http://blog.wired.com/und...or-wa.html


saw a post asideorderofham had, thought it was worth the thread.

i think it would be neat if trent reznor just kept on being cool and genius nonstop for the rest of his life.

Yeah, I posted this earlier. Guess my title shouldn't have been so vague...

Peter Jenner, one-time manager of Pink Floyd and The Clash and retired head of the International Music Managers' Forum, agrees.

"There’s an enormous value in having a relationship with your fans," he says. "More value even than in selling your records. I think old Trent's a sharp cookie."

He has exceeded my expectations in an artist. Musical Quality and Output access for his fans is almost too good to be true.

I watched the Digg interview with Trent today: http://revision3.com/digg...reznor/?hp

anyone who thinks Prince is an 'internet visionary' (does anyone still?!?) should listen to a guy who actually gets it, and understands how engaging with your audience and monetizing in alternative ways is the future of music.

Let's review for a second - some of the cool ways Trent interacts with his fanbase just in the last year or so:

- provides master tracks from songs allowing fan remixes of songs (11,000+ currently)
- Provided a 240 gig torrent of raw HD footage of the last few gigs of the US tour, again allowing fan projects to spring up when the studio dragged its feet over rights and prevented a 3d film to be made
- Gave away a 1 CD preview of a 4CD instrumental album, allowing fans to purchase limited edition physical versions
- Gave away a whole new album, again with limited edition physical versions for the hardcore
- Uploaded on-stage footage from the Australian tour to Vimeo (often within 24 hours of the gig)
- Has a FREE Vimeo channel where he uploads music promos in the best quality he can source
- Tweets on a semi regular basis, even asking fans what covers they might like to hear on the next tour
- is looking into allowing a taping-policy for the next tour
- and now the NIN app.

A year ago I was kind of a fan of NIN. I have to admit I am far more engaged with his 'brand' most likely as a by-product of some or all of the above - hell I've bought a lot of the limited edition stuff, and been to the gig. Win win!

Trent basically did a Prince and quit his record label a while ago. However I think Trent has actually embraced the 'freedom' this has brought as opposed to Prince who seems hamstrung by the 'freedom'. I think Prince has innovated when it comes to alternative marketing channels (newspaper + concert giveaways). But he seems to completely fail with online.

And this makes me sad - such a missed opportunity.

Anxiety said:

That's funny.....I thought it would be neat if he got a friggin move on and became cool and genius nonstop instead of predictable and banal.

xtian said:

Co-sign, brother. I suppose that's what upsets me the most when the famtards here rant and rave about how Prince being an "innovator" on the internets. It's almost like he's coasting on his earlier achievments (as he seems to be with his music).

I also agree with the majority of your post, but I have to point out that it was 405 gigs, NOT 240 gigs. Get it right.

can a 240 gig torrent work on a iPhone?

Only if it's studded with $2100 in diamonds and encased in alligator skin.

Rogue588 said:

ducks for cover from the grenade the fams are going to throw at Rogue588

I think Prince is just trying to stay in control of an out-of-control internet situation. The game has changed. Trent knows how to stay with it. Prince either does not need the money or just does not care enough to learn.

Plus.....Prince is an Icon, Genius, Star, Legend


Trent is Trent

Sdldawn said:

Id like to see the video but it seems to be unavailable. Is there another like to watch the video?

japanrocks said:

yep, and Trent is owning the icon, genius star in terms of song quality.

oh, and he Tweets too!

Trent is so cool and plugged-in!!

japanrocks said:

Trent is digital.
Prince is analog.

FutureGirl said:

http://access.nin.com/

DiminutiveRocker said:

Funny you say that. Just a few days ago I was lamenting the fact that most of Prince's earlier output was mostly analogue.

DiminutiveRocker said:

co-sign
[Edited 4/15/09 23:16pm]

Who else would you like to see this?

Great article. The app is OK. Not sure I'd care much about keeping up with others' posts in real time, and I surely wouldn't want anyone to be able to find me via GPS, especially if I was a female.

But I was really impressed by Reznor's attitude towards the business. He is very much like Prince, whether some of you want to admit it or not.

And the bottom line seems to be that Reznor makes money from touring. He hopes to sell enough numbered copies of new albums to cover the costs of making it, and everything else is free.

So if he's right, and his business model is the future, then that is a good thing for you and I. Because, it means the rebirth and resurgence of the live show.