Morrissey Has Album Written But Has No Record Deal

Despite having a new album written, Morrissey has no record deal in place to make what would be his 10th solo record a reality, the former Smiths man has revealed.

Currently resigned to his fate, the singer told Pitchfork, "There's not much I can do about it. Once it becomes public that you aren't signed, you assume that anyone who wants you will come and get you." So far he's yet to receive an offer.

Morrissey believes the main reason for his situation is that labels are primarily concerned with new bands rather than established acts. He explained, "I think labels for the most part want to sign new discoveries so that that label alone is seen to be responsible for the rise of the artist."

He continued, "Not many labels want bands who have already made their mark, because their success is usually attributed to some other label somewhere else at another time. Most artists are remembered for the albums that introduced them, or that made their success."

While a band like Radiohead has embraced new ways to release music, Morrissey has a more traditional stance: "I don't have any need to be innovative in that way. I am still stuck in the dream of an album that sells well not because of marketing, but because people like the songs."

As for the state of the music industry as a whole, the singer didn't pull his punches. "The entire 'industry' has been destroyed in a thousand ways. The Internet has obviously wiped music off the human map -- killed the record shop, and killed the patience of labels who consider debut sales of 300,000 to not be good enough."

Watch Morrissey Perform 'First of the Gang to Die' at Glastonbury 2011
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