Can I transfer KMA files?

[TKaraoke]

Funny how the CDG mfg's don't pay the royalties on all songs, but they scream if anyone copies their disc! I don't mind the situation whatever it is, as long as it's the same playing field for everyone.

[George]

Then on top of that they don't mind shafting the public, not in the least. One of the worst I've come across is a Pocket Songs track, Spanish Harlem,by B.B.King, where the following message sits on the screen throughout the entire track.

"We regret that the publisher has not permitted us to reprint the lyrics of this song in cdg format"

They went ahead and used it though, backgroung track, no graphics. Thanks to MTU and KHP, was able to re-construct it.

You figure.

George

[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

[George]

Jimbo,

That's all well and good, but the thrust of my post was not the copywrite situation, but the sorry CDG manufacturer that would go right ahead and include a track that is not a complete cdg, when they could have used something else.

George

[jimbo]

Yes, I do see that. I hope you didn't take my post as offensive, because is was not meant to be. I just wanted to get some things off my chest and maybe help some people understand what goes into making a CDG.

Did they even give notice it wouldn't be CDG? If not, then that is bad on Pocket Songs part.

Maybe there were enough requests for them to do it and then later they found out they couldn't do the lyrics. So why waste the money. At least the song is available for those that know how to CDG their own or those that know the song by heart and don't need lyrics.

No attack here:
But then once you CDG it, are you breaking any laws? If they can't do it, can you legally do it?

And then there's all the websites out there that have lyrics printed. Are they breaking the laws as well?

I'm just trying to be controversial and taking the side of the writers.

Jimbo

[admin]

Originally Posted by jimbo

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

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.

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.

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

Basically I agree with you here. September 2003, seven of the MAJOR Karaoke Producers, including Sound Choice and Chartbusters, were sued for never having paid the sync licenses. There are a whole bunch of other suits that have been filed by other Publishers who own the lyrics.

As I understand it, if the lyrics are displayed, they are "printed". However, I don't see any way to accrue a fee for every time a song is played.

Who pays the sync licenses? Karaoke Bay (absolutely straight-laced lads!!!), Priddis, StarDisc.

Sweet Georgia Brown is so illegal that the owner lives in a Winabego and travels all the time. He is a hunted man! He sells LOTs of his discs on EBAY.

The typical royalties I have heard are:

1. Mechanical duplication rights to the music (compulsary or agreed to) - For a 3-4 minute song is $0.07. For longer songs it goes up about a cent a minute.

2. Sync license - I have heard $0.17 to $0.20. When you look at the CAVS SCDG discs, you're getting the Chartbusters Essential 450 for about $0.38 per song. That doesn't add up either. But then CAVS is Korean so its International Law to go after them.

If you buy a CDG disc in good faith, you are not guilty. The Producer may be though, but that's their problem, not yours!

[jimbo]

Sorry quaizywabbit, but that doesn't do it. Example. Take a copyrighted work, say a book like Harry Potter, and change a few words, like names or places, and try to sell it legally.