Yes, you can actually. Change in UK album sales from LIHS to California Son. 25,000 to 8,000. Change in UK ticket sales from Feb 2018 to summer 2018. Feb = his biggest ever arena tour (solo or Smith) - summer = a handful of small venues (and a bigger Manchester one) most of which weren't even half sold. There will be some other factors here but the overall crumbling of the fan-base is undeniable. Other stuff - long running Morrissey/Smiths nights cancelled, record shops and websites refusing all Morrissey content, advertising space owners refusing to carry his ads. He's lost fans at a rate not seen since the Michael Jackson and Gary Glitter scandals.
But if you think I'm a Moz hating troll, you're completely wrong. I really want him to turn things around. I'm optimistic about the new album. He's got a great producer and songwriting team, and the song-titles are at least non-cringey. And the duet with Thelma sounds intriguing. But I just wish he'd give himself a basic education about politics, or shut the f*** up about it as, otherwise, he's just about finished.
THIS^
BMG don’t owe Morrissey ANYTHING. He owes them. He signed the deal, took the money and is legally bound to repay them. At 8000 units, it doesn’t make much fiscal sense to keep swaddling him. He’s simply not releasing content that’s marketable to a relevant audience. The people who still buy Morrissey records are hard-core “fans”, who’d throw good money at a wedge of his shit-stained underwear. These are not music fans. These are fanatics. Many, who buy multiple copies of his physical records.
There were 25,000 total copies of LIHS sold (475,000 below the requirement for Gold certification). There were 8000 copies of the covers album sold (492,000 below the requirement for Gold certification). He’s a niche-artist. He has no prospect of reaching a benchmark that pleases ANY label.
Low-end independent level sales via a major label = DROPPED. Rightfully so. If Morrissey wants to continue releasing half-assed elevator wonk, he’ll need to fund it himself. ...and that’s not likely to happen, is it.
This “Dog on a Chain”, with its weak - predictable title, had better sell a good deal more than the last lot. Otherwise, it truly is over. There are classy ways to bow out but Morrissey is unfamiliar with this concept. He’s a complete narcissist. He’d rather burn down the entire shed than make the effort to listen to those who can help him patch the roof. He takes cold showers, rather than calling a plumber. He thinks the money he borrowed is his. This has been going on for 35 years. No surprises here. ...nor a shred of empathy for someone who can’t see past his own ego.
This is all easily fixable, if he shuts his gob, except to sing. He has a lovely voice. ...but he’s a hypocritical c***. The success of his residency in NY is a reflection of a generation seeking nostalgia. He signs and sells copies of other artists albums at his own gigs. He surrounds himself with fawning slugs, phones-in his performances - complete with cheap (in every sense) t-shirts for his mid-range musical backers. He’s scraping the barrel and swirling the drain all at once, licking both, in the hopes that the 4000 people who still buy 2 copies of his album will keep the pension top-up going.
...and YOU may but I have no room in my collection for GARBAGE.
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.soundonsound.com/music-business/recording-contracts-explained?amp
