May 3rd, 2009
Trent Reznor responds to NIN app denial
The Nine Inch Nails iPhone app nin: access has generated a lot of interest from fans since it was first previewed then released in mid-April.
An updated version (1.0.3) of nin: access was recently denied access to the App Store for “objectionable content.” Reznor tweeted that it was rejected because of The Downward Spiral, later tweeting “Not even sure where to start with that one.”
Reznor tonight responded in more detail to the rejection in a post to the NIN forums. In it he points out the hypocrisy of his app’s rejected for objectionable content while the exact same song is available for purchase in the iTunes store.
He compares Apple’s apparent random censorship of apps (while music gets a free pass) to the situation artists had with Wal-Mart a few years back:
I’ll voice the same issue I had with Wal-Mart years ago, which is a matter of consistency and hypocrisy. 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?
You can buy The Downward F—ing Spiral on iTunes, but you can’t allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it. Geez, what if someone in the forum in our app says F— or C—? I suppose that also falls into indecent material.
And he’s right.
Apple rejects Tweetie and nin: access, but approves Baby Shaker? I don’t get it. it’s almost as if Apple is using automated tools to approve submitted apps.
Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.
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