Royalties from Tom’s “Free Fallin'”? Crossword Clue

 The answer to the crossword clue "Royalties from Tom's “Free Fallin'”? is PETTY CASH.

This is a pun on the phrase "royalties", which are payments made to the copyright holder of a work for each copy of the work that is sold. In this case, the work is the song "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty, and the copyright holder is Warner Bros. Records. The phrase "petty cash" is a small amount of money that is kept on hand for unexpected expenses, so the answer to the clue is a play on words that suggests that Tom Petty receives money from unexpected sources, such as royalties from his song "Free Fallin'".

The clue is part of a theme in the crossword puzzle, where all of the answers are common phrases reinterpreted as royalties paid to someone referenced in the corresponding clue. The other answers in the theme are:

WONDER BREAD (royalties from Stevie Wonder's "Superstition")

YOUNG BUCKS (royalties from Neil Young's "Heart of Gold")

WHITE PAPER (royalties from Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe")

SOUND CHECKS (royalties for any musician)

I hope this helps!