Karaoke Forums

I'm just wondering if the idea I floated over two years ago is due for another look? I have always felt that a simple fee to shift material from one media to another is the go to move for manus like SC, rather than this one size fits all legal approach of theirs. This shifting license would apply only to SC and is offered without the audit. The license has to be renewed every year in order to continue to use the SC product. It would eliminate the need to license the $5,000.00 GEM series, which is to cost prohibitive for most KJ's. If as James says the number of illegal hosts are 90% or more, it could net a great deal of money for SC, and the only cost would be the printing of the licenses. At least this way there would be a record of the number of hosts out here, and that way you could begin to get a handle on the problem. If the yearly license fee is the cost of an audit $150.00, and most hosts sign up it could raise a great deal of money for SC on a yearly basis, without the legal expenses they are now incurring. I know that this is too simple a plan for such a complex problem, but it is a way to settle things quickly and still recover money for SC. Now I'll wait for the incoming. Have a nice day.

I agree. I would pay a flat fee per year for PRINTED license. That way you could show that you are legit too all.

_________________
Still love to sing!

...Just wanted to pull this quote out:

"This shifting license would apply only to SC and is offered without the audit."

...So, without an audit does that mean a TRUE PIRATE could just get a certificate that would cover his/her ILLEGALLY OBTAINED SC TRACKS? Meaning that they never purchased any original SC Discs.

...Not trying to be a jerk here but I just don't see that working.

Which sounds like something similar to Stellar Records' (Pop Hits Monthly/Sing It Now) CAP Program.




And then you would need to get a license from:
Backstage
Dangerous
DK
Legends
Lost Classics
Music Maestro
Nikkodo
NuTech
Performance Tracks
Pioneer
Pocket Songs
Pop Hits Monthly
Priddis
Sound Images
Standing Ovation
Sunfly
Top Hits Today
Top Hits Monthly
Top Tunes
Zoom

Just to name a few.

And how much would you suggest the KJ pay for all of those? I don't know about you, but I haven't done a show in 1 year now (due to my regular job interfering with that). But, when I was doing shows, I was doing about 10 to 12 shows in the whole year. I was getting paid between $150 to $200 per show. Now, at (your proposed) $150 per license per Manufacturer, I think I would end up paying to do a show instead of earning.

Yes you are right, but I didn't make myself clear. I meant $150 for a license from all in one certificate. But yes again the pirates could go on doing what they are doing. How sad it is that to be legal cost too much.

_________________
Still love to sing!

Pirates don't want to pay for anything. What makes you think that they would pay Sound Choice for a license? Especially now that it looks like the Sound Choice's ship is quickly taking on water?

You are ODB. No license needed.

-Chris

_________________
-Chris

Not quite true. I know a host that has by his own admission has not payed for a huge percentage of his music but doesn't even bat an eye at spending $800 on a brand new monitor.

I'm actually kind of jealous that he has such a good sound system.

I would report him to sound choice, but if anyone found out I had snitched, absolutely no one in my karaoke circles would prolly talk to me, and if I ever tried to host again no one would probably come.

besides they prolly have enough tips they need to catch up on in the US.


As for the one fee for everyone idea.. They tried to do that and failed miserably.. I can't even remember what it was called.. KIAA?

Create a fake GMail account then report.

-Chris

_________________
-Chris

I would not pay a fee to shift. There are 1000's and possibly 10s of 1000's of DJs that converted discs to files and no one cares in the least that I've heard of. Publishers and copyright holders have all but given up the fight to stop people from having control of their music, whether it's a dj or home user. Most now invite it. This idea is antiquated and stale. Sure, the publishers know some people are going to pirate their stuff. Its just not worth going after little guy after little guy and it ruins their name.

The better concept is to make it easier to buy than it is to steal and that is working better than any ground level police effort ever has. Once educated, most people will "do the right thing". Hey, I did Napster before the point was made that it really was stealing and I changed my ways then and there. I just didn't think about it being wrong. Yes, there are some people who will keep doing it regardless. I would bet many of those do not fear the ground level suits because they think, "It's not going to happen to me". And it probably won't.

...So you don't think a new Karaoke Organization would change things?

Yeah. Join the rat squad and turn in your friends. Just try to avoid looking in any mirrors.

What!!! So I can't speak on behalf of others???? You've done so. Just because I applied my last post to my situation, doesn't mean there aren't others out there who don't do many shows (and aren't ODB).

Organized properly, yes it would. I don't think it will ever happen. I asked about the details of the BMI type organizations because I thought it was a start to a proper model and it seems to work with a contract by the writers signing authority over to BMI. Karaoke producers would never do that. My question with regard to the writers still being able to protect their own interests even after signing over to the BMI's went unanswered but I think the answer is no.
Even still, you should be able to show you purchased your music FOR EACH SYSTEM and be done with it.

You propose a scenario about non-existent, hypothetical program and about manufacturers that no longer exist or aren't involved in karaoke any longer. Thus you are asking a question to which no one can provide an answer.

I provided an answer to your specific scenario addressed specifically and only to you and to which there is a definitive solution.

-Chris

_________________
-Chris

I did not propose the scenario.... The Lone Ranger did. I just added to it. As for the Manufacturers I listed, some of them very much so exist... Zoom, Sunfly, Pop Hits Monthly (aka Sing It Now), Pocket Songs. And there are several others that still exist (which I didn't mention).

Simple fee to shift?

The very act of shifting requires that you have an original mfr's product from which to shift.

How do you determine whether the shifted product originated from an original mfr's product that is in the possession of the shifter?

I would create a fee structure like the following:

Shift fee without an audit = $10,000.00 (annual) per system.

Shift fee with an audit = $150.00 (annual) per system.

The idea of a blanket fee without verification rewards thieves and punishes those of us who have played by the rules regardless of the brand of karaoke that is used.

The idea that you brought up 2 years ago was nonsense then and it still is now.

_________________
Never the same show twice!

...Yep, guess I should just sale off all of my Karaoke CDGs, SD Cards, Chartbuster Approved Drive and any other legit Karaoke Media, then keep my Hard Drive to play from and go "Rogue" or "Rebel Without A Cause" ....ball up my fist, shake it at the remaining Karaoke Manufacturers In Business and yell, "HOW DARE YOU!!!" THIS IS NOT FAIR!!! YOUR MUSIC SHOULD BE FREE FOR ALL TO USE AND ENJOY...ANYWHERE...ANYTIME!!! HAVEN'T YOU HEARD, CAPITALISM IS OVER!!! WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND IT BE FREE FOR ALL!!! IF WE CAN'T GET IT FOR FREE, WE'RE GONNA STEAL IT OR MAKE OUR OWN HOMEMADE KARAOKE TRACKS!!! AND IF THE KJ DOESN'T PLAY THEM, WE'RE GONNA PROTEST!!! ...OCCUPY COMMERCIAL KARAOKE VENUES & KARAOKE MANUFACTURERS EVERYWHERE!!! ....rant completed!

...By the way, when "I" look in the mirror, I may see a guy who needs a shave but NOT a Karaoke Track Thief!

...and some people wonder why this country is going in the direction it is???

woah boy....don't shift gears, it is not about stealing music you havent paid for, it is about shifting music you did pay for to another medium as every entity in the music industry except SC allows you to do for free. this is only about shifting music which hurts nobody.
not picking on her at all, but she was the most vocal about this, Athena has wished that every manu charges and does audits, vs that massively expensive scenario to continue using music you already purchased, a one fee would be better.


that is the point, unless you have done an SC audit, you ARE a thief in the eyes of Slep-Tone until you prove otherwise. no one else is calling you a thief.

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

it's anonymous to report them, they would never find out..... just do it!!!!! if you don't then it will never get done.

_________________
It's all good!