Apple rejects NIN iPhone app

Tue 5th May, 2009 in International News

The righteous anger of Trent Reznor has found a new target: Apple. The company rejected an update of the Nine Inch Nails iPhone app on the grounds of “objectionable content”. The content in question is the band’s classic album from 1994 The Downward Spiral.

Reznor broke the news via his Twitter feed, before posting the email sent by Apple on the NIN website. Then, being Trent Reznor, he responded with an open letter of fire and brimstone. Move over Chris Cornell, welcome Steve Jobs.

“You can buy The Downward Fucking Spiral on iTunes, but you can’t allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it,” he rages. “Come on Apple, think your policies through and for fuck’s sake get your app approval scenario together.”

Reznor also draws a comparison between Apple’s rejection and the feud between NIN and Wal-Mart a few years back. The man would make a good debater, if he toned down the “fucks”.

“I’ll voice the same issue I had with Wal-Mart years ago, which is a matter of consistency and hypocrisy,” the letter continues. “Wal-Mart went on a rampage years ago insisting all music they carry be censored of all profanity and “clean” versions be made for them to carry. Bands (including Nirvana) tripped over themselves editing out words, changing album art, etc to meet Wal-Mart’s standards of decency – because Wal-Mart sells a lot of records. NIN refused, and you’ll notice a pretty empty NIN section at any Wal-Mart.

“My reasoning was this: I can understand if you want the moral posturing of not having any “indecent” material for sale – but you could literally turn around 180 degrees from where the NIN record would be and purchase the film “Scarface” completely uncensored, or buy a copy of Grand Theft Auto where you can be rewarded for beating up prostitutes. How does that make sense?”