July 16, 2026
The History of Karaoke: From Coin Machines to Online Platforms
Karaoke is now a global pastime, but it started as a very simple idea: give people a backing track and let them sing.
The word itself comes from the Japanese words kara and oke, a shorthand for an empty orchestra.
From hardware to the browser
In the 1970s, Daisuke Inoue built one of the first karaoke machines, Juke 8, so bar customers could sing along with recorded music.
The format evolved from tape and LaserDisc systems to MIDI-based software and, today, to browser karaoke that runs without installing a desktop app.