Nine Inch Nails uses disturbing viral marketing and toilet placement
Posted on 16. Feb, 2007 by Jonathan Cherry in Uncategorized
Although the old NIN classic ‘Closer’, has to be one of the best alternative tracks ever produced – time moves on, and Trent Reznor is preparing to unleash a new album; Year Zero.
But instead of smashing Las Vegas hotel rooms or getting arrested for drug possession like most other rock stars do to promote an album, the NIN marketing machine have created a series of disturbing, conspiracy theory-like websites which are unraveling, and being discovered by fans like an episode of ‘Skatterjag’.
Strangely enough, the story actually began on the back of a T-shirt
sold on NIN’s current European tour. Dates and cities are listed, with
certain letters highlighted. When those letters were arranged, they
spelled out the phrase "I am trying to believe," which most saw
as just another statement of shattered hope from NIN mastermind Trent
Reznor … that was, until one particularly, uh, "enterprising"
individual decided to Google the phrase.
In addition to the series of websites, a fan attending a NIN concert in Lisbon supposedly picked up a flash drive with an MP3 of My Violent Heart, from the Nine Inch Nails’ upcoming album – in the men’s toilets.
We too would have gleefully picked it up and run like a squealing girl to see what was on it.
More story detail: Weird Web Trail: Conspiracy Theory — Or Marketing For Nine Inch Nails LP? – MTV
NIN websites: I am trying to believe.com
Another version of the truth.com
