U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

Regulations most recently checked for updates: Mar 26, 2026

§ 380.50 - Definitions.

For purposes of this subpart, the following definitions apply:

Collective means the collection and distribution organization that is designated by the Copyright Royalty Judges, which, for the current rate period, is SoundExchange, Inc.

Copyright Owners means sound recording copyright owners, and rights owners under 17 U.S.C. 1401(l)(2), who are entitled to royalty payments made under this subpart pursuant to the statutory licenses under 17 U.S.C. 112(e) and 114.

Digital Audio Transmission has the same meaning as in 17 U.S.C. 114(j)(5).

Eligible Transmission means an “eligible nonsubscription transmission” as defined in 17 U.S.C. 114(j)(6) that is:

(1) made by the Licensee;

(2) subject to licensing under 17 U.S.C. 114(d)(2);

(3) transmitted over the internet on a channel or station offered for streaming to any member of the public who chooses to listen and that provides only linear programming that is not personalized to any particular listener.

Ephemeral Recording has the same meaning as in 17 U.S.C. 112.

Licensee means Educational Media Foundation and its affiliated organizations under common control, including K-LOVE, Inc. and The Association for Community Education, Inc., so long as each of these organizations is a Noncommercial Webcaster.

Noncommercial Webcaster has the same meaning as in 17 U.S.C. 114(f)(4)(E)(i).

Nonsubscription has the same meaning as in 17 U.S.C. 114(j)(9).

Payor means the entity required to make royalty payments to the Collective or the entity required to distribute royalty fees collected, depending on context. The Payor is:

(1) The Licensee, in relation to the Collective; and

(2) The Collective in relation to a Copyright Owner or Performer.

Performance means each instance in which any portion of a sound recording is publicly performed to a listener by means of a Digital Audio Transmission (e.g., the delivery of any portion of a single track from a compact disc to one listener), but excludes the following:

(1) A performance of a sound recording that does not require a license (e.g., a sound recording that is not subject to protection under title 17, United States Code);

(2) A performance of a sound recording for which the Licensee has previously obtained a license from the Copyright Owner of such sound recording; and

(3) An incidental performance that both:

(i) Makes no more than incidental use of sound recordings including, but not limited to, brief musical transitions in and out of commercials or program segments, brief performances during news, talk and sports programming, brief background performances during disk jockey announcements, brief performances during commercials of sixty seconds or less in duration, or brief performances during sporting or other public events; and

(ii) Does not contain an entire sound recording, other than ambient music that is background at a public event, and does not feature a particular sound recording of more than thirty seconds (as in the case of a sound recording used as a theme song).

Performers means the independent administrators identified in 17 U.S.C. 114(g)(2)(B) and (C) and the parties identified in 17 U.S.C. 114(g)(2)(D).

Qualified Auditor means an independent Certified Public Accountant.