Karaoke Forums

Why is everyone so obsessed if it's new or old stuff relicensed. Funny thing is many of you that are asking, have always said something to the fact that you don't use newer music. So why would it matter? If it's new to the GEM series, then those GEM users don't have those songs otherwise they wouldn't be asking for them. If I had my choice to build up a good 'core' utilizing GEM, i'd want all the songs SC put out from the 70's to mid 2000's - this is what is KEY in my shows at least. I have sources for 'new' music, and don't care if it's the best quality or the quality i'm finding it at now - it doesn't get sung.

I'd like to know if these new GEM releases coming out will be available as individual CDGs (or an MP3+G or MP4+G format that I can burn to disc), for people like me (who are ODB KJs), or if one would have to buy the entire set/series (like the SC Foundation 1 or 2 series). I don't care if it's old (re-releases of past SC tracks) or brand new releases, as long as it is something that I don't already have in my (approximately) 14,000 song library.

From what I understand SC will not be releasing anymore cdg's. Anything new will now be available much like the gem series - and ONLY to currently licensed GEM & certified users, not to general public from what I gather.

That sounds like it would exclude people like me and Joe Chartreuse... people who SC has not set up a Certification process for, because we are ODB KJs.

No, no...let Joe cling for a couple more months to his fantasies. I fully expect him and Lone Ranger to come on here in a couple of months, after SC releases some truly new material, and in their best "Baghdad Bob" impersonations, explaining why it isn't really a sign that our project is working, that SC is a dead or dying company, etc. Then when the next disc comes out, we'll here how the quality isn't really as good, or some other excuse.

SC is recording new material AND re-releasing older material. The target release date for the new material is in May. It will only be available to GEM licensees and certified operators. We are working to get a certification process in place for ODB hosts so they will be able to acquire the new product, but that may not be in place by the release date..

I was going to ask the same questions. That doesn't sound very fair to someone like me (who is ODB and un-certified).

By the time the next new release is ready, we will also have the ODB certification program up and running. We're just waiting on the programming on that, by the way.

...but unfortunately, I can't.

On 2/29/12, HL and I had this exchange on page 6 of the "Legalities" thread:

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HarringtonLaw wrote:

1. JoeChartreuse wrote:
Also, you mention the media shifters. Are you saying that SC will audit and certify disc based hosts free of charge? Even those not involved in a suit? It is my understanding that SC charges for all voluntary audits. Has this changed?
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HarringtonLaw wrote:
When a host is original disc-based, there is no need for an audit. In fact, there is nothing to audit; ergo, no charge for an audit. If you are 100% original disc-based, email me your business name and mailing address, and I will arrange for a letter to be sent to you on SC letterhead or my firm's letterhead--your choice--explaining that a host who uses original Sound Choice-branded discs only is considered by us to be a fully compliant, legal operator, and should be treated exactly the same as a Sound Choice Certified KJ. You can share that with any venue you like, make copies of it, etc., as long as the wording is not changed. No charge.
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JoeChartreuse wrote:
You know what? I'll take you up on that and see if it actually happens. I know that Kurt knows for a fact that I am what I claim to be.

If it DOES happen, I will make a point of posting it here on the forum. If it doesn't- well, same thing.

From your post above, you did not indicate whether they looked through every SC disc you had/have, or if they still decided to give you that letter based on good faith (because someone from SC had already witnessed you operating a disc-based show). Since you posted that you possibly are/were the first disc-based KJ to be listed in the SC website, I checked on their site and saw you listed. Nowhere does it state that you are disc-based. It just indicates that you successfully completed the VOLUNTARY audit.

Now I took Joe C.'s request a step further. Not only did I ask Mr. Harrington for that letter he offered (which Joe C. has quoted several times), but I also requested to be listed in SC's website as a Certified Operator (like you). I indicated (in my request) that I realize neither his Law Firm (or PI's hired by him) nor Kurt have been to any of my shows to witness that I am disc-based as well. I got back a different response (which Mr. Harrington has posted in this forum as well).

Just to be clear, we have had a long-time policy of providing that letter, and in fact it has been provided in the past (though not a lot). The discussion prompted us to consider whether there wasn't something more we needed to be doing in terms of verification.

The good news is that we will be adding disc-based hosts to the certified list with minimal verification and no charge. More details to come.

… I was referring the VENUE treating you "exactly the same as a SCCKJ." I'm sorry if that was unclear. And that is our view on that question--a VENUE should treat an original disc-based ("ODB") host exactly the same as a SCCKJ. However, since it is apparently hard for venues to think of more than one thing at a time, we've decided to roll out a formal certification program for ODB hosts so that they can benefit from our efforts to educate and certify.

Tentatively, the proposal is for the steps to be:

1) Go to a web page and register as an ODB host.
2) Obtain from our site and print out a QR code that is unique to you.
3) Photograph your SC discs, putting the QR code in the photo. You should be able to photograph multiples in one photo.
4) Upload the photo to the website.

We're working out the technical and legal details. Once that's done, we'll launch.

I seem to recall PM-ing you with a request asking how I could get listed on SC's website before you made your announcement publicly that you and SC were trying to formulate some type of program.

"...explaining that a host who uses original Sound Choice-branded discs only is considered by us to be a fully compliant, legal operator, and should be treated exactly the same as a Sound Choice Certified KJ"...Maybe if the wording had something added, such as,
...We (Sound Choice) do not oversee other Manufacturer brands, as our (Sound Choice) MAIN CONCERN is with our own product. Bearing in mind that a Host may also use other brand-name discs, in order to be considered COMPLETEY as a fully compliant, legal operator, he/she/they should be using ORIGINAL discs for those brands as well.

I would still like to see the word "ONLY" removed from that text.

Almost everything that I have read, it appears that Sound Choice is putting the emphasis on Sound Choice. In the process, they are making it sound like they are the only ones out there when they talk about media shifting and being 1:1, and to look for KJs that are listed on their website as being Certified. Even this letter that HL put out as an offer to people like Joe and me, ONLY refers to Sound Choice, while making it sound like you can't be operating legally without the use of their product. Basically, I am looking to have the oneness removed from Sound Choice.

I'm sure this could be simpled (is that even a word) down a bit. I believe that Joe Chartreuse is treating this letter as if it were an actual contract (legal and binding). If that is the case, then the less you state in a letter of this nature, the better (because the more wording you use, the more loopholes you can find).

No, no...let Joe cling for a couple more months to his fantasies. I fully expect him and Lone Ranger to come on here in a couple of months, after SC releases some truly new material, and in their best "Baghdad Bob" impersonations, explaining why it isn't really a sign that our project is working, that SC is a dead or dying company, etc. Then when the next disc comes out, we'll here how the quality isn't really as good, or some other excuse.

Would someone explain to me why James mentions "the next disc comes out", if SC is not using the disc delivery system? I mean if it is a disc it has the potential to get copied also like the rest of their pirated material correct.

Would someone explain to me why James mentions "the next disc comes out", if SC is not using the disc delivery system? I mean if it is a disc it has the potential to get copied also like the rest of their pirated material correct.

And what became of all the plans to include ODB KJs in the Certification process... something that you implied would be SOON almost 1 year ago???

May 3, 2012, from topic “SC audits question”:




Going further back….

March 28, 2012, from topic “Actually Wanted To Eat Crow On This One…”




March 31, 2012, from topic “Actually Wanted To Eat Crow On This One…”









April 6, 2012, from topic “Actually Wanted To Eat Crow On This One…”




April 7, 2012, from topic “Actually Wanted To Eat Crow On This One…”

I'm not sure where you got the idea that SC would not be distributing new product on disc.

The new product will come on a disc. Only certified hosts and GEM licensees will be able to acquire it. It will be licensed (GEM style) rather than sold. It will also contain features that will discourage piracy by making the tracks traceable to the original licensee and making their illicit use easier to detect conclusively at a show.

Considering that our arrangement with the GEM series has been enormously successful at discouraging piracy of that set, we're confident that these provisions will make piracy of the new material rare.