New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
Trademark: New Years’ Rockin’ Eve
First Used: December 31, 1972
First Registered: May 10, 1994
Current Owner: DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS, LLC [1]
Trademark Type: traditional trademark; word mark
Primarily Associated With: entertainment services; namely, a series of television programs primarily featuring music [2]
Brief (and likely incomplete) History [3]:
Happy Holidays! As 2024 winds down, we thank everyone for their support this year and wish you Happy New Years! Let’s finish up the year with one of our favorite New Years-themed trademarks.
The New Year’s Rockin’ Eve® show was created by television and radio personality Dick Clark as a modern alternative to traditional New Year’s Eve programming like Guy Lombardo’s long-running New Year’s Eve specials. Clark, already a household name from American Bandstand, sought to appeal to a younger audience by blending popular music with the excitement of the Times Square ball drop. It debuted on NBC December 31, 1972, as Three Dog Night’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, hosted by legendary comedian George Carlin and featuring performances by the band Three Dog Night and other contemporary artists.
The show moved to ABC in 1974 and was renamed to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Clark’s approachable style and focus on live music performances made the show a staple for younger viewers, reshaping how Americans celebrated New Year’s Eve at home. As its popularity grew, the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show expanded its broadcast to include additional segments from cities across the country and pre-recorded performances, while maintaining the iconic Times Square countdown as its centerpiece.
After Dick Clark suffered a stroke in 2004, Ryan Seacrest joined as co-host and later took over as the main host following Clark’s passing in 2012. The show has continued to thrive, incorporating a mix of musical acts and cultural icons while adapting to changing viewer preferences. The New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show remains a beloved tradition, drawing millions of viewers annually and cementing its place as the definitive New Year’s Eve television special in the United States.
Eager to keep the holidays going? Check out our post on The Elf on the Shelf trademark.
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[1] Dick Clark Productions, https://www.pmc.com/our-brands/dick-clark-productions.
[2] USPTO, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 1,835,779, available at https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=74429209&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch.
[3] HISTORY’s Moment in Media: A New Tradition is Born: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, MEDIAVILLAGE, posted December 19, 2024, and available at https://www.mediavillage.com/article/historys-moment-in-media-a-new-tradition-is-born-dick-clarks-new-years-rockin-eve/; The History & Legacy of ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’, REMIND MAGAZINE, posted December 31, 2023, and available at https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/9272/history-legacy-dick-clark-new-years-rockin-eve/; Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest, LOGOPEDIA, available at https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Dick_Clark%27s_New_Year%27s_Rockin%27_Eve_with_Ryan_Seacrest; Dick Clark Isn’t Hosting ‘Near Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ Anymore, but He Started It, DISTRACTIFY, last updated December 28, 2023, and available at https://www.distractify.com/p/why-is-it-called-dick-clarks-new-years-eve.