Trent Reznor Understands Why Fans File-Share Music; Why? Because He Does It Too.
In an interview with Drowned In Sound, Trent Reznor talks about his role in the movie The Social Network. Further into the talk, he gave an interesting insight into file-sharing and his understanding of it. He grasps what motivates fans to file-share music, because he does it himself. Rather than considering himself above the topic and ignoring the conversations that his fans are having; he became a part of them. While he doesn’t agree with some their conclusions, he’s in there, trying to make sense of their rational. His conclusion is that file-sharing is the result of bigger problems than he can change.
"It’s strange when you’ve got a public that’s interested in what your work but doesn’t feel obliged to compensate you in any way. That’s a result of bigger problems than I can change. I can stand on a podium and say that music shouldn’t be free and I don’t, but I’m not gonna yell at you, as I’m losing that end of the argument. I understand why people steal, I steal myself and it’s not because I don’t respect artists, it’s because I want something I can’t get in any other way." (Read on.)
I read the interview but couldn’t really understand.
Could anyone elaborate on what Reznor means by “… I want something I can’t get in any other way.” ?
Almost all the music people download/file-share illegally is available on iTunes, Amazon, Grooveshark, Rhapsody, Pandora etc.
So what exactly does he mean?
There is a ton of stuff out of print. I own quite a few records and even CDs that you cannot buy from iTunes or Amazon (except maybe used from a 3rd party seller). I have to admit to being shocked that music put out on CD from the late ’80s early ’90s could already be out of print, but indeed they are. Let’s take The Call, a group from the ’80s. Go to iTunes and see the lack of catalogue it has for the Call. I went the used CD route, but if one just wants to have it NOW, really the illegal sites were the only ones that had some of the Call’s records. “She’s Having a Baby” soundtrack is another one that cannot be bought via download.
The same goes for many b-sides. Great Britain and Japan are known to get special releases of albums with bonus tracks. If you want to get every single song from an album, would you buy that same album five different times from different different countries…or would you buy it once and download the international bonus tracks? It’s an easy choice for most and since they bought it once, it morally checks out.
The focus on piracy has created a smokescreen about what has been going on in the industry with consolidation and a focus away from music as an art and instead into a disposable product. This model works for Wall street and accountants not for music and the arts.
Hype has always played a part in promotion, but the legacy acts were developed and incubated, that fertile ground is gone. We need to find new ways using the existing realities. Justin Bieber is making millions, and any way you slice it there is a market, reaching it for non Bieber types of acts is where new partnerships and biz models will need to be formed. Trent has done great things to shake things up, more is needed as his own success has its roots in the old system.
Live tracks and unreleased tracks – some bands won’t allow music on itunes ie Beatles King Crimson etc