George Michael makes up with Sony
19.19PM GMT, 17 Nov 2003


George Michael has signed a new deal with Sony, the record company he tried to divorce in the mid-Nineties.

Sony will be releasing Patience, George's first album of original material since the 1996 album Older, early next year.

The multi-million deal is understood to include sales of his back catalogue.

The agreement marks a 180-degree turnaround from the bitter court fight to free him of his old deal in a mammoth case which began in 1993 and lasted months.

He had been unhappy about his long-standing contract but his legal bid failed. Record companies Virgin and Dreamworks subsequently bought him out of that deal in 1995.

Rob Stringer, Sony Music UK's chairman and chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be working again with one of the greatest recording artists this country has ever produced, who has produced another classic album."

In a career spanning more than 20 years, George has been responsible for nearly 75 million record sales, according to Sony.

The company would not put any figures on the financial side of the deal.

http://www.itv.com/news/1590228.html

Direct from www.georgemichael.com in the news section:

Sony Music UK today announced that it has signed a new worldwide record deal with George Michael. George is currently finishing recording 'Patience', his first album of original material since 1996's 'Older', and the new album will be released by Sony music in early 2004.

Commenting on the signing, Rob Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music UK said 'We are delighted to be working again with one of the greatest recording artists this country has ever produced, who has made a classic album'.

In a career spanning nearly 20 years, George Michael has been responsible for more than 50 million album sales.

50 million? 75 million? What's the diff?

Anyway, this is good news for those of us who like his music. Although, like with Seal, I get impatient between releases and like other artists (like Prince) much more as a result. Patience is a fitting name for the album, then...

Oh well... I don't care who distributes the shit, just gimme a new album George!!! Seven years is too damn long to wait for a new one!

June7 said:

Can anybody list all the tunes he's released since the last record? There was FREEK, and some other stuffs. I can't wait. His stuff is excellent.

Outside and the cover of As with Mary J Blige were big UK hits. Freeek! was a minor hit and Shoot The Dog flopped.

The 'Songs From The Last Century' album sold quite well here over Christmas 1999 too.
[This message was edited Mon Nov 17 13:26:49 PST 2003 by Ellie]

This is great news!

I cant wait for a new album...he's been spotty of late and needs to bring more beautiful music to us!

On another note...Cyndi Lauper has also returned to Sony Muisc and is releasing an album of covers 'At Last' tomorrow!

Nice post.. thanks for the news.

All I know is that his last Cover album that was full of jazz/classical music was beautiful.. I loved it.!

I hope his new album kicks arse. Signing with Phony is a bit of a shock tho. I wonder what brought that about? Mottola leaving..?

cynicalbastard said:

Lets just hope its not any dance crap like Freeek/shoot the dog.. That stuff was terrible

Sdldawn said:

I concur.

waitin for klhk to pop up...

booyah said:

75 million RECORDS/50 million ALBUMS.

Sony? are you fuckin kiddin me!?



you mean to tell me that we've only gotten one real album from him in 12 years (Older) because of all that bullshit fighting with Sony, and now he's going back to them?

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

Everyone returns to Sony. They are very, very devilish. There that Michael! You might as well just stay there for your "comeback" instead of flopping with antoher label. Remember..."very, very devlish"!

AaronUniversal said:

It's pretty pathetic. His career is rubbish now.

Its about time...just watching his Best Of DVD!!!
with some friends and wondering when he would come back and release new music and possibly kick off a greatest hits tour!!!

He would sell out instantly!!!

GEORGE WELCOME BACK
Ur a great artist!!!

Lets hope for the best of his career.. he needs it.

NO DANCE CRAP
[This message was edited Mon Nov 17 23:09:34 PST 2003 by Sdldawn]

Ellie said:

Great news! Now, all Prince has to do is go back to WB and the circle will be complete.

Betcha Mariah signs back with Sony next.

GREAT NEWS!! Yeah,it sounds kinda strange for him to be re-signing with the label he went to war with,but at this point,I don't really care what label he records for.I just want some new music! It's been too long without a George Michael album.


Where is klhk at? She must be thrilled

June7 said:

That's exactly how I feel.I don't care WHERE he signs,as long we get something NEW from him.


Do you think this news will encourage Prince and MJ to patch things up with their old labels (Warners and Sony)? LOL

otan said:

Since the release of older...

Songs From The Last Century (Album)
Waltz Away Dreaming
I'm Your Man 96
As
Outside
A Moment With You
You Know That I Want To
I can Make You Love Me
Safe
Desafinando
If I told you that
Freek!!
Shoot The Dog
The Grave


Plus the various remixes and alt versions. The Unplugged tracks on the CD single are excellent.

WTF?!?

Ellie said:

U.K. positions for his last five singles:

Outside #2
As #4
If I Told You That #9
Freeek #7
Shoot The Dog #12

So he hasn't done too badly.

Cloudbuster said:

and that's with no real new material in ages! i love me some george michael and it is about time. perfect title to his album. and with the gay hype in america, his sexuality is sure to be less of a hindrance.

JohnnyTheFox said:

the 7 horsemen of the apocolypse will come riding through with getto blasters playing Prince, George and Madonna, and the end will be NIGH.

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

only on the UK charts can a #2 single or a top 10 hit be considered a "disappointment"

June7 said:

I feel you.

I think it is important to note that Sony has had quite a few shakeups onthe corporate side of things in the last few years. Very few of the people who were running the label back when George was fighting them are still there. I'm sure that played a part in George's decision to return (that, along with the decent job they did in promoting his "Best Of..." package).