Trent Reznor Focused on Scoring Films with Atticus Ross Because ‘The Culture of the Music World Sucks’

Nine Inch Nails collaborators Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have spent the lion’s share of their recent musical history working on film scores. Per a new interview, Reznor has chalked that decision up to a “disillusionment” with the greater world of music.

Reznor, who was the sole official member of Nine Inch Nails until Ross was welcomed into the fold in 2016, has been crafting soundtracks with his musical partner with increasing regularity since they made their debut with David Fincher’s The Social Network. Films such as Gone Girl, Bird Box, and Soul have also featured their musical efforts, which are more focused on films rather than the Nine Inch Nails project.

As it stands, it’s currently been almost five years since Nine Inch Nails released the surprise pair of albums – Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts – in March 2020. Since then, the Oscar-winning duo of Reznor and Ross have scored nine films, including Luca Guadagnino‘s 2024 films Challengers and Queer.

In a new interview with IndieWire, Reznor explained that working with directors such as Guadagnino has been far more rewarding than previous efforts within the traditional music industry.

“What we’re looking for [from film] is the collaborative experience with interesting people. We haven’t gotten that from the music world necessarily, for our own choice,” Reznor told the publication. “You mentioned disillusionment with the music world? Yes. The culture of the music world sucks. That’s another conversation, but what technology has done to disrupt the music business in terms of not only how people listen to music but the value they place on it is defeating.

“I’m not saying that as an old man yelling at clouds, but as a music lover who grew up where music was the main thing,” he continued. “Music [now] feels largely relegated to something that happens in the background or while you’re doing something else. That’s a long, bitter story.”

Despite Reznor’s comments about a disillusionment with the industry inspiring a greater desire to work on film projects, this year has also seem him share comments to the contrary. In April, Reznor noted that his work with Ross had left the pair eager to work on a new Nine Inch Nails album.

“[Soundtrack work has] managed to make Nine Inch Nails feel way more exciting than it had been in the past few years,” he said. “I’d kind of let it atrophy a bit in my mind for a variety of reasons.” Ross added he feels, “excited about starting on the next record… I think we’re in a place now where we kind of have an idea.”

Currently, no further details on when Nine Inch Nails’ prospective new album may arrive, though Reznor and Ross were reportedly also working on a TV series, a short film, a video game, and a festival.