Roy Ayers Quotes

So why sign your name in blood for more? It seemed like a sensible arrangement for me. I didn't sell large numbers of records and the record company paid advances they rarely recouped.

Actually, I have another record I made with them in 1976, but I've had such a bad experience with record companies, because I keep my head so much in music and not in business.

My strongest message is: 'Never give your songs away. Never sign a contract you can't get out of.'

To the extent that '60s guys own things, yes... but I don't have the publishing, just like most '60s guys, and that was an error, you know... part ownership in publishing was the kind of era that started a little bit later, when real businessmen started to manage artists.

Music can be so disturbing and frustrating. I mean the business side of it. The actual making music part is fun, but the business side of it is just so out of control, has nothing to do with anything.

It's time for artists to take their music back.

I'm just focusing on 'Let's Stay Together' and slowly building my production company. I'm trying to get into writing as well.

I did not start IC and Inteam to have control over my music. I had control before and after.

I'm singing the music publisher's theme song - it ain't a commercial.

I have always abhorred the business end of music.

You learn at a certain point that you have to focus on the business side of music. After getting ripped off a couple of times, you figure out that you need to get a grip on it.

I'm developing a record company. I'm learning how to supervise music on a film.

Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it.

With Ghost Tunes, you just try to do what's right. And what's right is whatever the copyright owner wants to do with their music, they do it.

Because I don't believe music can be free unless it has something to be free from.

The new independent spirit at Warner Music is a perfect fit for a stand-alone label like Maverick.

The BBC were not playing the music that was happening on the street so we did an independent production because we knew we had an audience. Then we licensed the album to EMI.

I have one piece of music, since 1997, and I don't see it having lyrics. Where does it go in this world? So I haven't recorded it.

I started my music career at 18 and for a long while I let other people handle my affairs.

Mostly I've never let record companies become involved with my music, which was a very smart thing that my first manager Dave Robinson did, to keep them out of it.

Even if I don't release it myself, somebody else might hear it and want to record it. When you write a song, it gives it that potential.

I would never put my songs in a commercial.

There's this thing called compulsory licensing law that allows artists through the record companies to take your music at will without your permission.

I'm overly excited to finally announce this amazing global partnership deal back home with EMI Music. I know I have mentioned doing music in the past but for legal reasons I was not in a position to release any new music.

The hits I had in the '80s - I made those deals directly with American companies.