Nine Inch Nails releases another online album--this one's free

Declaring digital sales a success, rock veterans Nine Inch Nails have released another online album, The Slip. Unlike their last album, this one is totally free, and, according to front man Trent Reznor, is a thank-you to the band's fans.

The Slip is available from Nine Inch Nails' Web site in a number of DRM-free formats: MP3, FLAC, M4A, and WAVE. The band is also streaming the album on music social network iLike.

In March, no longer affiliated with a record label, Nine Inch Nails released its album Ghosts I-IV on its Web site. An assortment of payment options were offered: free for the first nine tracks, $5 for the whole digital album, $10-$300 for disc sets. Ghosts, according to Reznor, netted $1.6 million in just over a week.

In the wake of Radiohead's album In Rainbows, offered for a limited time as a digital download for which fans could literally name their own prices, a number of high-profile artists have distanced themselves from the flagging music industry and experimented with nontraditional distribution or digital giveaways. Nine Inch Nails' Reznor has been a vocal supporter of digital sales, collaborating with musician Saul Williams to release an album for free online.

But Reznor has been critical of Radiohead's pioneering effort, eventually calling the pay-what-you-want release of In Rainbows a "marketing gimmick" to promote the traditional album.

With his band's latest release, he hopes to be light years ahead in "openness." Not only is The Slip free, it's been released under a Creative Commons license, specifically the "attribution noncommercial share alike license." Fans are encouraged to share the music, blog it, "remix" it, and use it in audio and video projects.

[fuzzikitten]

NIN is a singular artist, not a band

I get frustrated when I see this misconception so pardon me if I'm a tad brusque...

Nine Inch Nails is not and never has been a 'band'. Trent Reznor works as a solo artist with occasional guest musicians and engineers. While Trent Reznor does hire a touring band to play his material when doing live shows, these individuals function for the live tour only and do not produce any material themselves.

There are no bandmates, Trent Reznor is not the 'front man', there is no 'they' when referring to Nine Inch Nails.

Nine Inch Nails = Trent Reznor = Nine Inch Nails.

[umbrae]

I hate NiN music, but...

this has to be commended. I might have to buy their next digital release just to welcome them to the future.

Good job, NiN!

[logictrap]

Finally someone trying something new!

Bands complain about record companies but it's all talk - finally a commercially successful band is trying something new.

It will be interesting to see if this is something unknown bands can use as well.

[xcopy]

Finally!!!

TR has finally realized what is music is really worth!

There's hope for the world.....

[oldguytoo]

give it away now

Hey TR - Since you're giving your creations away now, why don't you pay my next months' mortgage?

[DaveHartley24]

Trent should run the music industry!

This just proves that we don't need the music industry! Artists can
put out music directly to the fans, no middle man. Trent made 1.5
million for Ghost, and he only sold the album for $5. Plus he sells
more expensive Albums with special features and photos, which
some people are interested in, but if you want just the music, you
can't beat the price. And now a free album, thank you Trent
Reznor!

[johnalphonse]

Bands! look at the $ - it's a no-brainer!

the record companies own the artists anyway when all is said and done, and most of the income they generate goes to the corp. and not the artists. so why wouldn't you go the web route with the numbers as they are. even if you're a lesser-known band, a couple hundred grand per album would be pretty decent wouldn't it? what's the problem, you'd have to produce more music to make more money? yeah big problem! can i have it?

[benjaminstraight]

benjamin straight writes: It is so cool the Trent just wants to get the music out and is thanking his fans. God knows that Ticketmaster and other venues bleed the fans dry. This is a great thank-you.

[acamp123]

NIN is amazing! I can't wait to see Trent in his hometown New Orleans again this year for voodoo 2008. Check out these awesome videos of NIN playing at voodoo. http://www.thetenthritual.com/?content=video