New York Magazine has an interesting interview with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. While the focus is on Reznor’s collaboration with Saul Williams, Reznor also cuts loose on the state of the music industry.

“It’s just an awkward time right now to be a musician,” says Reznor. “The reality is that people think it’s okay to steal music. There’s a whole generation of people, that’s all they’ve known.”

“I used to buy vinyl,” adds Reznor. “Today, if you do put out a record on a label, traditionally, most people are going to hear it via a leak that happens two weeks — if not two months — before it comes out. There’s no real way around that. I’m truly saddened because I think music has been devalued, so that it’s just a file on your computer, and it’s usually free. But we can’t change that. What we can do is try to offer people the best experience that we can provide them. Will it work? I don’t know. But I think it’s a great way to get music out to people who are interested.”

“At the end of the day, all I care about is the integrity of the music, and that the feeling of those who experience it is as untainted as possible. I’d rather it not be on an iPod commercial. I’d rather it not be a ringtone that you have to get with a free cell phone or any of that bullshit.”

“How long before [record companies] are irrelevant? Who knows? They seem to be doing everything they can to make sure that happens as quickly as possible.”