Morrissey Fields Offers for The Smiths Catalog Stake on Instagram

Morrissey, who’s fielding offers for his stake in The Smiths’ IP. Photo Credit: Charlie Llewellin

Morrissey says he “has no choice but to offer for sale” his stake in The Smiths, and he’s now fielding offers for the intellectual property.

The 66-year-old made as much clear in a newly published Instagram post; cutting right to the chase, the message begins by proclaiming that there’s “A SOUL FOR SALE.”

“Morrissey has no choice but to offer for sale all of his business interests in ‘The Smiths’ to any interested party / investor,” the straightforward text proceeds.

All told – and according to the post – the Old Trafford native would part with The Smiths’ name and artwork “as created by Morrissey,” “merchandising rights,” recordings, compositions, and “contractual rights for Smiths publishing,” among other things.

Stated differently, there’s quite a bit on the table. Just in passing, it’s worth reiterating that The Smiths’ four 1980s studio albums released via Rough Trade; Warner Music then reportedly purchased the label’s back catalog in 1991.

And keeping things brief here, the bandmembers became embroiled in an ugly royalties legal battle at about the same time. Additionally, 2014 saw Morrissey look to offload some of his song rights through a public proposal as well – so the “Suedehead” artist isn’t a stranger to floating investment opportunities.

Furthermore, it was only last year that the ownership status of The Smiths’ trademarks took center stage and, in the process, underscored the still-acrimonious relationship between Morrissey and Johnny Marr.

The decades-old rift also appears to have prevented a Smiths reunion tour from materializing. And if Oasis’ ticket sales are any indication, the comeback would have been highly lucrative. (On the other hand, tours can’t rake in cash if scheduled performances fail to take place, and fans are apparently ticked off about Morrissey’s solo-concert cancellations.)

At the intersection of all these details, Morrissey in a statement opted not to emphasize the catalog’s strong commercial positioning – The Smiths are the 375th most popular artist on Spotify worldwide, the appropriate page shows – but to air his grievances with his former bandmates.

“I am burnt out by any and all connections to Marr, Rourke, Joyce,” Morrissey spelled out. “I have had enough of malicious associations. With my entire life I have paid my rightful dues to these songs and these images. I would now like to live disassociated from those who wish me nothing but ill-will and destruction, and this is the only resolution.

“The songs are me – they are no one else – but they bring with them business communications that go to excessive lengths to create as much dread and spite year after year. I must now protect myself, especially my health,” he concluded.

Capping off the message, Morrissey urged “serious investors” to reach out to eaves7760@gmail.com.

Admittedly, infighting and dysfunction aren’t hallmarks of appealing catalog-investment opportunities. However, even they haven’t prevented huge deals from wrapping in today’s rapid-fire music-IP landscape. Speaking of this landscape, which is replete with capital and buyer interest, Morrissey probably won’t have difficulty finding suitable offers.

Moreover, plenty of song-rights sales are closing without so much as a public announcement – a point that, along with Morrissey’s comments about Marr and others, might raise questions about the precise motivation behind the Instagram post.