Trent Reznor Again Outraged By Record Label - Will Make Future Releases Available Online
NIN’s Trent Reznor is known for battling against the recording industry powers that be. Now it’s over price-gouging his fans. And he’s none too happy about it. In an interview Trent had a few words to say about discovering his latest release Year Zero priced almost $10 more than other new releases:
“I created a little issue down here because the first thing I did when I got to Sydney is I walk into HMV, the week the record’s out, and I see it on the rack with a bunch of other releases. And every release I see: $21.99, $22.99, $24.99. And ours doesn’t have a sticker on it. I look close and ‘Oh, it’s $34.99′. So I walk over to see our live DVD Beside You in Time, and I see that it’s also priced six, seven, eight dollars more than every other disc on there. And I can’t figure out why that would be.”
Tren,t not one to sit back and take it, went a few steps further:
Well, in Brisbane I end up meeting and greeting some record label people, who are pleasant enough, and one of them is a sales guy, so I say “Why is this the case?” He goes “Because your packaging is a lot more expensive”. I know how much the packaging costs — it costs me, not them, it costs me 83 cents more to have a CD with the colour-changing ink on it. I’m taking the hit on that, not them. So I said “Well, it doesn’t cost $10 more”. “Ah, well, you’re right, it doesn’t. Basically it’s because we know you’ve got a core audience that’s gonna buy whatever we put out, so we can charge more for that. It’s the pop stuff we have to discount to get people to buy it. True fans will pay whatever”. And I just said “That’s the most insulting thing I’ve heard. I’ve garnered a core audience that you feel it’s OK to rip off? F— you’. That’s also why you don’t see any label people here, ‘cos I said ‘F— you people. Stay out of my f—ing show. If you wanna come, pay the ticket like anyone else. F— you guys”. They’re thieves. I don’t blame people for stealing music if this is the kind of s— that they pull off.
Back in the early 90’s, Trent, then an up-and-coming artist, was forced to legally retract himself from his recording contract with TVT records when the label became overly intrusive in the creative process. He eventually started his own label Nothing Records with backing and distribution overseen by major label Interscope Records. Under this seemingly protective umbrella of artistic freedom, Trent recorded his second album Broken to only minor commercial success. Much of that material was created while he was still battling TVT and the tracks are bleak even by NIN standards. His next major release was The Downward Spiral which succeeded in making him a household name and an iconic figure in not just the music industry, but also popular culture. Trent’s brooding nature and sincere angst were the backdrop to the 25th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival, for which he was the star feature.
Like the out-of-control crowd and the dismantling of authority at that venue — which spiraled into a dangerous riot — Trent has always railed against those who would take advantage of their position of power. And while some artists talk crap about how unfair the music industry is to their fans, Trent’s the kind of person to put his money where his mouth is. So what’s Trent’s response to the label’s price-gouging his fans?
“I’ve have one record left that I owe a major label, then I will never be seen in a situation like this again. If I could do what I want right now, I would put out my next album, you could download it from my site at as high a bit-rate as you want, pay $4 through PayPal. Come see the show and buy a T-shirt if you like it. I would put out a nicely packaged merchandise piece, if you want to own a physical thing. And it would come out the day that it’s done in the studio, not this “Let’s wait three months” bulls—.”
I like the sound of that. Trent is one of those rare figures who can still remember what it’s like to be a fan, despite being far removed from that aspect. He has always seemed a person of high principles and that is something I can respect and appreciate!
Trent, I would happily pay $10 to $20 for your music, as long as you release it on your terms. Oh, and I will cheerfully bear your children should you need that as well!
Photo source: Rolling Stone.com
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It’s great to see people actually doing something about it. Most artists do just complain about it and not actually do anything. Trent, you’re a hero to alot of people.
Comment by Brandon — May 25, 2007 @ 10:08 am
I actually purchased this disc for $12.99 CDN which is a good deal.
Comment by namz — May 25, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Trent’s response to the label’s price-gouging his fans is why he stands above anyone else in the industry. What more can I say that has not been said for this incredible man ….
Trent, you are adored on so many levels.
xxx ooo
Comment by Karalynne — August 5, 2008 @ 1:35 pm