Nine Inch Nails Rejected By Apple Store; Trent Says “That’s What I Get”

By Akela Talamasca on May 6th, 2009

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I didn’t want to go with the more obvious song references in my title, so there you have it. You’re welcome. Trent Reznor, lead singer/songwriter for Nine Inch Nails, had created an app for the iPhone called NIN: access that would allow users to connect with each other. Notable, something for the fans, community-building, it’s all good. However, Apple refused the latest update to the app due to what they claim as “obscene, pornographic, offensive, or defamatory content.” But how can they do that to a simple communication enabler, similar to many other such programs already in the Store?

By association with “The Downward Spiral”, says Trent. The update contained a streaming version of the song, which bears the objectionable content. This is weird for a couple of reasons. First, you can get that song on iTunes. Second, only people with the NIN: access app would be exposed to it, and they’re already familiar with the song. So while the app is still available in the Store, the latest version is not.

Let’s not forget that this is the same company that allowed the Baby Shaker app to go up, and that’s a much more obviously offensive little application. It might be that in the light of that gaffe, Apple is just being oversensitive, but Trent likens it more to his previous dealing with Wal-Mart, who insisted that his music be censored or they wouldn’t carry it. Trent demurred, and that was that.

It’s not known at this time if NIN will change the update to reflect Apple’s concerns. Maybe I’m all messed up, but kinda I want to get this … even if it’s something I can never have.