digg

Join DiggAbout

Discover the best of the web!
Learn more about Digg by taking the tour.

"Thank God for Trent Reznor"

torontoist.com — Music megaproducer Bob Ezrin slams the music industry in a biting letter, which uses Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails as an example of how an artist might skirt the system on one's own terms—and with integrity intact.

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • Kevinb1577, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12Amen
  • nomojunkscience, on 10/12/2007, -24/+4i could do without his stupid politics but i like his music
  • juicebag, on 10/12/2007, -10/+14"Reznor is a goddamn genius."
    TRUE DAT
    • JohnP, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12"edit: besides how he is able to keep ripping you morons off."

      He gives ***** loads of his tracks and vids out for free. You couldn't have picked a more ironic target. Retard.
    • Seifey, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9"hm? well, you can keep making fun of bands i don't listen to. take a spelling class, my son."

      Take a capitalization class, troll.
    • emjaymj, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11@bgibbs:
      "He makes a cd thermal active and you morons think hes a ***** magician. It's absurd"

      What's absurd is that you think his popularity has anything to do with a thermally active cd. He's been popular for ages. I don't like his new album so much - it's listenable, which is more than I can say for "With Teeth", but it's not really anything special. The only album I really like of his is The Fragile, and I personally consider that to be one of the best albums ever made. It's unfortunate I'm not really into much of his other stuff, but I guess that's the cost of someone willing to experiment with music, instead of releasing cookie cutter albums every time. I would much rather have artists develop a sound though, even if I don't always like the direction it's going in, then listen to the stale crap that 90% of the "artists" out there put out.
    • emjaymj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@oldjimsteele

      Trent Reznor releases a lot of his tracks for free in formats that can be editted with sequencer programs. Not only can you listen to the songs, but he also lets you change them as you want. How many artists do THAT?

      Why do you care if he charges $80 a ticket? It's not really a price I'm comfortable paying, but I can't fault him for it. He's usually playing at the biggest venue a city can offer, and he STILL sells out at that price point. They can only pack a certain amount of people into each of these venues, and so just as many people would be missing out even if his concerts were completely free.
    • emjaymj, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2So what if he can afford it? Is everybody that's rich to be disdained? People with even much more money than he has are usually still focused on profits, just because somebody's wealthier than you are doesn't mean they automatically stop wanting to make money, it's almost always the opposite case.
    • strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@oldjimsteele:
      Now you're just making stuff up. Kind of sad, really.
    • strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@oldjimsteele:
      Oh no, please don't resort to a personal insult on the internet. A sure sign you're winning an argument! Give it up. What a joke.
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3Word.
  • mlostracco, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26Releasing a few of his songs as multi-track GarageBand files and letting fans futz around with them and make their own versions was an interesting thing to do—letting part of his art go into someone else's hands to foster even more creativity...brilliant. One's work is not so easy for an artist to let go of!
    • mudsown, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19Not only some, according to the official NIN site, eventually all of the tracks on the new cd, Year Zero will be released as GarageBand files.

      That shows even more so that it's not so much about the money as it is about the art.
    • ronfez, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Hopefully he releases his back catalog in Garageband format as well.
  • 1murlin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17I just dialed the number (1-866-445-6580) How do I get off the list? Help?
    • strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28Posting on Digg is another violation. We are still watching you.
    • p2502, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6call homeland security.

      they'll help.
  • evilpettingzoo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Listening to the album right now online.... Im buying this cd. The tracks are good, all the hidden extras, and oh yeah f the RIAA.
    • dext3r, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Artist: Nine Inch Nails
      Album: Year Zero
      Year: 2007
      Label: Nothing Records

      RIAA Radar result:
      Warning!
      This album was found to have been released by a member of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

      Correct RIAA Radar if its wrong. Just sayin'.
    • JohnP, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2dext3r - Nothing was HIS record label, but he sold it. The fact that he breaks the rules as an artist signed to an RIAA company is the whole point of this. He is literally telling his employees to go ***** themselves, because he wants to do what HE want with HIS music.
    • dext3r, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1he breaks the rules, but isnt the RIAA still getting money from this? im totally all for him breaking the rules or whatever, and i hate the ***** RIAA, but him breaking the rules still equals money for the RIAA in the end, no?
  • CandyStyle, on 10/12/2007, -8/+6"bgibbs"
    "He makes a cd thermal active and you morons think hes a ***** magician. It's absurd"

    Your a jackass. Name another artist that did that. OH WAIT. Better yet, just one that has done what Reznor has done for music... Stupid *****. Never mind, just pump my gas and stfu.
    • strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@oldjimsteele
      Do you get a hard on correcting grammar errors? No one here is writing a business plan or their treatise on long term trends in international trade. Online forums are form of causal communication. If that bothers you, go away. Complete sentences, perfect grammar, and perfect spelling are unnecessary, as long as the main point is clear.
  • nova2wl, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13What makes me more upset than people listening to only Top 40 stuff is scoffing at music just because its popular and alot people like it. Like someone else said Led Zeppelin was mainstream, The Beatles were mainstream, Beethoven was mainstream. Not comparing NIN to Beethoven just showing that music cans actually be good and popular.

    Its all these people on their high horses that are hurting the music industry.
  • Curbster, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Trent has done wonders for the music industry. There was only one band who did a cryo-thermic anything, but it was on the cardboard case that ends up disappearing 2 weeks after you buy it. Did any other artist set up an ARG based off a daydream? I don't think so. *****, he even set up standards for music videos with Closer. He's completely devoted to the art and could give less than two ***** about profits.

    And you bitches moaning about how he's taken a political view... so the ***** what? People voice their opinions about politics all of the time. Is there some law saying you can't use art to communicate your feelings about the government?
  • Kronos6948, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12ah jeez.

    I hate when good stories about music become pissing contests about who's music is better. Reznor is good for what he does. I like Pretty Hate Machine and the Downward Spiral. I wasn't huge into his music though.

    And as far as being underground, I've been involved with the underground Death Metal scene since the 90's. There's tons of dudes who think they're elitists because they know bands that most people can't pronounce their names let alone decipher their album art. That *****'s for high schoolers. Give it up and appreciate music for what it is. Don't knock someone because they like something you don't.

    The only thing you accomplish by doing that is making those people NOT want to listen to anything you listen to, which, in return SCREWS your band out of possible listeners and sales. Keep it underground to keep it good, but keep it elitist and you keep it buried.

    As far as Reznor's genius goes, the man organized a secret meeting where he gave away a free half hour concert to people who were willing to take a political chance. He also found a way to work around the system to get more fans. He thinks outside the box.

    He's also worked with musical geniuses like Adrian Belew who worked with Frank Zappa. If you don't know who Zappa is, then you don't know much about music. He was a real stickler for musical performance, and he was the first one to take up the torch against the PMRC.
  • CriX, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3How has Reznor skirted the system?

    He's just used creative advertising and he aligns himself with anti-RIAA propoganda ... and he sells CDs.

    I just bought his CD the other day cuz I like his stuff. And the alternative advertising and cool, color changing paint on the CD are appreciated, but they are examples of an artist trying to be creative. I don't think it says anything about subverting the system.
    • Curbster, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I'd say it is "skirting" by when the RIAA threatened him and all about his leaked tracks (intentionally leaked, if you didn't know) So he basically said "Kiss my ass" and released the entire album on his website for people to stream and listen to.
  • 1murlin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Well there was the album by Madonna which was scented.
  • mescalitospoke, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3OldJimSteele,

    While you are playing everyone's favorite homosexual english teacher, please begin your sentences with capital letters.

    ---->You're
  • cybermort, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7focusing on the real issue here (not the ARG or NIN) ways to bypass music industry
    NIN is barely scratching the surface... take a Look at (true Industrial) Einstürzende Neubauten. in 2005 they started a project called Musterhaus where subscribers (pay subscribers think of it as patronage) would received cd's, as well as being able to download DRM-free recording from the band, by passing all channels and connecting the fans directly to the artist. I think this is the way to go.
    • bobcobb42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4When Trent finishes his current contract, I can see him taking the same path. You have to understand, if he did such things now he would be in major legal drama. Releasing the entire album to be streamed weeks before it was released was pretty damned cool. I don't really see what the issue is. I bought it for $12 the day after it came out, and ripped it immediately ala No DRM. The first album purchase I have made in at least a year, and Trent's willingness to stand up to the RIAA helped me make that fateful decision.

      Other bands may be making inroads to get rid of the middleman, but people like Trent are stuck in the system, for now. Soon enough we will be having direct relationships with the bands, just give it time and stop yelling so much people. Internet yelling doesn't do much, make your voice heard with your checkbook.
  • mescalitospoke, on 10/12/2007, -9/+0
    a douche. No one cares about your point. Nothing you type with that giant, grotesque extension of a clitoris you call your forehead will change my mind.
  • lunarship, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Wanna bypass DRM? Sign to EMI, it seems. Now, who else can I think of signed to EMI? Oh yes... Pink Floyd... produced by Bob Ezrin...

    Nice to see that the music industry are going back to what the Grateful Dead said they should be - as trusted by someone as their drug dealer!

    (Before you ask, I've never done drugs, I just have an open mind...)
  • kolobcreek, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5It's ironic that you would say "Thank God for Trent Reznor". I've seen his videos. God has nothing to do with it.
    • dolvlo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Both God and god have a lot to do with Year Zero. There's no chance in convincing you that this album is worth your time if you have already closed your mind to rational thought.
  • brivapor, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Trent rules, makin his own rules, all his fans drool
  • TwenT4, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0"The band is just fantastic, that is really what i think
    Oh by the way, which one is Pink..?"
  • layeroffrost, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9nine inch nails writes music that isn't to everyone's taste (and anyone with half a brain knows this), and what's great about Trent's music is that it's always changing.. from album to album it is new and different. How many *real* artists (and that's discounting a good percentage of cookie cutter pop groups and emo bands out there) can you mention that started their careers the hard way and are STILL going and making music that still means something to people, or is new and interesting? There are very few, and they have either been famous for the last 20 years or more and everyone knows who they are, or they are a band that most people, when the band's name is mentioned, will look at you strangely and go "huh? who??" (as a lot of people I know have done when I've mentioned nine inch nails to them)

    The point is, it might well be easy enough to create a one hit wonder that sits at the top of the pop charts for a few weeks and sells millions of records, but 2-3 years later, either no one remembers who they are, or they're embarassed to own a copy of the CD. Trent Reznor still writes good music, and of all the people I know who own his CD's, they are proud to do so. What Trent does is not just music, it's an art form in itself. The whole ARG with Year Zero has proved this, and he takes more time in designing the content of his CD's, rather than just recording 10 or 12 radio friendly tracks to plastic. He releases recordings that you will still want to listen to in many years to come. And that is where he succeeds over the dime-a-dozen bands out there who are played to death on the radio.
    • TwenT4, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Yeah I agree with the Year Zero thing... Brilliant CD too, so many different influences, most experimental NIN to date. And i bet even tho he pretty much leaked the entire album onto his own website (come on, streaming the whole thing at 256kbps mp3s? has "rip me" written all over it), it's still going to be in the top 10, and people who download it are still going to buy it.
      Not that all that billboard crap matters, all it does is slap the RIAA in the face, saying "they pay me cuz i have something to say".
  • xmuzik, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Reznor seems to be getting his name around alot more with his most recent album than he was able to even during the hayday of " Downward Spiral ", big ups to him :)
  • modernjazz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5There's also about 10 freakin thousand talented jazz artists working in the US making their own way, skirting the so-called system. I know - I reviewed jazz discs for about 4 years and had no idea how many thousands of little independent jazz artists there are out there pumping out records on a shoestring budget, many of which are simply amazing. And then, there's smooth jazz Whoops! (insert Tourette's Syndrome invective of your choice).

    But seriously there are some incredible musicians in this country just playing great jazz for peanuts but turning out really well thought out, mature works of art. I guess Reznor is special in that he lives in and around the world of mainstream music while not conforming and we do need more of those for sure.
    • Kronos6948, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The problem with modern jazz is that it doesn't speak to todays youth. It spoke to the youths of over 50 years ago, when jazz was the rebellious music over big band. You don't see most people in their late teens/early/mid twenties going out and looking for Herbie Hancock's Blue Note releases or Miles Davis stuff because it's not what they're into.

      As far as Smooth Jazz goes, I have a comparison:

      Smooth Jazz : Jazz :: Hair Bands : Death Metal

      There are tons of very good musicians out there (hell, does even Vic Wooten make that much?) that make little or no money playing whatever music that they like. The main idea here is that Reznor has a voice, and he's using it to speak out politically, and is saying a lot of things that today's youth agree with, thereby making himself a voice for that demographic. If it were almost anyone else, I would think of it as a publicity stunt, something concocted by someone studying what would sell to the demographic. But, Reznor's always been politically active and vocal. He wouldn't pull this as a ploy.
    • mmortal03, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"The problem with modern jazz is that it doesn't speak to todays youth. It spoke to the youths of over 50 years ago, when jazz was the rebellious music over big band. You don't see most people in their late teens/early/mid twenties going out and looking for Herbie Hancock's Blue Note releases or Miles Davis stuff because it's not what they're into."

      Music shouldn't have to be rebellious for youth to like it, and whatever this unique homogenized feature of "today's youth" is that keeps them from "being spoken to" by different types of music really bothers me. I really wonder what twisted ideas in their heads actually associate jazz music with, because it isn't like most of their parents listen to it either.

      I'd say that one of the reasons "it's not what they're into" is simply because they haven't had it force fed into their minds by way of the radio or television. I would argue against people who say there is some intrinsic feature of modern jazz that young people can't like. It's more about the fact that they aren't exposed to it, and don't see the relevance of it musically, due to ignorance and a limited perspective. It probably has something to do with people having to associate with the image attached to the music, instead of just appreciating the music itself, which I think is dangerous, but is what the music industry has fed upon for quite a long time.
    • Kronos6948, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@mmortal

      I think you're missing the point. Kids don't want to listen to "Their parent's music". To kids, jazz is boring, old people music. They want something nowadays that motivates them, something that they can relate to. Exposure to jazz usually comes from their parents, and usually kids don't want to listen to their parents. Hell, I still don't like listening to oldies music and doo wop because it was force fed to me as a child. Maybe if todays musicians used jazz in their writing, kids would be more into it. I'm sure the fans of Dave Matthews found avenues to todays jazz artists.

      Another thing you're not looking at is the danceability of jazz. Most people can't dance to music with different time signatures than 4/4. Jazz music is too complicated. Most teens that are into pop music like it because they can dance to it. Every now and then kids come across a latin jazz song and can dance to that, but it's not the same when you compare it to stuff like Dave Brubeck.

      Think back to when you were a teenager. Where did you get your music? What did you listen to? More importantly, how did it make you FEEL? That's what matters most to teens when it comes to music...what turns them on.
    • mmortal03, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1"I think you're missing the point. Kids don't want to listen to "Their parent's music". To kids, jazz is boring, old people music. They want something nowadays that motivates them, something that they can relate to. "

      I'm not missing the point. That very concept is one of the issues that I find ridiculous, and that kids should get past. To not like music because one's parents like it is childish. :) (yep, I guess that is what they are.) Instead of rebelling, they are actually indirectly giving their parents control of their music decisions by letting their parents limit what could be musically fulfilling to them . People have that idea in their heads that they will be judged badly by their peers or something if they like something from their parents' generation. They need to build some confidence in themselves. Yes, some music does become culturally dated with time, but, just to use an example, as I have grown older and been more exposed to the world, I have found reasons external to the limited perspective of my raising for liking certain music that my parents listened to. Some examples: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Spirit, Yes, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, King Crimson, Black Sabbath, The Who, Kansas, Boston, The Cars.

      "Exposure to jazz usually comes from their parents, and usually kids don't want to listen to their parents. Hell, I still don't like listening to oldies music and doo wop because it was force fed to me as a child. Maybe if todays musicians used jazz in their writing, kids would be more into it. I'm sure the fans of Dave Matthews found avenues to todays jazz artists."

      I'm sorry it was "force fed" to you, but, instead of blaming your dislike of it on your parents, why not just state what it is about the music iself that you don't like, instead? Just because they chose to listen to that type of music while you were around might just be because there was something about it they liked, not because they were trying to indoctrinate you.

      "Another thing you're not looking at is the danceability of jazz. Most people can't dance to music with different time signatures than 4/4. Jazz music is too complicated. Most teens that are into pop music like it because they can dance to it. Every now and then kids come across a latin jazz song and can dance to that, but it's not the same when you compare it to stuff like Dave Brubeck."

      I listen to music for contemplative purposes, not to dance to, so I can only look at this way of reasoning from an external perspective. The problem with this type of thinking is that there are many other types of music that you can dance to that the youth today don't like. See the movie Take the Lead for more on this.

      "Think back to when you were a teenager. Where did you get your music? What did you listen to? More importantly, how did it make you FEEL? That's what matters most to teens when it comes to music...what turns them on."

      I initially listened to hip hop throughout early high school, due to being a follower and not wising up or knowing myself well, but eventually realized how foreign the topics of the lyrics were to me, and how non-constructive they were.. I was exposed to some other rock music by a couple friends, and began listening to music more for the musical structure and intellectual content in the lyrics, and have since expanded my tastes to a wide range of different genres. I have never listened to music to rebel from my parents. I have listened to music to view the world at different angles, and to learn about different perspectives. I also listen to music because the sounds themselves have an effect on me.
    • Kronos6948, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think what our conversation boils down to is that children need to mature before they find themselves listening to jazz and other forms of music.

      (Oh, and by the way, the thing that killed oldies and doo wop for me was its simplistic nature, and the messages didn't speak to me. I knew there was more out there than falling in love.)
    • Pikachelsea, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"That very concept is one of the issues that I find ridiculous, and that kids should get past. To not like music because one's parents like it is childish."

      And to attack someone's preferred style of music because it's not the style you like is also childish.

      Anyway, just because you don't like the fact that most younger people don't like jazz doesn't make it any less true. It doesn't hold as much appeal as other genres of music to the younger demographic. Sorry to tell you this but the 20s are over.
    • dolvlo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Kids listen to the rap music, and with their hippin' and their hoppin' and their bippin' and their boppin'... they forget what the JAZZ is all ABOUT!
  • DaveTehWave, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3@ crix "How has Reznor skirted the system?"

    He released high quality (320kbps) .mp3s on flash drives at concerts in Europe for people to discover.
    Those ppl shared w/ the Internet @ large. To the point of the RIAA being pissed @ Trent.
  • wetard57, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1fux god he didnt do *****
  • fireballb, on 10/12/2007, -7/+0Silly lyrics!

    Needs to stop 'hurting' so much!
  • buglord, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4We saw NIN the day the Year Zero torrent came out. After playing some song off the new record (Survivalism, I think), he said "That was a song off the new record, which will be released in two weeks. But, you can steal it as of today."

    Damn - he knew the torrent was released and even suggested everybody download it! Reminds me of the T-shirt "Good music I buy, no good music I download". If you like the artist, you will not settle for mp3s.
  • mstrike, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1We need exactly 21 more Reznor topics to make our daily quota. Only 20 to go Digg!
  • Wataru2001, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3A couple of years ago, I wrote an article on my website (was still in English back then) about how Trent Reznor saved my life.

    I always felt very connected to his songs and was, in my darkest hour, saved by it, because I felt that there was at least someone sharing the same emotions and experiences that I had to go through in my youth. I know it all sounds a bit vague, but these times are far behind me now and still, I have this "buddy" feeling everytime I hear his music.
  • edrift101, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just went out and purchased the new NIN album. It's great and I'm glad it's the second album I've purchased in the last three years.
  • gab00n, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1NIN are awesome, check out the video on www.opensourceresistance.net it is 39 minutes long but so cleverly done. I don't want to give anything away so just watch it.
    • dolvlo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It is awesome, I agree! There's a shorter version now, but I recommend watching the 40 minute one if you have the time :)
  • MicheBel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Fabulous letter. Trent Reznor certainly is breaking ground for how music SHOULD be.
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.