Editing Nine Inch Nails (section)

===''Year Zero'' (2006–2007)===
{{See also|Year Zero (album)}}[[File:AIR flier.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A black-and-white flier with the words "Art is Resistance" with a stenciled flag of four sections and a single star.|An Art is Resistance flyer from the [[Year Zero (alternate reality game)|''Year Zero'' alternate reality game]]]]
Nine Inch Nails' fifth studio album, ''[[Year Zero (album)|Year Zero]]'', was released on April 17, 2007, only two years after ''With Teeth'', a marked change in the slow pace from the release of previous albums. With lyrics written from the perspective of multiple fictitious characters, ''Year Zero'' is a [[concept album]] criticizing the [[United States government]]'s policies and their effect on the world fifteen years in the future.<ref name="Gigwise Year Zero">{{cite news| url = http://www.gigwise.com/article.php?contentid=29753| title = Trent Reznor Blasts the American Government| work = Gigwise.com| first = Jason| last = Gregory| date = March 26, 2007| access-date = April 20, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208141145/http://www.gigwise.com/article.php?contentid=29753| archive-date = December 8, 2008}}</ref> Critical response to the album was generally favorable, with an average rating of 76% on [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MetaCritic">{{cite web| title = Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero| website = [[Metacritic]]| url = https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/nineinchnails/yearzero?q=year%20zero| access-date = January 10, 2008| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081205115939/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/nineinchnails/yearzero?q=year%20zero| archive-date = December 5, 2008}}</ref>

The story takes place in the United States in 2022, which has been termed "Year 0", by the government, being the year America was reborn.<ref name="Frustration and Fury">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/arts/music/08pare.html?_r=3&ref=arts&oref=slogin&oref=slogin |title=Frustration and Fury: Take It. It's Free. |work=[[The New York Times]] |last=Pareles |first=Jon |date=June 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062223/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/arts/music/08pare.html?ex%3D1370577600%26en%3D8516369c0df0fffa%26ei%3D5124%26partner%3Dpermalink%26exprod%3Dpermalink |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=June 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It had suffered several major terrorist attacks, apparently by Islamic fundamentalists, including attacks on Los Angeles and [[Seattle]], and in response, the government seized absolute control of the country. The government is a Christian fundamentalist theocracy, maintaining control of the populace through institutions like the Bureau of Morality and the First Evangelical Church of Plano.<ref name="Kerrang">{{cite news|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=64684 |title=NINE INCH NAILS Mainman On New CD: 'I Wrote The Soundtrack To A Movie That Doesn't Exist' |work=Blabbermouth |date=January 3, 2007 |access-date=February 9, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309224642/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=64684 |archive-date=March 9, 2007 }}</ref> The government corporation Cedocore distributes the drug Parepin through the water supply, making Americans who drink water apathetic and carefree.<ref name="Best Buy bonus interview">{{cite video| first = Trent| last = Reznor| author-link = Trent Reznor| title = Year Zero Bonus DVD| medium = DVD| publisher = [[Best Buy]]}} Note: DVD included with pre-ordered copies of ''Year Zero'' from Best Buy.</ref> There are several underground rebel groups, mainly operating online, most notably Art is Resistance and Solutions Backwards Initiative.<ref name="Gigwise Year Zero" /> In response to the increasing oppression of the government, several corporate, government, and subversive websites were transported back in time to the present by a group of scientists working clandestinely against the authorities. The websites-from-the-future were sent to the year 2007 to warn American people of the impending dystopian future and to prevent it from ever forming in the first place.<ref name="Cooler Than Lost">{{cite magazine| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/staff-blog/year-zero-project-way-cooler-than-lost-20070222| title = "Year Zero" Project = Way Cooler Than "Lost"| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]| date = February 22, 2007| access-date = June 23, 2008| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120321202900/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/staff-blog/year-zero-project-way-cooler-than-lost-20070222| archive-date = March 21, 2012}}</ref>

[[Year Zero (alternate reality game)|An alternate reality game]] emerged parallel to the ''Year Zero'' concept, expanding upon its storyline. Clues hidden on tour merchandise initially led fans to discover a network of fictitious, in-game websites that describe an "[[Orwellian]] picture of the United States circa the year 2022".<ref name="MTVNews">{{cite web| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552470/20070215/nine_inch_nails.jhtml| title = Weird web trail: conspiracy theory—or marketing for nine inch nails LP?| author = Montgomery, James| publisher = MTV. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]| date = February 15, 2007| access-date = February 15, 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120530052130/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552470/nine-inch-nails-conspiracy-campaign.jhtml| archive-date = May 30, 2012}}</ref> Before ''Year Zero''{{'}}s release, unreleased songs from the album were found on [[USB flash drive|USB drive]]s hidden at Nine Inch Nails [[Performance 2007 Tour|concert venues]] in Lisbon and Barcelona, as part of the alternate reality game.<ref name="CoolerThanLost">{{cite magazine| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/22/year-zero-project-way-cooler-than-lost/| title = ''Year Zero'' Project = Way Cooler Than ''Lost''| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]| date = February 22, 2007| access-date = April 20, 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070408131235/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/22/year-zero-project-way-cooler-than-lost/ <!--Added by H3llBot-->| archive-date = April 8, 2007}}</ref> Fan participation in the [[alternate reality game]] caught the attention of media outlets such as ''[[USA Today]]'' and ''Billboard'', who have cited fan-site The NIN Hotline, forum Echoing the Sound, fan club The Spiral, and NinWiki as sources for new discoveries.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://content.usatoday.com/communities/popcandy/post/2007/02/157861/1| title = NIN's web of intrigue| first = Whitney| last = Matheson| work=[[USA Today]]| date = February 15, 2007| access-date = February 15, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/15/coachella-rocks-sprawl-nin-fans-marketing-teams-dream-aerosmith-pressed-for-time/| title = NIN fans = marketing team's dream| author = Goodman, Elizabeth| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]| date = February 15, 2007| access-date = April 12, 2011| url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327092928/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/15/coachella-rocks-sprawl-nin-fans-marketing-teams-dream-aerosmith-pressed-for-time/|archive-date=March 27, 2009}}</ref>

The album's first single, "[[Survivalism (song)|Survivalism]]", and other tracks from ''Year Zero'' were released as [[multitrack recording|multitrack]] audio files for fans to remix.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1177625582| title = Multitracks for 3 YZ songs posted on nin.com| publisher = The NIN Hotline| date = April 26, 2007| access-date = April 27, 2007| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130203073421/http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=4#1177625582| archive-date = February 3, 2013}}</ref> A remix album titled ''[[Year Zero Remixed]]'' was later released, containing remixes from ''Year Zero'' by other artists.<ref>{{cite web| last = Dombai| first = Ryan| url = https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11008-y34rz3r0r3m1x3d/| title = Nine Inch Nails – Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D – Album Review| publisher = [[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]| date = January 3, 2008| access-date = December 8, 2011| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120111193501/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11008-y34rz3r0r3m1x3d/| archive-date = January 11, 2012}}</ref> The remix album was Nine Inch Nails' final release on a major record label for over five years, as the act had completed its contractual obligation to [[Interscope Records]] and did not renew its contract.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=493407| title = Nine Inch Nails Announce Remix Album Details| publisher = [[FMQB]]. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc.| date = October 12, 2007| access-date = October 14, 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120223071101/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=493407| archive-date = February 23, 2012}}</ref> The remix album was accompanied by an interactive remix site with multitrack downloads and the ability to post remixes.<ref>{{cite web| title = remix.nin.com| publisher = Nine Inch Nails| url = http://remix.nin.com| access-date = November 27, 2007| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120207081506/http://remix.nin.com/| archive-date = February 7, 2012}}</ref>

Reznor planned a film adaption of the album<ref name="Kerrang! Radio">{{cite web| url = http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=362865&spid| title = Kerrang discusses movie possibility with Trent Reznor| work = [[Kerrang!]]| date = March 6, 2007| access-date = March 13, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070309122805/http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=362865&spid |archive-date = March 9, 2007}}</ref> and noted ''Year Zero'' as "part of a bigger picture of a number of things I'm working on. Essentially, I wrote the soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist."<ref name="Kerrang" /> The project moved into the television medium because of high costs for ''Year Zero'' as a film, then Reznor found American film producer [[Lawrence Bender]] and met with writers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/index.php#1186755282 | title = I hate Contact Music | author = leviathant | publisher = The NIN Hotline | date = August 10, 2007 | access-date = August 10, 2007 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070809135035/http://www.theninhotline.net/news/index.php#1186755282 | archive-date = August 9, 2007 }}</ref>
On August 10, 2007, Reznor announced that they would be taking the concept to television networks in an attempt to secure a deal: "We're about to pitch it to the network, so we're a couple of weeks away from meeting all of the main people, and we'll see what happens."<ref name="Dose">{{cite web | last = Adler | first = Heather | title = Nine Inch Nails Ready Apocalyptic Year Zero TV Show | work= [[Dose (magazine)|Dose]] | date = August 14, 2007 | url = http://www.dose.ca/music/story.html?id=ead25b9c-b7f0-44aa-92c7-d083b6c83e1a&k=48608 | access-date = August 19, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607090746/http://www.dose.ca/music/story.html?id=ead25b9c-b7f0-44aa-92c7-d083b6c83e1a&k=48608 | archive-date = June 7, 2007}}</ref> Since first announcing his plans for a television series, progress slowed, reportedly due to the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike|2007–2008 Writer's Guild strike]], but it nevertheless continued.<ref>{{cite news| newspaper=[[Herald Sun]]| date = April 4, 2008| last = Johnson| first = Neala| title = Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor approaches the future a free man|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/trent-reznor/story-e6frf9hf-1111115975722?nk=5f66a8101d1a058efe159e1e5826c100|access-date=February 1, 2015}}</ref> In 2010, the resultant miniseries, also named ''Year Zero'', was reported to be in development with [[HBO]] and [[BBC]] Worldwide Productions, with the screenplay and script written by Reznor and ''[[Carnivàle]]'' writer [[Daniel Knauf]],<ref>{{cite news| last = Boucher| first = Geoff| title = Trent Reznor and HBO moving forward with 'Year Zero' sci-fi series| work = [[Los Angeles Times]]| date = September 28, 2010| url = http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2010/09/28/trent-reznor-and-hbo-moving-forward-with-year-zero-sci-fi-series/| access-date = September 28, 2010| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100930172558/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2010/09/28/trent-reznor-and-hbo-moving-forward-with-year-zero-sci-fi-series/| archive-date = September 30, 2010}}</ref> but at the end of 2012 Reznor said that the project was "in a holding state".<ref>{{cite news| last = Miska| first = Brad| title = Trent Reznor Tells Fans "Year Zero" Is In A Holding State| work = Bloody Disgusting| date = November 13, 2012| url = https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3203215/tv-trent-reznor-tells-fans-year-zero-is-in-a-holding-state/| access-date = July 14, 2022}}</ref>