After reading our Helpful Hints, Terms & Definitions if you are still unclear about anything at all or would like to discuss any special considerations, please call us directly. Our one and only goal is to make sure that you get the attention and service that you expect. Providing customer satisfaction is primary!

What is a Needle Drop?
A Needle Drop is one specific use of one particular selection of music within one individual production. It makes no difference if the selection of music used is five seconds or five minutes in length. All that matters is how many times this specific selection of music is used within that production. For example: If a selection of music is used ten times, in part or in whole, it is still considered ten Needle Drops. The same concept applies even if there are ten different selections of music used one time each. The production is still considered as having ten Needle Drops.

What is a Local Clearance?
We interpret this to mean that any production, whether it be a program, promo or commercial and will have exposure within a single state will be considered a local use. The exception to this would be the major markets. For example: NYC and the Tri-State area, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Boca, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Los Angeles will not be considered local and will be treated as regional in nature due to their higher population densities. However, the exception to this rule would be the local access scenario.

What is a Regional Clearance?
We are generously interpreting this in order to provide a broader meaning to the territory covered by this clearance category. From our point of view we have divided up the USA into six geographic regions. The Northeast states, Southeast states, North Midwest states, South Midwest states, Northwest states and the Southwest states. Basically, a regional clearance is granted to any program, promo or commercial that will have exposure in up to eight states.

What is a National Clearance?
This is probably the easiest interpretation of all. Any production, program, promo or commercial that will be seen or heard and have exposure throughout the entire USA by means of any major broadcast, cable or satellite network. This clearance category will also apply to spots targeted for multiple local and or multiple regional territories throughout the country.

What is a Sound Recording?
Sound recordings are defined in the law as works that result from the fixation of a series of musical, spoken or other sounds. Copyright in a sound recording protects the particular series of sounds "fixed" (embodied in a recording) against unauthorized reproduction and revision and unauthorized distribution of those sounds, and certain unauthorized performances by means of a digital audio transmission.

What is Copyright?
Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of "original works of authorship," including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to authorize others to reproduce, to perform the work publicly and to prepare derivative works incorporating their work.

What is Public Domain?
Works published in the United States with a copyright date of 1922 or earlier are in the the public domain. Do not be fooled by the term "Public Domain"... it can be tricky. Just because a musical composition or arrangement may be in the proverbial public domain, does not mean that you automatically can use it willy nilly in your production without paying for it. You must be absolutely certain that the specific recording you are using is also in the public domain. Chances are, that the recording you have selected is not in the public domain. Permission and proper clearance from the owners of this recording must be obtained. Of course you are legally free to spend your own money and have any public domain musical composition arranged, performed and recorded. Then you would be the proud owner of this particular master recording and everyone else would need your permission to use it. Every musical composition owned and provided by American Music Company is without exception copyrighted and is not in the public domain.

Did You Know That Copyright Protection is Automatic?
Under the 1976 Copyright Act, which became effective January 1, 1978, a work is automatically protected by copyright when it is created. A work is created when it is "fixed" in a copy for the first time. Neither registration in the Copyright Office nor publication is required for copyright protection under the present law.

How Long Does Copyright Protection Endure?
A work that is created for the first time on or after January 1, 1978 is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author's life plus an additional 70 years after the author's death. For works made for hire, the duration of copyright will be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

What About Works Originally Created and Published or Registered before January 1, 1978?
Under the law in effect before 1978, the copyright endured for a first term of 28 years from the date it was secured. During the last 28th year of the first term, the copyright was eligible for renewal. The Copyright Act of 1976 extended the renewal term from 28 to 47 years for copyrights that were in place prior to January 1, 1978, making these works eligible for a total term of protection of 75 years. Public Law 105-298, enacted on October 27, 1978, further extended the renewal term of copyrights still subsisting on that date by an additional 20 years, providing for a renewal term of 67 years and a total term of protection of 95 years.