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Apple Makes NIN Hurt

Posted Mon May 4, 2009 11:21am PDT by Lyndsey Parker in As Heard On...

Future-thinking, technology-embracing Nine Inch Nails leader Trent Reznor--who left Interscope Records in 2007 and now independently releases music using technologies like BitTorrent--recently further delved into the digital age by creating a new, GPS-enabled iPhone app that allows fans to interact with each other at concerts in real time. It's a pretty cool tool for NIN diehards, sort of like a NIN-specialized Twitter.

But the new update of the NIN app seems to have downward-spiraled, so to speak, as it has been rejected by Apple due to "obscene, pornographic, offensive, or defamatory content."

Trent just posted this bummer news on Twitter, saying: "Apple rejects the NIN iPhone update because it contains objectionable content. The objectionable content referenced is [the NIN album] The Downward Spiral." 

Trent also discussed the controversy on the Nine Inch Nails website, likening the situation to one NIN dealt with previously:

"I'll voice the same issue I had with Wal-Mart years ago, which is a matter of consistency and hypocrisy. Wal-Mart went on a rampage years ago insisting all music they carry be censored of all profanity and 'clean' versions be made for them to carry. Bands (including Nirvana) tripped over themselves editing out words, changing album art, etc. to meet Wal-Mart's standards of decency--because Wal-Mart sells a lot of records. NIN refused, and you'll notice a pretty empty NIN section at any Wal-Mart. My reasoning was this: I can understand if you want the moral posturing of not having any 'indecent' material for sale--but you could literally turn around 180 degrees from where the NIN record would be and purchase the film 'Scarface' completely uncensored, or buy a copy of Grand Theft Auto where you can be rewarded for beating up prostitutes. How does that make sense?"

Seems like the iPhone has become a pretty hate machine for Trent.

Check out Digg's Trent interview on new technologies

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338 Comments

1. __A_YAHOO_USER__ -
That is the dumbest thing I have heard coming from the company that approved the Baby Killer app.

2. ashleyy -
yeahh okay
remember the baby shaker??????

3. jon c -
I really dont get this. You can buy all kinds of songs with explicit lyrics, but you cant buy an app with that?

4. kat -
Wow. That is completely ridiculous. Too bad, anyway, that app sounds awesome. Trent Reznor's always ahead of the curve.

5. D -
Situations like this just piss off Reznor, giving him ammo to continue doing his own thing and pave his own road. I'm with you all the way, Trent. Been listening to you for a long time, and probably always will, not only because you know how to scratch on the scabs of society.

6. Tyler B -
This is why Apple product users don't have nice things.

7. Thrashley -
this is exactly why i have no interest in buying an iphone and i am replacing my ipod with a mp3 player. apple can suck it! as for walmart, yes they are hypocrites, but they also have great deals so i can't say i will ban them for not selling dirty music. i know i won't be buying any cd's there.

8. Melissa -
I don't really care for the guy or his band, but you've got to admit he has a point about Scarface and GTA.

9. Dan L -
im kinda pissed off that you cant seem to write an article without using IQ-insulting puns. horrible piece of writing.

10. Ashley P -
................
..................................
....................................................

*recalls "baby shaker"*........

This is a joke......right.................

LOL

11. xeph -
This just put the nail in Apples proverbial coffin for me!!! Every Apple product I've bought SUCKED. Including the Iphone that I just had replaced and my failed ipod touch!! GARBAGE!! Walmart and Apple are now hand in hand for me UGH! :-( Go Trent for keeping it real and right!!

12. Drake -
I'll tell you who the real hypocrites are---it's those pointing fingers at Wal-Mart! They are entitled to do whatever they fricken want and the so called 'free thinkers' and "free expression' crowd stumble all over themselves throwing stones at anyone who disagrees with their own narrow point of view!!! Screw you if you don't like the fact that Wal-Mart expects a little decency! You're a HUGE hypocrite if you say one word against it.

13. Conner -
ha how dumb !!!!!! well i downloaded that app so apple suck it!!!! profanemy {profane}!!!!!!!!!!! you too wal-mart most music has some explicits.

14. Godzilla -
what i found to be really really weird though was when i was living in south dakota i found several copies of a beastie boys cd uncensored at a wal-mart and i asked them what the deal was with that because wal-mart never sold uncensored music in the past. they said that thats how the copies came and they couldnt ship them back. so wal-mart is stupid and needs to be shut down. my old hometown is ran by wal-mart and its sad, they had two decent cd stores there and they had to get rid of them because wal-mart bought out their space and put some kind of stupid store there. so to get uncensored music you have to drive 60 miles to the next town to go to a store that sells good music that isn't censored.

15. mrWonderful -
Ten penny nails are better anyway.

16. Yahoo! Music User -
I hate profanity because it's the sign of an insipid and lazy mind, but I have to say I agree with Reznor on the hypocrisy thing. If you are going to make a stand, do it across the board.

17. FroGgyneArl -
Cant say Im a big NIN fan but I do totally agree about WalMart. I've seen the same scenario played out several times. The music gets censored which are words, and I think you'd agree are less impacting the images and you can buy graphic slasher films not only with totally graphic unedited content but also with completely graphic bloody dismembered bodies featured promptly on the covers for all eyes to see including the young ones.
I think am image is far more desensitizing then hearing a swear word. Lets be honest words can be interpreted in a variety ways to mean a variety of things but a dismembered body or a bloody face or a image depicting bloody human skin or whatever can only be interpreted one way.

18. C L -
hes got a point about that I mean why censor music when you have video and stuff not regulated . I mean we know NIN aint Disney C mon children shouldnt be listining to adult music anyway..

19. Ken -
This is all a lie by Microsoft to get people to buy their products. Lemmings get your Microsoft stuff go get it. Sub standard gear and apps waiting for you to get them.

20. Cylence -
And this is the reason why I do not buy ANYTHING in Wallmart. Sorry Trent, I would have bought an iPhone just to use that app. :(
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