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2005-08-08 - Santa Monica, CA, USA: Rock band Nine Inch Nails are taking an unusual step in providing fans with the ability to remix a new single. In the words of the group's frontman Trent Reznor, fans can "remix/reinterpret/ruin" the recently-released single, "Only."
Fans are able to download from the www.nin.com Web site the song's master multitracks and use any of four software programs to remix the recording as they wish. They may also access www.myspace.com/ninremixes to upload their remixes, vote for their favorites and comment about their experiences in a blog.
In a note to fans, Reznor says: "There is no agenda here other than for you to explore, experiment and have fun with it ... I'm looking forward to hearing what you come up with."
The concept was tested a couple of months ago when Reznor made available the tracks for "The Hand That Feeds" in Apple Garageband format. "Last I checked there were hundreds of remixes," says Reznor. "I've enjoyed and cringed at what you've done with my song. Thank you (I think)."
That success has led to "Only," which is available in Mac-only Garageband but also Ableton Live (Mac and Windows), Digidesign Pro Tools LE (Mac and Windows) and Windows-only Sony Acid Xpress/Pro. While the other formats present the song in a mix to begin with, the more advanced Pro Tools tracks are unmixed and raw. The Pro Tools version even features the possibility of a fan remix using alternate bits and pieces not heard in the officially released recording.
"This has been a great avenue for Nine Inch Nails to connect with fans," says Courtney Holt, Head of New Media and Strategic Marketing for Interscope Records. "After 'The Hand That Feeds' received such a tremendous response, Trent and his fans wanted more. But he wanted it even bigger and broader. So for 'Only' we added more formats, included Windows users, and partnered with MySpace. It's all about providing a community for Nine Inch Nails fans."
"Only" is heard on the With Teeth album, released by Nothing/Interscope. With Teeth hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Albums chart and the album's first single, "The Hand That Feeds" also hit #1 and remained there for five weeks. The "Only" DVD single includes the song's music video directed by David Fincher.
