Karaoke Music
Karaoke music is one of the emerging forms of popular music. Live performances of popular songs are given. Amateur singers sing with music of the songs, having the original singer's voice removed or attenuated. Lyrics of the song on a video screen usually follow it, as a guide to the singer.
Karaoke was first introduced in Japan in 1970s. It was major form of entertainment at family gatherings and dinners. The first karaoke machine was invented only then by a Japanese drummer Daisuke Inoue in Utagoe Kissa. 1990s saw a rising interest in karaoke in North America and other Asian countries. As the market realized the potential and popularity of this new kind of music, various different styles of karaoke systems were manufactured. Lounges and night clubs made it even further popular. This led to the advent of a new profession: Karaoke jockeys (KJ). They play the music as well as make announcements about songs and singers. Karaoke is played at various venues across North America: it can be a bar, or restaurants, wherever karaoke system and equipment is provided. Most places offer free singing opportunities since they generate money by selling their food or drinks. Chinese societies have venues called "mahjong-karaoke rooms".
Karaoke music has been developed on various levels. There has been an increase in selection of karaoke music, karaoke systems, and other karaoke equipment as well as karaoke software and download sites for such music. Japanese played cassette tapes, but now its available in the form of laserdiscs, audio and video CDs, as well as DVDs. Audio CDs use a special format called CD+G (CD+graphics), where audio as well as images are encoded for the lyrics of the songs in bitmaps.
Karaoke songs are sung with a help of a microphone and an electronic amplification system called a PA system. The screen on which lyrics are displayed is called KTV.