The word "karaoke" originates from two Japanese words - "kara" which means empty, and "okesutora" which means orchestra. There are disputes as to where karaoke actually was invented but it is believed that it was first developed in Japan in the 1970's before spreading into other parts of Asia in the 1980's and then on into the rest of the world. Karaoke developed out of the Japanese practice of providing some form of musical entertainment for guests at dinners or parties. A popular Japanese musician to perform at such events, Daisuke Inoue, was asked by some guests to provide a recording of his music so that they could sing along on vacation. This sparked an idea in Daisuke and he made a machine that would play a song for a 100 yen coin, leasing the machines to restaurants and hotels where it caught on as a popular form of entertainment. However Daisuke Inoue did not patent his new machine which is why there has been some dispute over who did invent karaoke. A Filipino inventor called Roberto del Rosario developed a similar system called "Minus-One" in 1975 which he got a patent for in the 1980s. Roberto still holds the patent for what we call the karaoke machine.
Following this, the 1990s saw the popularity of karaoke spread to the United click here States, Canada, Australia and other western countries. It became a popular form of nightclub entertainment with some places setting up with high-end sound equipment, lighting shows and dance floors. It also became popular to rent a karaoke machine with a jockey to come and provide the entertainment at private parties. While this seemed to be a passing fad of the 90's, it has continued to develop into a different format with karaoke now being available as video games, on cell phones, on computers and even in automobiles. People now have a number of different outlets for their amateur singing practice and entertainment.
Karaoke is a very popular form of entertainment and finding quality backing tracks can pose a problem. Karaoke machines, depending on what type you have, can play CD, DVD or MP3 tracks. If karaoke is your business you want to stay current, so finding backing tracks for singers is very important. I am going to list three great places to find backing tracks that will keep your supply up to date and fresh.
Retail Stores
Backing tracks, also called accompaniment tracks, can be found in stores that sell music CDs. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, F.Y.E., etc., usually have a karaoke section that sell backing tracks. You can find many styles by many artists. If you are lucky they will have a listening room so that you can listen to the tracks before you buy them. The last thing you want to do is buy a track that does not sound good.
Online Stores
If you are in an area of the country that does not have a Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, F.Y.E. etc., you could always order online from these stores. Many carry the same titles as the retail store and some even have a larger list of titles. The only problem with some online stores is that you may not have the opportunity to listen to the track before you purchase it. If you have a certain company you like and trust, then you are in business.
Downloadable Tracks
Having the availability to download backing tracks is by far the best way to get tracks for your karaoke machine. Most current karaoke machines can play CD, DVD or MP3 tracks as mentioned before, so you can easily download and burn your purchased item to one of these formats. There are many places to download tracks and you can get them with a click of a mouse. iTunes, Amazon, and other online companies carry backing tracks of most popular and current songs. You will have the convenience of being able to listen to the tracks before you purchase them, plus you can download the track right to your computer. This also saves space when you can download the tracks. Most people just have a dedicated hard drive to store them for safe keeping.
Backing tracks for singers are very important if you love to sing or have a karaoke business. There are many companies out there that carry them, but they are not always good quality. My suggestion is that you find a good company or download service that make or carry good sounding tracks. Once you do this you will be on your way to some great sounding entertainment.