Karaoke Forums

How many of us actually get requests and/or comments regarding new songs we don't have?

Is there one type of musical genres, or more, that generates said request/comments?

If you don't get the material requested (by "regulars"), does the request(s) for said material continue beyond 6-8 weeks after the song "hit"?

I ran into this - someone who comes on a semi-regular basis would beg and plead, "You just HAVE to get this song." I do a song order and I get their song and they sing it ONE TIME. I'm very careful about getting songs for people anymore. I don't usually go backwards and order old music.

I do pay attention to the new country music that comes out, even though I have no clue about country music anymore as we do more pop/rock shows, because country music singers seem to keep up on current stuff. Maybe because there is a constant flow of it?

Funny thing is, someone will mention that they really want a song; if I don't tell them I'll get it, most of the time they'll forget...or get it themselves, which is really my preference. I'll direct them to places where they can get music.

I also tell people, "If you come to my show for six weeks in a row, at the end of that six weeks I'll consider order anything you want."

I think mostly because it is possible to sing. Pop singers often do so many vocal gymnastics that it is distinctly unsatisfying to most to try and sing the song.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I get them all the time.



Female pop more than any other.



It all depends on the individual song. You can tell if it's going to be something big if you get several singers asking for it on a continuing basis. But since I seldom chase new material down with CDGs anymore it's not a big deal anyway. Download sites have this stuff far sooner and way cheaper. If I can pick it up for $1.99 I'll just do it.

Very true - male country singers in particular seem to have a reachable range for most amateur singers; females, too, though singers like Faith Hill and Martina McBride do tend to reach the rafters with their range...however, nothing like Mariah Carey and Leona Lewis. RE: Pop for males, very few can do what they need to do to copy vocals such as those by Nickelback, AC/DC, etc. Lots of growlers around for the other stuff (Pantera, Disturbed, etc.) Speaking of Disturbed, they played here recently and got badly panned by the reviewer in the local paper. Had to chuckle - it is rather depressing music - don't most of us think that you should enjoy yourself while you're killing someone? Good grief!

I get requests for music all the time. Occasionally it"s newer (today) music, but primarily it is rock music from the 70's-90's & newer country.

I try to get what I can. I do a buy about every 3-6 months (usually every 3) & have request sheets from the customers of what they want. If I get multiple requests for songs, then this is an obvious choice. Certain customers I will get an obscure request for - usually on a custom disc. I have had requests for songs that are current that don't generate anymore interest after a couple weeks, then some that continually get requested over & over until I get them - even after their 'hit' time on the radio.

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Good point -- a lot of rock music is in the tenor range. I didn't hardly know any country music until I started singing (is it only?) less than four years ago. But with my baritone voice, it quickly became clear I wasn't going to sing much rock music beyond a few oldies.

Then I started hearing the country, and fell in love with singing it. Now here I am -- a monster has been created.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Oh no--I was just thinking of a similar topic. Wondered how many of the newer songs stand the test of time as far as being popular past their initial bloom. (warning--just got taken out for after work drinks after an 11 hour shift with no breaks so this could be bizarre.)

We get requests weekly and we use them to guide how to build our library past the initial Sound Choice Foundation investment. We are at a place where we were singers for several years first and thought we knew that old country/pop was what people wanted. But once some saw we had some new songs, we started getting requests for Nickelback, etc. But it's true that it is hard to carry off some of the newer rock/hip hop stuff. So Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp have stood the test of time as far as having a lot of songs sung but some of the more modern ones seem to fade quickly. Melody seems to be an indicator of longetivity.

We just started so have been filling out the library with requests almost every other week. The requests range from really old Porter Wagoner type country to Rihanna and "Umbrella." I had to sing that with the bartendress one night and I am 56 so that was weird but I am doing it for the sake of really getting to know the business and it is kind of fun. eh eh eh. excuse me. I have developed this thing for Amy Winehouse, too, although Shakira is my more enduring modern love. I work with younguns at my day job so they coach me as to what new good songs we should get as well as the bartendress who is not as old as us. But we do get some people who request obscure stuff like Dr. Hook and John Prine and then never show up again. So I go Legends with that kind of thing until it is proven they will endure and then I can improve if they stand the test of time. Have also bought some EBay sets. Can fill request in a week with a Chartbuster custom. Am having trouble with Sound Choice customs lately but don't want to give up on them. Have bought some good sets on sale--really play the field depending on the songs requested.

What was the question?

I try to update once a month for the new country songs. Those are pretty much the only ones I get requested to update on on a regular basis. (Usually the latest CB.) I usually get a request for a couple of the new pop or modern rock every now and then so those take second priority. I try to keep my selection as updated as possible, but it depends on my financial situation at the time as to how thorough I update aside from the monthly country additions.

When in a location with internet, I'll try to get them there and then, whatever they are. I use tricerasoft (using gift pack equates to a buck a song), karaoke-version ($2.99), sbi-global (GBP 1.70) and finally Selectatrack. (GBP 1.99 a song, minimum 3 songs) All of these are legal sites to the best of my knowledge and I have confirmed with manufacturers that they are licensed to sell that manus songs. 99% of the time the singer will tip more than the cost of the song if I get it for them.
I also use iTunes / amazon mp3 to get newer 'booty music' as requested for dancing to at the end of the night.

I allow people to request songs on my website but generally find myself adding to that list more often than not. I try to buy original discs rather than customs, even though that initially costs more. I often find there are a couple of tracks on the disc that I would want to try or that other people would.

Again when I buy a disc people seem to tip anywhere from $5 to $20 for getting that song so I find the costs seem to level out reasonable well.

Songs requested are across the board, new pop/country releases through older rock/country. Even if a song is short lived now it may become a retro classic in 15 years time!


- Jonn

When asked for new music, if the requester is a regular then I will try to have it for them by the next week if I can get it legally. If it wasn't a regular I will say I'll try and get it and will wait to see if they come back before getting it, unless it was a song I intended to get anyway. I first look to the download pay sites before I get discs since I don't really want to get 14 songs I don't want or need just to get the one I want.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

The vast majority of my requests are for songs that have never been made as karaoke. They generally are punk, and indie rock.

Most of the songs I'm now asked for haven't been made, for example

Punk / ska - save ferris
Comedy songs - Richard Cheese
True oldies - Peter sellers, Flanners and Swann

and I tend to get a lot of requests for newly released songs that have just entered the charts, because i say i will buy it if you ask. (But, because i need a minimum of six songs to make up a disc, most people are bored with the song by the time the order goes through, and sometimes buying it slips my mind ... if they remind me, which they rarely do, it's brought).

I only really buy custom burns now... and occassionally dive over the pond to buy your back catalog of CB and PHM etc... which only i ever sing and want.

Oh, if there was only some Richard Cheese! Since I play a lot of his stuff as fill music, I get requests for it all the time.