Nine Inch Nails musician Trent Reznor has hit out at streaming companies in a powerful new interview.
The American artist has led a singular career, with industrial godheads Nine Inch Nails building a unique catalogue. Remaining a deeply challenging, sonically powerful experience, Trent Reznor now doubles as a multi award-winning soundtrack artist.
Sitting down with GQ for a lengthy interview, Trent Reznor was asked about the current landscape for musicians – and he didn’t hold back.
Blasting streaming companies such as Spotify and Apple Music, he claimed that the poor level of payouts has “mortally wounded” an entire strata of creativity.
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“I think the terrible payout of streaming services has mortally wounded a whole tier of artists that make being an artist unsustainable,” he said.
“And it’s great if you’re Drake, and it’s not great if you’re Grizzly Bear. And the reality is: Take a look around. We’ve had enough time for the whole ‘All the boats rise’ argument to see they don’t all rise. Those boats rise. These boats don’t. They can’t make money in any means. And I think that’s bad for art.”
Pointing to Apple Music – and the company’s creative heritage – Trent Reznor expressed his frustration at an era where music is regarded as tech-based commerce. “I thought maybe at Apple there could be influence to pay in a more fair or significant way, because a lot of these services are just a rounding error compared to what comes in elsewhere, unlike Spotify where their whole business is that.”
He added: “But that’s tied to a lot of other political things and label issues, and everyone’s trying to hold onto their little piece of the pie and it is what it is. I also realize, I think that people just want to turn the faucet on and have music come in. They’re not really concerned about all the romantic shit I thought mattered.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Trent Renzor and soundtrack collaborator Atticus Ross discuss a variety of creative plans – including new music, a clothing line, and a proposed festival.
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