If they make a show based on Mass Effect I hope the soundtrack includes pop music from the 2000s

The song is next put into a major motion picture resulting in a $40,000 songwriter and music publisher “synchronization” fee.
If the film were an independent feature film, a documentary, a student film or a film being shown only in film festivals, the fees could be as low as $500 or “gratis” depending on the budget of the film.
In many cases, the writer and publisher will negotiate “step deals” where they receive additional “synch” monies if the film achieves certain box office numbers.
In addition, every time the movie is shown on broadcast television or cable, the writer and publisher will earn monies from ASCAP, BMI or SESAC.
Once again, this shows the importance of registering with a performance rights organization.
If you are not associated with ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you will not get your song royalties for performances of the movie.
If the original master recording is used in the film, the fee will normally be the same as negotiated for the song and is shared 50/50 by the record label and the artist.

independentmusicawards.com/blog/2010/10/06/makingmoney/

Based on the song’s success, a video game developer wants to use it in a Guitar Hero / Rock Band type game.
As opposed to most video games that pay only a one time “synchronization buyout” songwriter / music publisher fee to put the song into a game, many music intensive games pay a song either on a per unit sold basis (e.g. 1¢ per game sold) or on the game reaching certain sales plateau numbers (e.g. $ 4,000 to put the song into a game with an additional $4,000 for each 250,000 units sold).
Additional monies are also earned when a song is downloaded into a game.
As many of these types of games sell millions of units, the monies can be substantial for the songwriter and music publisher.
If the original master recording is also used, the record label and recording artist will receive the same amount since they usually license on the same basis.

With Rock Band, you can make your song available for gamers to buy and play. Each time your song is bought, you are paid a fee that you must split with the publisher (after all, the song was “reproduced” when it was bought and downloaded).
independentmusicawards.com/blog/2010/10/06/makingmoney/

Anytime a song is placed into a television program, the television producer will negotiate a fee
with the music publisher of the song who then shares the monies with the songwriter.
The amount of the fee will depend on many factors including the show’s music budget, the stature of the song, the
length of the license, the distribution media (over-the-air television, cable, the Internet, downloads to
mobile phones, etc.) and how the song is used in the program (sung by an actor, played in the
background, used as the theme, etc.), how long it is used for (10 seconds, 2 minutes, full
use), among other factors.

Some television series ask for an “all television” license which will allow them to broadcast the
program on all types of television media including Internet distribution.
Virtually all television licenses have an option for the TV show producer to distribute the program to home video.
Some include home video in the original license without making it an option and pay more upfront.
Other series license for all media which gives them the right to distribute the series over all distribution platforms.
And there are many variations in between.

For example, CSI will ask for one type of license and American Idol a totally different type of license.
Fees range from $9,000 to $30,000 for the use of a known song in an episode of a successful series depending on the type of license and the media requested.
The fees for lesser known or new songs are less than the above.
If a TV show wants to use your song as a theme, the producers will also many times license the master recording of the song.

For example, The Sopranos TV series not only used A3’s song “Woke Up This Morning” (through a license with their publisher) but also licensed the original master record from the group’s record company under a separate negotiation.
If the song is specifically written for the TV show, however, the production company will virtually always own the publishing rights and master recordings.


independentmusicawards.com/blog/2010/10/06/makingmoney/