STK Karaoke announced in January that they will not be taking part in the 2007 KWCUSA season and is resigning its position as Region 5 Finals Host. KWCUSA National Director Frank Davies was notified via email of the decision. No response or reaction has yet been received.

STK Karaoke recently completed its 3rd year of participation with KWCUSA, all 3 years hosting the Region 5 finals. Region 5 consists of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.

STK Karaoke owner Scott Hendricks says that the reason for this decision is largely based on a lack of venue, combined with a lack of interest from local media, although the event had been growing in popularity over the last couple of years. Despite not having state finals hosts in 4 of the 5 states in the region, the Region 5 finals had drawn wildcard contestants from Oklahoma, Minnesota, Kansas and as far as away as North Carolina.

"We thoroughly enjoyed taking part with KWCUSA and consider ourselves privileged to have met and been given the chance to listen to some wonderful entertainers. We regret not being able to take part this year, but we'll see what the future holds and go from there," says Hendricks.

STK Karaoke had been providing karaoke services for a local establishment in Fayette, but stopped last month due to continuous low turnout. The establishment closed its doors last month and expects to re-open in a new location. The planned re-opening date has not been announced.

KWCUSA events are open to amateur singers, age 21 and above. Men and women compete separately as winners at the local levels advance to State, Regional, and National finals. The results of the national finals event will determine the members of Team USA, who will compete at the Karaoke World Contest finals, this year being held in Australia. The 2006 world finals event was held in Miami, FL.

Contest dates and locations can be found at www.kwcusa.com.