Prominent Australian Festival Promoter Says Trent Reznor “Wants More Sophisticated Fanbase”

AJ Maddah, named the most powerful person in Australia’s music industry, has just become the center of a Twitter frenzy. Yesterday, Maddah took to his social media account to rant about Trent Reznor’s alleged desire for a ‘more sophisticated fanbase.’ This has led to a fall out between the band and Soundwave Festival’s most prominent promoter.

Nine Inch Nails has been making headline after headline, with the announcement of their new album Hesitation Marks set to release in September 2013. The album’s announcement was swiftly followed by evocative album artwork and bevvy of incredible debut performances. The band’s summer festival performances at Fuji Rock and Outside Lands, continued to roll out new material from the September album, including the stream of upcoming singles like “Copy of A,” “Everything,” and “Find My Way.”

With all of the incredible momentum for Hesitation Marks, the latest NIN news has fans questioning the direction the band is going. Yesterday, prominent Australian festival promoter AJ Maddah, announced on his personal Twitter account that Trent Reznor has verbally made known his desires for a new ‘sophisticated fanbase.’ Maddah continued to paraphrase this as being the reason NIN wouldn’t be attending the Soundwave Festival in Australia. Read Maddah’s Twitter rant below.

@sarahgallarello Sorry Sarah. Sadly Trent wants to be mainstream now and reach Justin Timberlake's audience 🙁

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 23, 2013

@JamesQuick42 Not sure tbh. I'm no longer interested in working with them. I happen to like their existing fanbase.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 23, 2013

@ThomasPowell5 Up their own arse sadly.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) August 23, 2013

Today Trent Reznor made a coy reply to Maddah’s social media tirade, and was clear on his intent to reach out to Nine Inch Nails’ Australian fanbase.

Australia: we love you and we're coming. Didn't feel Soundwave was the right vibe for us or our fans – working on a better scenario.

— Trent Reznor (@trent_reznor) August 23, 2013