A Letter to MTV

TO ALL THOSE AT MTV,

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT
YOU HAVE GIVEN ME OVER RECENT YEARS AND I AM BOTH
GRATEFUL AND FLATTERED BY THE NOMINATIONS THAT I HAVE
RECEIVED FOR BEST MALE ARTIST. THE AIR PLAY GIVEN TO BOTH
THE KYLIE MINOGUE AND P. J. HARVEY DUETS FROM MY LATEST
ALBUM MURDER BALLADS HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND HAS
BEEN GREATLY APPRECIATED. SO AGAIN MY SINCERE THANKS.

HAVING SAID THAT, I FEEL THAT IT'S NECESSARY FOR ME TO
REQUEST THAT MY NOMINATION FOR BEST MALE ARTIST BE
WITHDRAWN AND FURTHERMORE ANY AWARDS OR NOMINATIONS
FOR SUCH AWARDS THAT MAY ARISE IN LATER YEARS BE
PRESENTED TO THOSE WHO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE
COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THESE AWARD CEREMONIES. I MYSELF,
DO NOT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE OPINION THAT MY MUSIC IS
UNIQUE AND INDIVIDUAL AND EXISTS BEYOND THE REALMS
INHABITED BY THOSE WHO WOULD REDUCE THINGS TO MERE
MEASURING. I AM IN COMPETITION WITH NO-ONE.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MUSE IS A DELICATE ONE AT THE BEST
OF TIMES AND I FEEL THAT IT IS MY DUTY TO PROTECT HER FROM
INFLUENCES THAT MAY OFFEND HER FRAGILE NATURE.
SHE COMES TO ME WITH THE GIFT OF SONG AND IN RETURN I
TREAT HER WITH THE RESPECT I FEEL SHE DESERVES - IN THIS
CASE THIS MEANS NOT SUBJECTING HER TO THE INDIGNITIES OF
JUDGEMENT AND COMPETITION. MY MUSE IS NOT A HORSE AND I
AM IN NO HORSE RACE AND IF INDEED SHE WAS, STILL I WOULD
NOT HARNESS HER TO THIS TUMBREL - THIS BLOODY CART OF
SEVERED HEADS AND GLITTERING PRIZES. MY MUSE MAY SPOOK!
MAY BOLT! MAY ABANDON ME COMPLETELY!

SO ONCE AGAIN, TO THE PEOPLE AT MTV, I APPRECIATE THE ZEAL
AND ENERGY THAT WAS PUT BEHIND MY LAST RECORD, I TRULY
DO AND SAY THANK YOU AND AGAIN I SAY THANK YOU BUT NO...NO
THANK YOU.

YOURS SINCERELY, NICK CAVE 21 OCT 96.