Legal Question in Entertainment Law in California

entirely off base

To use music in any manner in an audio-visual (or multi-media)work, you music seek permission from the copyright owners of both the sound recording (record company) and the composition (publisher) - even if the use is for a few seconds. If you do not pre clear the rights, you are liable for copyright infringment. A court could award the owners, statutory damages and attorneys' fees if the works are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.