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Trent Reznor Declares Nine Inch Nails a Free Agent

Radiohead may have started a revolution. Fresh on the heels of Thom Yorke and Co.'s decision to release their new CD without record label backing, Trent Reznor has announced that Nine Inch Nails is now free of its contract with Interscope Records and will also act as a "free agent."

"I have been under recording contracts for 18 years and have watched the business radically mutate from one thing to something inherently very different," read a statement on the Nine Inch Nails website. "It gives me great pleasure to be able to finally have a direct relationship with the audience as I see fit and appropriate."

Reznor, who had been signed to the Interscope label since 1994, has openly embraced file-sharing as a means to obtain his band's music. During a May concert, he told fans in Australia to "steal" the latest NIN album, 'Year Zero,' after discovering that is was selling for nearly $30 US.

Reznor asked fans to stay tuned for announcements regarding the band's 2008 plans.

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Michael

Trent is right, music should be about listening to your favorite performers without going BROKE!!!!
If you are tired of paying top dollar for music that sucks, listen to Michaelantonio...

http://myspace.com/michaelantoniolive

October 16 2007 at 12:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
david

Suggesting that one person, especially Trent, is going to "save us" with their music is wayyyy over the top. I'm a fan of what I hope is the beginnings of a trend as far as marketing music goes... But Trent is not the best person to look to for world guidance.

October 15 2007 at 1:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kngnthng83

I've been working as a musician for the past seven years and just graduated from the Music Business program at the Musicians Institute. I can see both sides of the illegal downloading issue, though personally I think it's wrong. Lesser known bands depend on fans to buy their albums so they can keep going & get paid for their hard work. Who do you think ultimately pays for all the recording, touring, merchandise, etc.? The bands do. It's not like the record companies give them hundreds of thousands of dollars for nothing in return. If people download their music & don't pay for it, the bands get screwed. But regardless, I love NIN & completely respect Trent for doing what he's doing since the major labels are looking to get a piece of EVERYTHING. It's not impossible for bands to make it on their own, especially guys like Trent Reznor. lmml

October 14 2007 at 10:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Erin

The Musical Messiah Has Spoken....Yes Trent Reznor is a REAL musician...he is the one who will save us all through his music...Trent I commend you for finally breaking free...and I look forward to hearing the upcoming announcements you'll be giving us in 2008

October 14 2007 at 9:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jenn

NIN, please come back to Jones Beach in Wantagh NY.

October 14 2007 at 8:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Muffin

Even though I think NIN suck, I totally respect what Trent is doing, hopefully more bands will take the step to making their shit free.

October 14 2007 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Vanuch

QuoteUnquote Records is a label which is completely donation based. They debuted in 2006. All of their bands' albums (Bomb The Music Industry!, The Matt Kurz One, Rick Johnson Rock n' Roll Machine and more) are available for free download. mc chris also has an EP for free download on his website. Radiohead and NIN, as great as they are, are behind the times as far as I'm concerned! They just get press coverage because they're so big. Feh!

October 14 2007 at 1:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Philip

hell yeah trent! that's the way to do it. fuck the industry.

October 14 2007 at 1:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Daniel

This is very awesome of Trent, but I hope that not everyone takes this route. If all of the more successful musicians took the independent route, that would cause CD prices to skyrocket. While people could still go out and download music, most young bands need to be promoted by record labels to succeed. This is not only to get their art out there, but these guys make a living off of music. If they can't get themselves out there, they can't eat.

October 14 2007 at 12:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lauren

I agrre with In This Together Now.

October 14 2007 at 12:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply