George Michael retires for public view...
Published March 11, 2004
CMU reports:
A good way to get people buying an album is to tell everyone "this is the last one folks". Whether that was in George Michael's mind yesterday we're not sure, but he has told Radio 1's Jo Whiley that up coming album 'Patience', out on Monday, will be his last commercial release. In a bid to avoid the media circus that comes with major album releases, Michael plans to make future music available for free on an ad hoc basis on the web.
Michael told Whiley: "This idea does two things - it takes the pressure off to have a collection of songs every so many years, which is what nearly killed me. And it will take me out of the media spotlight. I'm not pretending I won't be famous any more, but in the modern world if you take yourself out of the financial aspect of things, you're not making anybodyany money, you're not losing anybody any money. Believe me, I'll be of very little interest to the press in a certain number of years."
Michael plans to make tracks available free on his website, with the option to make a donation to his chosen charities before accessing new tracks.
Michael's move is similar (though even less commercial) than that taken by Ben Folds last year. He is currently releasing regular EPs via his website, arguing that the internet makes it cost effective to release a small number of tracks on a regular basis rather than big albums every couple of years. Like Michael, Folds wished to forego the promotional demands that come with such major album releases.
Marty's band, Growing Old Disgracefully, can be found at: Disgraceful Music. His Cthulhu tales can be found at Temple of Dagon. 
- George Michael retires for public view...
- Published: March 11, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News
- Writer: Marty Dodge
- Marty Dodge's BC Writer page
- Marty Dodge's personal site
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Right on! Hope he keeps making those political tunes - and puts them out online. For someone I expected NOTHING from (way back in the 80s), he's had more credibility than many.