Being a staff writer is a great job, as long as you're getting cuts. If you get too far unrecouped, you'll be let go, so you always have to be working toward your next cut. Some songwriters manage to keep a deal for twenty years or more, but the average is a lot lower.

Exceptions do occur. Harlan Howard had hits in four different decades, but many staff writers never get a single one. These people often end up living on the street, walking around, muttering to themselves, and hating songwriters, though some become publishers, A&R reps, or record company presidents who walk around, mutter to themselves, and hate songwriters.