Moz doesn't need a record company, IMO. With his fanbase, he could sell the music himself and pocket the dough. The music business is over. Neil Peart (drummer for Rush) said in his blog recently that the record company will not give them an advance to make an album! And Rush sells a lot more records than Moz.

Warners will throw a TON of filthy lucre his way for a new contract. As long as there is a guarantee that he will join up with former band-mate for a joint venture.

now we know why Swords was released.

He won't get another one. Sorry Moz, time is up. Retirement time.

Moz has been through billions of labels over the years. But it' no surprise there is no longer a contract with Warners.....they are dropping bigger names than Morrissey. What's going to happen next?

No one will pick him up. Time to retire. The shows are such a bore now, the music is dull. It is way past retirement time now. He has turned into a crashing BORE.

What's new.

I hear Morrissey is looking for a record company without a department for Quality Control.

oh, *delete expletive*.

Due to illness I was wavering about whether I could go to Ally Pally tomorrow. Now I must go. If Morrissey can't get another deal, who knows when the next tour might be, it might be some years, or it could even be the last one. We all know Mozzer's objections to publishing music on the internet a la radiohead, so anyone thinking that will happen this time around is deluded.

Unfortunately the sales figures for YOR speak for themselves. Perhaps Moz needs to go away for a bit and rediscover the character and social observation parts of his songwriting....the last two studio albums have been practically all "Me" and "I" perspective. The story telling of Billy Budd, Playboys, Spring Heeled Jim...it all seemed to stop at Southpaw Grammar, came back a bit for Quarry, and has gone AWOL ever since.

However, perhaps if we see less of Morrissey, perhaps some of the old atmosphere of any shows that might happen will come back and the posers and dullard drunkards will bugger off!

Sorrow of Stamford Bridge

Swords was a pointless release. Morrissey wasn't about to release new material if he knew he was about to part ways with the record company. The way these deals work, he probably didn't make any money from album sales anyway. Oh, and he's probably not going to tour for awhile after the Swords Tour ends. I'm glad I got a chance to see him earlier this year.

Perhaps is time to turn his back to the big record companies and go back to find something more indie that respect him for who he is and what he wants to do. Couldn't he produce his own album? Other artists do!

Years Of Refusal had a lot of promotion, particularly for a Moz LP. Posters in train stations, tv adverts etc. I don't know the sales figures but I doubt if it sold more than Ringleaders.

I can't see a record company taking a chance. And Moz shouldn't sign up with a major record company anyway. They're dead.

Could this really be the end though?

I didn't even know he was with Universal seriously though on face value whats a 'Universal'? record contract worth for an Artist as big as Morrissey these days?, whats any record contract worth to any Artist other than a beginner?, with the internet, i.e Youtube, Itunes etc, whats it worth?, i'll give you a clue, if the fans of popular music were to buy off artists independently it would quite rightfully be redundant and worth nothing, and the likes Warner Bros/etc would be doing honest legal jobs like laying bricks for a living and pushing trolleys down Asda instead of living off Morrisseys name.

I thought he had his own label 'Attack'?, well nows the time to go one better Moz, and create your own independent record company to release things on.

He will never get another Major label record contract. He just doesn't move the units anymore.

Maybe he should just do the decent thing and retire - perhaps after one more farewell world tour.

You know something is happening,but you don't know what it is,do you....Mr. Moz!
What is next? I would say there are many ways to get one's music out there,but since he is still so album and charts guy,hard to say.
Vegas,all the time? Just say no.

Really,just say no.

Well, it doesn't take a genius.

"Morrissey is currently without a record contract" (on the only website he directly talks to) = COME AND GET ME.

"Let them come to you... just like I do... just like I do... "

Morrissey will soon be a multi-talented man with time on his hands...

One door closes, and others open.

Why is a pig's tail like getting up at 3am in the morning?

It's twirly.

He's really going to struggle to land a deal that he will feel is worthy of him. His worldwide sales are pretty feeble and akin to the Maladjusted era, when he was deemed a virtual outcast.

Obviously. Moz is a great artist who makes great records, so clearly he'll get a contract soon.

It would be good if he had some-kind of fan site to appreciate his work.

In the meantime I believe this support site for malevolent sociopathic attention seekers has been known to post the odd positive comment about him from time to time, not so much lately mind.

Not sounding good for Moz. No recording deal and he's not the "DIY" type. It's well known the man hangs on to the old ways and wants a label working for him that puts out physical releases. Even if he had a deal, who's he gonna get to write music for him? All signs point to Alain no longer writing for him and Boz/Jesse are only good for a few tracks. He'd have to find a new songwriting partner that brings out the best in him for a major label to have any interest. Perhaps it's time to wrap up the solo career and do a final reunion/farewell Smiths tour before sailing off into the sunset...

...let's hope Mr. Marr is calling soon.

Time for Morrissey to convert to Veganism.

Vegetariansim is so 80s.

Morrissey has said in the past that he doesn't want to release anything independently because nobody will hear it. In other words, he doesn't get a nice advance, and other gratuities that allow him to keep his shirt sleeves down.

Morrissey wants a pimp. He's not the kind of artist to focus so intensely on his craft that he needs to be a part of the entire music making process.

Personally, I think that attitude is coming back to haunt him.

Boz has a studio, and a production experience, but again, Morrissey seems to take a record contract, and all of its advantages as a sign of validation.

I don't believe he records for the sheer joy of making music, so, I would be shocked if he went the DIY way. He's clinging to childhood nostalgia in a business that is no longer what it was. Obviously, he doesn't deal well with change.

What a shame.

I just made a small download only record company myself to release my band Mono Explosive www.myspace.com/monoexplosive on iTunes.

I will release Morrissey albums for free and he will get every single penny made for himself.
I can´t pay him anything to sign though but I´ll provide him with tea and biscuits every day he is in the studio.

For those stupid anonymous comments saying that it's 'retirement time' for Morrissey, just to say that music and creativity of any kind is not only for the young ones. You are so full of pathetic prejudices!!

"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it".
-Edith Sitwell-

To think that Morrissey either has a record company or does not, seems rather simplistic to me. It's not like us mere mortals, who either have a job or don't have a job. The music world is totally different. If he wants to carry on what he's doing I feel confident he only has to pick up the phone and start talking. Yamaha

Morrissey should make his new songs available as free downloads. Because Moz knows that sharing is caring. Or caring is sharing. He makes his money through his concerts anyway...And we have paid enough for all those b-sides records and cd's anyway.
Or, why not provide a code for free downloads when purchasing his upcoming autobiography. Has he found a publisher yet?

to see what Moz does after the Swords tour is over. With health concerns, no labels, and no true songwriting foil (sorry Boz & Jesse), it seems that the chips are stacked against our beloved hero. It's currently not the first time Moz has been in this position, but he always seems to come back... sometimes even better than before. Right now seems to be the end of his "comeback" era, climaxed with a tepid b-sides collection. I certainly hope that retirement isn't in the cards, Morrissey is a gift and even his worst songs are better than most artist's best... but taking a bit of time to "run wild... impregnating women or kissing mad street boys" might do the geezer some good!

easymeat

The point is Morrissey is not a musician. He does not have a craft in the same way, say, Richard Hawley has a craft. He can't explore new musically avenues or learn to hone his playing skills, because he hasn't got any. Which begs the question. If he's run out of interesting things to write about...what is the point of Morrissey?
There used to be one thing Morrissey fans could use in defense of their idol - his lyrics. But he stopped writing decent lyrics in 1994.
Call it a day Moz. Please.

money grabbing wankers if you ask me
all of these record companies are always in it for themselves
corporate bullshit if you ask me
moz needs someone to steer him in a better direction
get a new label, and possbily steve lillywhite or visconti back in the frame

...and why on TTY?
Why not have a proper news conference stating the facts and what his future plans are? Or is his mum busy?

Its very unlikely Morrissey will ever see another major label contract. The only exception would be if Warner Music signs him and they would only do it to curry favor in their Smiths holdings. Bottom line is that he doesn't sell units and is impossibly difficult to work with. Thats a very toxic cocktail. Whatever monies a label could spend on him would be better spent on a artist that is easier to deal with.

If you guys think Moz is so shit I don't know why you even both looking at this website let alone leaving vitriolic comments about his lack of a record contract.
Agreed he needs a break - this year has been miserable for him - maybe the record company has had something to do with it and its not just a mid life crisis
But I loved the 2 shows I saw even though I had to wait 6 months for one of them - he's kept me going at a difficult time - so stop being mean to the one I love, please.

again?

what the hell is he doing to always be dropped from a label?

you really think Morrissey has a comfort zone?

I get mad too,and it is easy to let it roll here,however...
OUR OPIONON IS ABSOLUTELTY REQUIRED HERE!
If not here,where? You could be hugged OR kicked in the teeth at a show,so why not here?
There is no HERE if no one writes.
We are passionate folks,and we have a trillion opinions.
Our fiend Moz still has people who want to talk,
he should be grateful.Not to mention that true to you website,i mean they ain't givin it away,not relevant at all.
BTW,who are the Hoosiers?

It's all about record sales in an industry that is currently struggling financially. People are refusing to pay artist that consistently turn out second rate material. Morrissey has nothing to offer the big labels ( poor sales numbers and limit marketing potential and poor material. Morrissey should either retire or find new writing partners/band members who can reignite his career.

Boz? Busker? Boz is an amazing guitarist. Jesse, I can do without... But Boz has been with him for too long to leave him!

I vote for bringing back Alain and Gary =D

What is tedious is reading the same bloody redundant setlist after every show, Moz cancelling dates, Moz without a label, records showing mediorce in the charts (who cares), Juila, another tour with no Canadian dates,etc.

I like Moz. My opinion is required because without it you and the rest of the sycophantic slags would continue to blow sunshine up Morrissey's arse(nal) when it is not always deserved. Morrissey is not above criticism and criticism has its place in this venue.

I hope that I didn't make you cry, my dear Anonymous.

Von Sulstrus

I agree....I have never posted anything on this site....however it is a very sad site to read compared to most......depressing!!!!