Commercial coin-op jukebox

[Ram Puss]

I'm interested in building an MP3 jukebox for a local bar.  I've never done anything like this before, but am somewhat computer saavy, and  know decent carpenters who could build a cabinet.  

There's some good info here, but most of it seems intended for home systems, not coin ops.  Also, one reason an MP3 jukebox appeals to me is that it could be more single-oriented, like the old 45 jukeboxes.  My digital box is going to have Pass the Dutchie on it, but there's no way I would put a whole Musical Youth album in a CD box.  VMJ looks like great software, for albums, but what do you recommend for singles?

Thanks,
RP

[AlanS17]

They plan on using their own MP3s or what? Cuz downloaded MP3s wouldn't be legal.

[AlanS17]

Well Arcade Jukebox can be set to accept money, is skinnable, and works well with singles...

But even if they use the MP3s they rip from their own CD's, it still wouldn't be legal cuz the license agreement for the music doesn't include redistribution with compensation.

[Ram Puss]

Thanks for the feedback.  I should have mentioned that I'm in Belize, Central America.  All the CDs and DVDs sold here are bootleged.  Legitimate, imported media simply is not available.  Even the cable company is broadcasting hijacked signals from the US.  

The 100 CD Jukebox I want to replace has 90-95 pirated CDs in it.  The bar down the street has exclusively bootlegs in their jukebox.  That's the situation... I might as well do something creative with it.

I'll check out Arcade Jukebox, and let you know what I think.

[RacerX]

I need to move to Belize.  All the pirated stuff you could ever want, and NO income tax, either!!!  

Oh, yeah, I use WinCab Jukebox.  It's great, and is "singles oriented".

[Thenasty]

can I bootleg a house over there ?
If so, need to make a plan on moving to the Bootleg Country.  

imagine if the entire world is just Bootleging. Would anyone ever create anything just to be bootleged ? Not me, I just wait for the bootleg version  

[Chris]

I'm interested in building an MP3 jukebox for a local bar.  I've never done anything like this before, but am somewhat computer saavy, and  know decent carpenters who could build a cabinet.  

There's some good info here, but most of it seems intended for home systems, not coin ops.  Also, one reason an MP3 jukebox appeals to me is that it could be more single-oriented, like the old 45 jukeboxes.  My digital box is going to have Pass the Dutchie on it, but there's no way I would put a whole Musical Youth album in a CD box.  VMJ looks like great software, for albums, but what do you recommend for singles?

DOSCab and WinCab Jukebox can be set to accept coins and is geared toward singles use.  See the link in my signature for more.

--Chris

[Ram Puss]

Arcade Jukebox I like... maybe I'll go with that.  WinCab doesn't seem to have any features that AJB is missing, and the setup is so much more complicated, that I don't think I'll mess with it.

Thanks
RP

[Chris]

Arcade Jukebox is excellent.  WinCab's setup isn't as bad as I make it sound, because the indexing step is not necessary in Windows.  I'm sure either will work well for you.

--Chris

[StephenH]

Commercial use may of MP3s in a jukebox ripped from CDs the person or company owns, I beleive is as long as the establishment has a music performance license for Jukeboxes.  In The USA, the organizations to get licenses from would be ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

[Ram Puss]

.

[Chris]

Commercial use may of MP3s in a jukebox ripped from CDs the person or company owns, I beleive is as long as the establishment has a music performance license for Jukeboxes.  In The USA, the organizations to get licenses from would be ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

This is interesting.  I always figured that if you bought a commercial jukebox, the licensing was built into the cost and you only had to have the appropriate business license for a coin-operated machine... I didn't realize that it was the establishment that was licensed and not the machine.

--Chris

[Ken Layton]

In the USA, the Jukebox License Office administers the REQUIRED jukebox Copyright Licenses. These licenses must be purchased by the OWNER of the jukebox (be it an individual owner or a local jukebox opeator) and the license must be displayed in plain view inside the machine so the undercover license inspectors can see it. The license only covers 78, 45, & 33-1/3 vinyl records and CD's used in commercial coin operated jukeboxes. MP3's and hard disk drive music are currently ILLEGAL (considered copyright infringement)to use in commercial jukeboxes in the USA. Fines are very hefty---$50,000 per infringing song. Only Rowe, Rockola, Touchtunes, and Ecast are officially licensed by the copyright office for special music industry proprietary (anti-copying encoded) hard drive/downloading jukeboxes.

[Chris]

Thanks, Ken!  Do you mind if I swipe this paragraph for the DOSCab Jukebox documentation in case anyone decides to try setting up a commercial jukebox with it?

--Chris

[Ken Layton]

No, I don't mind at all---go ahead and use it. This information is VERY important and could potentially save someone from big legal bills/problems.

[SirPeale]

I remember a story I read a few years back.

A hair salon had a CD system set up to play tunes while everyone was getting their hair/nails/etc done.

A rep from one of these companies came, and informed her that she would have to purchase a license to play the music in her salon.  

I don't remember most of the intimate details, but she actually did try to do this, but was stymied in six different ways with several different licenses.  Finally she gave up, and stopped playing music all together.

[mp2526]

Similar reason why big chain restaurants don't officially sing happy birthday on customers birthdays.  The right person hears it and they will be asked to pay royalties.

[AlexSledge]

This is a situation where conscientious objectors should be stirring up as much civil disobedience as possible to get this corrected in the US.

This, like most intellectual property & copyright "law" flies in the face of common sense, and community decency, so I have no problems disregarding them with regard to these kinds of excessive abuses of the government beauracracy.

[Ken Layton]

You might find yourself either in jail, paying big copyright infringement judgments, or broke. The ASCAP and big music companies have been winning their cases against people.

[AlexSledge]

Very true, if you're doing this commercially in the US, watch your rear.

Since I'll just be converting a box for home use, they're welcome to try and come for me.

[Ken Layton]

Certainly if your doing this for home use you'll have no problems, but once the machine ends up in a business or other commercial/public location then they'll get ya.

[touch-n-go]

If you are want to build a mp3 jukebox, then check out Touch-N-Go. It was designed for touch screen.

Visit  http://www.touch-n-go.com for more information

Download Demo
http://www.touch-n-go.com/Touch-N-Go_Demo.exe

[marknetwork]

I have a jukebox that is coin operated.  I use Virtual Jukebox and would highly recommend it!!  

It kicks ass my jukebox does!

Mark