In an interview with Drowned In Sound, Trent Reznor talks about his role in the movie The Social Network. Further into the talk, he gave an interesting insight into file-sharing and his understanding of it. He grasps what motivates fans to file-share music, because he does it himself. Rather than considering himself above the topic and ignoring the conversations that his fans are having; he became a part of them. While he doesn't agree with some their conclusions, he's in there, trying to make sense of their rational. His conclusion is that file-sharing is the result of bigger problems than he can change.
“It's strange when you've got a public that's interested in what your work but doesn't feel obliged to compensate you in any way. That's a result of bigger problems than I can change. I can stand on a podium and say that music shouldn't be free and I don't, but I'm not gonna yell at you, as I'm losing that end of the argument. I understand why people steal, I steal myself and it's not because I don't respect artists, it's because I want something I can't get in any other way." (Read on.)
“It's strange when you've got a public that's interested in what your work but doesn't feel obliged to compensate you in any way. That's a result of bigger problems than I can change. I can stand on a podium and say that music shouldn't be free and I don't, but I'm not gonna yell at you, as I'm losing that end of the argument. I understand why people steal, I steal myself and it's not because I don't respect artists, it's because I want something I can't get in any other way." (Read on.)
