NIN Leave Record Label

Trent Reznor posted an announcement on Nine Inch Nails's website today (October 8) under the heading "Big News."

Reznor revealed that the band have parted ways with their long-time record label, and are now "free agents."

He wrote: "I've waited a LONG time to be able to make the following announcement: as of right now Nine Inch Nails is a totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label.

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

This could amount to a serious double-blow to the mainstream music industry, coming the heels of Radiohead's recent announcement that they are allowing listeners to decide how much to pay for their highly anticipated forthcoming album In Rainbows.

Reznor added that he will soon post further announcements about what's in store for Nine Inch Nails in 2008.

Thanks for the info to Yahoo! Mews.

Comments

[not_dead_enough]

I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

I myself am a bit critical of his moves as of late (seems to be riding the bandwagon against record labels and trying to capitalise early on the 'future' of music) but if we as the listeners are the winners in the end I cannot complain.

[Macanleister]

Awesome.

[Macanleister]

Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his music rather than pay exorbitant prices. I'm sure that's not the only reason he's broken away from the labels, but it was certainly something he's been vocal about lately.

[not_dead_enough]

^well I live in Adelaide and Trent decided to NOT come here, otherwise I'd have heard his reasons myself! But yeah I agree us aussies do get ripped off (and screwed with release dates etc).

[Macanleister]

^ When it's cheaper to buy from overseas stores and pay the international postage, things really need to change.

[0bsessions]

Macanleister wrote:

Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his music rather than pay exorbitant prices. I'm sure that's not the only reason he's broken away from the labels, but it was certainly something he's been vocal about lately.

Are you saying $30 for a single? 'Cause you're highly unlikely to fine a CD anywhere in the US for much less than $11-$15, especially a major label release.

[Comeback Kiddd]

Reznor revealed that the band have parted ways with their long-time record label, and are now "free agents."

what bacnd?

[Comeback Kiddd]

sorry for the repost but what band is he disbanded everyone?

Comeback Kiddd wrote:

sorry for the repost but what band is he disbanded everyone?

....Go search the NIN news.

[blackflag49]

That's pretty cool, fight the power!

[Jester.Race]

When is someone going to kill this guy?

[JC13]

No more hearing about Trent stickin' it to the man. .

I wonder will he just go to some indie label now..

[reizig]

Macanleister wrote:

Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his music rather than pay exorbitant prices.

5 dollars for a CD? I wish.

[VLVTRVOLVR13]

I have a feeling he is setting up NIN so he can release his next album the way Radiohead did.

[areese82]

Macanleister :
Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his music rather than pay exorbitant prices. I'm sure that's not the only reason he's broken away from the labels, but it was certainly something he's been vocal about lately.

You've never bought a cd in America. That's obvious.

[Cobalt Blue]

glad to see he was following through, he seemed very upset that the label was charging like $30 an album for Year Zero in Austrailia

[CE49]

Woo go Trent!

[drewbert41]

as i recall he was supposed to release the follow up to year zero as part of his contract.. then he could leave. dont get me wrong im glad he left early but look for a lawsuit

[Son_of_Kyuss]

More power to Music consumers and artists. Nine Inch Nails & Radiohead are just leading the pack

[jpast]

Comeback Kiddd :
sorry for the repost but what band is he disbanded everyone?

He recently disbanded his current live band lineup.

[RickGardiner]

He's probably looking for a new label that doesn't do contracts right now. Maybe he'll even start a new one with a couple other bands.

[DR_SH]

Record labels just p**s me off come to think of it the whole music industry does,. It's all just about the latest fad and signing what hot at that moment in time..... I know that companies and artists have got to make money but everyone is just out to make some quick cash.

I've got a pal in Australia and she's always on about how much you guys get ripped off when it comes to albums. $30 for an album now that just! whoever said about not being able to buy and album for $5 how about this Iron maiden's fear of the dark album for£6 that's like just under 3 USD..... yeah I know its been out years and its not really in $ but come on I've seen master of puppets going for £16!

Going to the radiohead thing. it sounds like a good idea but won't people just abuse it? "I'm only paying £1 for this album" sounds like an interesting option, but I don't think it'll work out that great in the long run

[Bazilisck311]

It might have been a brilliant move. With the digital age, music promotion is starting to shift away from marketing companies and more towards self promotion through distribution mediums. As the average joe can suddenly become a star through MySpace and YouTube.

[Hdap101]

Well yeah, this seems like good news, but if he carries on in the way radiohead did (and just cos this hasn't been news here yet, doesn't mean it's not true), then like radiohead he will sign a new record contract with someone relatively big.

[svengeance]

Record labels do what they do for the money,some bands instruct fans to pirate music(Punk bands,Indie bands)You also have to take into account that Trent doesn't have what he used to in the songwriting department.I love NIN but it was only a matter of time before this happened.Maybe he'll go independent.

[Black Hole Sun]

DR_SH wrote:

Record labels just p**s me off come to think of it the whole music industry does,. It's all just about the latest fad and signing what hot at that moment in time..... I know that companies and artists have got to make money but everyone is just out to make some quick cash.

I've got a pal in Australia and she's always on about how much you guys get ripped off when it comes to albums. $30 for an album now that just! whoever said about not being able to buy and album for $5 how about this Iron maiden's fear of the dark album for£6 that's like just under 3 USD..... yeah I know its been out years and its not really in $ but come on I've seen master of puppets going for £16!

Going to the radiohead thing. it sounds like a good idea but won't people just abuse it? "I'm only paying £1 for this album" sounds like an interesting option, but I don't think it'll work out that great in the long run

£6 is $12.

[pigmaggots]

not_dead_enough wrote:

I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

I myself am a bit critical of his moves as of late (seems to be riding the bandwagon against record labels and trying to capitalise early on the 'future' of music) but if we as the listeners are the winners in the end I cannot complain.

He's annoyed because from what i know, he went in a record store and saw several nin albums grossly over-priced. From what i remember, it was something to do with the special edition case of one of their albums being cheaper to produce but yet, being priced alot more than the usual cased cds.

[guitarmansmitty]

you really can't hate him for doing what he feels is right. Keep going with it man.

[soulphonate]

Contracts blow. You never know what was in his contract, so you can't really take a stance on pro or con in this issue. If you do, your basis will be assumption, which we all know means nothing. So instead of putting words in his mouth, or rooting for the record label, stop and just say, well, good for him for relieving himself of the pressures of record label contracts (or do whatever, I don't care). And if his reasons were for the fans, than better on him. Treat your costumers right and they'll keep coming back.

[ZeppelinruleZ]

idk this could lead to the collapse of the record industry. think about it, radiohead is releasing their stuff for whatever price, nin might follow suit. what's to stop other big bands from doing the same?

[Amy_Lee]

First he disbands the live NIN, then he leaves the label they/he was signed to...what in the name of Ray Toro's big hair is going on with Reznor? Amy

[Gemini]

Macanleister wrote:

Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his
music rather than pay exorbitant prices. I'm sure that's not the only reason he's broken away from the labels, but it was certainly something he's been vocal about lately.

Dude, unless it's a single, you don't even pay that cheap for most used cds over here.

[bigbunny]

not_dead_enough wrote:

I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

I myself am a bit critical of his moves as of late (seems to be riding the bandwagon against record labels and trying to capitalise early on the 'future' of music) but if we as the listeners are the winners in the end I cannot complain.

i highly doubt someone like trent would "capitalize" anything.

[dgme92]

bigbunny wrote:
i highly doubt someone like trent would "capitalize" anything.

too true. he seems to be the only musician left in the world looking out for the little guy

[Nebjy]

not_dead_enough wrote:

I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

I myself am a bit critical of his moves as of late (seems to be riding the bandwagon against record labels and trying to capitalise early on the 'future' of music) but if we as the listeners are the winners in the end I cannot complain.

He never ran a label, Nothing label was a subrgroup of Interscope. Him running a side label was part of the contract.

I hope he starts one now, I know I'd bust my balls to get signed by him.

[toddos84]

I'm guessing he won't even use a record company anymore, just distribute his albums online, like Year Zero, although I imagine he will have to charge for future ones.

Also people moaning about him breaking up the band; there never has been a NIN 'band' as such, just people he hires to play his music when he's touring.

[adbusmc]

ZeppelinruleZ :
idk this could lead to the collapse of the record industry. think about it, radiohead is releasing their stuff for whatever price, nin might follow suit. what's to stop other big bands from doing the same?

as a musician the collapse of the record industry should be the least of your worries. bands will always make 95% of their money from touring. and if the record industry were to fail, everyone would switch to the Pearl Jam method, recording live shows as albums. labels are merely for businessmen, granted they help connected many music listeners as employees, in the end the suits profit. the 'pick-your-own-price' movement should be a wake up call to the music industry as a whole, money wasn't always so important.

[Tuffers]

He has made his money, labels don't matter now.

[Fredricktator]

To all of those people who are wondering what he's going to be as he disbanded the band he usually does this every rotation or two and most of his cds are just him and a producer aout 95% of the time until it becomes very real like maybe right before mixing.

not_dead_enough :
I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

I myself am a bit critical of his moves as of late (seems to be riding the bandwagon against record labels and trying to capitalise early on the 'future' of music) but if we as the listeners are the winners in the end I cannot complain.

as for this Mr. Trent Reznor did in fact run nothing records which did go defunct but it was a subsidiary vanity label to interscope. As with many of interscopes other subsidiary labes this means that reznor realy could have creative control over what he was doing but he still had to answer to the big wigs when he wanted to sell an album and he couldn't set the prices of it anywhere.

[grungeisdead312]

wait..doesnt he have his own label?
Nothing records?
why doesnt he just release his own sh!t

checked.

[HellBent1337]

not_dead_enough wrote:

I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

trent never owned his own label, he just had control of a vanity label, which was really owned by one of the big 4....its sort of like a franchise(subway) they are all 'owned' by the person who buys them, but they still have to abide by what the 'big man' wants them to do.

[korn_dawg]

not_dead_enough wrote:

I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

He used to co-own a record label. He still created music and toured for NIN while the record existed, so he was not around as much as the top suits in a label like to be (hence co-owning with John Malm Jr.). It was ultimately a runoff label owned and run by Interscope Records anyway; you can find him saying that he wasn't pleased at all with the marketing that The Fragile received. That's why it instantly hit #1 on the charts then the very next week it was absent from the top 10, forcing him to pay for the tour out of his pocket. He also had to sue his co-owner for stealing a few hundreds of thousands of dollars from him.. the guy can complain about the industry if he wants to, methinks..

[littlebigjames]

More power to Music consumers and artists. Nine Inch Nails & Radiohead are just leading the pack

BUT let me remind you that is ALSO what A7x did

thats why i think they're new album will be the best

[Mihyaeru]

pavel :
Black Hole Sun wrote:

DR_SH wrote:

Record labels just p**s me off come to think of it the whole music industry does,. It's all just about the latest fad and signing what hot at that moment in time..... I know that companies and artists have got to make money but everyone is just out to make some quick cash.

I've got a pal in Australia and she's always on about how much you guys get ripped off when it comes to albums. $30 for an album now that just! whoever said about not being able to buy and album for $5 how about this Iron maiden's fear of the dark album for£6 that's like just under 3 USD..... yeah I know its been out years and its not really in $ but come on I've seen master of puppets going for £16!

Going to the radiohead thing. it sounds like a good idea but won't people just abuse it? "I'm only paying £1 for this album" sounds like an interesting option, but I don't think it'll work out that great in the long run
£6 is $12.


that is not right at all, £1 is equal to $2 so you have to divide by two, meaning £6 does equal $3. stop polluting our gene pool

No £6 is $12!! Well technically its $12.22 according to XE Curreny converter..

[jahyarain]

DR_SH wrote:

Going to the radiohead thing. it sounds like a good idea but won't people just abuse it? "I'm only paying £1 for this album" sounds like an interesting option, but I don't think it'll work out that great in the long run

well, it depends on how loyal a following you have. while offering the download of "In Rainbows" for whatever, the physical cd (with quite a few extras) is offered (made to order) at $80.00 usd. while this is very high, people in said following (like myself) will pay it to support what they're doing. it's what they're counting on and i foresee them as being correct. and i foresee these bands who are capable of doing this helping newer bands release their music (not that you can't do it right now anyway) or at least distribute it. we're witnessing a HUGE shift in the music industry. but it's not the end of music "business". it'll be back. unless, of course, we can stop globalization. Peace in the Middle East...

[Godsmack311]

looks like NIN are copying radiohead. haha trent is awesome!

[raphx003]

I don't know how many people agree with me but in my opinion Reznor is a music genius and no matter how "blown away" I am I know its going to turn out equally as good or better for NIN as a whole.

[bush_slayer_07]

he probably just wants more control of his music like how its distributed and presented and of course the price range. I say kudos to you trent.

[mannyfresh]

hahaha yes!
that makes 2 major acts now.
Who else has the balls to follow suit and force a major change in the rec. industry?

[Martinez_NY]

BEAUTIFUL...ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL... I'm not an expert on the financials of the music industry but heard of bands taking in 5-10% of album sales after expenses to be split 3-5 ways.. It's an abuse.. If out of a million dollars and an albums post-expense PROFIT a band pocket 850-900k, they can pay themselves a decent salary and still fund a tour on their own and keep pretty much all they make. I dream is that a band or group gets national attention without ANY help from major label, something that might happen soon with advances the internet has made..

It's SO great that legendary bands like RadioHead and NIN are showing kids that a huge band who has labels kissing THEIR ass will walk way from them for being unfair.. This is such great f*cking news

Checked.

[phoenixrush]

reizig wrote:

Macanleister wrote:

Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his music rather than pay exorbitant prices.

5 dollars for a CD? I wish.

He means singles man, he said singles are 30 bucks there, which are the cds with a popular song, and then like two other songs and thats it.

[thetonto]

not_dead_enough wrote:

I'm just wondering, since he used to run a record label himself, why he's so critical of them. I think the success of NiN has had a lot to do with the marketing by major labels he's been involved with in the past and the criticism only seems to really have come after nothing records became defunct.

I myself am a bit critical of his moves as of late (seems to be riding the bandwagon against record labels and trying to capitalise early on the 'future' of music) but if we as the listeners are the winners in the end I cannot complain.

This is true as far as breaking through into mainstream, but the price Reznor paid with that is a more poppy, less industrial, less inspired NiN which was a huge disappointment to me. After The Fragile (definitley some of Reznor's best work) it seems he never quite got over his writer's block. Or perhaps he just wanted to take it into a new direction with he did. Either way, he is still one of the most ingenious minds in music today.

bush_slayer_07 wrote:

he probably just wants more control of his music like how its distributed and presented and of course the price range. I say kudos to you trent.

He's always had a large control of his music though.

[Kimby]

I figured it was only a matter of time before Reznor left his label.

I wouldn't be surprised if he does something similar to what Radiohead is doing now, and I would be fine with that. He's making the music he wants to make and I sure like listening to it. As long as I can keep doing that, I don't really care what else he's up to.

[SL!!!]

Son_of_Kyuss wrote:

More power to Music consumers and artists. Nine Inch Nails & Radiohead are just leading the pack

NIN isn't doing anything, he just left his label. OH WOW, tons of bands leave labels for similar reason, but this is just a super over-rated arrogant d-bag doing it so wow, oh lord Trent Reznor said something he is amazing. Hahaha, seriously, this isn't really that amazing news, other than publicity for his new craptastic project.

[ready2breakdown]

I'm honestly surprised he's stayed with the labels so long considering all the legal and money problems he's had, but I guess a contract is a contract...

I hope this has some kinda positive influence on music because it honestly has gotten terribly flooded with shit. So hopefully stuff like this will prove who will really give their life for music and everything.

[Jack Flint]

SL!!! wrote:

Son_of_Kyuss wrote:

More power to Music consumers and artists. Nine Inch Nails & Radiohead are just leading the packNIN isn't doing anything, he just left his label. OH WOW, tons of bands leave labels for similar reason, but this is just a super over-rated arrogant d-bag doing it so wow, oh lord Trent Reznor said something he is amazing. Hahaha, seriously, this isn't really that amazing news, other than publicity for his new craptastic project.

Trent has been saying non-stop over the years about how he hated his label, and everytime he wanted to release something, he'd have to get it through their thick skulls about how he wanted it. He's gotten too much shit from them and a great musician like Trent should have the freedom to do what he wants. The fact that he left the label is exciting, because he can do whatever the hell he wants now (create unrestricted music, even cooler ways of presenting the music), and not be restricted by suits who have no idea about music.

Use your ****in' head once in a while. It might keep you alive.

[MegaRon]

Haha- Yahoo Mews.

[minusxero]

I've seen this one coming for a long time. After all the trouble with TVT, Malm, Interscope, and the industry in general, I'm just surprised he's waited this long to finally let it all go.

The fact that Radiohead has done a similar move recently is just coincidental. I can see Rez having had this in mind for a very long time.

[emkaybee]

0bsessions wrote:

Macanleister wrote:

Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his music rather than pay exorbitant prices. I'm sure that's not the only reason he's broken away from the labels, but it was certainly something he's been vocal about lately.


Are you saying $30 for a single? 'Cause you're highly unlikely to fine a CD anywhere in the US for much less than $11-$15, especially a major label release.

We'd still be being ripped off with those prices.

Sorry for the double/blank post.

[readyellow]

phoenixrush wrote:

reizig wrote:

Macanleister wrote:

Well if you see his comments at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney, you'll see one of his reasons. Inflation in Australia and America is the same, yet here we pay on average $30 for a CD that would cost $5 in the US. Reznor instructed Australian fans to pirate his music rather than pay exorbitant prices.

5 dollars for a CD? I wish.


He means singles man, he said singles are 30 bucks there, which are the cds with a popular song, and then like two other songs and thats it.

He didn't mean singles. Singles here go for around $5-$10. I have never seen singles go for $30 in Sydney :/ unless they were rare vinyls. :/

[pinheadslts75]

Trent is my hero

[leftintheashes]

littlebigjames wrote:





BUT let me remind you that is ALSO what A7x did

thats why i think they're new album will be the best

No. A7X Just self produced. Their still being distributed by a major record company: Warner.

I personally think this is a good thing. If it catches on and some more Major bands leave their lables, then maybe the music industry will get it in their heads that change is needed.

If Trent sighns to a indi label, thats going to be one high selling indi label.

[SaTaNsSuN36]

Why the hell not, maynard is doing it with his new side project so why cant trent.

[gohmanlespaul89]

good on him, stick it to the money hungry sumbeetches

[Cheesepuff]

Right on. Even if this does become some shitty trend, it will still do some damage to the RIAA and those bastards running the music companies.

Checked.