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My Stellar disks I have been buying in mp3g format since they first started offering it. I get multiple copies of disks directly from them every month and about a year ago I purchased 400 + disks from them for another system. I'm not really worried about them but I am a little miffed that if a pirate decides to get legal they can purchase a cap (still not have media other than hd) and be certified and I cant even though I 've handed them about 1200.00 a year since they came into existence in the 90s. Doesn't seem fair does it.

I know if I had been more aware of what has been going on in the industry, I would have never invested one penny into it.

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My statements, opinions and conclusions are based on my own personal experiences, observations, research and/or just my own $.02. I'm not a "cheerleader", but that doesn't make me a Pirate.

DT can not be used by KJ's, so nothing to certify.
Stellar is the only one not hunting KJ's, not forcing 1:1 to pay, only taking protection money from the people who actually have illegal drives, saying "you bought a license to use one copy of that song, use that one copy in whatever format you want", and they are the only one of the "big 3" left......interesting isn't it?

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I believe the CAP applies only to material produced in 2007 or before.

Ed G,
Those that buy the CAP are only protected for certain discs(they are provided a list) made before 1997. I personally think it is a small price to pay but it is better than nothing....and at least it doesn't cover anything after 2007.

Athena

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

Let's see now....

Going by Ed's figures, he has spent approximately $15,600 on Stellar's product (that would be from 1995 (when they first came out) to 2007 (the time period which the CAP Program covers).

The CAP program is about $3,000 (for all illegally owned tracks between 1995 through 2007).

YUP!!!! I can see where Ed would be P.O.'d.

Made before 2007, not 1997. PHM only came on the scene with the PHM line in 1995 if i'm not mistaken.
They are covered for any of the discs they have prior to 2007. Which includes several brands. Hence the high price.

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

yup
"Covering all products produced between 1995 and end through 2007. This includes the
brands UK Karaoke®, American Gold®, Top Hits Monthly®, Rising Star, and Pop Hits Monthly®. "

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I amost see the CAP as a drawback. It basically legitimizes a stolen library. People with the Stellar certification stole their product first (either knowingly or not knowingly). Since disc based and 1:1 users are not really what they want, those with that certify logo is just telling everyone - hey I bought stolen goods.

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

You got it Lonnie,
I have all those disks on cd x2 or x3 yet di##head up the street is certified because he blinked and I'm the pirate because I bought them. I know stellar isn't looking for people like me , but the people that know about the sc and cb programs see him as more legit. Not trying to knock Stellar , just pointing out the obvious.

...I agree Ed, it does suck when you think of it that way. What it took($) to build a library over the years/decades. As far as Stellar/PHM, I believe they've just wanted to be compensated without having to take the time/expense to do audits. But I don't know how that affects their licensing per agreements/arrangements?

Their library doesn't have near the value of the CB and SC ones. Face it, a lot of their stuff is music no one sings. Certainly they do have some popular tracks, but I am guessing that you could fill at most 10% of music needs with it. With the SC gem, you can run a whole show. With the Gem and the 12,000+, you don't need the Pop Hits stuff, really.

The value of Pop Hits was the here and now, having the up-to-date tracks people wanted. Most of that value is gone now. So the people who make that deal now aren't getting all that much bang for their buck in my opinion. The people who bought them when they came out had the music when it was hot.

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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.

...Mckyj57, I agree. My collection from late 80's-2001 was a mix of only a few different Manufacturers (SC, MM, DK) and a few Laser Discs. Some disc I sold or traded. During my down years I did purchase some others, thinking I might start up again one day. Then in 2009, when I got back in I noticed that several Manufacturers had come and gone. Some distributors were trying to get me to sign up for the PHM monthly updates. Looking over some of the artist and songs, I opted not to. However, I did buy several discs from their Authorized Dealers at some very low prices. Several months back I got in touch with Tony at Stellar/PHM and he offered to fill in the voids that I didn't have. He seemed very genuine from the phone conversations and emails. But some of the cdg jewel cases had no inserts. Some discs were white labels/black ink (even the older ones) and burns. I did question him about that. He assured me all was good.

...I agree, that most of the time when I look for a singer's song request, it's usually SC, CB, PHM, THM, MM first and then it's whatever else that I have, if I have it.

Ed G,
I agree Stellar should implement a audit program for hosts that have legally purchased the discs all along. Maybe if enough of us kept asking they would implement one (we did get ours during a VERY short period that involved a misunderstanding between SC and Stellar).
Maybe we should start a petition...or even a thread here showing that there are hosts that would like one and be willing to pay a reasonable amount to be audited.

Athena

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

...Now should that concern any KJ who has purchased any Stellar products being used in a commercial setting or is it just Stellar's problem?

My honest opinion is that it's just Stellar's problem. You bought what you bought. I think in this instance, however, since we're talking about CAP, having discs instead of a certificate and a hard drive is a much better situation on the back end, if many of these tracks were never licensed.

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Birdofsong

...Well, my honest opinion, in return, is I hope you're right. I will say this much, if I ever try to sell some these "counterfeit looking manufacturers' original cdgs", I think most potential buyers are gonna question them as I have done. I know they were trying to save money by doing the "In-House-Burning" but most long time Kj's would really question the looks of some of their recent releases. Good thing I have receipts, if that matters?

Sorry PK, I thought I had already responded but must have forgotten to hit the submit button...I just thought they could go after those who purchased from the Illegal Hard Drive Dealers. Not just for imprisonment but for actual damages, not to offer them a settlement for a Commercial Gem Series because the private user isn't eligible for the GEM Series. I'm sure or would think some of these purchases were to individuals. I know that SC goes after the commercial users but thought the same laws applied to any illegal copyrighted (IP) sells, downloads, uploads, etc.. Doesn't matter if it's a commercial or private user. I know that the R.I.A.A. goes after pirates in the music world for illegally obtained music sells. I will have to see if I have the info on the case that I was reading about. I either printed/filed it or bookmarked it. Either way, I don't want to beat a dead horse to death.(can I still say that?)..

Athena, why the f&#k would we want to have Stellar make us pay for something that will make it harder to get gigs? they are the only of the "big three" not making customers pay and they are the only one left in business.
we could just continue it, lets petition All Star, Zoom, Sunfly, SBI, Karaoke Version, Priddis, DK, Pocket Songs, Sundown, Music Factory, Music Maestro, Sing King, Pioneer, Party Tyme, Singing Machine, and all the others to charge us $150.00 a year to use the music we already bought? why.....because they already let us for no fee. Stellar has allowed us to shift for no fee but you want to tell them they should charge us? WTF?????

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

So what does this say about chrisavis and his Stellar Certification?

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.