's making them way too much money. It might take them being forced into having to explore other ways to sell their products before they do so, but for that to happen, someone's got to be the one to put the foot down and say enough's enough. Harrison has to walk away from one, a judge has to say "you can't just go around throwing lawsuits around like candy", and people on forums have to stop apologizing for them, feeling sorry for them, cheering them on, whatever. But the way the internet is nowadays and how people behave on them, there may be no use trying to get the latter to happen (I've seen at least on this site people handling themselves like normal human beings, but I've seen how many people say things just to troll at various places...I'm convinced that you can't ever have a serious, intelligent debate on an internet forum anymore without someone from a place like 4chan making a useless meme and trolling just because they can). But the other things CAN!

And as someone said above: SC got caught not adopting the next-gen idea and thinking being king of the hill meant they could be lazy and take advantage of their own popularity while others stepped up their game, adopted the DD model, and are still going strong.

Here's the thing: if these other manus have continued to do well DESPITE the piracy claims and DESPITE the illegal stuff, then piracy is NOT SC's problem, and they might have to force their heads out of their asses in order to realize that.

Having it first isn't a big deal - 9 out of 10 times most of the newer songs out today people don't want to sing (country being the somewhat exception). I'll wait for the disc, unfortunately that may not be an option soon. Now newer - 'back catalog' stuff (stuff from 70's-early 2000) is much more desireable for most singers at least in our club which is populated with 21-early 40's age group. The younger kids are singing the older songs more often than I hear or see requests for anything current.

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I'm sure piracy is hitting all the manus. to one point or another. PHM is putting out crap because it's too expensive to license the good stuff, maybe if people weren't stealing their stuff they could afford to pay the higher fees - speculation yes, but makes you wonder. They used to be right on top of the current 'hot' hits, instead of current fluff.

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Darkpowrjd,

There are a couple of misconceptions I would like to correct...First off you can get the SC tracks available in digital format...it is called the "Gem Series"...people are not forced to steal the tracks. Second "The Cloud" is a product that may become an option for KJ's that are new to the game or wish to expand a library (when they release the "Cloud Pro"). I have no problem with those that wish to do so. Many (myself included) would not see the need to rent our libraries....we prefer to own the tracks. I am able to see the positives and the drawbacks of both options renting your library does cut the cost of start up considerably....owning your library insulates you from having song "disappear" when licencing expires of is discontinued.Third there is no need to lug all those discs around now. I am proof of that I have my certifications/letters from 5 manufactures allowing me permission to use my converted library without fear of lawsuit from them and protecting my venues as well. I am still working on getting the same from other now defunct manufactures as well. I hope that this help clear up some of the misconceptions you had posted.

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

But can you buy just a single track from the "Gem Series" catalogue No, and it's for KJ's only, not the home users... so the OP was correct

"But can you buy just a single track from the "Gem Series" catalogue No, and it's for KJ's only, not the home users... so the OP was correct"

No Mickey you can not buy just one track...yes it is for KJ's only....."The Cloud" at this time is for home users only....so what is the comparison ? Apples to oranges ? What am I missing ? the OP had started his post with references to "the Cloud" and the ONLY digital product available for KJ's (PRO use) is "the Gem Series" at this time.

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

Hello?!?!? Pop Hits!!!

Pop Hits ? I sure HOPE they return to a viable option in the future. The last year I purchased from them we had 3 songs used ALL YEAR from 36 discs...that was over 2 years ago. I am sorry I forgot about them...again I HOPE they return to being the quality brand they once were.

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

I suppose you're entitled to your opinion as to all of the above, but your analysis ignores two essential facts.

First, the thing about stealing SC's music isn't that it's "more convenient" but that it's "free" to steal. I'm sure there are people who steal now who would buy if they could buy single-track downloads, but there are many more people who would still just steal, because it doesn't cost them anything. More than any other single factor, lawsuits drive sales by imposing a cost on stealing. My goal is to make it cheaper to buy than to steal--and that's as it should be.

Second, the demand for the use of SC's music has never been stronger than it is today. As you might imagine, I go to a lot of karaoke shows. Other brands get some play, but the lion's share goes to SC most of the time. There are two exceptions: (1) the host has made a conscious decision not to play SC, either because he doesn't own any or he wants to avoid a lawsuit; and (2) when the show focuses almost exclusively on new music, usually because it is a younger crowd.



The other manus you refer to are not "continuing to do well despite the piracy." All manus are suffering. How much they suffer appears to depend primarily on (1) whether their music is costly to produce, and (2) whether they are paying the proper license fees for their music.

WHIPLASH ALERT:

First the wind-up:


And now, some reinforcement for a bigger whiplash effect:





So "avoiding a lawsuit" for a KJ and protecting their jobs and their venues is somehow a bad thing?
(I suppose if your entire business model is built on lawsuits, this IS a bad thing.)

And finally, the whiplash reason why SC is now admittedly, fading away and not in fact, the "most popular"

SC's discontinued library isn't getting any younger on its own. It's pretty much nothing more than a collection of oldies -- granted they are good renditions, but getting older every day. And other companies that offer digital downloads are responding to renditions of those "songs people like to sing" just fine.

The lion's share of requested songs are Sound Choice?? maybe in the bigger cities it is, not around here. I think Harrington thinks a bit too highly about his client's product. They have not put out a product since 2009. EVERY other company that is in business has crushed SC in music production, just because SC has given up on production. All Harrington is doing is trying to sell his client's product for him. Maybe he should drop the law profession and become Kurt's lead salesman.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

They are for me!

Not around here.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

They've NEVER been around here, and becoming less so as venues and hosts have been phasing them out rather than deal with waves in a smooth-running business. This lack of exposure alone is causing any SC name recognition to fade.

Add to that 5 years with no production ( except for one very small run of a single disc in - I think- 2009). This means 5 years of new singers reaching 21 and bar age. They know or care nothing about SC.

Older tracks have quality coverage with other brands, and newer tracks aren't available from SC.

They have lost what niche they might have had here, and if they were to decide to make less money than they do litigating, and return to production, they would have to start at the bottom again. Not only that, they would have to overcome the negative impact of their name, and may well have to change their label to regain a foothold.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

SC seems more popular around here than they ever were. More & more people (newbies) are specifically asking for SC versions.

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I agree with Lonman.....when a brand is requested more people of all ages are asking for Sound Choice at our shows. And we are getting many more people that used to go to other shows that have now eliminated SC and CB. I am also seeing very little "new" music being requested by singers of all ages.....most of the 20 something singers that are new to our shows are singing music for the 70's, 80's and early 90's...with the exception of some country

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

Are you getting requests for the soundchoice version of these songs?

Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
Train - Hey Soul Sister
Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
Lmfao - Party Rock Anthem
Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

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KNOW THYSELF

No trick questions, ease...

Or Michael Bublé