George Michael: I'm retiring
2004-03-11 07:30
London - Singer George Michael said on Wednesday he was retiring from the music business and intended instead to put all his future songs on the internet - for free.
The 40-year-old pop star told BBC radio he would never make another album for sale in record shops, because he did not need the money and wanted to be less famous.
Michael is currently promoting his latest album Patience, but revealed it would be his last.
"I think it's going to be my last commercial promoted release. I've been very well remunerated for my talents over the years so I really don't need the public's money," he said.
Now, he added, he would "really like to have something on the internet with charitable donation optional, where anyone can download my music for free".
"Believe me, in the modern world if you take yourself out of the financial aspect of things, i.e. if you're not in anybody's chart, you're not making anybody any 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.
"I'll hopefully be a happier man."
- SAPA