Some Random Dude » trent-reznor

NIN Remix – UGC Strain Mutates Towards Music

P.J. Onori — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:55:57 +0000

We all know what video UGC has done to change the face of modern media. Video is beginning to show signs of a strong bottom-up structure forming. In turn, mainstream media has had to adapt by both slowly integrating UGC into their model and putting their content onto UGC networks. While video UGC has taken off, music has not followed suit due, almost assuredly, to the music industry’s absolute resistance to evolve. Until now, the stonewalling of progress by the RIAA and other music industry leaders has been relatively successful in terms of the big picture. There are no YouTube scale sites offering independent, community created music. In my opinion, there is plenty of talent out there, but these sorts of movements usually need a jumpstart in order to pull in the combination of a large community and ample traffic to become self-sustaining. For YouTube, the early inclusion of unwarranted copyrighted video (whether intentional or unintentional) was that jumpstart – now TV content is a much smaller piece of the puzzle as a large content creating community has been fostered. The recent launch of NIN Remix may just be the jumpstart for UGC music. UGC music will become mainstream. The only question is if NIN Remix will be what gets the snowball rolling.

The NIN Remix site is still new and has some rough edges, but the important features are there and the intention seems about as genuine as it gets. The multi-tracks of NIN songs are offered up for free, anyone can upload a remix and the final MP3 is downloadable. The whole site experience is one “page” – which works surprisingly well. Each sort (newest songs, highest rated songs, etc.) are treated as playlists, so upon the completion of one song, you naturally move on to the next. It is a much more seamless experience than the page-view model and acts like an iTunes-in-your-browser design. Like all community-based UGC models, you can rate, comment, see user profiles, etc. This kind of site works very well for the remixability of NIN work but it is definitely not for all bands. Still, the door has been opened and the public is no doubt going to expect ideas along these lines from more and more artists.

It is simply over for the RIAA and the contemporary music industry. They had the chance to adapt like other forms of media did, but chose not to. Now it is frankly too late and the public/artists are beginning to pull the rug from under them. NIN Remix symbolizes a large step in that direction – it may not be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, but it is still a significant symbol.

Nine Inch Nails 'Year Zero' Album Available for Listening – Trent Reznor Gets What the RIAA Does Not

P.J. Onori — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 06:05:54 +0000

Trent is at it again. Just like what was done for With_Teeth, Nine Inch Nails released Year Zero for listening before the April 17th release date. Listen away.

As if the RIAA did not look bad enough as it is, when you have high profile musical artists that does something this progressive, the organization looks even worse. With a very forward-thinking marketing campaign, allowing the public to freely listen to the album before its release, not to mention absolutely amazing music, Trent Reznor is basically showing the rest of the music industry how things should be done. Year Zero has easily been the biggest music-related event on the internet this year – for good reason. I myself have already listened to the album and have pre-ordered the album and I suggest you do too.

Daily Delicious – Nine Inch Nails New Album Spawns Abstract Web Sites

P.J. Onori — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:21:29 +0000

Here I was, just about to write about microformats, when this came along…

A new Nine Inch Nails album is coming out in April. Thanks to our good friend Kellie, and her great link comment, I learned about a series of abstract websites pertaining to the theme and (from the rumors) storyline of the new album. To say the new album is political is like saying the sun is warm – just a warning to those of you that do not enjoy politics. Yes, I know, this has been done before. Yes, I know, this is a form of marketing. Still, the tone and the way it comes off just seems different than other viral marketing campaigns.

A lot of people are not big fans of viral marketing. I, however, see a great beauty to it. Most viral marketing I have been exposed to is quite creative and engages the user’s imagination. On top of it, it is much less money-driven than traditional advertising methods. With viral marketing, success is dependent on the individual to appreciate it enough to want to share it. Traffic and buzz can be artificially generated, but I have noticed that method tends to fizzle out very quickly if there is not a genuine interest from the public. I rather like the idea of marketing that is depends on the public’s interest rather than cash. I see how this project can turn people off. Still, for myself, I find it absolutely fascinating.

UPDATE – New Nine Inch Nails song found on a usb drive in a bathroom in portugal. This is getting cooler and cooler by the minute. In case the URLs hosting the MP3 die, you can ~~download it from Some Random Dude~~ (sorry, this is absolutely killing my bandwidth).

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