Is it legal?

[orerockon]

Originally Posted by gduns

The local ascap rep here told me that all performance rights are paid to ascap and Bmi. They collect for the copyright owners for the music that is being used.

Read the disclaimer on ALL cd', cdg's and dvd's.... they all state that it is strictly Illegal to play the contents in public. If ascap is being paid, then rights are being paid for.

next well start a thread on gun rights.........

That is correct, for playing of ORIGINAL RECORDINGS. It no longer applies when you alter the original recording to suit your own purposes. See just about any lawsuit involving "sampling". They all revolve around paying the royalties for the original work, then altering it. Most artists are not willing to allow their recordings to be altered in any way. That is why no karaoke company on this planet uses original recordings in any way, shape or form. They re-record the songs after paying the appropriate master track license fees to the copyright holder(s).

Gun rights are established by our constitution and bill of rights and are not subject to debate :P