"I generally sell my records online or at the show. You can undersell the distributor and the stores, and people know what they're getting cause they've just seen you live"

Roy Ayers, a seminal figure in the jazz and funk categories, provides an insightful point of view on the dynamics of music distribution and sales with his quote. Basically, Ayers highlights a strategic approach utilized by many independent musicians who wish to preserve control over their work while directly engaging with their audience.

To start with, Ayers emphasizes the significance of selling music straight to fans, either online or at live performances. This technique allows artists to bypass standard circulation channels and retailers, which often take a significant cut of the earnings. By offering straight, artists can "undersell the supplier and the stores", offering fans a better rate while retaining a bigger part of the earnings themselves. This approach is particularly appealing in an age where musicians often struggle to earn a living due to the reducing profitability of taped music and the cut taken by digital platforms.

Additionally, Ayers mentions a benefit in fan engagement and trust. By buying at a show right away after experiencing an efficiency, fans have a fresh, brilliant connection to the music, therefore increasing the viewed worth of the purchase. This direct deal builds a more powerful relationship between artist and audience, as fans appreciate not only the possibility to support the artist straight however likewise the guarantee "of what they're getting". They have actually simply experienced the music live and are motivated to own a piece of that experience.

In a more comprehensive sense, Ayers' approach shows a developing music industry landscape where artists increasingly look for autonomy. By leveraging innovation and personal interactions at live events, artists can cultivate a devoted fanbase while guaranteeing that their imaginative efforts are fairly rewarded. His method underscores a shift towards a model that values artist-audience connections and monetary independence over traditional, distributor-focused paradigms.