Trent Reznor Still Hates In Rainbows

07/15/09 4:39pm

by Bianca Marcus (CHARTattack)

It's been over a year since Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor dissed Radiohead for releasing what he felt was the "low quality," "insincere" In Rainbows, but the indecisive Twitter user is still getting his digs in against the pay-what-you-want model employed by Thom Yorke and friends.

After posting a message on Twitter July 8 to praise the Beastie Boys and TopSpin Media for their music marketing abilities in the current digital age, Reznor took to the NIN forum to rant about — er, discuss — the point further.

He later amended the lengthy post, titled "my thoughts on what to do as a new / unknown artist," to advise young bands not to follow the pay-what-you-want model that Radiohead used for In Rainbows.

"I hate this concept, and here's why," wrote Reznor. "Some have argued that giving music away free devalues music. I disagree. Asking people what they think music is worth devalues music."

"Don't believe me? Write and record something you really believe is great and release it to the public as a 'pay-what-you-think-it's-worth' model and then let's talk. Read a BB entry from a 'fan' rationalizing why your whole album is worth 50 cents because he only likes 5 songs on it. Trust me on this one – you will be disappointed, disheartened and find yourself resenting a faction of your audience.

"This is your art! This is your life! It has a value and you the artist are not putting that power in the hands of the audience – doing so creates a dangerous perception issue. If the FEE you are charging is zero, you are not empowering the fan to say this is only worth an insultingly low monetary value.

"Don't be misled by Radiohead's In Rainbow's stunt. That works one time for one band once – and you are not Radiohead."

No Trent, we're not, but thanks for rubbing it in. As if things weren't already bad enough, having to read advice on how to successfully give away one's music.

Catch Reznor with Nine Inch Nails on tour this summer:

July 15 London, England @ O2 Arena w/Jane's Addiction and Mew
July 18 Istanbul, Turkey @ Rock N Coke Festival
July 20 Athens, Greece @ Vrahon Theater w/Jane's Addiction and Alec Empire
July 22 Rome, Italy @ Rockinrome
July 24 Budapest, Hungary @ Syma Sport And Event Centre w/Alec Empire
July 25 Targu Mures, Romania @ Peninsula Festival
July 28 Nimes, France @ Festival De Nimes w/Alec Empire
July 30 Madrid, Spain @ La Riviera w/Alec Empire
July 31 Paredes De Coura, Portugal @ Paredes De Coura Festival
Aug. 2 Knebworth, England @ Sonisphere Festival
Aug. 5 Manila, Philippines @ Araneta Coliseum w/Pupil
Aug. 7 Tokyo, Japan @ Summer Sonic Festival
Aug. 8 Osaka, Japan @ Summer Sonic Festival
Aug. 10 Singapore, Republic Of Singapore @ Fort Canning Park
Aug. 12 Taipei, Taiwan @ Nan-Kang 101
Aug. 15 Seoul, South Korea @ ETP Festival
Aug. 22-23 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/The Horrors
Aug. 25 New York, NY @ Terminal 5 w/The Horrors
Aug. 26 New York, NY @ Terminal 5 w/Mew
Aug. 28-29 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom w/Mew
Aug. 30 Orillia, ON @ Burl's Creek Park (Virgin Festival Ontario)
Sept. 2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium w/Mew
Sept. 3 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater w/Mew
Sept. 5 Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern Theatre
Sept. 6 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex