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Karaoke Goes Mainstream in the US and Abroad



Karaoke has risen from being a favorite pub pastime to international sport and a noteworthy component of the entertainment industry. Karaoke video games, mobile phone karaoke, internet karaoke, and the karaoke equipment industry is worth an estimated $7 Billion according to the Singing Machine Co. Like it or not, karaoke is fast becoming a significant part of the music industry.



Growing Popularity Attracts Celebrities, Money and Press


The Karaoke World Championships (http://www.kwc.fi) has enjoyed steady growth over the 6 years since its founding in karaoke obsessed Finland. The 2008 championships, held this October, hosted karaoke competitors from nearly 30 countries, featured blockbuster recording artists as guest performers, and doled out tens of thousands of dollars worth of prizes to winners. The male and female winners, Michael Bates from Australia and Juliet Gonnett from France, both received a major recording contract as part of the prize package.



Back in the U.S., Barbara Robbins of Kenton, KY placed 4th and Alex Peak of Eaton, OH placed 5th in the world championship, but are #1 back at home with appearances on a network morning show and many engagements to appear around the country and abroad. KWCUSA (http://www.kwcusa.net) officials expressed their excitement at how well the US champions were received in Finland, the support they received while there was remarkable. The success of Barbara and Alex only underscores the major financial success the national contest is experiencing. Major sponsors have lined up to support the contest, including major karaoke CD maker Chartbuster, (http://www.chartbusterkaraoke.com) and a major beverage company. Local venues that have hosted a KWCUSA contest cannot stop singing its praises. Valerie Varano of Pub 44 in New Smyrna, FL hosted a 6 week long local contest at one of its locations on the slowest night of the week and watched food and beverage sales double, making that day the most profitable weekday for the entire span of the contest. That success prompted them to host another competition at their second location in Daytona.



KWCUSA has also partnered with a sleek new karaoke lifestyle magazine on the web. KaraokeTraveler.com (http://www.karaoketraveler.com/) features the largest current listing of karaoke spots in cities all over the country, and provides news and articles on all things karaoke. Until now, the karaoke scene has been a loose but massive network of karaoke bars, which makes it difficult for karaoke enthusiasts to come together, find different places to sing, or get news and information about karaoke, KaraokeTraveler provides all that. Explains Wendell Payne of KWCUSA. He explains that the synergy between KaraokeTraveler and KWCUSA is almost obvious, they both aim to take karaoke to the national stage and the world stage, not just as a talent contest, but as national pastime and sport, as well as a viable component of the entertainment industry. KaraokeTraveler covers every KWC event and provides contest information and background information on the world and national KWC organizations, including exclusive interviews with the U.S. champs.



A New Season


The upcoming year brings a new season for the national talent contest. All 50 states will participate and thousands of singers will be vying to make the trip to Finland in 2009. Local pubs, bars and restaurants have already begun signing up to host local, regional and state championships, and with the fairly low entry cost of $375 for a local contest, hosting one makes good financial sense, especially since venues are free to recoup their entry costs by charging an entry fee to contestants. The 2009 National Championship in August will be even bigger and better than its successful inaugural run at Kings Island Adventure Park (http://www.visitkingsisland.com)in Ohio. The 2009 event will feature over $100,000 in prizes provided by a host of sponsors and officials say that celebrity judges may make an appearance as well.






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