My own experience at the last five shows I've witnessed is that 4 out of 5 are running pc's. The one running discs had all burns. I know that isn't proof of anything "piratical", but it is an indicator that further information is needed. I know for a fact, because I asked and observed, that the 3 out of the 4 running pc's DO NOT own the discs to back up their music. 80% pc, 75% of those confirmed illegal. None of them are competitors in my market/area. However; they are doing damage to our industry and indirectly to every manufacturer and individual or firm that operates, legally, to provide the goods and services needed.
Friday night, I got a call from the manager at one of the above mentioned pc run shows. Their KJ had quit and the owner had passed on my number as a potential replacement. When I attended this show I had a conversation with the owner and asked her about karaoke in her establishment. I asked about the history, how many nights, what was the busy night, who sang what genre, crowd demographics and did she own the discs for her music. No, in fact, she did not. She openly admitted that to me and went on to gripe about paying $150 a night to these KJ's who came in and acted like they were a big deal. She also told me that when trying to find a new KJ in the past, she had a guy who came in and told her that every time she played a karaoke song, she was stealing it. She scoffed at the idea, but she listened to me as I simply explained that in order to be legal, you must possess the original cd+g discs that contain the music that you have on your computer. I didn't tell her that mfr's are suing KJ's & Venues who are using stolen music. I deliberately avoided using terms like piracy. I was having a nice conversation with the lady, but now I think she missed my point. I didn't think that she was going to change her practices with regard to karaoke because of what I said, but she got that I was a KJ and didn't hear that what she was doing was illegal. She then, a couple of months later, had her manager call me and attempt to hire me. The fact that I'm already booked and 100+ mountainous miles away from the venue means that I'd never consider it, but I told the manager that I can't work for them unless I bring my own karaoke. She was completely oblivious. I told her to make sure that whoever she hired, to be certain that they possessed the original cd+g's to support their system whether it is disc-based or hard-drive based. Again, no comprehension. I turned down the offer and wished her luck with apologies that I couldn't even offer a referral.
In-line with the OP... What Toquer has done here could be part of the ripple effect that gets the message out. My picture would have been of an attractive young woman who bought a bar that had karaoke for years and continued doing it in the manner they always had. She doesn't know her business is at risk. She doesn't know the damage she's doing to our industry. She doesn't know that she's obligated by law to educate herself on the requirements of operating legal karaoke. Then, I'd hold up the picture of the little old man and say "He knows."