Doug Kanter wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Doug Kanter wrote:
"RCE" wrote in message
...

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..

What the music industry needs is a copyright pricing structure that
fairly compensates the actual producers of music AND doesn't rip off
consumers of that product...and they don't have it yet.

One of the reasons midi sequencers like myself stopped sharing some
files
on the 'net is because of the threat of lawsuits. Actually, not
threats,
but real litigation in some cases that shut down most sites that
featured
midi files. Midi files are not music recordings like mp3s or .wav
files.
They are a series of instructions to a sound board, card or instrument
that can receive midi instructions. The sound card or instrument then
plays the sequence using it's own, on board voices.

Royalty collectors like ASCAP and BMI quickly (and perhaps correctly,
depending on your personal feelings on the subject) started to
threaten
web site owners that had midi files of popular music considered to be
subject to copyright protection. Even though it was not technically a
recording or performance by a musician, the fact that someone sequenced
a
series of instructions for a midi compatible instrument to reproduce,
they
claimed copyright infringement. Original, copyright free compositions
are encouraged of course and often stolen as a basis for new music by
songwriters in the industry.

RCE




I don't recall whether it's BMI or ASCAP, but one of them collects fees
from
bar owners who include karioke in their activities. Unbelievable.

Most Karaoke formats now get around some copyright issues in a unique
kind of way. When a song comes up, let's say, "I'm Going Straight to
Hell" by Drivin' and Cryin' the credits on the screen will say Played
in the style of "I'm Going Straight to Hell". This takes care of some
legalities as far as copyright, but I know that ASCAP still collects
from the owners. If you are ever down around Naples, NY, and hit the
Naples Hotel bar for a beer, and there is karaoke there, the guy that
owns the system is Pat, and his wife Sissy. He's the karaoke king of
the area.


I'm allergic to karioke. :-) I'd rather swallow push pins sideways.

I like it, I've heard some really good performers, when going to decent
events. That's the key.