If Trent Reznor Tells You To Download His Songs, Is It OK?

I noticed on Monday that Trent Reznor, a guy that I’m a huge fan of by the way, made an announcement that he had broken ties with Interscope Records and would from now on work without a contract.

What I didn’t know was that he actually told fans at a concert in Australia to steal his music. Reznor had spoke out the previous night about overpriced CDs and Interscope wasn’t too happy about it. Reznor’s response was to stir things up the next night in Sydney by telling concert goers to steal his music because record companies refuse to lower the cost of CDs. “Steal steal steal some more and give it to all your friends.” said Reznor. Reznor said eventually the record companies will get it through their heads that they’re ripping people off and it’s not right.

Have I mentioned I dig Trent Reznor?

He’s not the only one ditching the record companies. Radiohead, Prince, Madonna and a host of others either have switched to alternate distribution methods or will do so in the near future. I’m happy with this, CD prices needed to change a long time ago. Trent’s right, the only way change is going to happen is if the artists the companies feed off of make them change it.

Which begs the question asked in the topic. Trent Reznor just told me to go download his music, so can I do it legally? It’s his music after all. He made it right? Just gave me permission. He doesn’t have to be in the same room with me does he? I mean, I’ll do my damnedest to avoid Britney Spears’ new single Gimme More. Believe you me, I’ll do my damnedest to avoid that. I just want a couple NIN songs. I would assume Reznor would have the rights to his own music and not Interscope, but if Interscope put out the CDs and the songs were ripped from the CDs, would that play a factor?

Food for thought.