Morrissey Signs With Sire Records After Years Without a Label
Morrissey has secured a new record deal, ending a prolonged period without a label and potentially clearing the path for long-delayed new music. On Dec. 18, the singer-songwriter announced that he has signed with Sire Records, sharing the label’s logo on his website and social media. A representative for Morrissey confirmed that the signing is official.
No release date has been announced, but the deal raises the possibility that Morrissey’s unreleased material may finally see the light of day. He has not released a studio album since I Am Not a Dog on a Chain in 2020, despite repeatedly teasing follow-up projects over the past several years. Those efforts have been marked by label disputes, missed release windows, and public frustration from the artist.
One of those albums, Bonfire of the Teenagers, was recorded between 2020 and 2021 with producer Andrew Watt and was initially slated for release through BMG. The record featured a high-profile lineup of collaborators, including Miley Cyrus, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and Chad Smith, and Iggy Pop. BMG ultimately dropped Morrissey before the album’s release. He later moved the project to Capitol Records, which issued the single “Rebels Without Applause” before shelving the album entirely. Morrissey subsequently ended his relationship with Capitol and later said he regained the rights to the recordings.
Another album, originally announced under the title Without Music the World Dies and later retitled You’re Right, It’s Time, was recorded in 2023 at La Fabrique Studios in France with producer Joe Chiccarelli. That project has also faced multiple delays, most recently missing a projected September 2025 release. Morrissey has attributed the setbacks to what he described in interviews as industry resistance linked to his political views, particularly his outspoken positions on immigration.
Morrissey’s new partnership with Sire represents a notable return. The Warner Music–owned label released the Smiths’ catalog in the United States during the 1980s and handled several of Morrissey’s early solo releases. However, Morrissey has previously been critical of the label. In his autobiography, he described Sire as disengaged during the Smiths’ rise, accusing it of failing to understand or properly support the band despite strong ticket sales and growing national attention. He also criticized the label’s promotional efforts, including its handling of “How Soon Is Now?”
