Professional Musicians

[madjim- with the Lord]

Some gigs I will play acoustic guitar and sing while Hoster runs the background tracks. Some gigs I just run Karaoke and some I do both. How many players do we have using Hoster to run the background tracks for their shows?

Just For Fun!

Jim

[CerealKiller]

Karaoke is my other job

[muzicman144]

i have used Hoster for a show from the first time i found it. I have never had Hoster fail at anytime that it wasn't something i did or caused Hoster to do. I realize i don't use Hoster as most of you describe in this forum, but i've never had any of the problems i have read about in this forum because i don't do karaoke. I do probably 70-80 songs per night on my show as i don't take a break, have done this from day one. I realize i don't use all the features that a karaoke show requires, but to do a show (non karaoke) and have it perform the way it has for these years, i think is remarkable. This has been done for 3-5 days per week, up and down the coast, so we have moved it, loaded, unloaded it 3-5 nites per week, no breakdowns, (i'm gonna knock on wood as my stuff may breakdown tomorrow), but in the meantime, thanks, MTU, your product works. And i have shown it to customers from florida to Maryland, they have bought it, and love it.
muzicman144

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

i have used Hoster for a show from the first time i found it. I have never had Hoster fail at anytime that it wasn't something i did or caused Hoster to do. I realize i don't use Hoster as most of you describe in this forum, but i've never had any of the problems i have read about in this forum because i don't do karaoke. I do probably 70-80 songs per night on my show as i don't take a break, have done this from day one. I realize i don't use all the features that a karaoke show requires, but to do a show (non karaoke) and have it perform the way it has for these years, i think is remarkable. This has been done for 3-5 days per week, up and down the coast, so we have moved it, loaded, unloaded it 3-5 nites per week, no breakdowns, (i'm gonna knock on wood as my stuff may breakdown tomorrow), but in the meantime, thanks, MTU, your product works. And i have shown it to customers from florida to Maryland, they have bought it, and love it.
muzicman144

Very Cool, what instrument do you play? Are you a single act?

Jim

[madjim- with the Lord]

muzicman144, please take the time to add your response to the poll. I too have used Hoster 3 to 5 nights a week for the past four years with no problems. Thanks MTU

Jim

[muzicman144]

Sorry, i overlooked the poll. I play guitar, sing. Hoster is the best band i ever had. most time there is no need to play guitar cuz i can't play it as well as the musicians on the tracks.
muzicman144

[muzicman144]

I guess this would be the place to address this. I have a friend who, being a very good musician who plays many instruments, makes his own tracks in his studio and uses them on the road. Doesn't this make his operation illegal just as if i didn't own the cdg tracks i use??
muzicman144

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

I guess this would be the place to address this. I have a friend who, being a very good musician who plays many instruments, makes his own tracks in his studio and uses them on the road. Doesn't this make his operation illegal just as if i didn't own the cdg tracks i use??
muzicman144

As long as the club pays their ascap/bmi etc fees AND he doesn't display written lyrics in public, he's good to go.

Sam

[mindonstrike]

In answer to the Poll: Karaoke alone.

But while were on the subject, does anyone no of a good source for custom backing tracks? I have found a few through yahoo in the UK but none in the US and the ones in the UK were pretty non-commital as to prices. And not having a pound key on my computer makes me wonder if I'm doing the money conversion thing correctly.

I've asked a few people in bands I've met if they would do it for money but they just hem and haw a bit and kind of sneak off, so I'm guessing it's not something they are into. It's not like I'm asking them to do it for free

Sam

[muzicman144]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

As long as the club pays their ascap/bmi etc fees AND he doesn't display written lyrics in public, he's good to go.

Sam

Using that theory, i could use any music file i want as i also do not display written lyrics to the public. I do not do karaoke shows, but I do a show just he does, use pre-recorded tracks just as he does, usually from a karaoke disc. If i burned a track from someone else's karaoke disc and used it, is this legal if i don't display written lyrics to the public. Haven't done so to this point, but if it is legal, i certainly will do so.

muzicman144

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

Using that theory, i could use any music file i want as i also do not display written lyrics to the public. I do not do karaoke shows, but I do a show just he does, use pre-recorded tracks just as he does, usually from a karaoke disc. If i burned a track from someone else's karaoke disc and used it, is this legal if i don't display written lyrics to the public. Haven't done so to this point, but if it is legal, i certainly will do so.

muzicman144

No... Your earlier post indicated your friend was playing an instrument and/or using tracks he created with his instruments.
I'm sure this is an overly simplified answer for a complicated subject (lawyers make up a good chunk of the music industry) but essentially, along with the writer of the music, the performers of the music are entitled to royalties (In this case typicly it would be the karaoke manufactuer), so if you use a track copied from someone else disk, both the music writer and the performers-karaoke companies are not getting their share of the royalties that they would if you purchased your own.

Again probably overly simplified but I think fairly accurate.

Sam

[muzicman144]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

No... Your earlier post indicated your friend was playing an instrument and/or using tracks he created with his instruments.
I'm sure this is an overly simplified answer for a complicated subject (lawyers make up a good chunk of the music industry) but essentially, along with the writer of the music, the performers of the music are entitled to royalties (In this case typicly it would be the karaoke manufactuer), so if you use a track copied from someone else disk, both the music writer and the performers-karaoke companies are not getting their share of the royalties that they would if you purchased your own.

Again probably overly simplified but I think fairly accurate.

Sam

I do believe this is an overly simplified theory. Not trying to argue here.
Just would really like to know the correct answer.

Again, We are basically doing the same thing. This musician is using self generated tracks on a computer just as i do, except i have bought the tracks i use. He is not the original song writer nor composer. No one is getting royalties from his use. The clubs i play at pay their fees to the music industry, just as they do when he plays, and i use tracks of my own, do not display written lyrics for the public to see. If your answer is correct (i'm not saying it isn't) then no one gets royalties from entertainers using self generated tracks, using a computer to play the files on the Hoster Program, or any other software of this type.
Seems to me this entertainer and i do the same thing, except the music industry gets royalties from my use and none from his use.
I just can't seem to get it through this thick head where the difference is in the legal reasoning, if there is such a thing.

muzicman144

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

I do believe this is an overly simplified theory. Not trying to argue here.
Just would really like to know the correct answer.

Again, We are basically doing the same thing. This musician is using self generated tracks on a computer just as i do, except i have bought the tracks i use. He is not the original song writer nor composer. No one is getting royalties from his use. The clubs i play at pay their fees to the music industry, just as they do when he plays, and i use tracks of my own, do not display written lyrics for the public to see. If your answer is correct (i'm not saying it isn't) then no one gets royalties from entertainers using self generated tracks, using a computer to play the files on the Hoster Program, or any other software of this type.
Seems to me this entertainer and i do the same thing, except the music industry gets royalties from my use and none from his use.
I just can't seem to get it through this thick head where the difference is in the legal reasoning, if there is such a thing.

muzicman144

You asked

If i burned a track from someone else's karaoke disc and used it, is this legal if i don't display written lyrics to the public

In this scenario it is not legal - no different than using the burnt disk for a karaoke show. If you own the original then yes it is legal.

If you recreate the music in your home studio and use that recreation in your performance then the music industry gets there royalties from ascap, bmi, etc. Those associations pool all those fees and split it up based on some mathematical formula and pay it to the song writers (original artist get some as well since this covers DJ's also). If you use a karaoke track then along with the association fees the song writers will get a royalty from the songs on that disk just as the songwriters and original artists will get a cut from the music CD the DJ purchases for his music.

Sam

[muzicman144]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

You asked In this scenario it is not legal - no different than using the burnt disk for a karaoke show. If you own the original then yes it is legal.

If you recreate the music in your home studio and use that recreation in your performance then the music industry gets there royalties from ascap, bmi, etc. Those associations pool all those fees and split it up based on some mathematical formula and pay it to the song writers (original artist get some as well since this covers DJ's also). If you use a karaoke track then along with the association fees the song writers will get a royalty from the songs on that disk just as the songwriters and original artists will get a cut from the music CD the DJ purchases for his music.

Sam

I understand how the royalties are distributed, but i don't believe i'm explaining my question correctly. Your response seems to only address the karaoke issue of burning some one else's disc. I'm asking why one is illegal and the other is legal when both are using copyrighted music, re-created on a computer file and used in a paid performance.

Example 1.
A musician makes his own music tracks of a copyrighted song, using his own instruments in his home studio, puts it on a computer file and uses it in a paid performance at a club that pays its music industry fees. No one gets royalties from his use of the track, only the share from fees that the club pays the industry.

Examle 2.
i buy a karaoke disc, burn a track of the copy of a copyrighted song, put it on a computer file and use it in a paid performance at the same club that pays its music industry fees. The music industry collects the club fees PLUS the royalties from my purchase of the karaoke disc for distribution to those due compensation for their copyrighted works.

Quite a bit of difference

muzicman144

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

Example 1.
A musician makes his own music tracks of a copyrighted song, using his own instruments in his home studio, puts it on a computer file and uses it in a paid performance at a club that pays its music industry fees. No one gets royalties from his use of the track, only the share from fees that the club pays the industry.

This is illegal because he did not pay the license fee to reproduce the songwriter's music which is copyrighted. In order for him to be legal he would have to contact ASCAP or BMI (whoever represents the writer/copyright holder) and obtain a license to reproduce the music. This is what the Karaoke Producers have to do to create the karaoke song files.

Originally Posted by muzicman144

Examle 2.
i buy a karaoke disc, burn a track of the copy of a copyrighted song, put it on a computer file and use it in a paid performance at the same club that pays its music industry fees. The music industry collects the club fees PLUS the royalties from my purchase of the karaoke disc for distribution to those due compensation for their copyrighted works.

The only disputed part of this is the change of format (CD to HD) and that is only in dispute by some Karaoke Producers. As you say all royalties and fees have been paid so is legal until a court case is determined.

[muzicman144]

Thanks. I have thought all along my friend was illegal in the way he performed his show. I apologize that i didn't explain my question in a
better way the first time.
jim

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

This is illegal because he did not pay the license fee to reproduce the songwriter's music which is copyrighted. In order for him to be legal he would have to contact ASCAP or BMI (whoever represents the writer/copyright holder) and obtain a license to reproduce the music. This is what the Karaoke Producers have to do to create the karaoke song files.

I would disagree on this point.

These are from ASCAPS's FAQ page:

Originally Posted by ASCAP

3. What Does the ASCAP License Do?

ASCAP gives you a license to entertain your customers, guests and employees with the world's largest musical repertory. One of the greatest advantages of the ASCAP license is that it give you the right to perform ANY or ALL of the millions of the musical works in our repertory. Whether your music is live, broadcast, transmitted or played via CD's or videos, your ASCAP license covers your performances. And with one license fee, ASCAP saves you the time, expense, and burden of contacting thousands of copyright owners.

And

Originally Posted by ASCAP

5. I want to record or videotape a song or record. Do I need permission, and how do I obtain it?

If you want to make copies of, or re-record an existing record, tape or CD, you will probably need the permission of both the music publisher and the record label. A music publisher owns the song (that is, the words and music) and a record company owns the "sound recording" (that is, what you hear... the artist singing, the musicians playing, the entire production).

If you plan to hire your own musicians and singers and create an original recording of a copyrighted song, then you need the permission of only the music publisher.

ASCAP does not license recording rights. Recording rights for most publishers are represented by the Harry Fox Agency:

Unfortunately you have to contact them with specific questions but it would appear to me that #3 would give you the right play back a music track you recorded for a public performance where you will either play along or sing along as long as the venue has the ASCAP license.
#5 appears to be applicable to those who want to sell or give away a CD of their performances

As long as your recordings are just aid to your public performance and not given away or for sale, the clubs ASCAP license will cover you and no other fee's or permissions would be required.This is why it's illegal to record your karaoke singers performance and give/sell them a copy.

IMHO
Sam

[ddouglass]

"If you plan to hire your own musicians and singers and create an original recording of a copyrighted song, then you need the permission of only the music publisher."
That right there says that the #1 scenario is illegal if he did not obtain permission to create his own recording. It says nothing about selling or giving it away, but just the fact that you record someone else's song without obtaining permission. You may not need a license but you do need their permission to do so.

[muzicman144]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

"If you plan to hire your own musicians and singers and create an original recording of a copyrighted song, then you need the permission of only the music publisher."
That right there says that the #1 scenario is illegal if he did not obtain permission to create his own recording. It says nothing about selling or giving it away, but just the fact that you record someone else's song without obtaining permission. You may not need a license but you do need their permission to do so.

my very point, at any point you re-create copy righted music for reuse in a commercial venue, you need to obtain the rights from the copyright owner to do so, or play the club fees, no matter how you use it.
Maybe some one can explain why they could possibly not need to do so.
muzicman144

[George]

Not so sure about that permission bit, at least at the recording artist level.

I find it hard to believe that performing artists who've had a recording of theirs "covered" by a more popular artist gave their permission to be knocked off the charts, and that happens all the time.

Little Richard had trouble early in his career with that very thing. He'd come out with a song, and suddenly there was Pat Boone and other more conservative singers with a toned down release of the same song.

Got so bad Little Richard finally came out with songs that were so way out there that Boone and the others didn't dare touch them for fear of looking foolish.

This all came out on an interview I saw a year or two back.

You wouldn't think the artists publishers would have agreed to it either. Wind up with an empty stable pretty fast. I think it's a very ambiguous area.