Notable

Q: What are other consequences of fans knowing more about the musicians they love? And also of being able to communicate with them? 

A: Another problem is it's too easy to listen to the opinion of the anonymous basement-dweller, and that's bad for art. Criticism hurts. Hearing someone say that you're a piece of shit or that the song you're insecure about sucks is harmful. And I have a hard time unhearing that stuff, so I really had to learn not pay attention. When I did Pretty Hate Machine, I didn't think anybody was going to hear it. Then suddenly it was, "Hey, X amount of people bought your record and it's time to write a new one." And you're thinking, I wonder what they liked about that other record I made? What if I want to take a detour into free jazz? How is that going to go over? When you're not thinking about the audience, you can make more pure art.

– Trent Reznor interviewed by David Marchese for NYMag.