If music is recorded under an AFM contract, musicians can be paid when it is reused. In hindsight, about 75% of my lifetime income from recorded music was “new use” or “residual” income. While the amount declines each year, I am still receiving payments for projects dating back 40 plus years and I’ve not worked in more than a decade – food for thought.

See:

• AFM “New Use” Agreements
• Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund
• Sound Recording Special Payments Fund
• AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund

While a cash date may be appealing; or for a young musician, meet an immediate economic necessity; in the long run, it doesn’t pay nearly as well. Then there’s the Pension . . .