Digital karaoke
Digital karaoke is the future of the karaoke business.
Two types of Karaoke in digital format:
- CDG - digital karaoke on compact disc media
- MP3g - karaoke music files hosted on and ran from a PC
The industry is moving from CDG to MP3g.
Contents
Digital Karaoke File Types
There are 2 music types for karaoke
- Audio (MP3, OGG, WMA, AVI, etc.)
- and MIDI (MID, KAR)
Common Karaoke Associated Files: It may take a combination of two file types to have Karaoke.
- KAR - MIDI Karaoke file - (synthesized music + lyrics)
- KOK - DelMP3Karaoke file - (lyrics only)
- LRC - Lyrics file - (lyrics only)
- CDG - Audio Karaoke file extract from CD+G discs - ()
- MID - MIDI file - (synthesized music only)
- MP3 - Compressed Audio - (audio music only)
- OGG - Compressed Audio - (audio music only)
MP3g Digital Karaoke Files
MP3+G stands for MP3 plus Graphics. Karaoke songs are stored on the hard drive of a computer in the MP3+G or some other compressed format. The songs are played with karaoke "hosting" software. The hosting software has many needed features such as digital key control, next song, song / artist search, singer history, and so on.
MP3+g or MP3g is the karaoke version of the MP3. In order to utilize MP3 for Karaoke a second file is created which contains the graphics for the display of the lyrics. This has a .cdg file extension. Both files together form an MP3+g (sometimes MP3g) karaoke track. You can play these tracks on your computer using special karaoke software such as WinCDG or burn them to a blank disc in .BIN format and they will play as normal CDG karaoke discs.
KMF Files
A KMF file is basically an MP3 file and a COMPRESSED CDG file merged into a single file. The CDG data is compressed to save even more space than the RAW CDG file by removing unnessesary info. KMF files, however, are proprietary to TriceraSoft.
KAR Files
these are NOT TRUE MUSIC files, they are midi format. They are small files and because the music is midi, there are no copyright issues. However, audiences will not be pleased when you fire up your karaoke and instead of real music they hear corny midi synthesizer crap.
MP3g
This format describes a dual file system. The mp3 file contains the music without vocals (typically) or backup vocals only, while an accompanying cfg file, with the exact same name, contains the lyrics to the karaoke music. Free Karaoke MP3+G Downloads are places where the music is exchanged for free, although typically in opposition to the copyright holder's permission. The format is also available to be purchased legally from several online sources.
Other Karaoke Files
karaoke file: KFN, CDG, KOK, LRC, AVI, MPEG
Software Karaoke for the PC
Software
- KaraFun Karaoke Player
- B Lyrics Mimer
- Karaoke SoftShop
If you are attempting to DJ from a laptop computer you should consider the problem of Laptop Ground Loop Noise.
LEGAL - The Big 3 Bullies
Copyright Blanket License
P.R.O.'s are music licensing organizations that license business for the public performance of music (radio, tv, live, karaoke, djs, comedy, e.t.c). The P.R.O.'s represent 3 PERFORMING RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS and they all represent different catalogs of music(different writers) and no writer can belong to all 3 organizations.
- BMI (Broadcast Music Inc)-which is the largest
- ASCAP (American Songwriters Composers & Publishers) represent a little under half
- SESAC - you can get away without this one since it is mostly obscure stuff
There is no requirement for a Karaoke DJ to carry these licenses, however, the venues where the Karaoke DJ plays should.
To operate a Jukebox some venues go through JLO, which is a joint venture of the United States performing rights organizations, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, to obtain a license that covers all there and is often more affordable. However, the jLO Jukebox license agreement is only good for the jukebox. If a location has music that is performed by some means other than the jukebox (DJ's, bands, tapes, etc.), spearate licenses from ASCAP, BMI and SESAC are required.
Karaoke and Live Music in a Public Business
Owners of taverns, clubs, and other venues where Karaoke is an available form of entertainment, or live music performances where artists are performing copyright music, the venue is required to be licensed. What really stinks about the licensing is that the music industry is rather greedily controlled by BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC.
There is no umbrella license for live performance at a venue like there is for a Jukebox. Each one of these agencies wish to charge the venue. What is worse is that the license fees exceed what is reasonable for most smaller venues to afford. Offering Karaoke can very easily become a money loss situation when a small establishment is being charged $400 for each license, and they ARE required to have a license from each, bringing the grand total to $1200. If your seating capacity is under 80 then it takes a big bite out of your revenue. In smaller towns a venue can easily be a loss for a fiscal year offering Karaoke or live music do to the draconian license requires.
The lack of an unbrella license also offers no guarantee of copyright compliancy. Some venues have choosen to acquire only one license from one of the big three. If a venue decides against a license from BMI, and only acquires a license from ASCAP, then that venue must ensure no copy right material under BMI is used or performed.
ASCAP has a database that you can reference to see if the artist or title is under their license:
ACE is a searchable database that contains information on compositions in the ASCAP repertory ...
Ask the agency some questions if you are being approached or threatened by one of the three.
- Are you taking into consideration my business's certificate of occupancy limit (how many seats)?
- A: They do, but there is a minimum fee for seats under 50 which is between $300 - $400
- Do you represent all of the titles you believe us to be in violation presently?
- What if I discontinue all Karaoke and live performances?
- A: ASCAP claims you must be licensed if you have any televisions in your business displaying broadcast TV. This is true for a cafe, dental office, tavern, or any other business with televisions.
- Do you contact or report to the other two licensing agencies?
- A: ASCAP claims to have no cooperative relationship with BMI.
Nine times out of ten these guys found you because you advertised on Facebook, MySpace, or on another popular Internet site. It is rare for them to make an onsite visit, although they do make onsite visits. Typically there is a warning process, however, you may be fined a crippling amount and legal defense is at your expense. Furthermore, these people are arrogant bullies and are actually difficult to deal with. They do not make the process easy and they are next to impossible to reach by telephone. They basically send you threats in the form of mail correspondence, email, and phone calls.
They are not invulnerable and all powerful. Many smaller venues simply discontinue public advertising and are more careful about hosting Karaoke or live music. Furthermore, if you host live music and the musicians perform only pieces they have written and own the rights to, or public domain pieces, then you are not in violation of any copyright laws.
Some modern electronic Jukebox equipment has Karaoke capabilities. This is a gray area in Jukebox licensing and may also serve as a viable defense if the venue has a Jukebox license and is using the Jukebox for Karaoke.
What About My iPod?
CYA - Cover Your Ass. You could be in violation of copyright law if you connect an iPod to your business sound system to play music if you are playing copyright music. Your iTunes license agreement doesn't permit you to use your iPod for public play of music.
So do the artists get the money? So little of it makes it down the pike to the artist it would make you turn red in anger. Mostly the money is absorbed by fat cats in a greedy copyright industry that sit at a desk all day and think of clever ways to rip off audiences, venues, and the artists themselves.
