Clearly, Miley Cyrus knows how to use her own inescapable shock factor and picked the ultimate platform to launch Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz as the host of the 2015 MTV VMAs at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theatre last night (Aug. 30) and Cyrus's decision to release the album online for free was almost more gasp-worthy than her red carpet outfit. Her new album was created independently and without the financial support of her label RCA Records.
She even admitted to The New York Times after her performance that "They hadn't even heard the album until it was done." This new release is yet another controversial step for the singer, a step down cost-wise from 2013 smash album Bangerz, which according to Cyrus was "a couple million to make."
Dead Petz is something of a secondary project for her and has no bearing on her multi-album contract with the major label, although they were in support of her decision to release it online for free.
"Cyrus continues to be a groundbreaking artist. She has a strong point of view regarding her art and expressed her desire to share this body of work with her fans directly. RCA Records is pleased to support Miley's unique musical vision," her label said in a statement.
Cyrus has transferred from a PG Teen Idol, to a short stint as a post-child star tabloid trainwreck, to a complete twerk-a-thon to a now strong, independent and media-savvy artist in a matter of just a few years. She ended her performance last night with a resounding, "It's online FOR FREE right now," as the site hosting the recording flashed it across the screen, a surprise for both her label and the millions of viewers watching.
