Karaoke Forums

What are the legal karaoke download sites for commercial use?
I am sorry to say, but I have drawn a blank. (Brain fart). Can we list them here?
Maybe help so newbies stay out of trouble.

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Still love to sing!

The only ones I have ever used are -

KaraokeVersion.com
Select-a-Track.com
KaraokeDownloads.ca
KaraokeCloudPro.com

-Chris

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-Chris

Thanks.... There's two I had forgot about..... Thanks again..

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Still love to sing!

KaraokeLocker.com

If you check with PRS you will find downloads with licensing from them is specifically EXCLUDED from use here in the USA.

Therefore DTE/Karaoke Cloud Pro and ASK/ All-star Karaoke are the only 2 licensed for use here in the USA.

If anyone wishes to use other unlicensed downloads they do need to be aware of the risks.

Don't get me wrong there are quite a few tracks I would like to use, some Richard Cheese tunes come to mind right off the bat, however it is not worth the risk to ME.

Thank you.... Just wanting to stay legal......

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Still love to sing!

This is where you find people will disagree. I think ALL of the download sites are fine to use. True the overseas sites are not licensed for use in the US OR Canada.


However, in my non legal opinion, what makes them ok to use is that the PERFORMANCE rights ARE covered by SOCAN in canada, and the big three in the US.

karaoke is covered by these organizations.

I is absolutely no different than taking a collection of personally purchased CDs and using them for DJ work because the performance rights are covered for commercial use.

However if you want a truly valid legal opinion, consult an IP attorney

-James

OP asks download for commercial use.
Sorry to say - fyi Karaoke Locker f.a.q. # 11. Under usage rules: (quote)
“a. You agree to use the service and the products available through the service for personal, non-commercial use only”.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

OOOOPS Thanks

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Still love to sing!

None, and I mean NONE of the popular sites have a legal right to grant permission for commercial usage- i.e. a basis for a U.S. based show). Most will admit as much, stating that their tracks are for home useage, but some don't.

If a commercial site could grant such permission, they would include a text.doc for each track to cover the KJ.

Not even a draft of said blanket licensing exists, because their are simply too many parties involved.

Will someone come after a U.S. based host using downloads? So far, the publisher/owners ( the only ones who COULD - karaoke producers like SC have no rights- don't care.

However, that doesn't mean they won't care LATER, and download hosts would be held liable.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Now that is what I thought. I didn't think any downloads were usable for commercial use. Thank you for helping clear that up. My mistake,,,, but I had not read all the terms/condition's of downloads..

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Still love to sing!

I am perfectly comfortable with using the paid download sites. In the very unlikely event that the music industry starts coming after karaoke hosts, my guess is they will start with an education campaign and with cease and desist orders thus giving people ample warning to remove the offending tracks.

-Chris

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-Chris

Again this is Jose's opinion, which is what he is entitled to. I do not agree with him for the reasons I stated above. I f you want to know with 100% certainty, consult a lawyer.

Bottom line is you have to be comfortable and live with your conscience for the way you run YOUR business .

When I was hosting i was 100% comfortable that I was running my business legally

Dose that make the songs sold though PCDJ's online store illegal? They sale it for Pro KG's to use. It uses Karaoke locker as it's data base.

Man it makes me wish i had a bit of extra cash lying around,

I could pay Mr. Harrington to settle this question once and for all.

Although I am not sure how well versed he is with Canadian law and if it is much different or not

Ah we'll

-james

My conscience is clear. Not guilty of running illegal shows. Thanks it has been informational.

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Still love to sing!

contact the publishers directly yourself and ask if they sold download licensing to any companies to allow for legal commercial downloads in the USA. Athena did so and has over 300 emails answering the question. We found licensing for legal commercial downloads was negotiated with all 3 major publishers to both ASK and DTE. PRS licensing used by other manufactures specifiably excluded commercial use here in the USA and Canada.

Everyone should take a bit of time and confirm these facts for themselves.

JoeC, I had to learn that things do not work the way I want them to, or even in the most logical manner. I think you need to do the research yourself and stop perpetuating your "opinions" AKA "spin" on others.

The reason that text files are not included with each track purchased from DTE and ASK has to do with the requirement for PRO fees to be paid by the venues and this is something that you and I spoke about over a year ago during a phone conversation.

Well since I am no longer hosting, I don't have a stake in the outcome of a definitive answer.

It is nice to know that there are DEFINATELY two sources that are absolutely postively 100% ok to use.

But until a LEGAL AUTHORITY tells me that buying a karaoke disc and it being legal to use in a show because of PERMORMANCE fees and Buying a download and it being legal because of PERFORMANCE fees are not exactly the same thing, I would continue to use all the download sites I was using when I was running shows.

If you buy the disc, regardless of where it was produced and purchased, why should a download be any different..

-James

Digitrax does claim they are getting the licensing for commercial downloads for kj's. They wouldn't need to show anything special just as they wouldn't need to show anything as far as licensing the acquired for discs.

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

Ryan from PCDJ had stated on the forum - cannot find the thread now, that the Karaoke Locker (especially the Karaoke Channel tracks) were geared for home use only. Since they do have a lot of home users that use the PCDJ /KJ program they do sell a lot to private use people.

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