Karaoke Forums

When I first learned about the technicalities of what may or may not be legal regarding karaoke tracks, I noticed the disclaimer on my SC discs about not being available for commercial use. So I called SC and they declared that the definition of "commercial use" was a Fred described above and that said definition didn't prohibit a public performance at a karaoke show.

As to the few tracks I have downloaded, I have filed them on my computer by the source and date of the download. Then I ripped each file to a separate disc which is properly labeled as to the source and keep with all my other discs!

This whole down load thing is confusing. Okay as of right now No SC downloads from any country are legal according to Kurt Slep, but some others are if purchased from other countries. It seems the only way to figure out what sites are legal is this -

Kurt Slep writes -
JClaydon commented that he buys discs from Zoom all the time, imported from the UK. He is correct stating that Zoom (if they are properly licensed through MCPS, the Rights Organization in the UK ) does have the right to distribute their discs worldwide and that if there is an objection from any US publisher that that publisher must notify MCPS and then MCPS would notify the producer to pull the product. You can even find the license pertaining to karaoke discs on MCPS’ website.

I'm trying to understand all this stuff - if I have it wrong please help. I'm assuming I'm not the only one confused here.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I have stood by and after reading this thread I now feel i need to jump right in. From what I have been told by both Kurt Slep of Sound Choice and by management at Chartbusters is that NO company domestic or abroad can legally sell into the US (via internet or otherwise) any downloaded CB or SC karaoke song. Downloaded karaoke requires a digital licence which is at this time is NOT available. When you purchase a manus disc you get a mechanical licence only. Now as far as doing a 1 to 1 to computer, they have told me that it is ok as long as the originalds are kept.
I know that the whole download thing has been beat up from one end to the other and a lot of misinformation is floating around. Just cause a company post on their site that their downloads are legal doesnt mean it is so. I trust the manus since they actually own the products rights including the logos.

With all that said, I know there will be people that have other opinions and thats ok, do what you feel is right for you. I have spent a lot of time on the phone with both manus metioned above and have even had face to face meeting with Norbert Stoval of Chartbusters. I respect theirpositions and I'd figure that they have done their legal homework and they do not get any proceeds from any download sites. You do the math.

_________________
No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

I think Babs was referring to the UK based companies like Zoom, Sunfly, SBI & the likes. None of those companies have CB or SC downloads available - that I know of anyway.

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

Chartbuster has actually started beta testing their digital downloads. Only about 20 songs available right now, and are only in mp4 & wmv format at this time but state mp3G are coming soon and eventually will have their entire library available.

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

What you and a couple of others seem to be misunderstanding is -- no one here is claiming they have legal SC or CB downloads. We download Zoom, SBI, Sunfly and some others from Tricerasoft and other sites.

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

SC is working to secure the digital rights to all their songs. That will allow them to make all songs available to download.

_________________
No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Has anybody contacted those companies to see if they are authorized to offer downloading of their products for use in the US?

I am not trying to challange anyone, just trying to use common sense here.

_________________
No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Okay I'm getting closer to understnading now. Thanks Rumbolt and Lon.

If I'm to understand correctly -

No Chartbuster or Soundchoice downloads are legal, but some other manus are if purchased from over seas?

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Haven't read the entire thread, but i thought Chartbusters started downloads a few weeks ago? I have never downloaded a song personally but think i would if i got a straight answer, but for now i prefer a hard disc original copy like most kjs here.

Chartbusters doesn't yet have downloads, they are working to secure the digitial right to download. There was a time that they did offer karaoke music on a usb drive but pull them back off the market when it was discovered that the format that they were offering it in was questionable.

_________________
No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Just my take on thing regarding overseas purchases. The companies overseas that offer downloads probably have the right to download in Europe but I'd be very supprised that they have the rights to (regardless what their websites say) off the downloads for the US market. They probably take the attitude that they cant be responsible for where the download ends up (head in the sand). You notice that nither BMI or ASCAP are mentioned on any of the UK sites (if I missed it please point it out to me). Take Garth Brooks or Sugarland Music, since Chartbuster nor Sound Choice can publish their music, what make it legal for the UK karaoke suppliers to do the same. Perhaps because they are just out of reach of the US laws.
But hey, only you can do what you feel is the right thing.

_________________
No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Well, just did a test download from CB. WMV files are okay but mp3+g is needed. Also righ now they are not embossing the user name on the title screen like the custom CDs. I'd like to see that as it is a subtle way for people to know you are a music purchaser.

Another download site to add to my multi-site search tool. Maybe I should call it koogle!


Jonn

I'm gonna go to Chartbusters to check it out. I think they are still beta testing the downloads.

_________________
No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

First time ever downloaded a few songs yesterday from tricerasoft. Got a few new sunfly tunes for .99, 1.49 and 2.49 from new artists. They burned nicely on my mtu standalone drive and the kids loved the new songs! I think i'm hooked now!

Songs were;
Fire Burning- sean kingston
3- britney spears
Down- jay sean with lil wayne
Sweet Dreams- beyonce
Obsessed- mariah carey

Actually I just got done buying about $10 worth of IKaraoke songs (on special for $1/song) from Karaoke.com which I've always regarded as a legitimate website. The songs have various and sundry music manufacturer copyrights on them (not karaoke companies) along with the IKaraoke logo. For those who are interested the songs seem to be of mixed quality -- the karaoke version of "At Last" by Etta James is absolutely terrific if you don't happen to have this song..

To date I haven't put these in my book or used them commercially. I contacted the KIAA over a month ago and have not gotten any comment or answer from them whatsoever as to their attitude towards these tracks. IT would seem if they are indeed something that would concern the KIAA I could make them perfectly legal by paying a whole $1 a track -- this doesn't exactly concern me since I only have these 10 and as I said I did pay cash for them and can prove I paid a website that I believe most KJs here consider to be 100% legit.

As far as I know, downloading is the only way that IKaraoke makes their tracks available. If there is another method I'd appreciate someone letting me know.

Now how exactly can me purchasing these tracks be illegal? I'm confused?