Thanks for your input. The physical merchandise you offer (small illustrations and signed autographs and miniprints etc) are excellent augmented products that fans love to buy.
I think musicians need to think more along these lines that you are implementing because augmented products really sell. It has always surprised me, but then makes a lot of sense at the same time, so it can't be ignored.
My experience with rights collecting organisations has been awesome! I get great royalty payments from Australia's main performing rights association every year, which ends up making a massive difference just at a time I really need the boost. They don't have any right to interfer with granting permission for song use. It's only publishers that do that so from what you're saying I think you are meaning publishing and licensing companies, which are vastly different from (copy)rights collecting organisations like APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association, or ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers). I have had friends get majorly screwed by publishing companies with regards to getting permission to use their own songs in opportunites that come by them. That sucks.

With getting back into being a freelance professional musician living from your music, I think that you have such great talent and a very marketable niche that you will do fabulously with your transition back.
Thanks so much for this in depth comment..
:)