Though Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross first came into prominence with the iconic industrial band Nine Inch Nails, they’ve spent the better part of the past 15 years coloring our lives with film scores. Speaking to IndieWire, the duo explained that’s partially because “the culture of the music world sucks.”
In the interview, our 2024 Composers of the Year contrasted working on projects like Challengers (one of the best movies of 2024) to the depreciated state of the modern music industry. “What we’re looking for [from film] is the collaborative experience with interesting people,” Reznor said. “We haven’t gotten that from the music world necessarily, for our own choice.”
Continuing, he explained that he and Ross enjoy “working in service to something, where we’re not in control of the whole thing, and we’re working intimately with a director or small team to try and help realize a collective vision, solving that riddle without the burden of ‘how’s it going to be marketed?’ and all the things.”
To that end, the music industry isn’t as conducive to genuinely creative works anymore. “You mentioned disillusionment with the music world?” Reznor said. “Yes. The culture of the music world sucks. That’s another conversation, but what technology has done to disrupt the music business in terms of not only how people listen to music but the value they place on it is defeating.”
Reznor then clarified, “I’m not saying that as an old man yelling at clouds, but as a music lover who grew up where music was the main thing.” Concluding, he added, “Music 1734031650 feels largely relegated to something that happens in the background or while you’re doing something else. That’s a long, bitter story.”
This sentiment echoes comments Reznor made to Consequence in our recent interview with him and Ross. “As we’ve gotten older and the music business has gotten weirder, our connection to zeitgeist-y culture feels less close, as I think is natural as one gets older,” he said. “I feel less connected to trends and things. They’re not as interesting to me, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”
Nonetheless, the duo are still looking for new challenges and opportunities, and even plan to revive Nine Inch Nails to score the upcoming TRON: Ares, marking the band’s first new music since 2020. Speaking about scoring films in the context of the band, Reznor told Consequence, “At the end of the day, it’s inspiring and it feels like growth.” When asked if new Nine Inch Nails music could be in the works beyond TRON: Ares, he said, “Anything’s possible at this point.”
In other Reznor and Ross news, the duo recently unveiled the soundtrack to A24’s Queer, their most recent collaboration with Challengers director Luca Guadagnino. Up next, they’re set to score the director’s upcoming film After the Hunt, as well as his Austin Butler-starring adaptation of American Psycho.