Apple rejects Nine Inch Nails iPhone app update
For a man who has been responsible for some of the more industrial lyrics in the music history, Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor has taken rejection by Apple with a relatively sanguine spirit.
On discovering that Apple has refused to approve NIN's latest iPhone app update, he tweeted: "Apple rejects the NIN iPhone update because it contains objectionable content. The objectionable content referenced is 'The Downward Spiral.'" ("The Downward Spiral" is a 1994 album that laces a touch of earthy nihilism into a musical screwdriver of heavy psychological meltdown.)
Reznor then added in a follow-up tweet: "Not even sure where to start with that one."
Well, he might like to start with the fact that the very same content, with lyrics on the track "Closer" that suggest the author would like to have rather rough, bestial intercourse with his lover, is still happily available for close scrutiny on iTunes. And, according to MG Siegler at TechCrunch, who is in possession of one, on the first version of the already approved NIN iPhone app.
He might then like to follow it up with the notion that, according to some developers, getting an iPhone app approved is not entirely dissimilar to having a sensible chat with someone at the DMV.
Even when you are given reasons, they say, those reasons sometimes embrace logic like a fish embraces sand.
It does seem a little odd that the Baby Shaker app somehow made it past the Apple condo board while this NIN update is ensnared by an alleged and very sudden sensitivity to the parental guidance sticker.
It isn't easy to handle the sheer volume of apps being created. And 1 billion downloads doesn't suggest a downward spiral. However, this particular tale does seem to border the peculiar.
Does anyone else find it odd?
Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. 
Word is, iPhone 3.0 will have parental controls, which then opens up the app store to more content...
I'm amazed that you can mind-read all the free-thinkin' folks in the world! How did you acquire that skill?
APPLE GET YOUR SH*T TOGETHER!!
This isn't a big deal. Apple has it's checks and balances which serve it pretty well. NIN isn't doing to bad either (I was at the quake-rocked show in Oakland last year). I'm sure it'll all work out.
But, heck, that's just me jumping to a positive conclusion.
Those of you jumping to a negative conclusion probably have no friends.
So why is an app rejected for accessing content that is already being sold in iTunes? There's plenty of albums listed as EXPLICIT in the iTunes music store. Go to movies and in the coverflow 300 shows up. Dear lord in heaven, a movie chalked full of kinky dirty sex and loads and loads of gore and violence... but amazing that an APP that has the ability to access a song that contains some naughty words gets rejected. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD... it was an UPDATE to fix bugs in the app already available! How thick headed do you have to be to take up for Apple on this?
OSX is not a true 64bit OS.
Im laughing at you period for the traditional BMW comparison act, and that you have a girlfriend... who for some unknown reason you had to involve in a C|Net comment flame war.
AKA -> Get a life
http://notsomotivational.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/gay-test-mac-vs-pc.jpg
But i can safely call a BS card on you for assuming OSX had 64bit native for 10 years.
That photo plays completely on appearance...is there honestly anyone that would rather have the XPS on the right with all the **** around it over the clean-looking iMac on the left? The picture doesn't draw on specs at all, just appearance, and I'm sorry but if you try to do that fight Apple will win most of the time (not all though).
This is something I am looking forward to sharing with my children one day, just not now. Plus at 6 years old, I know my son could easily go to iTunes and download the album NOW, not to mention getting it an app. (Yes, my son is that smart, and computers are getting that easy.)
On that note I am really excited to see NIN for the 4ht time when they come to Phoenix soon.
It's odd that Apple has qualms with an album that's 15 years old, but it's the subject matter that's important here.
"Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?" - Maude Flanders
You're argument or suggestion or makes no sense. Are you saying Apple should should ban 'the Downward Spiral' because your son is smart enough to download it?
Finally, Isn't the United States suppose to be the freest country on Earth? Obviously there are limits (I can't kill people or kidnap them or infringe on their freedoms), but too many US citizens believe they should be free from ever being offended, but occasionally being offended is the price paid for having a free society.
Please give up your child for adoption if you are looking for corporations to do your parenting for you.
I saw the praise he got as sympathy praise. A legend long past his prime, but still loved so people were nice about it.
Agreed. At the Charlottesville, VA show last year, someone yelled Cash's name when Trent opened the first few chords of Hurt. I wonder if that kid ever made it home safe that evening.
"The rate of juvenile arrests for homicide rose steadily in the 1980's, before peaking in the early 1990's. High-profile school shootings around this time prompted unrealistic fears that youth violence was skyrocketing in the United States. However, in 1994 juvenile arrests began to decline sharply and have been fairly stable in recent years."
http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/juvenile-violence/juvenile-homicide.htm
And you thought the ad was poking fun at IBM. That's what happens to a generation who didn't get to watch the apocryphal "Twilight Zone" episode "To Serve Man".
Also. soylent green is people!
Be careful, they know who you are and where you are and will be coming for you....
Now why is the jeweled stone in my palm glowing at this time?
NIN song and video "Closer" in iTunes are rated "Explicit" and as such can be filtered using Parental Controls. As I recall that's not yet an option in the App store.
In my opinion there is No redeeming social value in someone yowling about wanting to "F-someone like an animal". And if the App is anything like the video clip on iTunes with crucified monkeys and such I'm sure I'll pass.
- uncontrollable pricing (e.g., artist charges premium price for app to undercut iTunes pricing)
- copyrights (e.g., artist who develops the app doesn't own the rights to the music)
- revenue sharing (artist as developer gets different sharing agreements from Apple than music label)
I'm paying close attention to how some artists are (cleverly and admirably) utilizing new channels to get music straight to the fans and I'm fully expecting a collision involving all the usual suspects (RIAA, artists, Apple and music lovers).
It's interesting that censoring something is more acceptable than being honest and saying, "we want to make sure we get paid the most."
Kudos to Trent Reznor, Radiohead, Celebration and all the other artists for getting their music to fans directly and cutting out all these lame middlemen who know nothing about music other than "Don't Stop Believing" totally makes the nose candy taste better.
Here's a wild idea: Musicians should be in control of the music industry. Oh no! Socialism!
I hope that Apple will eventually allow this app to be a part of the App store, and
avoid a messy Censorship lawsuit.. Geesh!
Brilliance! Apple is the AOL of content!
From the viewing the video it appears to be a pretty slick application
@mnassal
- by djshelter May 3, 2009 2:13 PM PDT
- Nine Inch Nails is so 2001. Why do people still listen to that crap?
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- by crescentdave May 3, 2009 3:06 PM PDT
- because not everybody likes miley cyrus? Sorry.
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- by J242 May 3, 2009 6:41 PM PDT
- Good call crescentdave! djshelter, are you just into house and trance? Then NIN isn't for you so don't waste your time reading about Trent's efforts and don't waste ours with your ignorant posts...
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- by stereocilia May 3, 2009 7:38 PM PDT
- Ya know, that's real easy to say but the fact is Trent created his own style, and can still do that style better than anyone. If someone could do it better, I'd listen, but it hasn't happened. The fact that he can still make an album that is decent is impressive. Ever heard of diminishing returns? PS. NIN is so pre-2001
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- by pentest May 4, 2009 7:51 AM PDT
- I must have been ahead of the curve in 1990 when I bought Pretty Hate Machine.
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- by kevinskrause May 4, 2009 11:11 AM PDT
- NIN fan since 89 here. Will be going to my 30th show over the last 11 years this June. I listen to that "crap" because, IMHO, Trent is one of the few musicians worth listening to. I would love to see djshelter center front pit. How long do you think he would last.
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- by pentest May 4, 2009 12:24 PM PDT
- "NIN fan since 89 here. Will be going to my 30th show over the last 11 years this June. I listen to that "crap" because, IMHO, Trent is one of the few musicians worth listening to."
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- by kevinskrause May 4, 2009 12:38 PM PDT
- @ Pentest
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- by SeizeCTRL May 6, 2009 9:15 PM PDT
- LMAO - it must suck to be that clueless. I was listening to NIN in 87/88. First show NIN show I saw was a mere $5 cover. So get over yourself with your trendy indie fandom of bands no one has heard of because the moment they become known you lose interest.
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- by kevinskrause May 8, 2009 5:45 AM PDT
- @ SeizeCTRL
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (101 Comments)Yup, even though With Teeth and Year Zero weren't very good, I always felt he was one of the few in music that actually deserve the title of artist. 99.99999% of those called an artist are not even close to artistic.
Actually, I really enjoyed With Teeth and I think it opened a door to new fans who otherwise would never have listened to NIN. Year Zero, IMHO, was a natural progression for Trent, but still nowhere near Fragile. Ghosts was amazing and The Slip took NIN, both musically and visually (Lights in the Sky tour was stunning), to a whole new level. I still think the best is yet to come regardless of what Trent may say. NIN will be back; and I?ll be there to welcome him as I always have.
You?re right. NIN does have a small fan base. I guess that?s why their shows sold out across the U.S., Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Australia, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Netherlands, England, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Tokyo, and Japan; just to name a few. Perhaps it's time to lose interest interest.