Celebrated
singer-songwriter and music producer Trent Reznor has been an independent
recording artist ever since he left Interscope Records in 2007. After founding
his own record label in 2008 and releasing music independently, the Academy
Award winning musician has reverted back to the majors for help in releasing
his latest project through Columbia Records, pointing out that “complete
independent releasing has its great points, but also comes with shortcomings.”
The former Nine Inch
Nails frontman's new group, How to Destroy Angels, is a collaborative project
with his wife Mariqueen Maandig and frequent collaborator Atticus Ross (whom he
helped score The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo with). The
group’s second EP entitled “An Omen” is set to debut on November 13th
digitally and on vinyl containing six songs. The release will be followed up
with videos and live concert dates, as well as a full-length release due out next
spring.
Reznor wrote on
his Facebook that this release, as well as the group's "next series of
releases," would be made available in “partnership” with Columbia Records.
“Regarding our
decision to sign with Columbia, we’ve really spent a long time thinking about
things and it makes sense for a lot of reasons, including a chance to work with
our old friend Mark Williams,” Reznor wrote. “There’s a much more granular and
rambling answer I could give (and likely will in an interview someplace) but it
really comes down to us experimenting and trying new things to see what best
serves our needs. Complete independent releasing has its great points but also
comes with shortcomings.”
Reznor’s use of
the word "partnership" indicates that the group hasn’t signed a
complete 360 deal and is more likely involved in a 50/50 or a record-to-record
deal. The shortcomings that Reznor is referring to that come along with “complete
independence" may mean that Reznor is perhaps seeking commercial radio
play for his How to Destroy Angels project – something that major labels like
Columbia can certainly help in attaining. This makes sense for Reznor, for it
was terrestrial radio that attributed to NIN's commercial breakthrough and made
room for their incredibly high sales figures and worldwide tours.
Still though, this
partnership comes as a bit of a surprise considering how outspoken Reznor is in
his skepticism of major labels.
"I have
been under recording contracts for 18 years and have watched the business
radically mutate from one thing to something inherently very different and it
gives me great pleasure to be able to finally have a direct relationship with
the audience as I see fit and appropriate," Reznor said after his
contractual obligation with Interscope ended back in 2007.
The musician has
also been one of the strongest voices advocating the D.I.Y. route for musicians
and has been seen to regularly share his advice for independents to distribute their
work. In fact, Reznor's name has been quite synonymous with "DIY"
over the years as a go-to example of an artist that has worked to build a fan
base over time and relies on close personal connections with fans to monetize
his art.
Ever since his
split with Interscope, Reznor has released and sold all of his recordings (even
The Social Network soundtrack) through
his own website and social networks – retaining all of his royalties. While he
will now be giving up a piece of the pie to Columbia, Reznor seems to find enough
value in what the major label “machine” will provide for his latest project to
justify the exchange.
—
Hisham Dahud is a Senior Analyst for Hypebot.com. Additionally, he is the head of Business Development for Fame House and an independent musician. Follow him on Twitter: @HishamDahud
