Music Bullets, 5-16-07

• First up, Trent Reznor slams the music industry! No, really!
  
  

  In an angry message posted on the official NIN website, Reznor says that despite all his efforts to reimagine the album release in a post-Napster era, his label is conspiring against his fans. Reznor recently found out that Year Zero sells for $34.99 in Australian dollars, or $29.10 U.S. By comparison, Avril Lavigne’s new album sells for $21.99 AU ($18.21 US). The reason, as a label rep told Reznor: “We know you have a real core audience that will pay whatever it costs when you put something out - you know, true fans. It’s the pop stuff we have to discount to get people to buy.” And the record industry wonders why album sales are slumping?
  
  This brand of intentionally screwing the fans is just one root of a big tree of problems plaguing major labels. In another attempt to prevent his fans’ wallets from being exploited, Reznor has banished a planned European maxi-single for the song “Capital G,” opting instead to release a Year Zero remix album in the future. This way, the fervent U.S. fans won’t have to spend $30+ to import a two-song single that includes one new remix. Who would have guessed that Trent Reznor would emerge as the Ralph Nader of the music industry?

• Second up, Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky did indeed come out yesterday (where did yesterday go? I was going to post about it last night, and suddenly it was Wednesday). Wilco’s a band whose albums I need to listen to at least twice before I can totally digest what’s going on, so while I’ll be writing a review of it, it might not nearly as soon as I want it to be.
• Overshadowed by Wilco’s release was Rufus Wainwright, whose Release the Stars also came out yesterday. I’m sure I’ll end up with it at some point—I absolutely loved Want One, though Want Two did little to nothing for me—but I need time to digest Sky Blue Sky. Oh, and for those of you out there who are sick of gay people trying their hardest to appear not-gay, apparently Rufus will apparently “recreate Judy Garland’s famed performance at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on September 23, exactly 46 years after it took place.” Now THAT’s someone who’s open and comfortable with his sexuality.