Karaoke Forums

I figure that any update disk i buy should have a track played at least once for every dollar it costs within the first 3 months. so if its a $15 disk I figure that I should play at least 15 tracks from that cd in the first 3 months. (or one track 15 times) I do not buy many new disks (2 in the last 3 months), but find that new country will get sung if it was a popular song. I like the new chart buster stuff cause they make disks of all new songs so I do not have to buy repeats. If tomorow I suddenly could not get any more new songs I do not think it would matter much

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

It's not just new as in this week, it any more music period.

No suppliers, no music new or old.

Hope nobody minds a newbie weighing in on this....in some cases if Sony wins this battle, it MIGHT be a good thing....provided singers could now sing to the original accompaniment.  I have a couple of songs I've tried to find a decent karaoke version to  and most of what I found were really cheezy versions that only sounded a LITTLE like the original.  If the label (or whoever) released a karaoke version using the original accompaniment, that would be perfect.

Also, and this is not really karaoke related but similar....many Christian music labels offer the original accompaniments to their artists' songs.  The selection of course isn't as large as secular music & karaoke, but still pretty big considering that industry isn't really that big either.


Lynda

I very positive thinking, you have there Lynda. In many parts of Asia Sony and many other labels do produce karaoke using original backing. Only in the west do people sing to second rated cover version.

NuTech and a few 'names' - not sure who they affiliated with are also listed in this as defendants as well.  It's a $30 mil lawsuit against all.  Let them shut these companies down, leaves the field wide open for the companies that play by the rules.

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Actually because many churches use karaoke discs in lieu of a band for praise and worship, Christian karaoke is quite big. But you have a great thought. What if.... the majors provided the original artist's backing tracks with onscreen lyrics for download like Itunes? It would increase their revenues and really expand the reach of karaoke. More and more people would get into it.

For $.99 a track?

I know. Dream on Bill.

Welcome to the forum BTW.

I haven't been to any churches that use Christian karaoke, but I'm sure they're out there.  I was speaking more from my angle, as a soloist and also someone who sings karaoke music.  

The Christian music labels with their original artist tracks could easily be the example for Sony to follow, should they decide to offer them.   If you go to songtouch.com, a site with only Christian music downloads, you'll find "Studio Series" accompaniment tracks which are the original artist's versions.   These are from Word Records and their affiliates and have so far been the only one to offer their tracks up there.  Just do a search for "Studio Series" and you'll get a nice selection.  And they are .99 each!  Additionally, they offer their tracks with and without background vocals, and also in multiple keys.  The only drawback is that only the original key accompaniment has background vocals (if applicable).  But it's amazing to see what they can offer.

Napster also has "Studio Series" accompaniments.  

My hope is that eventually all of the labels that offer original artist tracks will offer them online.  At $10 per CD (usually with only a track to one song) it can be pretty expensive.  I would much rather purchase the tracks I need digitally.

BTW, Songtouch doesn't have Christian karaoke from companies like Priddis, but they do offer accompaniment tracks in multiple keys by Ultimate Tracks and Praise Hymn.

Even if it were to go to all original artist karaoke.  You still have the format shift issue.  Which is still a big part of "our" problem.

I'm with you on that Lonnie!  :oh yeah:

To be honest, I often prefer the second cover version over the old sound from the original  you can find many backing that offers a better sound than the original so I wouldn't want the industry to start pulling the old masters and just remove the singer, cause that would often be terrible!!  I just bought a cdg from Queen that uses the original music, the only person missing is Freddie and I tell you, I'm ordering the Zoom version, I don't like the sound   Todays sound and instruments when properly mixed can sound much better than some old originals...

I'm torn between wanting the backing track to closely mimic the original performance and the idea of having the tracks leave more room for personal interpretation.

There have been plenty of songs over the years where both the original and a cover version, though quite different, were both hits!  There are many songs I perform differently enough from the original that the difference is noticeable.  And, sometimes, I don't realize how much I actually changed the song until I next hear the original!

Ok, its been awhile since I posted. So here I go. First I would like to say that I have had extensive dealings with both companies listed in law suit. Further more, my opinion of both companies is not very high. I will say this, the only reason any of these law suits are being filed is because these companies ARE MAKING MONEY!

Just like when all of these companies started going after music sites, realizing  that cd  sales were not making as much as they once were and music sites were starting to explode (legal or not). The first reaction is to sue and get some money, second reaction is to figure out a new business plan for content delivery.

Now while some of these companies like Sony may not sell as many Cds as they once used to, they do have a great business in music, via digital media delivery.

My point.......

No one would really care about Ace/Cavs or anyone else if there wasn't a significant amount of money they feel they are losing to companies like Ace/ Cavs.

Second, I think all of the doom and gloom we here about karaoke is a little early. Its a fact that people are making money selling karaoke. I think very soon you will see people like Sony selling karaoke via a different media.

I think just based on this site alone it will be a digital delivery, and I also think it might be better quality since it will be handled through actual music companies. Yes it will probably be more expensive.........just like gas, gas, gas, and more gas.

Thats just my thought I could be wrong.[/u]

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If you don't love what you're doing for a living, then you're making a killing. (YOURS)

Some clarification of Sony lawsuit.
On the front page of the filing it says $30 million, which is what lonman is refering to. However in the facts of the complaint. this is what it says. !0 divisions of Sony Music are sueing 14 separate defendants for 200 copyright infrigements. The defendants are Cavs, Aaron Hahn, And the korean company  all from Cavs, Ace Karaoke, David Su of Ace karaoke and 9 others all related to Nutech and Nutech Nikkodo.
There are 5 separate claims of infringement for each song and for each defendant.
The infringement claims are Direct Copyright infringement,Contibutry Infringement, Vicarious Infringement, Willful Copyright Infringement. Last is Unfair Competition. On the first 4 counts Sony is asking for statutory relief of $150,000  for each of the 200 songs for each of 4 counts for each of the 14 defendants. I think that puts it at something like 200 million. The fifth count sony is asking for all profits, from as early as 2004 and punitive damages and ofcoarse attorney' fees. Who knows what that might be.
Just an FYI

Well I do agree that for some songs, the second cover version is better....but not always for all.  I don't mind settling for second best, I just have a couple sentimental favorites that I would really like to get a better karaoke track to, or the original artist's track.  But I'll never tell what songs they are (hey a girl's gotta have some secrets, ).

Very true, but this is where the digital remastering could come in to play.   They could remaster it for the CD sales Or downloads and the karaoke sales.