Ditch Your Music Label Says Trent Reznor

Reznor says, “Anyone who’s an executive at a record label does not understand what the Internet is, how it works, how people use it, how fans and consumers interact – no idea. I’m surprised they know how to use email. They have built a business around selling plastic discs, and nobody wants plastic discs any more. They’re in such a state of denial it’s impossible for them to understand what’s happening.

“One of the biggest wake-up calls of my career was when I saw a record contract. I said, ‘Wait – you sell it for $18.98 and I make 80 cents? And I have to pay you back the money you lent me to make it and then you own it? Who the f**k made that rule? Oh! The record labels made it because artists are dumb and they’ll sign anything’ – like I did. When we found out we’d been released (from their recording contract) it was like, ‘Thank God!’. But 20 minutes later it was, ‘Uh-oh, now what are we going to do?’ It was incredibly liberating, and it was terrifying.”

I couldn’t agree more with Trent Reznor. This day and age we have so many tools at our disposal that it pays to make music the good old DIY way. The other thing this will do is separate “Good Music” from the crap. In the past it was discouraging starting out as a musician. But now the tables have been turned. So much so, I have not only played in bands, but have now started working on music soundtracks. And trust me, if I can figure this stuff out on my own, so can the average Joe.