While small boutique pubs are the next big thing for Sydney, karaoke dens offering a flavour of the 1970s and ’80s are on the way out under a plan to make it harder for new establishments to serve the embarrassing brand of DIY music on their menu.
In the immortal words of the Righteous Brothers, City of Sydney Council has lost that lovin’ feelin’ for the subtle art of karaoke.
Karaoke tsar Ray Chan, who owns Port Orient karaoke restaurant in Darling Harbour, said people wanting to open karaoke places like his would be discriminated against in the late night trading plan.
"Karaoke was invented by the Japanese, the most emotionally controlled people who are very straight with their behaviour at work, school and among friends," Mr Chan said.
"So, psychologically, karaoke is a very good way to release stress.
"We all sing in the shower when we relax or have a few drinks. But karaoke itself shouldn’t all be discriminated against just because there is noise and singing.
"The problems come when there are groups of these school kids hiring a karaoke room and they bring their own six pack or bottle of whisky. It is a cheap party that can get out of hand."
The council’s late night development control plan makes it easier for smaller licensed premises under 200sqm to gain later trading hours, while forcing larger pubs and clubs to show "ongoing responsible management practices" over time to get the same late opening hours.
It effectively encourages the creation of small boutique bars while discouraging an increase in new beer barns, pokie palaces and nightclubs by shortening their standard trading hours and therefore reducing their potential profits.
Any place offering karaoke that either serves or permits the consumption of alcohol, even if they are small and under the 200sqm benchmark, would also be bundled into this "high impact" category with pubs and clubs.
"Feedback from police indicates there are often problems in the early hours of the morning associated with karaoke premises," a City of Sydney spokesman said.
"This will not prevent karaoke bars from operating in the City, however, at the same time it is important to ensure that karaoke premises are well managed, like all late night trading venues in areas where conflicts with the community can occur."
While the late night trading plan was passed unanimously, councillor Michael Lee said the policy was an overreaction to the few complaints made against karaoke bars.
"The policy doesn’t single out rap music, heavy metal, R&B or some of the things you might expect would have a higher impact than music of the ’70s or ’80s coming from a karaoke bar," Mr Lee said.
"It does seem strange, almost like there is a policy to discourage karaoke in the city of Sydney."
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