• The album's available in MP3, FLAC, Apple lossless, and WAV format.
• The FLAC, Apple lossless, and WAV versions of the album are being distributed via BitTorrent because of the huge file sizes, while the MP3 version is a plain old download.
• Downloading the MP3 version was pretty easy—no server crashes or endless "Please wait..." messages.
• The album's protected by a Creative Commons license that allows remixers to remix, bloggers to blog, or people who troll arena bathrooms to leave it on USB drives in stalls.
• CD and vinyl versions of the album will be out in July, with "details to come." Is it too much to hope for a 3-inch CD box set that's free with a street address? Probably.
• The first person to comment on Reznor's blog post announcing the album did, in fact, say "FIRST." Ah, Internet.

the slip [dl.nin.com]

We have FLACs and MP3s for sale. It was never about downloading per se. We have the Vault where you can download shows from twenty years ago for free, full-on and it's been there for years. You can download recent shows days after they happen for cost. Back in the day there was a much bigger question about "on whose terms?" We said, "Wait a minute, it should be about the artist." Then all hell broke loose and we sat on the sidelines for a while. We've always been fiercely independent and controlling; sometimes to a fault. That's why we exist and why all these people show up.

You know, this is our last record under contract with Warner, so we're looking at how we can embrace everything...We want to be as free a players as possible. We've been observing Radiohead and Trent Reznor and in twenty-seven years or however long it takes for the next record, we'll be looking forward to everything in terms of possibilities with the Internet.

Phrases like "twenty-seven years" and "a chance to re-invent the wheel again" would imply that Metallica still has no idea how to refind that mass-cult pleasing muse. But for a forty-something drummer to admit that the state of metal shows "a resurgence way deeper and more penetrating into the fourteen-year-old mindset?" You have to love the guy.

Oh wait, no you don't.

Lars Ulrich: "We've Always Been Fiercely Independent and Controlling" [Rolling Stone]

ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: "Discipline" is a completely fine Nine Inch Nails track that operates mostly in the same vein of Year Zero's singles, and it'll probably make at least the top 10 of the Modern Rock chart within the first week of its release thanks to the "wtf" factor surrounding its just dropping out of nowhere today. And its release was accompanied by a blog post that just said "2 weeks," which is fueling speculation that Reznor's going to release a full album of new, not-just-instrumental tracks within two weeks. (Hey, today is Tuesday.) So is this guy going to just put out a new album every two months or so now that he's free of label constraints?

WHERE TO FIND IT: Reznor's giving it away as a free download on his official site in a few hours, but for now you can find it right here!

Discipline (NEW Nine Inch Nails song) [YouTube]

Nine Inch Nails' 36-track instrumental opus Ghosts I-IV, released March 2 via NIN.com, has amassed a first week total of 781,917 transactions (including free and paid downloads as well as orders for physical product), resulting in a take of $1,619,420 USD.

'Course Trent, like Radiohead, benefitted mightily in this sorta-pathbeating endeavor from his pre-existing celebrity and his rabid 'net-nerd fanbase. (Hard to imagine acts who never topped the Billboard album chart in the pre-BitTorrent era—like poor bridesmaid/experiment Saul Williams, for instance—moving over 2.5k of a $300 four-LP set in 48 hours or less.) And while you may dislike his music, find his Digg-ite cult irritating, and not share his intense distaste for traditional record labels and their slow-grinding machinery, if these numbers pan out (or keep going up), we all must now agree on one thing: TR knows how to stay Web 2.0 paid.

NIN New Album Pulls $1.6M In Its First Week [Billboard]

Free download
Ghosts I: The first nine tracks from the Ghosts I-IV collection as DRM-free MP3s, plus the 40-page PDF.

$5 download
Ghosts I-IV: All 36 tracks in a variety of digital formats, plus a 40-page PDF.

$10 two-disc set
A double-disc set, packaged in a Digipak with a 16-page booklet, to be shipped on April 8. Includes immediate download of album.

$75 deluxe edition
Ghosts I-IV in a "hardcover fabric slipcase containing two audio CDs, one data DVD with all tracks in multi-track format, and a Blu-Ray disc of Ghosts I-IV. Ships May 1. Includes immediate download of album.

$300 "ultra-deluxe limited edition package"
Deluxe edition plus a four-LP set on 180-gram vinyl, which is packaged in a fabric slipcase. Two limited-edition Giclee prints are included; package is numbered and signed by Trent Reznor. Limited to a run of 2500, and one piece per customer. Ships May 1 and includes immediate download.

So will he sell out of limited-edition packages? Or sell a lot of deluxe editions?

Order Options [ghosts.nin.com]
[Photo: AP]

CATEGORY 1: The easily confused.
Because they didn't realize that the text of Trent's blog post was, in fact, a hyperlink to the AllHipHop.com story breaking the news. Prone to using lots of punctuation.

Anonymous said...

????? Trent stop confusing me!!!!!!

18/2/08 6:50 PM

CATEGORY 2: The people who are just psyched to be there right now, man.
Or, people who don't really understand the Internet (blog-comment division).

Anonymous said...

TR Holaday again from Oklahoma City. thanks Trent for filming Halo 22 Beside You In Time here at the Ford Center. Oklahoma loves their NIN!!! Tool twice in six months!!! riddle117@aol.com

18/2/08 7:00 PM

CATEGORY 3: The pick-up artists.
Also known as the people who think that nin.com is actually hookupwithtrent.com.

iwannalicktrentswholeentirebody said...

I find it extremely sexy that you're happy about this. They deserve it.

18/2/08 10:02 PM

CATEGORY 4: The business-school dropouts.
The spelling lesson that covers "clientele" is clearly in the second-year curriculum.

ChristySue33 said...

Someone had said they felt sorry for all those people that lost their jobs. Here's my take. They were working for a company who's cliental were unhappy. Publicly unhappy. One client so unhappy he was actually telling his fans NOT to buy his cd. Clients were looking for ways out of their contracts ... which means, they were not going to renew when it reached it's end (if that's how it works). If you ask me, they had plenty of red flags. If they were smart, they would have prepared themselves, gotten new jobs lined up. I would have. How many people are we even really talking about here? It's not like we're talking about an entire series of factories closing down. They don't make the cd's, they just promote them. As for the CEO's of the company, too bad so sad ... I do not feel sorry for them at all. If they had treated their cliental more fairly maybe they wouldn't be in this position in the first place.

19/2/08 3:25 AM

CATEGORY 5: The people with obvious issues.
This could also be called "the people who forgot that they weren't at quirkyalone.com."

Hybrid 756 said...

Oh aye. WHY does everyone think everyone "needs" a woman, or a man, or another person or whateveritis?

IS ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE COMPLETELY OK WITH SOLITUDE???

Or am I just a complete fucking freak??

I don't understand people...

/rant

19/2/08 5:08 AM

CATEGORY 6: The confronters.
Who aren't afraid to step up and call the site's proprietor an asshole. (Hey, maybe he'll write a song about them now!)

robster said...

love your music trent but, can`t stand how you applaud the loss of people`s jobs and all the strain the falling of a record label will cause to its creditors, employees, artists and associates. Makes you sound like a REAL asshole. What about the upcoming artists without a large fanbase, instead record companies will focus investing in safe music and the artform itself will suffer

19/2/08 1:35 AM

CATEGORY 7: The people who should maybe think about getting blogs of their own.
Characterized by long-windedness, mutiple posts, bad spelling, despondency, and a curious need to bring Paris Hilton into their argument.

ChicLuba said...

ooo sounds like TR "might"( please take notice of this word) be a little pissed about something.

Very curious...

what did I miss?

was there another shotty interview?

18/2/08 9:36 PM

ChicLuba said...

Agreed, but it depends on whether he's getting paid for his work or just his face. Now it seems that art itself is not enough, you have to be an icon...

Which is detrimental to all artists.

Because without an audience to enjoy their work what is an artist?

It's ok to be an icon if you really are making art, because more than likely you'll inspire others, but it's not ok if your already an icon, and you just slop some shit together and call it art just to make money.

That is what's called a Paris Hilton... Although how she ever came to be an icon in the first place is beyond me...

what just because you're rich all of a sudden your famous, I mean I'd understand if she was contributing to charities, and doing philanthropy work or something like that, but becoming famous jst because she comes from a rich family...

What is the world comming to?

what happened to our standards?

18/2/08 9:47 PM

ChicLuba said...

chicluba, the text is a link.you must click it and read the story.

18/2/08 9:40 PM

oh! lol I feel like such a dummy, I didn't even notice =P

and I'm talking about the Cnet bs that went on a little while ago, taking someones words out of context to fit your purpose... that's not a very honorable way to report something.

18/2/08 9:50 PM

ChicLuba said...

oh wow... you know I haven't heard about TVT till now...

I'm so out of the loop >.>

18/2/08 9:53 PM

ChicLuba said...

ok first things first, lets not start putting words in my mouth...

I have no clue if Paris is a slut nor do I care to know considering it's none of our god damned businss to begin with, someone's sex life should be kept personal and not a public matter, that's just like what they did to clinton, people try to use it as ammo to tear someone down but in reality does that shit really fucking matter...

When I was younger I lived in a small town called Live Oak, we liked to call it Dead Oak, because the extent of fun you could have was going to a bowling ally, or doing drugs and making babies...

During a party I had gone to I ended up getting a little too drunk and made out with my room mate, which also happened to be a girl. Some people, without my knowledge, took pictures and the next thing I knew the wholetown knew about it and I was a "lesbian". BS of course and my reputation was ruined for a period of time, but in the end it didn't change the minds ofmy real friends, because they knew who I really was despite my drunken exploration.

Some people like to be taped when having sex... It turns them on, and whatever to each his own, but I don't think they should be condemned for it...

Now on the other hand, before Paris got into singing, before she did acting or any other form of entertainment, even before that stupid "Simple Life" BS, which I'm actually dissapointed in them for because they were really dicks to some of the people that took them in.

but before all that she was just some rich socialite, and that's what she became famous for, being a rich socialite, and that is where I think we have fallen off the mark as an audience, I mean sure it lead her to have an interesting career, I'm not going to say great, because personally I don't like her, but whatever, but this industry, whether you're an artist or a musician or a writer, is incredibly hard to get into, and I don't think it's really fair for people who have money to be able to just be famous just for having money...

think of all the artists who don't have money, but are on a much higher level of creativiy than PH, but they struggle because they don't have the cash flow to back them up...

I don't think art should be free, artists should be compensated for that hard work, and time and effort they put into it... it'snot as easy as snappin your fingers and it's done, I mean look at Piccaso, the man went in sane and chopped his ear off for the sake of art/ or love, but I mean that's well worth compensating him!

but I do think that it should be easier to get into the industry... so what you have to sort through a few crappy bands and artists to get to the good ones, it makes it like finding a diamond in the rough... it's well worth it if it brings some real art to the table...

who knows maybe the next "Einstein" of music is out there, but because he doesn't have money he can't do anything for us.. and I think that's a shame.

19/2/08 6:50 AM

(There's more. I'll spare you.)

CATEGORY 8: The people who in all likelihood do have blogs of their own and are probably penning their own version of this post right now.
Self-explanatory after you read the sample comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi I'm an excited anonymous commenter who has no idea what's going on or what this post even means but damned if that's going to stop me from saying something! Anything! It doesn't matter what it is, just that I say it here, preferably very quickly after the initial post is made! Just for the fleeting novelty of leaving some text on this temporary page - a disposable piece of nothing to help half a minute of my boring life pass by a little faster! Nine Inch Nails woooo!

18/2/08 6:59 PM

Post a Comment [Blogger.com]
Earlier: TVT Fires Most Of Its Staff, Is Expected To File Chapter 11

Saul's previous record was released in 2004 and has sold 33,897 copies.

As of 1/2/08,

154,449 people chose to download Saul's new record.

28,322 of those people chose to pay $5 for it...

Keep in mind not one cent was spent on marketing this record. The only marketing was Saul and myself talking as loudly as we could to anybody that would listen...
If 33,897 people went out and bought Saul's last record 3 years ago (when more people bought CDs) and over 150K - five times as many - sought out this new record, that's great - right?

I have to assume the people knowing about this project must either be primarily Saul or NIN fans, as there was very little media coverage outside our direct influence. If that assumption is correct - that most of the people that chose to download Saul's record came from his or my own fan-base - is it good news that less than one in five feel it was worth $5? I'm not sure what I was expecting but that percentage - primarily from fans - seems disheartening.

Zuh? "Very little media coverage outside our direct influence"? Pulling this little stunt in the direct aftermath of In Rainbows got it written up just about anywhere online that covers music-related news. Sure, it's a little sad that 5,000 fewer people chose to pay for Williams' record this time out—EDIT: or, pace the comments section discussion below, considerably more this time out if Reznor's 33,897 represents sales of Williams' last album from 2004 to date—but in addition to the dwindling fanboys, that kind of blanket (good) press is going to attract a lot of curious (but stingy) non-fans and folks who'll download anything if it's free, regardless of bitrate. Reznor's hope that if he "offered a hassle free way to show support that clearly goes straight to the artists who made it at an unquestionably low price people would 'do the right thing'" is laudable in a "last honest (if pie-eyed) man in the music industry" kinda way, but Saul Williams ain't Radiohead, who were smart enough to know it was probably a good idea to give people the option to pay as little as a buck if they so desired. Didn't you know $5 is a lot to ask of people in the P2P era, Trent?

Saul Follow-Up And Facts [NIN]

Mr. Reznor:

While the music industry is doing everything they possibly can to go out of business, can we all make sure to rid ourselves of the Grammys, too? Out of touch old men jacking each other off.
ENOUGH!
Have a nice day.

Mr. Wentz:

the first reaction is jealousy mixed with a slight sense of entitlement. we just want to be a part of your club. we feel like the orphans in the movie the warriors, when we are just dying to be the baseball furies. the truth be told though when you explore it further than that you realize much more. other than the fact that we play the events for you and the right parties all the time (which is a bit embarrassing either for you or us, not sure which, possibly both. its kind of like being invited to a birthday party and then not allowed to eat the cake.)- it shouldnt mean much. (almost) noone in this industry has vision beyond the fear that this week is their last paycheck. we want our songs to be immortal and a statue doesnt do anything to help them live forever. it is the people that live and die with them in their ears and throats that give them life. we wont lie to you, accolades from our peers feel great. however, a fifty year old white man shouldnt decide whether we are relevant or not- and he doesn't. we wanted to thank you for making us feel relevant- for sitting up all night to get into our shows and for buying our music. it means more in the wake of moments like this. we know who we are based on those who would walk through hell with us. this is not a disappointment, rather a revelation on what is truly important. thanks.

Well, with Reznor this anti-academy ire feels slightly more credible/less sour grapes-y, especially considering the dude's been on a burn-down-the-industry tear for years now. Plus he's succinct. (Though at 42 he should probably be careful throwing around the words "old men" as an epithet.) On the other hand, Wentz comes off like the expected whiny wanker, though in keeping with emo fashion he does admit to the jealousy angle up front, and to further cover his ass he did go on to tell MTV that he didn't, like,really care. But whereas Reznor wants to ditch the awards entirely, you do get the impression Wentz would be more than happy to keep them if the nominees were being decided by 15-year-old white girls rather than 50-year-old white men.

Got Bitterness? [Fall Out Boy]
A Suggestion [NIN Blog]

People who pay nothing get the album as 192KBps MP3s, while those who chip in $5 also get higher-quality MP3s and FLACs of the album. (Everyone gets a PDF with art and lyrics as well.) As Reznor notes, Williams is "not the household name (yet!) that Radiohead is," so finding out whether or not people will take a five-dollar flyer on an artist they might not yet know should, at the very least, provide a bit more evidence on whether or not the In Rainbows model is at all viable beyond the most Internet-beloved artists. (Personally, I'm going to kick Williams the money—after all, $5 is cheaper than a beer at most bars in New York, and those don't even last 40 minutes most of the time.)

Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise And Liberation Of NiggyTardust! [Official site]
niggytardust! [nin.com]

As the climate grows more and more desperate for record labels, their answer to their mostly self-inflicted wounds seems to be to screw the consumer over even more. A couple of examples that quickly come to mind:

* The ABSURD retail pricing of Year Zero in Australia. Shame on you, UMG. Year Zero is selling for $34.99 Australian dollars ($29.10 US). No wonder people steal music. Avril Lavigne's record in the same store was $21.99 ($18.21 US).
By the way, when I asked a label rep about this his response was: "It's because we know you have a real core audience that will pay whatever it costs when you put something out - you know, true fans. It's the pop stuff we have to discount to get people to buy."
So... I guess as a reward for being a "true fan" you get ripped off.

* The dreaded EURO Maxi-single. Nothing but a consumer rip-off that I've been talked into my whole career. No more.
The point is, I am trying my best to make sure the music and items NIN puts in the marketplace have value, substance and are worth you considering purchasing. I am not allowing Capital G to be repackaged into several configurations that result in you getting ripped off.

We're guessing that Trent's run-ins with his label have resulted in this "consumer advocate" side of him coming out even more fiercely. Perhaps once he breaks free from Interscope, he can turn into the David Horowitz of the music world, taking an army of crusaders to the racks in order to fight the music industry's worst tendencies.

Updates From Trent [nin.com]