Karaoke Forums

Just a side note, Chartbuster recently released One Hit Wonders, with maybe half of the songs I've never seen before released before by anyone else and these are oldies. There are plenty of older songs not made into karaoke versions that I wish were. Legends also in the past year or so has produced some artist specific karaoke versions from artists like the very popular back in the seventies Boz Scaggs. Maybe if we would start a new thread about older songs we wish were karaoke versions they would pay attention but I'm sure alot of it has to do with licensing.

_________________
Man Must Know His Limitations -Clint Eastwood

I get requests all the time for new stuff...Especially country...And they do become
"regular songs" sung by multiple people for extended periods. I can think of dozens right now... "Stay", "Too Busy Being Fabulous", "Shift Work", about every single by Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Taylor Swift...The problem with NOT having songs as they are requested is that if the person is a new customer they will most likely be turned off and go elsewhere if you don't have what they want. There are 5 or more Karaoke bars in a 5 mile radius from where I work. If you don't have the music then eventually you are not going to grow your business. You will have the same 10 or so old fogies... singing the same old 30 year old songs until they die... leaving you with no business. It's just like anything else... No matter how great a KJ is or the sound... if they don't have songs that I want to sing I aint sticking around.

..... Going to a Karaoke bar that doesn't have the songs that you want to sing is like going to a restaurant that doesn't have any food you like to eat... why do it?[/i]

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

Unfortunately there are many major complications.

What may play well at your show may not be what sells in the whole karaoke market...

For example EVERY karaoke maker seems to make "Love Shack" by the B52s but hardly any other B52s songs make it to karaoke....

Most manufacturers seem to have the approach that a KJ will get their whole lineup from one company (them) and therefore they need to have all of the regular songs (and those are the same for most of the big companies).

Most of the Karaoke companies try to find a niche. For most of the major companies they attempt to be a one stop provider of all the songs you will need. Sound Choice, Zoom, Sunfly, Chartbuster .... fall into this catagory.


Remember that only a tiny minority of KJs are really trying to be the best and do it legitimately. For every KJ out there attempting to have 20,000+ different (good) songs there are probably a 100 KJs or home setups with under 2000 songs. Therefore the driving factor in the market is the very popular songs bought by the mass market.

Panorama (Pop hits monthly) and THM attempt to be the supplier of current music as their specialty.

Only a few small companies seem to be concentrated on the unique special songs.

When it comes to the oddball hits that may go over well in your show, well they may not go over well in lots of shows. In the past it may have been good to have a list of only a 1000-2000 standard songs, and that was a Karaoke show. Since most KJs did not want to cary more than a few hundred disks, the practical limit was less than 10,000 songs.

With the advent of computers and CAVs systems the limit was removed. Kjs started to look for something that would put them in a special catagory in having songs no-one else had. This was less of a need in the past, but now choice seems far more important for the Karaoke list. Especially with the competition sometimes flaunting downloaded (or even fairly purchased) lists of tens of thousands of songs.




Fortunately a few companies seem to specialize in the hard to get songs not made by anyone else (SBI seems to be the largest).

Expect to pay a bit more (around $4 a song), but if it is a song that is going to fit well with your crowd it will be worth it.

Sometimes it can help your show a lot. My most popular song (in terms of being sung over the last few months is "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie. Only made by SBI, but I have had at least 6 different singers sing it on different days and in total it has probably been sung about 20 times in 50 shows. It is starting to wear on ME, but for most of my shows the crowd changes to the extent that I am the only one seeing it as being extemely overplayed, for most people it is the first time they have ever heard it sung at ANY karaoke.

Such obscure songs are less likely to be made in the Country genre, because US copyright laws make it difficult, and in the UK where copyright is more tolerant in terms of karaoke, the more obscure country songs are far less popular.

You need to consider that a large portion of revenue for karaoke manufacturers these days is NOT from professional kjs but individuals. Manus are now gearing towards the HOME market. Re- releasing discs that contain mostly HITS ( duplicates for many kj's in the business for years). But these HITS and compilations are selling to all the singers who now choose to sing home most days.

Sad but true

If your a kj your show might be like this ... You work the same place week after week
85% regulars on one week or another. These singers sing the same handful of songs week after week. If you HAVE these in your library ...no need to keep buying the NEW MONTHLY RELEASES....unless you get a few requests for the hot songs ...then most likely you go out and but it. but not until you get requests ..in the OLD days I was buying 5 or 6 discs a month ...then I got smart

You are absolutely right, Knight! I came across some amazing finds with Sunfly's Most Wanted!! For other "must have" songs, I forked over the cash for a karaoke creator. It does a good job taking vocals out of 40% of the music that I've tried. I've been able to add some Social Distortion songs, as well as some old school punk rock songs that I know will never be made by any manufacturers because they simply will not sell enough.

I do something similar to Lonman. I keep a running list of songs that people request. If I can't buy them, my last resort is to make them. I think eventually the companies will see value in adding more obscure songs in order to stand out from the rest of the pack.

Depends on the song & crowd. Most of my "new" song requests again are for country & some of them have become somewhat regular.



Sugarland is huge, although i've had Stay for quite a while & think i've heard sung where I could count on one hand.



I disagree. People will stay if all other things are good, ie sound, rotation habits, atmosphere, waitstaff, crowd response. Not having a couple brand new songs now is not going to hamper 'growing' a business (unless that is all your business is relying on). If they ask me if I have a song & I don't, I pull up the clipboard & tell them I don't have it now, but will get it for them & get their email/myspace info as well at that point. They are usually very content with that & find something else. Our crowds do not seem to be suffering because I don't have every new song out. As a matter of fact they are stronger than they have been in years lately with avg 21-35 age group. These people are not asking for new songs, when they ask me for music to buy, it is mostly requests from the 70's-90's rock/pop, then new country and occasionally something from todays radio.



I can agree to a point but this would be a matter of not ever buying ANYTHING to add to the books. I am buying new catalog material all the time - new material doesn't mean current radio hits, these are not what are wanted. I used to buy the discs the minute they hit the shelves back in the early 90's only to find that SOME may be sung, and only for a few days, maybe a week or so, then become a dust collector. I bought these because I had the mentality that these are the songs that people wanted, I was wrong. When I put out a clip board to find out what people really wanted, I was very surprised - this was back in 95 & the pattern is still the same today.



I would apologize if you couldn't find something to sing in my book, but I am willing to bet even you do not sing only new (current radio) hits only.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

You keep confusing new with new.

New songs that are popular and on the radio now are not the problem. And yes people are requesting songs to get that are on the radio for the first time this week. They want them the second they hear it. If I never hear "Stay" again I'll be very happy.

I'm talking about new songs that nobody has done yet. Songs that were popular 20-30-40 years ago. Songs that were big at the time. And they had radio air time.


Bill look at the Sound Choice forum. They have a thread titled "song requests." In fact there are many different song request threads. There are hundereds of songs that people have asked for. I'm sure if you looked at the list you would find some songs you want to sing.

Knight, Just because Sound Choice is unable to or won't make them doesn't mean some other company (like Sun Fly or Chartbusters) can't look at their requested song list thread and steal (use) (our) the ideas for "new" older songs. If you make them they will sell.

I understand the whole return on investment thing too. They have to make money. So the songs would have to pay for themselves and have profit money left.


Sunfly must be doing ok with their Most Wanted series.

Keeping your song book fresh with "new" new or "new" old material can't be bad for business.

Car manufacturers offer many types and styles of vehicles. Nobody buys one of each. You buy the one you like the best for your needs. But it is nice that you have a selection and not just one vehicle that you have to settle for.

Frank, I know this is a little off the thread but I wanted to make a quick comment on this.

In my experience (and every venue will be different) there are far fewer "serious" karaoke singers to whom a deep and current library is important than those who just come for the fun of it and sing whatever's familiar.

At a restaurant, the food's the thing! At a karaoke bar there are many quality factors ranging from the sound, the drinks, the service, the size and type of crowd, the host's personality, the seating, the decor, the location, etc. I've been to bars' karaoke nights that have a great library, but the place is relatively empty or in a not-so-great neighborhood. I've also been to bars' karaoke nights that have excellent sound, and strong cheap drinks, but perhaps a more modest library.

So IMHO the restaurant analogy doesn't apply here. Again, if you're at a 7-night-a-week karaoke venue it might be different.

_________________
[font=Lucida Console]DangerousKaraoke.com[/font]
[font=Lucida Console]"Sing for the day, sing for the moment, sing for the time of your life!"[/font]

All right sidewinder. I gave you mine. I wish someone would do some Richard Cheese. So what specifically would you like released on karaoke? What prompted you to start this thread?

BTW I've been to the SC forum and noticed that several things asked for have been released internationally. Just not on Sound Choice. And Richard Cheese has been mentioned several times on that forum, but still nothing. Anywhere. So I'm aware that there are some areas that could still be covered.

I have heard many singers complain to me about other Kjs that don't update for 3-5 years. They also complain about small selections.

I have a big one.

Singers always compliment my selection. Do I have every song in the world? Nope and that will never happen. People bring in their own discs to play on a regular basis. I can not and will not have every song that everyone wants to sing.

I want new songs so I can keep the nonsingers happy with different songs.

I edit my songbook so there are many songs that will never be played because that's the way I run my show.

If I run a sea food restaurant and you only eat steak, you'll be eating down the road.

If you don't like my song selection you will sing down the road. If you like my sound and my selection and the atmosphere and me, you'll stay.

Non singers are in a totally different catagory.

They come because they like the crowd. (selection of guys and girls)

Some come to listen. I attract talented singers so the draw could be the talent pool.

Some are with their singing friends. Out of loyalty. Out of friendship. Out of liking to hear them sing. Out of nothing better to do.

Nonsingers will not keep coming back if they find it boring. You don't keep going anywhere because it's boring. They will not keep coming back if everyone sucks. They will not come back if there is a disproportionate number of men or women. They will not keep coming back if everyone is totally bombed. They will not come back if there is always trouble.

I gear every song I sing to the nonsingers. Their entertainment is my highest priority. If they don't stay or want to come back, I'll have a small crowd of happy singers and probably no job for long. 30 singers can not keep a bar open by themselves. Bar revenues highly depend on the nonsinging majority of the crowd. Without them I'm dead.

I give up.

Read the opening topic.

I received an email from them about their newest releases.
I'm sick of seeing the same old songs by the same artists over and over again.

I have 6 versions of Friends in Low Places.

7 - Can't Help Falling In Love.

5 - Versions of My Way.

Any KJ that has been in business any length of time has seen enough already. We don't need anymore of these songs.

If you aren't sick of seeing all repeated stuff yet, you will be.

204 Elvis Songs

84 one-of-a-kind.

The rest are a waste of money.

Recent experience tells me it's the smart thing to do...

_________________
hi-voxentertainment

I kind of get the idea that alot of karaoke material was released before licensing became difficult. Now certain genres like country are still fairly easy to get licensed while pop and rock are more difficult. I think country singers have more sympathy for karaoke singers. Maybe it goes back to the music's roots... Fortunately there is a lot of material out there to sing...but I wish there were more. I've only sung about 5 Elvis songs

Blue Suede Shoes
Little Sister
Fool Such as I
Love Me

There are a few others I might try but the above are my favorites... I hope we get more Beatles before we get more Elvis!

I only have 53 individual Elvis songs. Can't Help Falling In Love & once in a blue moon someone will pull out Jailhouse Rock are the only ones that really ever gets done & that is on a MAYBE once a week deal. The point is, if you don't want to repeat & duplicate what you have, don't buy it - simple as that? Do you really NEED that ONE Elvis song that the other 14 are going to be copying everything you already have, seriously doubt it & chances are it was either for one person who said they'd like it & have never done it, or they may do it but they & they alone are the only ones who do? Same goes with everything else which is the point.
Is it just bragging rights thing (or lack of something.... )? Or do those 84 individual Elvis songs really get done on regular basis - was it worth it to purchase the duplicates just to have those couple songs that weren't out from anyone else?

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Yeah he always expects everyone to answer him, but never will answer someone else.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

There is never going to be a right answer or an agreement on this subject because every venue is different and every location is going to vary from state to state or country to country or north vs. south... east vs. west.
I do not get every new song to come out...BUT I do look at new disks as they come out
make my own prediction of what WILL be requested and popular based on what stuff I KNOW most of my regulars like or the clients that my venue attracts will like. I always get compliments on my sound and the way we run our rotation, AND compliments on the fact that I have a very varied song catalog. I also get a lot of things that I personally like which helps with the variety because I like everything pretty much from the 50's through to today except for new rap, EMO crap, and old country.
I also tell people that I will try to get songs if I don't have them... but it sucks if you have a new customer (a potential regular) come in and you don't have one or more of the songs that they normally sing. I still think the saying about "first impressions" holds true to an extent and people don't always give you a chance if they are let down because you don't have songs that they know they can sing at other venues.

And further proof that venues vary significantly is that at my place Elvis songs are more popular... I personally sing Blue Suede Shoes, Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Suspicious minds...and others do those once in a while, as well as Rubbernecking, Return to sender, Can't help falling in love, etc...

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

Every one of my posts in this thread contains an answer. You just have to read them correctly.

The entire thread is about why we aren't getting a large number of "new" songs from the manufacturers.

For some unknown reason all the disc manufacturers are stuck in a top forty rotation. If it isn't and never was in the top 40 every 1 1/2 hour radio repeat rotation, it's a non song.

How all the different companies can make a living out of providing the same songs as the others over and over, I'll never know.

Knight, you start a company making Blue Suede Shoes

Cue, you start a company making the exact same shoe but in this color Blue Suede Shoes

Bill, you start a company making the exact same shoe in this color Blue Suede Shoes

Lonman, you start a company making the exact shoe in this color Blue Suede Shoes

DJF, you start a company making the excat same shoe in this color Blue Suede Shoes

Seadriz, You start a compnay making the exact same shoe in this color Blue Suede Shoes

Seriously, how many people are going to need the exact same shoe in twelve different colors?

If I start a company and really want to make money, I'm going to do something totally different. We don't need another company making anymore Blue Suede Shoes.

All the versions aren't that different or any better or any worse that we have to keep seeing it done again and again. One good version does the trick.