In this age of American Idol, this karaoke competition seems to offer main street America a more sane and democratic opportunity to be recognized as performers by their peers and maybe, just maybe, get a chance at a recording contract. Wendell Payne, the organizer of the event explains that there are two main advantages that this competition has over American Idol; first, it does not have an age limit, so talented crooners over the age of 28 can have a crack at stardom; and second, the championship goes to both a male and female winner.

Serious Business

As the competition grows each year, Payne says that the level of professionalism increases as well. In regards to how polished and practiced the contestants were this year, Payne says “they were head and heels above last year’s group. . . 95% of the contestants were very serious about this competition, there was a lot of nerves offstage.”  Some may say that “professional karaoke” is an oxymoron, but there is no denying that karaoke is entertainment, not mere spectator sport, “the crowd always sings along,” notes Payne. The better the entertainment the more involved the crowd becomes. Some winners of the world championships have received recording contracts, so karaoke isn’t just amateur hour anymore, and contestants know this. The karaoke industry has been estimated to be worth anywhere between $300 million and $7 billion, and a based on CD sales alone. Bars and taverns hosting karaoke also rely on the extra customers and revenues that karaoke nights bring in. Payne describes half of the participants in the competition as plain old karaoke addicts, and the other half are serious about being a professional singer one day. But Payne, cautions that just like there is a thin line between love and hate, so it is between the self proclaimed karaoke addicts and the karaoke dreamers, in most cases he says, the two become intertwined and almost no one will turn down going to the World Championships and a chance at stardom. “this is the stuff that dreams are made of” says Payne. So American Idol, eat your heart out.

 
Here Come The Karaoke World Championships . . .