Trent Reznor is recognized for his musical work on The Social Network, but his opinion on the online platforms themselves is hardly positive, saying that the Internet has created "a toxic environment for artists."
In an interview with Yahoo! Music, the Nine Inch Nails frontman spoke of the challenges that social media has created when it comes to making art. "What has crept in is that everyone's a commentator now," he said. "The Internet is giving voice to everybody thinking that someone gives a shit what they have to say and they have the right. I think, in general, that has created a toxic environment for artists and led to some very safe music."
Reznor continued by remarking that artists "are trying to make music to please the tastemakers that tell the sheep what to like."
"It's a vicious cycle and I think it's unhealthy. I don't see any Princes emerging on the scene today. I see a lot of people making formulaic, made-to-please, vegan restaurant patron-type shit," he said. "And I think it creates an environment where people are too fuckin' worried about what other people have to say. And people who have never made anything think it's okay to talk shit about stuff they have no right to talk about. You got a Facebook account? Nobody gives a fuck. You haven't achieved anything."
Elsewhere in the interview, Reznor speaks at length about scoring Peter Berg's new film Patriots Day alongside Atticus Ross, while also revealing that new music from How To Destroy Angels is "in the works." Of course, Reznor also released new Nine Inch Nails material before the end of 2016 with the Not the Actual Events EP, while also promising "two new major" releases from the project this year.
Hear the score for Patriots Day in the player below.
In an interview with Yahoo! Music, the Nine Inch Nails frontman spoke of the challenges that social media has created when it comes to making art. "What has crept in is that everyone's a commentator now," he said. "The Internet is giving voice to everybody thinking that someone gives a shit what they have to say and they have the right. I think, in general, that has created a toxic environment for artists and led to some very safe music."
Reznor continued by remarking that artists "are trying to make music to please the tastemakers that tell the sheep what to like."
"It's a vicious cycle and I think it's unhealthy. I don't see any Princes emerging on the scene today. I see a lot of people making formulaic, made-to-please, vegan restaurant patron-type shit," he said. "And I think it creates an environment where people are too fuckin' worried about what other people have to say. And people who have never made anything think it's okay to talk shit about stuff they have no right to talk about. You got a Facebook account? Nobody gives a fuck. You haven't achieved anything."
Elsewhere in the interview, Reznor speaks at length about scoring Peter Berg's new film Patriots Day alongside Atticus Ross, while also revealing that new music from How To Destroy Angels is "in the works." Of course, Reznor also released new Nine Inch Nails material before the end of 2016 with the Not the Actual Events EP, while also promising "two new major" releases from the project this year.
Hear the score for Patriots Day in the player below.
