Trent Reznor Abandons D.I.Y. And Returns To A Major Label

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.

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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

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