Colorado Springs bar owner fined over karaoke

A Colorado Springs bar owner has been fined $21,000 for violating copyright infringement by using songs of artists, including Toby Keith, on her karaoke machine.

Carey-On Saloon owner LaShawn Carey says she was entertaining soldiers just back from Afghanistan when four of them, backed by the karaoke machine, belted out Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue” as the crowd cheered.

Carey says a song monitor in the crowd reported her and she was cited for playing seven songs used for karaoke without paying royalties.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, a bar, restaurant, cafe or other business that plays music to entertain patrons is required to pay licensing fees to performing rights organizations so musicians get paid for their work.