Nine Inch Nails are the uber pioneers for the Creative Industries. Those guys do everything right and are testing out a lot of ways to monetize their creative output. Somehow they understand the new setting and don’t blame the fans, instead they offer plenty of their stuff for free. This interview over at digg dialog offers so much insight for everyone who wants to step out into the world to build his creative capital.

Some of Trent’s ideas summed up

Hopefully this is rephrased in the right way

• Find your target audience and picture yourself in the future. Depending on your career wish you have to make different decisions in regard to your personal development. Mainstream artists should probably go another way, for example sign at a major lable, than underground or rather niche artists who would probably do best with word of mouth advertising and self publishing within their niche.
• People are not willing to pay for digital products they can get for free. Trent mentioned some kind of Poll at NIN.com where only 18% of the people would pay a small price with the artists getting the full share. This just underlines that you have to sell more than simple digital goods. Something that has value, not some simple product that can be easily copied and found everywhere around the web.
• The creative industries are changing and the big companies don’t want to lose their money and power, they don’t understand the natural evolution the internet has started. Being at the crossroads right now just tells us that we have no clue where this whole creative industry is going to. Just one thing is for sure, it’ll be a fun ride.
• Share with your fans, give them insight and the possibilities to work with your stuff. Sounded like this is one of the best ways to deepen the relationship with your fanbase.
• Build a business model out of limited and special editions, concerts and merchandise. Calculate your expenses and what you want to earn, moreover set realistic goals if you want to monetize your creative output. Selling just one thing is dead, you have to diversify your income streams.
• Marketing stunts and viral marketing are great ways to kickstart a career, but be sure that you have something to follow up.

It’s been an amazing, very thoughtful interview that really offers loads of different insights on the musical niche of the Creative Industries.