Karaoke Forums

I have contacted the organizations which issue licences in both Canada and the United States and this is what I've been told:
Anyone who uses any form of background music for a Performance, Exibition, Teaching etc... must obtain a licence.
This includes companyies, karaoke hosts, singers, clubs and venues!!!
To comply with the copyright act you must have a licence!!!!

Anyone who wants to make a recording of a performance must get a Mechanical licence (this will allow you to make copies and sell them) as long as you register the material it is legal.

To answer the big question can you make copies of a disc?
As long as you have purchased the originals it is legal to make up to four copies acording to the Fair Use Legislation brought forth by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren ( DC-A ) on March 4th, 2003 it has been reintroduced to Congress because industry people are fighting it, but it looks like it will pass. Stay tuned

For anyone seeking additional information you can contact: the National Music Publishers Association and Harry Fox Agency in the United States: www.nmpa.org and webmaster@harryfox.com

Or SOCAN in Canada: www.socan.ca

I hope this is helpful to everyone!

Rick E

Now Rick..

As A member of ASCAP Via My Publishing deal through the label I'm still Signed to in Nashville (for the moment)

Karaoke Hosts are NOT required to hold a license, AS LONG as the Club is Licensed. BUT must maintain Original copies of Media. UNLESS They Have Written "EXPRESSED" permission to make an 1 to 1 copy or edit media From a copyright holder/or it's designated licensee.

Now this our take. I'm referring this question back to Christian Nelson of Priddis now... Is this your Take Sir??? and is still your stance?

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Brian D.
(BHB)

How often does this happen?
Does anyone know ANYONE who has ever gotten permission for a 1 to 1 copy?
What about if you run off a computer?
Can you run off a hard disk legally if you own the original?
Also, I find most karaoke disks are not "normalized"
If you "normalize" the song, resync and reburn the disk, you're in violation, right?

Kind of sounds like "Carousel" in Logan's Run...

malibujesus
[/b]

I am quite interested in this subject myself actually.

First off, let me introduce myself. This is my first post on this board. I came here looking for info on copyright / licensing issues, and from what I've been able to find here and elsewhere it seems like it's a very grey area to say the least.

I recently purchased a CAVS JB-99 system, and it came pre-loaded with about 16000 songs. However, the songs were not loaded by CAVS. So I am left wondering about what you said in terms of "Maintain Original copies of the media".

Since my CAVS unit came with the songs pre-loaded, I do not have the CD's. Where does that leave me in this licensing scenario?

I am just getting started, and I got myself set up with a fairly low-end setup...an Audio-2000 powered mixer, a 4 channel compressor, dual VHF Wireless microphones, Tripod mount 350 watt box speakers, a small TV also on a tripod, and an SKB portable rack. I was planning on hosting Karaoke at some local pubs in my area and maybe doing some private gigs, but the last thing I want is for BMI to come in and fine me/confiscate my equipment and/or toss me in jail for lack of a license or whatnot.

I know of several other Karaoke KJ's who also operate in my area. I do not believe they have been licensed. Is it really just a case of "hope you don't get caught" or what?

- FutureMon

Malibu, Rick:

I have Recieved "Expressed Written Permission" From Priddis Music upon purchase As I am an US user of thier product, to use thier media under the "Fair use" act. It was stated RIGHT HERE ON Karaoke Scene. And a personal copy was also mailed to me personally to my e-mail, By Priddis Very own Creative Director Christian Nelson. And recieving that permission has saved my but against an anti-piracy check once already.

Do your homework.

_________________
Brian D.
(BHB)

If you might notice, I joined Feb 19th, so I may have missed that announcement.

sorry

Do my homework. (?!)

Pardon me, if you are not taking a tone,
but if you are, please don't be patronizing and condescending.

I asked a question to the group.

If you find my question idiotic and beneath you to answer
by all means Don't

Thanks
Malibujesus

Sorry Brian,
I have to differ with you.
I have contacted many experts in the field and they all agree that you have to have a licence to perform any karaoke and thats over and above the venue licence. If you don't believe me check out both BMI and ASCAP's web sites, for that matter contact the same experts as I did.

They are the NATIONAL MUSIC PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION and THE HARRY FOX AGENCY INC.

I too am a recording artist, performer who owns a huge cataloge of material along with my publisher Miss Ann Music. We have contracts and licences with ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN, SESAC, NMPA, AFTRA, AFM, and CMRRA.

Under the heading of "Fair Use" on ASCAP's web site they are quite clear on the subject.

Rick E

Future,
Now Matt can answer this tit for tat on how the 99's come pre-loaded.. but to Remain "original" they are supposed to come with a "certificate of authenticity" from each Media manufacturer showing the number of songs that came pre-loaded with that unit. and if you purchasec specific downloaded media a Certificate of licence from the manufacturer or licencee showing permission to use if the media is not in a CD/DVD/Tape form OR a hard copy form enclosed saying what the restrictions of use of the media really are. Alot of Karaoke manufacturers do it on DVD and CD media.

Cavs has a problem with it apparently. And that's the I personally see it.

_________________
Brian D.
(BHB)

Rick,
Before I Get into a very Deep and lengthy discussion how this works.. When the US and Canadian Licences are formulated.. The clubs, special events, Hotel/Motel, & all the other formulations are figured out.. In a way If the KJ does do his/Her work Correctly They should not be responsible For a single Dime in performance licensing. The clubs Should Always be And So Should Be the Cover Bands. EVERY time I play a cover live..
YES, I should have to pay. But Recorded Tracks.. NO! It'll kill Karaoke Who's being the Bloodsucker! The club buys a bottle of Hypnotik for oh $5.50 and lets see... there's about roughly 50 rock shots in it at $7.00 a shot + depening on where ya go. Do the math... In some places they go through 3-4 bottles a night alone!!!

I hold a performance license for Special events Plus live "performance licences for 13 songs per occurance. I pay my fair share and my industry attny sees that I'm briefed on what is being paid for and why and to whom.

That is why I whsh the Karaoke media people to come in here to tell the real story for themselves..

It would be nice to see them parading around in thier underwear for once.

_________________
Brian D.
(BHB)

I've witnessed many a conversation on this site involving the subject of BURNING DISCS and so forth. Being a small time KJ which I believe the majority on this site are I'm not familiar with PUBLISHING COMPANYS and LICENSES and copyright laws ... I guess if you're a big time recording artist or a song writer you need to pay an ATTORNEY to keep you up to date. Me I just want to KJ in a little bar make a little $jing and have tons of fun doing it .. Do I personally see anything wrong with somebody backing up their collection as protection..NO ...Are KJ's on this site making 50 copies of a $26 dollar Sound Choice cdg and selling them for $10 a piece at some garage sale I doubt it ...But I'm sure there are people out there that do just that ...Those are THE PIRATES that the BIG lawyers and MFGS should be worried about ......Go ahead and make your copy of your legally purchased orginal ..I don't care.... Will someone come knocking down your door ...I don't think so ..Is it illegal to burn a disc I guess from all accounts it is .......

I'm not as aware as Brian thinks I am about the Cavs99.

You're better off asking Cavs USA about that directly.

What I've HEARD is that Cavs has an agreement with many manufacturers. Only a few, and they are the larger ones, have said no, because it's still not a protected science. Cavs openly tells people that they can convert their tracks to a cdg type disc, using their purchased software. SC and a few others have said that they wouldn't support this type of way of doing karaoke, because of the inherant lack of security.

NOR have they approved ANYONE to convert or copy their material.

Jam you have my point exactly.. royalties and the worry about them were made for those people who re-record songs .. and those people who sell your music, and commercially play the music on a for fee environment such as cance clubs that charge cover charges and sell commercial airtime. too bad the "P.R.O.'s" have gone to an extent that they want to take the amatuers out of the fun and wanna kill the fun from the business and make it professional too.

_________________
Brian D.
(BHB)

Brian
I can understand venues paying a license fee for entertainment purposes
if thats what the local laws call for. But DJ's / KJ's / even cover bands
there entertaining the people.

I don't see where they should pays fees to anybody just for playing their music .....

I rip all my discs to my hdd and store another copy on a backup hdd. I own the originals. At $26 bucks a pop they can kiss my a%&. Im just protecting my investment. Am I using the copies for profit?.....well yes im a kj, but im not using the originals or extra copies for more rigs like some people i know. Ive paid sc thousands of dollars for their products. If they dont like it, I will start buying from other manufactuers. Besides, all this mess will clear up when the law clearly defines how the fair use act applies to cdg discs. THE REAL WORRY for disc companies should be the startup of a napster like karaoke site. Not honest kj's protecting thier investments. Sorry I got off track but this issue ticks me off

Got news for ya Ranger... there ARE sites like that, they've been around for years!

I wouldnt equate irc chats with napster.

Pxranger:

I am just curious. What would be the difference between an IRC chat or Napster or Kazaa? I always thought that they all provide a platform for users to exchange or serve files and chat. Is there some distinct function that differentiates one from the other?

Well I am new to this forum, but not new the the KJ scene. I lost over $15,000 in disks in a fire, and I for one will back up every single disk I have to protect my investment. I don't sell them, and I have a right to protect an investment I'm sure part of my dollars went to pay royalties to the artists. All I know is that I am not doing anything that jepordizes anyone. I will be so glad when they finally get this issue settled.

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Take time to love!

Back those puppies UP>...........

Amen!!!!