Karaoke: Singing with Empty Orchestra

The global karaoke market is worth nearly 10 billion dollars.

Karaoke is singing along to pre-recorded music and lyrics.

Karaoke machines started in Japan and the Philippines in the 1970s.

Daisuke Inoue made homemade karaoke machines called 8 Juke in 1971.

Inoue’s machines used 8-track tapes and charged 100 yen coins.

Roberto del Rosario patented the Sing-Along System using cassette tapes.

The Sing-Along System included a microphone mixer with reverb effects.

Pioneer introduced video karaoke machines with LaserDiscs in the 1980s.

Yuichi Yasutomo created networked karaoke systems in 1992 for Brother.

By 1998, ninety-four percent of karaoke used networked machines in Japan.

Karaoke machines are found in bars, nightclubs, and private homes.

Home karaoke often merges with home theater systems for TV enhancement.

Karaoke is also used for music training and public speaking practice.

Lyrics appear on multiple screens with sound and lighting effects.

Karaoke machines are commonly found in lounges and bars.