Trent Reznor Was A "Onik" User

I never got the chance to really check out the site "Onik" before it was taken down, but it sounds like there were quite a few people who liked it. Not just for the obvious reasons for free music, but many people liked the feel of the site and how it had high bit-rate music. Trent Reznor from "Nine inch Nails" was just one of those users who is disappointed to see it gone.

In an interview in New York Magazine, Reznor said that Onik was “world’s greatest record store” because of its content and quality. Said Reznor “iTunes kind of feels like Sam Goody to me. I don’t feel cool when I go there. I’m tired of seeing John Mayer’s face pop up. I feel like I’m being hustled when I visit there, and I don’t think their product is that great. DRM, low bit rate, etc.”

It's interesting that someone who is accomplished in the music industry would feel this way about a site that according to the record industry stops just short of terrorism. I would like to see this site come back in some form, perhapses with a monthly fee for all the music you can download. Having high bit-rate music would be good for all users, not matter where it comes from.

Trent Reznor and Saul Williams Discuss Their New Collaboration, Mourn OiNK [NY Mag via Crunchgear]

A Different Look At The Music Industry

In the most provocative, innovative, and forward thinking article I have ever read about the RIAA and the music industry, Rob from Demonbaby gives his take on the take down of Oink. If you don't know what Oink is, it was one of the top music donwloading sites before the lawmakers and the RIAA brought it down. But before you form your opinions about the former site, I highly recommend that you read this article that Rob posted.

Rob use to work for the big labels in the 1990s and into the 2000s, and his insight might have you rethinking everything you know about the music industry. And you would be surprised about how he feels about how and what the music industry has evolved into. Please understand that I really don't like long articles, but this one is so necessary for any music fan, that it should be mandatory reading for anyone who's ever purchased a song.

Please!!! Take the 20 minutes and read through this one.

When Pigs Fly: The Death of Oink, the Birth of Dissent, and a Brief History of Record Industry Suicide [Demonbaby via Crunchgear]