[jimbo]

OK, here goes a can of worms!!!!!!!

In response to George.
Even though the publisher controls the rights to the lyrics, they don't control the rights to reproduce the music. Anybody can re-record a song using their own midi files, instruments, or whatever, but the lyric content is copyrighted. You cannot print the lyrics without permission. If you do re-record something, you still have to apply for licenses. If the music publisher denies the music end of it, then the karaoke company then does a "compulsary" licenese, which the original artists can't do anything about.

Basically what it comes down to, is the music publishers have at least 2 licenses they have to apply for. One for the music, one for the lyrics. The one for the music they can get, even if it is denied through the "compulsary" license. There is no way to get around the lyrics request licenese. Either it is denied or accepted.

Some publisher/writers contend with each song there also needs to be "sync" license, because the lyrics are being "synced" up with video. In the motion picture industry this is very common. When a movie uses a song they must pay this "sync" license. From what I understand, the fee on the sync license is variable, depending on the type of movie, the expected revenue, etc.

This is where my question comes in. How can some companys sell music so cheap when the licenses they are to pay costs more or extremely close to what they are selling the disc for? Where do their production costs factor in as well? Those are the companys that aren't paying the proper licensing. Does that make those discs you buy from these companies illegal? The proper fees haven't been paid.

For example. I just got this ad from an on-line distributor:
Karaoke Hits Pack
ONLY $99!
This disc set contains 27 Karaoke Hits CDG discs for a total of 519 songs!

Do the math. The lyrics reprint minimum per song is 8.5 cents, and the music compulary per song is 8.5 cents. 17 cents per song for the music time 519 songs is $88.23. The cost of producing 27 discs at .30 a disc to manufacture is $8.10. The total is $96.33. What about the studio costs to produce the music and author the songs to CDG? And this is from a distributor, not the manufacturer. Someone's not getting paid their royalties.

Some manufacturers contend they don't have to pay reprint fees because they lyrics aren't actually printed. Do you think the lyrics are printed? If the lyrics aren't printed, how are you able to read them on the screen. The lyrics are printed in some form or another because they are on the CD digitally. Some writers contend that everytime the song is played on CDG they should get their fair share because each time it is being played it is getting "printed" on the TV screen for "X" number of people to see and read.
I can just see it now, we're going to have to keep track of every song we play and send money to each writer when that song is played.

Oh the joys of the karaoke world.

Second question: Are there any karaoke companies out there that have not shafted the public or writers?

The moral of the story: Make sure you are buying legit discs to start with.
Enough of my soapbox for now.

Jimbo