(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Audio recording--The fixation of signals representing a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds, but not including motion pictures, by any method now known or later developed.
  (2) Broadcast--For the purposes of this section only, the dissemination of audio signals, video signals, or a combination of both audio and video signals in the form of radio or television programming to the public over the segment of the radio spectrum used for broadcasting, and the exhibition of video programming with or without the use of wires to subscribing or paying customers.
  (3) C.F.R.--Code of Federal Regulations.
  (4) C.F.R.-compliant digital audio broadcast equipment--Tangible personal property that is sold to the permittee or licensee of an AM or FM station that commences interim hybrid In-band On-Channel (IBOC) digital audio broadcast (DAB) pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §73.404(a) (Interim Hybrid IBOC DAB Operation), if the tangible personal property is necessary for the licensee or permittee to provide the broadcast services described by 47 C.F.R. §73.403 (Digital Audio Broadcasting Service Requirements) or 47 C.F.R. §73.404.
  (5) C.F.R.-compliant digital television transmission equipment--Tangible personal property that is sold to a digital television broadcast station permittee or licensee to which 47 C.F.R. §73.624(b) applies, if the tangible personal property is necessary for the permittee or licensee to comply with 47 C.F.R. §73.682(d) (Digital Broadcast Television Transmission Standard).
  (6) Distribute--For purposes of this section only, to supply copies of a master recording to persons who will sell, license, further distribute, broadcast, or exhibit copies of the master recording. For example, copies of a motion picture are distributed to movie theaters which exhibit the motion pictures to the public for consideration.
  (7) Exhibit--
    (A) To play or perform a master recording or live program at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons, outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances, is gathered; or
    (B) to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance of the master recording or live program to the public by any means, whether the members of the public capable of receiving the performance receive it in the same place or in separate places and at the same or different times.
  (8) License--To authorize or otherwise grant legal permission to use a copy of a master recording in a limited manner, for a limited purpose, or both. For example, the owner of a master audio recording may license a copy of the master audio recording for use as part of an advertising campaign in a specific geographic area for a specified period of time.
  (9) Live program--Radio or television content that is not pre-recorded and that is broadcast by a producer of cable programs or a radio or television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.
  (10) Master recording--The principal media on which images, sound, or a combination of images and sound are first fixed, and from which copies are intended to be reproduced for the purpose of obtaining consideration from the ultimate sale, license, distribution, broadcast, or exhibition of the copies. A master recording may be an audio recording, motion picture recording, video recording, or a combination of these.
    (A) Master recordings include feature films, television programs, television commercials, corporate films, infomercials, recordings of live performances, musical albums, and other projects that are intended for commercial distribution, even if commercial distribution is very limited, such as the distribution of training or industrial films.
    (B) Master recordings do not include training videos for in-house use, student films, wedding videos, recordings exhibited on social media, and other recordings not intended to be copied for commercial distribution or commercial exhibition.
    (C) A master recording may contain interactive software that allows a viewer to locate, see, or hear a segment of the master recording without having to see or hear the master recording in full.
    (D) A master recording does not include video games even if the games contain recorded audio or visual sequences.
  (11) Media production facility--A structure, building, or room used for the specific purpose of creating a moving image project. The term includes but is not limited to:
    (A) a soundstage and scoring stage;
    (B) a production office;
    (C) an editing facility, an animation production facility, and a video game production facility;
    (D) a storage and construction space; and
    (E) a sound recording studio and motion capture studio.
  (12) Motion picture recording--A series of related images stored in any method now known or later developed which, when shown in succession, together with any accompanying sounds, impart an impression of motion.
  (13) Moving image project--A visual and sound production, including a film, television program, national or multistate commercial, or digital interactive media production. The term does not include a production that is obscene, as defined by Penal Code, §43.21 (Definitions).
  (14) Producer--A person who owns the original rights to a master recording.
  (15) Qualified media production location--A location in a media production zone that has been designated by the Texas Film Commission as a qualified media production location in accordance with Government Code, Chapter 485A (Media Production Development Zones).
  (16) Qualified person--A person certified by the Texas Film Commission as a qualified person under Government Code, §485A.201 (Qualified person).
  (17) Texas Film Commission--The division of the Office of the Governor of Texas, by whatever name called, that is assigned to administer and monitor the implementation of the Media Production Development Zone Act as provided in Government Code, Chapter 485A.
  (18) Video game--An electronic game in which a player controls images on a video screen, television, or computer monitor.
  (19) Video recording--A series of related images intended to be shown by the use of machines or devices such as projectors, viewers, or electronic equipment, together with any accompanying sounds, stored in any method now known or later developed.
(b) Master recordings.
  (1) The sale of a master recording by the producer of the master recording is exempt from sales and use tax under this section.
  (2) The sale of a copy of a master recording is taxable under Tax Code, Chapter 151 (Limited Sales, Excise, and Use Tax) as the sale of tangible personal property.
  (3) A license of all or part of the rights to a master recording is not subject to tax under Tax Code, Chapter 151.
(c) Exempt items used in production.
  (1) Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, sales and use tax is not due on the purchase or use of the following items:
    (A) tangible personal property that will become an ingredient or component part of a master recording or a live program; and
    (B) tangible personal property or taxable services that are necessary or essential to, and used or consumed in or during, the production of a master recording or live program.
      (i) Tangible personal property that is leased or rented is eligible for exemption described in this subparagraph regardless of the length of the lease or rental.
      (ii) Taxable items used in pre-production activities do not qualify for the exemption under this section because they are not used or consumed in or during the production of the master recording or live program. Examples of equipment used in pre-production include equipment used in gathering news prior to the beginning of a television production and computers and software used in authoring or editing a script.
  (2) The exemption in this subsection includes, but is not limited to:
    (A) cameras, film, and film developing chemicals that are necessary and essential to and used or consumed in the production of a master recording or a live program;
    (B) lights, props, sets, teleprompters, microphones, digital equipment, special effects equipment and supplies, and other equipment that is necessary and essential to and used or consumed directly in the production of a master recording or a live program; and
Cont'd...