Trent Reznor Criticizes the State of the Music Industry in 2024

Trent Reznor, the founder and frontman of the iconic industrial band Nine Inch Nails, has expressed his deep disillusionment with the current state of the music industry in a recent interview with IndieWire. Reznor, who has also gained acclaim for his work in film scoring alongside his long-time collaborator Atticus Ross, criticized the impact of technology on the music business.

Reznor emphasized that the collaborative experience and creative fulfillment he finds in scoring films are lacking in the music world. “What we’re looking for [from film] is the collaborative experience with interesting people,” he said. “We haven’t gotten that from the music world necessarily, for our own choice.”

He further elaborated on the disruptive effects of technology on the music industry, stating, “The culture of the music world sucks. That’s another conversation, but what technology has done to disrupt the music business in terms of not only how people listen to music but the value they place on it is defeating.” Reznor noted that music now often feels relegated to a background role, rather than being the central focus it once was.

Despite his criticisms, Reznor and Ross are set to revive Nine Inch Nails for the upcoming film TRON: Ares, marking the band’s first new music since 2020. Additionally, they have been working on various film scores, including the critically acclaimed soundtrack for Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, which is nominated for several awards.

Reznor’s comments reflect a broader sentiment of disconnection from the contemporary music scene, which he attributes to the natural process of aging and the evolving music business. However, he remains open to new challenges and creative opportunities, both within and outside the traditional music industry.