internet karaoke backing tracks

[johncallaghan]

Hi i want to to know dooes anyone know about the legal issues involved in having a web site with karaoke backing tracks, where do you get the rights, and is it costly?

[StupidScript]

Welcome to the forums!

Copyright information for pretty much every song title, karaoke or otherwise, is available on the distribution media. i.e. printed on the CD cover. Contact the address provided and inquire about obtaining distribution rights.

The cost will vary depending on the publisher, the age of the song and the popularity of the song. Typically, you will be contractually liable for payment each time a site visitor accesses the file containing a single song.

You may also seek out a "rights management" or "copyright clearance" company and pay them to get copyright clearance for you, in addition to the per-song distribution fees you will end up paying.

Currently the United States Congress is debating royalty issues that will definitely impact your business model, as they are considering raising the minimum amount that can be charged for a copyrighted work to be distributed on the Internet. You can read about that in your choice of music/radio industry news outlet.

It would be a good idea for you to sit down with a copyright attorney in your area and run this by them, as they have a pretty good idea what you are facing, and can often help you with the rights issues you will need to address in order to put your idea online.

Good luck! Keep it legal!