Morrissey Slams ''Marketed Pop Stars'' Including Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, Thinks Labels ''Control the Charts''

Rock star shares his honest opinions about the music industry in new interview

By Mike Vulpo Jul 13, 2015 2:10 AMTags
Morrissey, Ed Sheeran, Sam SmithGetty Images

Prepare yourselves for another round of brutal honesty from Morrissey.

The formal Smiths frontman, who has become notorious for speaking his uncensored mind about prominent figures including the royal family, may be busy touring across the country this summer.

But that didn't stop the 56-year-old from sounding off on today's "obvious and predictable" music industry. Here's a tease: He's not a fan of the pop stars.

"There are no bands or singers who become successful without overwhelming marketing. There are no surprise stories," he explained to Boulder Weekly. "Everything is stringently controlled, obvious and predictable and has exactly the same content."

He continued, "So we are now in the era of marketed pop stars, which means that the labels fully control the charts, and consequently the public has lost interest."

While Morrissey may appear to be vague in his word choice, the rock star eventually goes deeper and begins to drop names of Grammy winning artists. The established (and beloved) performers may come as a surprise to some.

"It's very rare that a record label does something for the good of music. Thus we are force-fed such as Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, which at least means that things can't possibly get any worse," he explained. "It is sad, though. There's no spontaneity now, and it all seems to be unsalvageable." 

Pedro Gomes/Redferns via Getty Images

While some may disagree with his opinion, Morrissey wants to make it clear that the voice really is a special instrument that should not be taken for granted.

"I'm still as obsessive about vocal melody as I was when I was 14," he said. "The singing voice is still, I think, the most sexual and sensual and potent power on earth."

He continued, "It's my life, at the expense of everything and anything else. I am not a performer. I am not an act, and this is not a career."

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