Well, the Starbucks label is in the top-10 US labels at the moment and shoots for the 25-50 demographic. On paper, that makes a lot of sense to me.

If Sonic Youth can do it, why the hell not Moz?

I'd like to purchase the skinny latte version of Morrissey's latest please.

I know he's looking for a label and all, but I can't help but cringe at the thought of having Moz played over some corporate coffeeshop's muzak speakers. Nothing against Macca or anything, but the label might not be the best move.

I think he should, but later.

The label the album comes out on means nothing as long as the album comes out and is good.

Starbucks has quite the bad human rights / workers rights rep so I'd imagine he would steer well clear.

... he'll be in the good company of another imaginary boyfriend of mine -- Bugs Bunny!

I'll have a grande white chocolate mocca and a Morrissey CD.

then it's good enough for Moz. i can't wait to hear her new album. the last few she made before her 'retirement' were wonderful. her voice is so rich now.

Speaking on the matter, an interesting one, I think, a few weeks ago I was sitting on a table at a Starbucks near my tombstone and I heard "William It Was Really Nothing" on one of those Starbucks radio channels. I can't resist confessing that I loooove Starbucks. In my past job, before I went to graduate school, my workmates used to call me Mrs Starbucks. As soon as 5pm, time to leave work stroke, I used to dash to a wonderful, spacious Starbucks that still exists near Somerville Hospital. You see now why I needed the zest of that coffee and that ambiance... I spent whole days, everyday, amidst sick and sad people at the hospital. I should maybe be ashamed of myself and flogged in a public square for loving Starbucks. And, which is worse, what I personally feel is, the more Starbucks, the better for me. I love their CDs, some of the books they are putting out, their teddy bears, their baristas, who are usually nice people, their chocolate, their cups and mugs, everything. Even the fixtures and the fireplece. Shame on me. But it's the only corporation that doesn't bother me to spread around. The other day, they invited Ishmael Beah (the author of "A Long Way Gone") to talk about his book there. In another Starbucks cafe, at Boyston Street near the Boston Public Library, some live bands go there to play. Do I think it shameful that Morrissey should have CDs being sold there? Yes. And let me explain why: it's because they usually sell CDs by half-forgotten yet still rolling somehow legends/artists, like Bob Dylan or even Paul Mac Cartney (yes, Paul Mac Cartney, because I think most people wouldn't now nowadays if he had put out that new CD had it not been for their quick trip to Starbucks). Morrissey, at least for me, is just too unforgettable to be reminded by Starbucks. His fans still wait for albums that haven't even been recorded yet - like the next want we are already dying for, because we feel its upcoming in the three new songs he just recently sprinkled to the crowd. However, it's still very nice that Starbucks plays "indie rock", and The Smiths with it, although I find it almost disturbing that you can listen to Smiths songs whilst you calmly read a book. But I garantee you I saw many people there putting their books down from time to time to absorb the songs when "indie rock" was playing. I already listened to some beautiful Caetano Veloso songs from their speakers as well, and there is no place I'd rather be at certain moments. Still, I don't feel Morrissey needs Starbucks - we fans with our voracious appetite, plus morrissey-solo and truetoyou, will garantee he will attract record companies with a bigger label force than Starbucks. Well, if you still get mad at me, I understand; this is a corporation, and it probably puts many small coffee shops out of business. But it does not just out of greedy ambition, which exists, but out of the plain fact that it is superior. Well, at least look on the bright side: it would be much more decadent if we had a Casino Royale, with gambling and wine taking over town.

but it's at least better than singing with Kristeen Young...

please, no connection with the prime minister of pulp
and dross. (Paul Mcdougnut)

www.putpauluphisownass-downinthecellar.co.uk
phew. say no more.

Mozz - sign to a biggee this time, u need airplay , sanctuary was good at organising the mag deals, telly shows and tours but loads of people still say the guy from the smiths, how annoying is that...........

Oh and the i.d.iot in accounts STILL says Morrissey, u mean the one in 'man behaving badly', hes funny...arrrgggghhh (uk sit com)

the guy needs to be global!!!!!!!!!!!!

He shouldn't sign to Starbucks because Starbucks is destroying British culture. It's American and it's ruining the U.K. Morrissey should know better.

I can think of one benefit:

Moz might finally have a label interested in promoting him properly...

My initial, kneejerk reaction is that "Morrissey" and "Starbucks" should never appear in the same sentence. Starbucks represents the global monoculture, and they steamroll over the independent coffee houses to the point where there are active campaigns against them in certain neighborhoods.

On the other hand, many folks spend an awful lot of time there. Morrissey gets almost zero airplay, in America at least. I think he'd pick up a lot more fans if folks could hear "I'm Wrapping My Arms Around Paris" while sipping their double-lattes. As an admirer, I want him to be heard by as large an audience as possible, but I want him to keep his anti-corporate image intact. Starbucks would destroy it.

Is WB really any less corporate than Starbucks? Not really. The awful truth is that Morrissey always has to play ball with someone, if he wants to be heard. The fact that he often manages to undermine this relationship is endearing, but ultimately costly.

What is a successful non-conformist to do?

The only thing I have ever liked about Starbucks is that they were the front for Dr Evil's Evil Empire in Austin Powers. Aside from that, I see nothing in their favour.

They force local coffee houses out of business and they make every high street the same. I don't want to live in a world where every city and town, no matter what country you are in, has an identical high street (McDonalds, Starbucks, HMV - actually, I quite like HMV, but even so, I prefer independant record shops). I want individuality, a bit of colour, real human interaction.

Yes, I want him to reach a wider audience, but not with Starbucks. Might as well be Warner.

Bloody corperations, they suck the life from us all.

ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

I really don't like the modern world.

I'm sure most would hate to see moz sign with the starbucks label simply because of how mainstream starbucks is. Honestly, I love moz but who cares if he signs with starbucks, burger king, or michael jackson... just let the boy sing, you'll still buy it cause yes you still give him too much credit. i love you. deadelvis333@yahoo.com

Can't speak for the US but just where were all these "independent coffee houses" in the UK that were "forced out of business" by Starbucks? Bullshit! Coffee in the UK before Starbucks, Costa etc came along was a vile cup of instant coffee and Carnation Milk served with a stale rock cake - stop living in a rosy glow of false nostalgia! At least now every cafe, restaurant, garden centre, museum shop etc is forced to provide REAL coffee which they never did before. It's significant that in a country like Italy with a pre-existing real coffee culture, Starbucks et al have made very little inroad at all. And there are still alternative coffee cafes in UK - if they're good enough they'll survive (and I don't like Starbuck's coffee much, actually - not Italian style enough for me). So get over yourselves you pathetic "anti-capitalists". As for the question, Morrissey shouldn't put his albums out through Starbucks because he would gain nothing from the brand association...they would gain a lot more!

It couldn't hurt.

Go on, Moz. Piss away what little credibility you have left by becoming something you buy with an Orange Mocha FrappuccinoŽ. Your music's already teetering on the brink of irrelevance, don't take the final leap and let it become as frothy as the coffee it'll sit beside.

I doubt this will happen, but - seriously - if it does, I'm giving up on Morrissey. It will be the final nail in an already overly secure coffin.