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NIN Releases Album Download Numbers via Google Earth

nin.com — Nine Inch Nails has released download data for their recent free album The Slip in a very unique way: A Google Earth KML file that maps exact download numbers according to geographic region.

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  • ThinkIcouldburn, on 06/26/2008, -12/+144This is amazing.
    • Namco, on 06/26/2008, -12/+11This was a triumph.
      • linuxares, on 06/26/2008, -6/+9Im making a note here
        • tunafizzle, on 06/26/2008, -11/+4That was a failure.
        • Soniti, on 06/26/2008, -13/+6No, you're a ***** failure. Don't be a douchebag just because you think that by breaking the chain you're suddenly cool and edgy.
        • warplayer, on 06/26/2008, -2/+6HUGE SUCCESS.

          i'll keep it going :)
        • Allender, on 06/26/2008, -3/+6Its hard to overstate
        • Infidelcastr0, on 06/26/2008, -2/+5my satisfaction.
        • 8bitflu, on 06/26/2008, -0/+8Please do not imitate intellectual property of the Aperture Enrichment Center.
    • DarknessGP, on 06/26/2008, -10/+1No, THIS IS SPARTA!!!!
      • Kidtuf, on 06/26/2008, -0/+8I hate you.
      • IllBeBack, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2Uh, yeah, dude, the 300 comments were never cool to begin with. Now they are simply pathetic.
    • SugarCoatedSalt, on 06/26/2008, -7/+1I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
    • darkciti2, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Damn, that guy just keeps pushing the limits of awesomeness...!

      Well done, Trent!
    • klipseracer, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3I like all music, but never would have heard how great it was if I had to pay for it...
  • Namesbond, on 06/26/2008, -22/+147and they make incredible music
    • JDMM71, on 06/26/2008, -17/+8They?
      • mywhitenoise, on 06/26/2008, -2/+16Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Alan Moulder, Charlie Closure, among other producers. It's never just Trent.
        On top of that he usually has a drummer come in and help out, as well as Alessandro and Robin Fink on The Slip.
    • Janss, on 06/26/2008, -8/+2Trent makes the music, but I doubt everyone could do such awesome rhytms like Josh.
      • Namesbond, on 06/26/2008, -3/+3Yeah, you can definitely tell when he uses a drum machine compared to when Josh records live drums.
    • neolyn, on 06/26/2008, -1/+36Yes - "they". Trent doesn't produce or write all of this stuff on his own. Check the liner notes for writing/production credit.
      • catch-22, on 06/26/2008, -1/+8Most notably, Atticus Ross. He's the unsung hero of the new NIN sound. He's been working closely with Trent on every album since With Teeth.
        • mightyslick, on 06/26/2008, -9/+4In my opinion , since with teeth it has went down hill. I was a huge pretty hate machine fan. I believe to be Reznor's finest work
        • luet, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3I don't understand why people like pretty hate machine more than his new stuff. PHM was good but it's NOT his best work. Like WTF is with everybody's hate on Ghosts? I thought it was brilliant.
        • wastedthelight, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2That explains a lot of why it's all sounding the same now... I didn't really care for With Teeth. Year Zero wasn't to bad but from what I heard of the Slip....I don't like it. Everything now sounds like With Teeth, generic rehashes. I OWN (that means purchased, not downloaded) pretty much every album and remixes up till With Teeth. Broken and TDS are still my favorites though. The Fragile didn't do to much for me. AMAZING in concert though. Go see them!
        • warplayer, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3It's so fascinating to me how NIN's catalogue pulls in different fans. PHM is a cool album, but I guess I just don't hold it in high regard like most NIN fans out there. I got into NIN at The Fragile, and I've been loving all the new albums (With Teeth was meh) like Year Zero and The Slip. Brilliant compositions.
        • mightyslick, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1"I don't understand why people like pretty hate machine" because its their opinion.
        • juicebag, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1I loved PHM, but I think that Year Zero is also one of his best. The Slip, not so much.
      • NTolerance, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2Don't forget the always amazing and otherworldly Adrian Belew.
    • TheGreatBelow, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3The band helps with recreating it for live purposes.
    • Namesbond, on 06/26/2008, -2/+2Danny Lohner helped with alot of the early stuff.
    • crestfall, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3in a great rehearsal space!

      I swear that bassist used to play for Beck. i base this on his hair, rather than research.

      All involved are true professionals. Amazing "rehearsals" there.
      • chudgoo, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Yup, same guy.

        Went by the name "Showboat" back in the Beck "odelay" era.
    • jerrycurley, on 06/26/2008, -5/+1If you are 12, sure.
    • maretten, on 06/26/2008, -6/+1Music? Its turned into ambiance, not music. It's just ***** noise. NOISE.
      • Namesbond, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1Referring to their music as noise is dismissive. The sounds "NOISE" are what is open for our interpretation as the listener. Trent Reznor is an amazing lyricist. If the words were soo important and the music was soo secondary their would be sold out spoken word tours.
        • maretten, on 06/27/2008, -1/+2"I wanna ***** you like an animal. I wanna feel you from the inside."

          Amazing Lyricist. You're right.
        • Namesbond, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1How about a song such as Hurt? Covered by David Bowie, Peter Murphy, and Johnny Cash
          The Great Below? And All That Could Have Been? Fragile? Mr. Self Destruction? Something I Can Never Have?
        • Namesbond, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1Another problem is that by referencing Closer I'm guessing you aren't very familiar with his work. Trent Reznor is king of conceptual albums. The Nine Inch Nails albums that are generally known for being the best The Fragile, Downward Spiral, and Year Zero need to be presented as a complete thought not as individual songs taken from a mixtape.
        • Namesbond, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1ok you cant tell people to get their mind out of the gutter when it says i wanna ***** you like an animal, that is extremely clever to use it to get people to listen n its racey n i like that whenever i listen to it i always get the picture in my head of a stripper who's thrown her life away n is just constantly used n to herself she feels stoned, blank, n numb sexual frustrations- i could agree to that beign part of what its about, i dont think it has to do with him being depressed in the sense that nobody lieks him n *****, but maybe that he's numb to life n i from my own thoughts think that sex could be a way out of this world, cause sex is soemthing you can do with a complete stranger or with soemone youve know forever n neither be awkward, how many other things can you do with a stranger or spouse n it not be ***** awkward? i cant think of anything its not just the line i wanna ***** you like an animal, buts it the line you keep me closer to god, n even w/o the ***** you like an animal part id still get the idea of sex because there's a line "it's your sex i can smell" n in the beginning it talks about him being let to violate someone n stuff i ithnk the idea of it being from a rapists point of a view can fit the lyrics n also the racey beat but i dotn think this guy's a rapist, although you could find or create too many good movie scenes for this song
          - dylan, oneida, WI

          http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4143

          Those lyrics effected Dylan. Maybe you are dismissive!
    • fcukthisgame, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2I don't particularly enjoy NIN's music, but for all the awesome stuff Reznor has said/done, I regard him very highly. Free albums, "Steal our music", and now stuff like this. Somebody award him an internet.
  • Myviolentheart, on 06/26/2008, -12/+2In deed... a very unique way!
  • n01special, on 06/26/2008, -29/+66Dear Trent,

    Why do you get all the love in the world?
    (Literally)

    Sincerely yours,

    n01special
    • djGraceful, on 06/26/2008, -13/+2Why ask questions to which you already know the answer? I think the more appropriate question would be how do you manage to capture so precisely the thoughts/emotion of so many of us much less express these for us in such a beautiful form?.......Just my 2cents
      • JoeMcMonagle, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3Never listened to With Teeth, huh?
    • jaydoj, on 06/26/2008, -1/+11clever, very very clever.
    • aaron117, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Nice.. nice!
    • MillionsLivio, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5Him being dugg down obviously shows who the real fans are.
      • n01special, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3No kidding! Geez.
      • MadOtaku, on 06/26/2008, -2/+4Nah, I get the reference, but I just thought it was a bit cheesy and while I didn't digg down, I know that plenty of people would.
        • LostnTransition, on 06/26/2008, -3/+2And while I couldn't bring myself to digg you up I took the time to read your comment and couldn't leave without some sort of digging....so down we go, into the rabbit hole.
        • havocjaw, on 06/27/2008, -1/+0
          I buried you "LostnTransition" because I don't like how your handle is spelled.
  • Zetal, on 06/26/2008, -5/+82Awesome idea using google earth for this.
    • samscomputer2, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3whats crazy is that there are also hits in Google Sky
  • sukeyscorer, on 06/26/2008, -5/+75thats so cool! impressive that The Slip got 1.4 million downloads. nice one TR.
    • nascentia, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Even more impressive that it's 1.4 million USERS downloading - he didn't count multiple downloads to the same account. Too bad this will never count as an album going Platinum.
    • hmunkey, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1And those are downloads directly from them. NIN albums are always at the top of all torrent trackers, so that's a million more downloads.
  • janedoepa, on 06/26/2008, -16/+1The freaks and geeks thank you for the simple thing to amuse our simple widdle miahnds! You're awesome dawl! 8:0)
  • joseke7, on 06/26/2008, -17/+7Reznor for world president, w00t w00t!
  • TwitchingMuffin, on 06/26/2008, -9/+143Awesome. I love how NIN is using all freeware--YouTube, Flickr, Google Earth, iLike, Facebook, MySpace, iCal, Google Calender--to expand their site and get closer to the fans. It's all so awesome. Pioneering.
    • MalDON, on 06/26/2008, -3/+5iCal freeware? I'm pretty sure you're paying for it when you buy OSx...
      • Derferman, on 06/26/2008, -1/+11Correct, but iCal uses .ics files, which is a standard file format that many other applications use.
    • tibbon, on 06/26/2008, -5/+2YouTube, Flickr, Google Earth, iLike, Facebook, MySpace, iCal, Google Calender aren't freeware. They may be consumer SaaS applications, or free downloads even, or included with your system... but they aren't freeware.

      What would you expect them to use? Some walled garden social network that users had to pay for?
      • warplayer, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Most bands NEVER try to branch out beyond their own website, I'm pretty sure that's what he meant. The point is, we don't expect ANY bands to have this level of interaction, so the fact that they do is that more amazing.
      • EmitStop, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3Google Earth is freeware. What the ***** are you talking about?
        • Ravatar, on 06/26/2008, -3/+1SaaS.

          Good luck using Google Earth offline in most situations.
      • obsolite, on 06/26/2008, -0/+0Like the Spiral club?
  • neolyn, on 06/26/2008, -5/+38It's nice that Trent and his cohorts are intelligent enough put together data and present it to their fans in such a way. I don't think a lot of other acts could have pulled this off. Very nice.
    • compu73rg33k, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1I disagree. I think almost everybody could pull this off. What NIN is doing is what everybody will be doing in 20 years max. And if they can't do it themself they'll hire out computer nerds to do it for them. Guys, we're the future of the music industy - both as consumers, and computer programmers manipulating and sharing data in a great way for everyone.
      • BeavisMcSleavis, on 06/27/2008, -0/+220 years? Are you nuts? More like 3 Max!
        Otherwise good points :}
  • arj03, on 06/26/2008, -5/+10I wonder why it took so long for recording artists to realize that this is a much better way than the old. True NIN got known using the true old and tried system, but still, they are really flourishing in this new way of marketing themselves.
    • krahzee, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1You just answered your own question.
      Nobody likes the current pricing structure, but until there are alternatives out there that provide the same level of promotion as well as financial investments in a new band needed to establish their name, the only bands that can consider doing things the way Trent has are the established acts who have loyal fans already in place to seek out their newest project/show. Sure there have been a few acts to gain a large following from alternatives to the industry, but they are the exception, not the norm.

      Before you guys respond with 8000 music acts you claim have done this, I am talking about acts with NIN´s or Radiohead´s level of followers/fame. The simple fact is that the next Radiohead or NIN still does need that promotion. Once they are successful, they can decide if they would like to have a more open relationship with their fans.
      • sodade, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1The bottom line is that you still need MSM to become an MSM artist. The only way to get massive MSM promotion is to be on a Major (or your own label AFTER being an MSM artist like RH and NIN).
  • freezerburn666, on 06/26/2008, -46/+4***** pop music, stupid ***** gimmicks, and your all buying into it like sheeple.
    • mk3k, on 06/26/2008, -1/+14You haven't listened to the album have you?
      It's actually a good album, I go out of my way to find the tracks in my playlist.
    • freezerburn666, on 06/26/2008, -22/+1i lived with a nin-obsessed roommate for over a year, and my friends dragged me to two NIN concerts. they ***** suck live, their music is crap. i refuse to play any of their music willingly.
      • BabyWookie, on 06/26/2008, -0/+7LOL. This sounds funny, coming from a Fred Durst wanna-be (his profile pic).
      • LeopardGirl420, on 06/27/2008, -0/+2Ha-Ha !
      • madcowalien, on 07/06/2008, -0/+0obviously it wasn't 666-rated music in his opinion. maybe if satan himself sang?
    • psylemon, on 06/26/2008, -0/+7NIN is pop?
      • MavRevMatt, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4Yes. Just like Digg is full of women.
    • downwardspiral, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3I guess you are still eating cereals on your mommy's breakfast table...........bitch
    • anillop, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2You ever notice that only morons use the word sheeple. just an observation.
    • artfiend77, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3Weeeeeeeeell, if freezerburn666 says so, it MUST be TRUE!
  • ee80, on 06/26/2008, -4/+1891 cuban downloaded. I didn't know Castro was a NIN fan.
    • apcfreak, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3More like,
      I didn't know that less than 2% of the Cuban population had access to the internet.
      • Tyrghast, on 06/26/2008, -4/+2WOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!
      • Reaktor5, on 06/26/2008, -0/+8At least they're using it for good things.
        • getrealnow, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3porn?
        • LostnTransition, on 06/26/2008, -3/+1I believe the proper spelling for diggers is pr0n. I don't know why but I've seen it so much it seems odd seeing it spelled properly.
    • Jexie, on 06/26/2008, -0/+16He's not, Raul is.
    • bat-21, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Looks like Muammar al-Gaddafi is a fan too.
    • Lunchbox37, on 06/27/2008, -0/+2It's probably someone stationed at Gitmo.

      That or Communists are cooler than anyone originally believed.
  • dnields, on 06/26/2008, -31/+5And why exactly are we supposed to care about this information?
    • culbeda, on 06/26/2008, -18/+3Because any NIN information is apparently Digg-worthy now and it's free advertising for the band. Don't worry, the sheep will get over it. Just give it a couple more years.
      • Jhiaxuz, on 06/26/2008, -3/+7This is for NIN Fans.

        RIAA fans should GTFO.
        • dnields, on 06/26/2008, -7/+2"RIAA fans should GTFO."

          Grant Trent Free Oreos?
          Go Take Friday Off?
          Give Timmy Five Ostriches?
          Get Two For One?
        • freezerburn666, on 06/26/2008, -4/+2well, thats retarded. just because i dont like nin doesn't make me pro-RIAA
    • Jhiaxuz, on 06/26/2008, -1/+9Because they didn't charge those 1.4 million fans a cent for their album.
    • revmhatt, on 06/26/2008, -1/+17Because this a news website that focuses on the latest in technological trends and developments. Do you think everything has to be life changing to make it to the front page?
    • Phearce, on 06/26/2008, -1/+8Because it's an example of an artist successfully using novel marketing strategies.
    • madcowalien, on 07/06/2008, -1/+0you didn't have to read about it, you don't have to care
  • dOOBiEx213, on 06/26/2008, -27/+7It's awesome what they're doing, unfortunately, their music sucks... horribly.
  • booyahbitch, on 06/26/2008, -1/+23I think perhaps the reason that NIN is doing so well is that they are actually using their brains. Not to mention they are asking us to do the same. Being engaged (for real, not like politicians do) by someone who is asking you to buy their wares is the best way to make people understand where you are coming from. I agree with joseke7 - Rez for Prez!!!!!
    • Daniel591992, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3I agree. I don't really like their music, but I do appreciate their style of business. I wish all artists were the same.
    • vtnerd, on 06/26/2008, -0/+3I agree as well. I really don't care for their music at all, but I did buy their last album just to support this business model and show other groups that it can be profitable. Hopefully more groups will follow their lead and then the RIAA will die....I know, but shut up I can still hope, can't I?
    • joseke7, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1thx for the support man!! hahahahahha i made a joke but apparently a lot of people just buried it hahahahahaha :D
  • ZephyrNinety, on 06/26/2008, -8/+10It's not JUST Trent anymore.
    • sm4k, on 06/26/2008, -1/+9Yes, it is. Trent Reznor is the only member of Nine Inch nails, the live band is just that, a group of guys Trent has formed to play the songs live. Everything you hear on a CD is him, and I'm certain all of this marketing is being driven primarily by him. He's the face, mind, and heart behind all of this.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_inch_nails#Touri ...
    • chudgoo, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1It never really was "just trent"...
      even back in the PHM days he had a band and studio helpers.
    • havocjaw, on 06/27/2008, -0/+0Lohnner, Vrenna, Jordie, that singer from Filter.... they have NIN blood in them
  • drqshadow, on 06/26/2008, -4/+7This is a pretty cool concept, but it's crashed Google Earth twice for me now. I'll just enjoy the screenshots, thanks.
    • DesdinovaEL, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2Same happened to me. Make sure you got the latest version. After I upgraded it worked fine.
  • SRSco, on 06/26/2008, -47/+7I'm so sick of NIN on Digg. NIN sucks ass. How did they become so popular on Digg? Nobody I know IRL likes them. In fact, they all MOCK NIN fans. GTFO. This is *****.
    • leftfield, on 06/26/2008, -2/+20You have the RIAA logo as one of your images, you troll for free or do they pay you?
      • SRSco, on 06/26/2008, -10/+2The Church of Scientology also pays me to troll.
      • leftfield, on 06/26/2008, -2/+12lol, I figured you'd try to edit your profile so I went ahead and got a screenshot for posterity.

        http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5160/srscojh1.j ...
        • SRSco, on 06/26/2008, -12/+2I had plans to change it before you pointed it out. I obviously put RIAA and COS icons on my profile to troll. I had them up for months. The point WAS to get people to notice them. That's what trolling is. I see now you've requested to be my friend. WTF. I'll never befriend a NIN fan. Thanks for taking the screenshot. I don't care.
        • leftfield, on 06/26/2008, -2/+9k, well looks like you are about trolled out... go find more stuff for your "night of OGC" and leave the frontpage to the algorithm.
        • artfiend77, on 06/26/2008, -1/+7Jesus, SRSco is quite pathetic! You can't even get trolling right you 'tard.
    • keyforce, on 06/26/2008, -1/+6You sure are worked up about something you supposedly don't care about.
      • SRSco, on 06/26/2008, -7/+1No...I obviously care. I'm fed up with anything that has to do with NIN being frontpaged immediately. It's a joke. Look at this: http://digg.com/music/popular/365days Pathetic. Digg sucks ass for music. Everyone on this site has ***** taste. I'm sick of it.
        • artfiend77, on 06/26/2008, -1/+7Then don't let the door hit you in the vagina on your way out to Reddit, *****.
  • pjisback, on 06/26/2008, -18/+4Is it me or does Nine Inch Nails release a new album like every 3 weeks nowadays?
    • freezerburn666, on 06/26/2008, -6/+3no, its not just you. it must be real quality stuff. ahem...
    • keyforce, on 06/26/2008, -0/+7Your reading comprehension needs work. These are album figures, not an album.
    • SquigglyP, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2there was a couple year gap between With Teeth and Year Zero
      Ghosts was a different sort of album that they had been working on while touring for Year Zero
      The Slip was recorded to celebrate their independence

      Yeah, they've released a lot of stuff in the last year or so, but if NIN were just doing the normal everyday thing that most of these 'artists' do, they wouldn't end up on Digg. They pop up here because they are sort of leading this movement away from the recording 'industry' and reinstalling a sense of artistry into popular music - something that hasn't really existed in great quantity since the birth of rock and roll, and which is practically non-existent today.
  • someoneAnyone, on 06/26/2008, -1/+17Great information to plan a tour around... maybe we'll see NIN in North Carolina sometime soon?
    • Canuck, on 06/26/2008, -4/+7I dug you up because of using the info for planning a tour; not because NIN should go to North Carolina. Not that NC is a bad place, actually I've never been there. I'm just saying that I didn't use that piece of information in my decision to Digg you.
      • DiggyWiggy, on 06/26/2008, -0/+6Dugg down for never visiting NC but still writing a hefty explanation involving it...
        • funkeymikey, on 06/26/2008, -0/+6Dugg for the fact that you dugg someone down for not visiting North Carolina.
        • Seafea, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2Dugg for... ***** it. I'm confused. Dugg anyway.
    • Litzau, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1yeah a local show would be great!
  • katierosekills, on 06/26/2008, -14/+3It's really easy to beat their song on Rock Band on expert.
  • sgtawol, on 06/26/2008, -1/+37Really neat stuff.

    For those of you pissing and moaning about NiN and the music they play, think about it as a concept and stop being a simple-minded troll. You'll be praising TR in 10 years when this is the normal way to distribute music for bands that aren't property of the top 40 sell out pieces of trash and their record labels.

    • SquigglyP, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1These guys won't be thanking anyone. They're the guys who will be keeping the recording industry alive by buying their worthless garbage. They also have the stones to call that ***** "art" and call those who make it "artists".
  • boozedrinker, on 06/26/2008, -4/+40A true artist and innovator...Trent, please don't stop.
  • MattFromSeattle, on 06/26/2008, -2/+45I wish more artists/labels would embrace technology the way Trent has. This is probably one of the best examples of an artist taking the initiative and making technology work for them.
    • krahzee, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Most artists with a following this size are still under record label contract. I´m sure they would catch ***** for giving away an entire album for free when they still had a contractual obligation to deliver one to the record company. Companies that in some cases had already given them a big chunk of cash as an upfront on the deal.

      Trent and Radiohead are unique. They are still wildly popular, but they are no longer under contract to a major record label, and therefore are free to do what they want.

      Most popular acts used to stay until they were kicked off the label, basically because of a lack of sales, which as shocking as it may sound, was a direct result of a lack of consumer interest.

      The problem is, try explaining to some acts that they no longer need the record companies. It seem like bands today are willing to give up money on the album sales for the promotion they provide their live shows.

      • MattFromSeattle, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1You're exactly right, it's hard to break 100 years of reliance upon record labels to produce and distribute your recordings. But people like Ani Difranco have built substantial followings independently (and she did it before wide use of the net) so it is possible. I think as more sites offer users integrated music (like MySpace, iLike, etc.) the easier it will become to get your stuff out there to the masses without a record label.

        The flipside to that of course is that there won't be any payday advances for the artists and if there is a rush of independent artists bucking the record labels, it will make it harder to be heard. So it's tough to say which is better. I think a more middle line approach is the way to go.

        What if a newly signed band produced a 3-5 song album and distributes it for free online to generate buzz. Then you take the approach that Trent used for this latest album and you have designated packages: $10 full digital album, $20 physical CD, $30 bonus discs, etc. I think that would be a practical approach that would keep both the labels and the public relatively happy.
      • PvtJenkins, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1You could argue that bands like Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead achieved popularity because of their record label to begin with. They gain my respect because they dropped the companies, but they still wouldn't be where they are now without actually having that initial record label boost.

        I would love to see more bands out there that start FRESH on their own and make it to NiN or Radiohead status. Distribution is still kinda hard without the help of a record label, but there ARE other growing mediums these days that can be used (such as myspace promotion, The61, and the likes).

        I guess it's only a matter of time before the huge record labels loose out. The transparency and openness of the internet would be their downfall. It's getting easier and easier to get your music into the ears of the random person on the web.

        P.S. I'm not arguing your comment, I agree 100% with what you're saying. I just wanted to add more thought into this topic :)
  • supersickie, on 06/26/2008, -1/+211.4 million through the website; I'd say that there's at least another 500,000 that have been downloaded via torrent.
    • sleepwalkers, on 06/26/2008, -0/+5The larger formats (FLAC, WAV) were seeded specifically by the people involved in distribution. Once those torrent files got out, yeah, I'm guessing hell broke loose. This is the one time that I wish people would've gone through the official channel to get an album, even if it's only to make their download "count" in the official numbers.
  • kida101, on 06/26/2008, -7/+6Trent Reznor is the key to unleashing the digital distribution revolution and all its glory.
  • weizbox, on 06/26/2008, -7/+9I miss the days when nin wasn't so pop-rock :/
    It's good for what is, but it's not what it used to be.
    • antipoet, on 06/26/2008, -1/+5I don't get a pop-rock feel when I listen to the new stuff but I do agree that the old ones were better. You gotta progress though, right? No use trying to write 'Downward Spiral' again...

      It does seem like his business model is more inspired than his music lately.
      • weizbox, on 06/26/2008, -1/+4'You gotta progress though, right?'
        So true, and I wouldn't want another Downward Spiral, but I certainly miss some of the more electronic feel that he used to deliver. It's just too much rock for my taste, and I def liked it better when he was mixing up genres more.

        'It does seem like his business model is more inspired than his music lately.'
        Couldn't agree more, and what he/them are doing is just great tho. I love his whole approach to getting his music out there and interacting with the fans more.
      • magical1492, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1NIN? Pop rock? I don't know of a time where they were really poppish, except maybe With Teeth. Even then, after that, they released Year Zero, which was quite good and added more electronics. The only thing I see they lost was the synth sounds of Pretty Hate Machine.
      • MadOtaku, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2The new stuff has much LESS of a rock feel; try listening to Broken. When With Teeth and Year Zero came out, I joked that NIN went from being a rock band to an electronica band, and that people only thought they were industrial because their most popular works were in the middle of the transition.

        I love all their work, but they've become much less of a traditional industrial rock band, and now sound much more electronic.
        • Namesbond, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1Pretty Hate Machine was very electronic.
        • MadOtaku, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1Nah, it was very industrial rock (which uses electronic sounds to mimic rock beats and guitars in such a way that it sounds like machinery and the like).
    • Namesbond, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3I've actually grown to love With Teeth. I get what your saying though. Year Zero, Ghosts, and The Slip haven't really sunk in for me yet. There are definitely some solid tracks though.
      • weizbox, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1'There are definitely some solid tracks though.'
        Very true, and I actually do like some of them after giving them more of a chance, but it seems like he almost took a step back (from what I was used to at least), and his music seems lot more simple/basic than it used to be.
        • Namesbond, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1He always says in interviews that he has parameters when he is creating an album that he follows. When he was doing press for With Teeth he started talking about how he was throwing some of the parameters out because they were good songs that he wanted to present. Although ultimately all that matters is how the listener interprets the album I am glad that he is making music on his own terms and is open to release what he wants.
    • origamistars, on 06/26/2008, -4/+3nin started as synth-pop, dude.
    • ggatarz, on 06/26/2008, -2/+2oh boy your one of "those" fans.

      If Trent kept his style exactly the same as the old days I'm sure you would complain about how Trent needs to try other things.

      Those days are gone and they are not coming back. No matter how much you whine about it.
  • cdbeshore, on 06/26/2008, -2/+11by the title, i thought it meant that had another new album called "Numbers" that you could only download through google earth. Not THAT would be cool.
    • supersickie, on 06/26/2008, -4/+2Would it really surprise you if Trent had figured out a way to release something new through Google Earth?

      It wouldn't surprise me either.
    • Sabretou, on 06/26/2008, -0/+4It would surprise me if ANYONE figured out a way to download music through Google Earth.
      • down1nit, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1Base64 encoded music within placemarks. copy, new document, paste, rename to mp3?
  • dblespresso, on 06/26/2008, -1/+6Interesting places (not much of a surprise)
    - North Korea - 0
    - Iran has a handful

    Islands of NIN
    -Singapore
    -Dubai
    -Bangalore,Mumbai,Chennai, India
    South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa

    • sounditout, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3I am Iranian, though I do not live there at the moment. And it might be silly pride but I am quite impressed and a bit proud to say that I counted 250 downloads in the country.
      I know it doesn't mean much but for Iranians that are almost like the Japanese in having a love for boy bands and some rap, it gives me hope.
  • Orion682, on 06/26/2008, -7/+27"P.S. - If you are one of the people from Fiji who got the record, can we crash on your couch?"

    I LOLLED
  • RockOfVictory, on 06/26/2008, -1/+27This'll be handy for them to plan their next world tour.
  • rtphokie, on 06/26/2008, -18/+4Useless eye candy. There are far more effective and meaningful ways to represent data geographically.
  • Namco, on 06/26/2008, -5/+3Wow! NIN impresses me more and more every day. But it's not surprising with the people Trent's surrounding himself.
  • Stiles05s, on 06/26/2008, -2/+2can't wait for the tour
    • magical1492, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Trent, please come to Iowa. We're in desperate need for anyone. ANYONE to tour here.
  • freeth1nker, on 06/26/2008, -1/+10And the clouds will part and the sky cracks open and RIAA-themself will reach their ***** arm through...just to push you down! J-J-Just to hold you dooown.

    ...except in this case. Thanks again, Trent!
    • LeopardGirl420, on 06/27/2008, -0/+2dugg because i'd love to hear him sing just that
  • keithnoir, on 06/26/2008, -1/+3love the idea, they keep using open sources things to there advantage...
  • raada, on 06/26/2008, -1/+7I love NIN... It is the only group (and Radiohead) who has figured out that it is a new world out there. Smart!
    I did not listen to them until they released their CD for free.
    • itsabrandnewday, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1harvey danger did it way before NIN or radiohead thought of it. those aren't the only two bands in the world releasing their CDs this way, they are just the most popular ones to do so.
    • SquigglyP, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1There are a lot of indie bands releasing their stuff online for free. www.jamendo.com
    • LeopardGirl420, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1"I did not listen to them until they released their CD for free."

      Then you've sure missed out on a lot great music in the past with such a stiff attitude, there's always radio, online radio streams, last.fm, torrents, borrowing a friends CD, music download forums.
  • Shroomie, on 06/26/2008, -5/+2Is the site down, or is my DSL just being stupid?
  • TinternAbbot, on 06/26/2008, -15/+6I can't understand why NIN is so popular on digg.
    • anillop, on 06/26/2008, -2/+12It is because they are actually trying something different and innovative in terms of distribution and technology. They are embracing new ways rather than clinging to the old ways of the RIAA and recording companies.
    • vtnerd, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3...because they're sticking it to our arch-nemesis the RIAA in a more direct way than any of us individuals consumers could ever do on our own?

      You do know that Digg hates the **AA groups with a passion right?
    • Zamyatin, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Also, Kevin Rose talks them up like every other episode of Diggnation...
      I think that might give them a fair share of notoriety on Digg.com :)
    • chillbeast, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1NIN is popular on the whole interwebz. Always have been...

      techie's tend to be more open to their style of music in my experience.
    • SquigglyP, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1a lack of understanding generally stems from ignorance.
  • atomatic, on 06/26/2008, -2/+3Now he needs to make sure he tours in those markets where lots of people already downloaded the album. genius.
  • pahool, on 06/26/2008, -5/+59***** METALLICA!
  • bradwheeler, on 06/26/2008, -7/+2I love this -- Sweet integration of data you had laying around.
    Apparently the kml doesn't quite validate.
    NIN - if you're reading this, take the extra "/n" out in the kml file on line 7.
    Not well formed xml... gossssh!

    http://feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A%2F% ...
  • holyreality, on 06/26/2008, -3/+6reznor = genius
  • dan0964, on 06/26/2008, -2/+2Im one of 4 people in my area... who are these other 3....
  • moocow1452, on 06/26/2008, -1/+4With Google Earth, I DO feel a million miles away.
  • phorty40, on 06/26/2008, -2/+4trant is officially trent 2.0
  • ggatarz, on 06/26/2008, -4/+1nice
  • viper565, on 06/26/2008, -5/+8TRENT REZNOR IS THE GOD OF THE NEW AGE OF MUSIC!
    • TheSnuffster, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2new age sucks
    • havocjaw, on 06/27/2008, -1/+1There is nothing new about kicking ass since 1989....
    • acroyear2, on 06/27/2008, -0/+1Yeah, be careful when you say that out loud. You almost did say "new age". That category belongs to Yanni.
  • myhandleondigg, on 06/26/2008, -2/+7most creative thing this band has done is that "still" disc with the pianos and acoustic instruments and analog synths.
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