Hi Chris, this was a wonderful article. I inherited an amazing catalog and my late/great husband was amazingly generous and I am honored to carry that torch - I recently let a friend use half a dozen song in a short film and am always open to work with indie filmmakers. I think having the music heard is the real goal - and that the payback can be magical. The hits I own can garish big fees and I have had to push hard with a publisher on occasion to let a song clear in a project that meant something to me and where the budget was restrictive. BUT I DO THAT. So keep asking and, in fact, ask me! Andrew Gold is the catalog I represent - go check out his music. And thanks for explaining how you clear a song re all the rights needed.
Live long and prosper! :)