--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After coming from a major label, I…" description: "\"After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure it out because they d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/trent-reznor-1853_after_after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realiz_54632.jpg" --- # After coming from a major label, I realized the entire… ![“After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure it out because they don't even use the technology, and they're oblivious to how people consume music these days.” quote by Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/trent-reznor-1853_after_after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realiz_54632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/trent-reznor-1853_after_after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realiz_54632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/trent-reznor-1853_after_after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realiz_54632.jpg) > “After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure it out because they don't even use the technology, and they're oblivious to how people consume music these days.” [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker observes that traditional record labels are obsolete, failing to adopt modern technology and understand current music consumption habits. **In simple terms:** Labels are outdated and tech‑inept. Key Takeaway Industry disruption demands new distribution models. Themes industry disruption technology adoption consumer behavior music business digital transformation Mood critical cautious forward‑looking Type observation industry critique When to use this quote - independent artists seeking distribution - labels trying to modernize - music executives planning strategy - tech startups entering music - fans discovering music online Key Concepts label obsolescence streaming platforms artist autonomy data‑driven marketing Practical Applications - direct‑to‑fan streaming services - AI‑driven recommendation engines Questions to Reflect On - How can artists bypass traditional gatekeepers? - What tech can labels adopt to stay relevant? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [Unless you are oblivious to your own suffering, you have no right to be oblivious to other people's suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/unless-you-are-oblivious-to-your-own-suffering-you-have-no-right-to/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [You've got to be oblivious to other people, the push and pull of other people's opinions, the way other people measure success. It's then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/you-ve-got-to-be-oblivious-to-other-people-the-push-and-pull-of-other/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [The most oblivious people are often the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meyer/the-most-oblivious-people-are-often-the-happiest/) [George Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meyer/) > [If you're oblivious to other people, chances are pretty good that you're going to hurt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-deresiewicz/if-you-re-oblivious-to-other-people-chances-are-pretty-good-that-you/) [William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-deresiewicz/) > [“I'm saying it's totally oblivious to how people feel. Take the ocean, for instance. You can love it, but it doesn't love you back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-anne-love/i-m-saying-it-s-totally-oblivious-to-how-people-feel-take-the-ocean/) D. Anne Love > [“Groups of people who take up the entire sidewalk so you have to step onto the road to go around them are a definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wildbow/groups-of-people-who-take-up-the-entire-sidewalk-so-you-have-to-step/) wildbow > [You wait all your life to be signed by a major label, and then when they sign you, they don't want you to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/you-wait-all-your-life-to-be-signed-by-a-major-label-and-then-when/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [With a Grammy, if you're releasing your record with a major label, you have a chance with any record. You also have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/with-a-grammy-if-you-re-releasing-your-record-with-a-major-label-you/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [We had this budding baby band going and we hadn't reached that development we wanted to reach before we got signed to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-peterson/we-had-this-budding-baby-band-going-and-we-hadn-t-reached-that/) [Debbi Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-peterson/) > [We're so humbled and lucky to be in a position where we've been a four-piece for over 15 years. We're signed to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/we-re-so-humbled-and-lucky-to-be-in-a-position-where-we-ve-been-a/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [I had every major label in the world - I mean, any label that dealt with rap music wanted to sign me. I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-40/i-had-every-major-label-in-the-world-i-mean-any-label-that-dealt-with/) E-40 > [My ultimate goal was to make the music that I wanted to make, and give shows. I was never going to get a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-jayne/my-ultimate-goal-was-to-make-the-music-that-i-wanted-to-make-and-give/) [Erika Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-jayne/) > [Signing to a major label was an experiment for us. It was a challenge: working in a big studio with a producer was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/signing-to-a-major-label-was-an-experiment-for-us-it-was-a-challenge/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [As a matter of fact I don't know of one artist as long as I've been alive that they put in regular rotation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slaine/as-a-matter-of-fact-i-don-t-know-of-one-artist-as-long-as-i-ve-been/) [Slaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slaine/) > [I would be a huge hypocrite if I didn't tell you that at one time in my life I thought the way that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-would-be-a-huge-hypocrite-if-i-didn-t-tell-you-that-at-one-time-in/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) ## More by Trent Reznor > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Perfect little dream, The kind that hurts the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/perfect-little-dream-the-kind-that-hurts-the-most/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Sometimes the worst thing that can happen is, 'Oh, I'm on stage playing a song,' because you're daydreaming about something else, you're on autopilot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/sometimes-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-is-oh-i-m-on-stage-playing/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [To switch right into creativity usually takes a bit of time, and this came up right at that juncture where I thought, okay, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/to-switch-right-into-creativity-usually-takes-a-bit-of-time-and-this/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I had to come to terms about becoming an addict, which, for a long time, I lied to myself about the status of until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-had-to-come-to-terms-about-becoming-an-addict-which-for-a-long-time/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Left to my own devices, in the face of the climate change deniers, the madness and the greed-based decision-making, and propaganda that's been floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/left-to-my-own-devices-in-the-face-of-the-climate-change-deniers-the/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [It probably wasn't until Nine Inch Nails played the first Lollapalooza that I actually went to a festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/it-probably-wasn-t-until-nine-inch-nails-played-the-first/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The band Grizzly Bear, I think they're excellent. There's a beauty and a musicality there that I wish would have been in vogue in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-band-grizzly-bear-i-think-they-re-excellent-there-s-a-beauty-and/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I'll be honest, watching the music industry collapse has been demoralizing and disheartening at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-ll-be-honest-watching-the-music-industry-collapse-has-been/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Schoolwork came easy to me. I learned to play piano effortlessly. I was coasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/schoolwork-came-easy-to-me-i-learned-to-play-piano-effortlessly-i-was/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [My experience with record labels throughout my career has generally fallen into wishing I could do things that they're not built to do, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/my-experience-with-record-labels-throughout-my-career-has-generally/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [If you have something to say, then say it. Express yourself and break the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/if-you-have-something-to-say-then-say-it-express-yourself-and-break/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The first set of lyrics for the first songs I ever wrote, which are the ones on 'Pretty Hate Machine,' came from private journal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-first-set-of-lyrics-for-the-first-songs-i-ever-wrote-which-are/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [For each film, you try to create a whole world sonically, having a sense of identity through instruments used, or recording techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/for-each-film-you-try-to-create-a-whole-world-sonically-having-a/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) [Explore all 203 Trent Reznor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) Deke Richards > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) Bert Lahr > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. 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