Chip .... did you actually see the PHM branding or are you just identifying the lyrics authoring with the PHM style. If so, I did author the lyrics for the first dozen or so Top Tunes discs (not the music) so if that's the case then they would be legitimate.

Do you remember the name of the song?

Just had a long conversation with another KJ in town who says he pays an mIRC channel to download any and all karaoke music he wants and that it's all perfectly legal. Been doing it for years! And he feels he's completely covered because the venues he works in pay their BMI/ASCAP fees.

I had never heard of mIRC channels so I asked if it's legal. He said "Of course it’s legal. I signed up on this program 15 years ago. I get zips and MP3’s thru there. It’s basically a worldwide forum of KJ’s that search and share. Ya have to follow their strict guidelines, but it works, and I love it. If it exists, I can get it! If it doesn’t, I can sometimes make ‘em myself."

He offered to get me anything I wanted for $1 per song. He actually thinks the fees he pays to the channel pays the artists back. Is he right?

Another quote, "Also, what makes most karaoke songs easy to get, is they are recorded with a slightly different pitch or key or tempo, etc... so it’s not up to the artists what songs of theirs is available to be made karaoke..."

When I mentioned the mechanical license as the reason why not every song can be made for karaoke because this license is denied he said, "Yes, “mechanical”. So a karaoke song can be slightly altered to pass by without being in any violation."

Finally, his background, "I know how rights work. I worked in radio for 20 years, produced commercials, sang jingles. I'm not making money off the artists lyrics on the screen, I’m making money as an independent contractor providing a service. I pay fees, I pay taxes, and the bars I play at pay ascap/BMI."

Thoughts?

Reread my post. I understand that all kinds of content is available through these channels and regardless as to whether or not there are criminal infractions, doesn't change the fact that it don't amount to a hill of beans if the source(s) can't be identified. Nor do I think that once the content is out there, that there's much chance that it can be removed. I certainly am not about to waste my resources on trying to locate them.

It's crap like this that will never stop. Too many... just from Searching 'IRC Karaoke" tons of channels pop up. eBay hard drive listings have slowed down... I'm seeing one or two new ad postings a week now.

I've already confirmed with Jim Harrington about the Complete Gem set is on all the channels a couple years back. It turned out the bit rate is of a lower quality set.

PHM/THM I also noticed were available in my IRC research a couple years back.

The only simple fix is to Sell "Pro KJ License to play (Manufacturer name here)

It's Win Win Win... regardless of what os out there. All you would need to keep track of is the Licenses (PER DEVICE) I will gladly pay $1000 for a KJ Pro DEVICE license along with $100/yr for maintenance. I'm sure many other KJ's would too.

The only simple fix is to Sell "Pro KJ License to play (Manufacturer name here)

Do you remember the name of the song?

Pm'd the info to you.

Please provide his info so we can report him to PEP.

When you have a so called friend who is basically telling you he's a pirate, further helping to put an end to the profession that you work in, and choose to do nothing about it, then you're just as guilty as he is.

Just had a long conversation with another KJ in town who says he pays an mIRC channel to download any and all karaoke music he wants and that it's all perfectly legal. Been doing it for years! And he feels he's completely covered because the venues he works in pay their BMI/ASCAP fees.

I had never heard of mIRC channels so I asked if it's legal. He said "Of course it’s legal. I signed up on this program 15 years ago. I get zips and MP3’s thru there. It’s basically a worldwide forum of KJ’s that search and share. Ya have to follow their strict guidelines, but it works, and I love it. If it exists, I can get it! If it doesn’t, I can sometimes make ‘em myself."

He offered to get me anything I wanted for $1 per song. He actually thinks the fees he pays to the channel pays the artists back. Is he right?

Another quote, "Also, what makes most karaoke songs easy to get, is they are recorded with a slightly different pitch or key or tempo, etc... so it’s not up to the artists what songs of theirs is available to be made karaoke..."

When I mentioned the mechanical license as the reason why not every song can be made for karaoke because this license is denied he said, "Yes, “mechanical”. So a karaoke song can be slightly altered to pass by without being in any violation."

Finally, his background, "I know how rights work. I worked in radio for 20 years, produced commercials, sang jingles. I'm not making money off the artists lyrics on the screen, I’m making money as an independent contractor providing a service. I pay fees, I pay taxes, and the bars I play at pay ascap/BMI."

Thoughts?