it’s funny — i think my initial negative reaction to this was extremely subjective and i value your even commentary very much. i still feel it was a valid reaction, though i very much appreciate that Mr. Reznor is coming out on the side of independent have-nots with actual useful information. I also appreciate that he is not making like he invented the idea of new media or free music proliferation, as others (ahem, Radiohead) seem to have done in the past. I think essentially I have a knee jerk response to all advice I perceive as being handed down the ladder from music professionals who have “made it” or industry professionals who see themselves as being on some kind of “inside track.” Maybe working in the music industry bubble for several years soured me so much on this backhanded type of advice that I now find it hard to recognize genuine wisdom about how to survive, even when it bites me in the butt.

It should also be said that NIN’s latest album was and is distributed free, with the added benefit that it’s truly inventive, a solid addition to the catalog, and still avowedly about as anti-mainstream as one can get while still being catchy- sparse arrangements, odd sound combinations, almost savant musicianship combined with scary production prowess. Thanks Trent.
http://theslip.nin.com/