Here I was, just about to write about microformats, when this came along…
A new Nine Inch Nails album is coming out in April. Thanks to our good friend Kellie, and her great link comment, I learned about a series of abstract websites pertaining to the theme and (from the rumors) storyline of the new album. To say the new album is political is like saying the sun is warm – just a warning to those of you that do not enjoy politics. Yes, I know, this has been done before. Yes, I know, this is a form of marketing. Still, the tone and the way it comes off just seems different than other viral marketing campaigns.
A lot of people are not big fans of viral marketing. I, however, see a great beauty to it. Most viral marketing I have been exposed to is quite creative and engages the user’s imagination. On top of it, it is much less money-driven than traditional advertising methods. With viral marketing, success is dependent on the individual to appreciate it enough to want to share it. Traffic and buzz can be artificially generated, but I have noticed that method tends to fizzle out very quickly if there is not a genuine interest from the public. I rather like the idea of marketing that is depends on the public’s interest rather than cash. I see how this project can turn people off. Still, for myself, I find it absolutely fascinating.
UPDATE – New Nine Inch Nails song found on a usb drive in a bathroom in portugal. This is getting cooler and cooler by the minute. In case the URLs hosting the MP3 die, you can download it from Some Random Dude (sorry, this is absolutely killing my bandwidth).
The Discussion
8 Comments on “Daily Delicious – Nine Inch Nails New Album Spawns Abstract Web Sites”kellie
14.02.2007 2:42 pmHere’s a cliff notes version of what’s taking place in this epic story:
http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewtopic.php?t=20265&sid=f23daf9eac511945a7971825d9ec181b
kellie
14.02.2007 3:52 pmAs much as I hate most advertising, I must admit, this project is pure genius, especially when I survey contemporary music and find American Idol mania. I have been delving into the NIN campaign throughout the day to learn more about the mystery behind the album. Each link, each user theory, each discovery around the world, is pushing me deeper into the rabbit hole.
What makes it brilliant above other viral campaigns? There’s obviously a comprehensive story line behind the music and it will eventually tie all of the obscure pieces together to create an epic masterpiece of art, design, multimedia, popular music, and literature. High and low brow combined. There is a mythology being created with characters and events that incorporate clever metaphors, political ideology, concepts borrowed from current events, etc. All of this make me think of black and white art films like La Jetee. The novels 1984 and Brave New World. The eccentric authors Thomas Pynchon, Philip K. Dick. I have no doubt that NIN is paying homage to something or someone in the world of art and academia.
Trent Reznor and Co. outdid themselves and really created something intelligent, beautiful and worthy of investigation. Most impacting is the fact that NIN has created a frightening new world that not so subtly parallels ours…
somerandomdude
14.02.2007 4:05 pmBy the way, 42 Entertainment is responsible for this campaign. Pretty cool work.
Steve Tucker
14.02.2007 4:18 pmNIN are cool, though its been aaaaaaaaaages since I’ve listened to em :D
Alex
14.02.2007 9:18 pmRad. Do I just have to be famous before I can start leaving shit anywhere and getting called clever for it? I’ve lost a lot of stuff, plenty of it in bathrooms. Let me know.
Yooch
15.02.2007 1:30 pmI love http://anotherversionofthetruth.com/
SO compelling. Very optomistic and then pessimistic. I can’t tell if it’s either or or both.
Frickin awesome find kellie. U rocksors.
Designing Good - Collection 16 » SOME RANDOM DUDE
15.02.2007 2:27 pm[...] $16.50Want to help a good cause? Want to get this number higher? Learn how. // « Daily Delicious – Nine Inch Nails New Album Spawns Abstract Web Sites [...]
This Week’s Weekly Links of the Week - Week 38 » SOME RANDOM DUDE
18.02.2007 9:20 pm[...] Yeah, I know – I am WAY late on this week’s links. I was a little distracted with the events of the weekend and had limited access to the internet. I am back-dating this post nonetheless just for the sake of records. Every once in a while, this seems to occur – I try to keep it to a minimum, but life happens. The Nine Inch Nails viral campaign caught my attention (as well as many others) this week. You can check out all the websites put up under the Noteworthy Sites section. [...]