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Trent Reznor still working at Beats, though his role at Apple is unclear

Trent Reznor still working at Beats, though his role at Apple is unclear

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Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has worked with Beats for some time; as Chief Creative Officer, he was instrumental in the launch of Beats Music earlier this year. However, his role at the company since word of the Apple acquisition surfaced — or whether or not he still works there — has so far been uncertain. A Beats spokesperson told Rolling Stone that Reznor indeed still works at Beats, but it's unclear if his responsibilities have since changed.

Reznor's relationship with Beats dates back to 2012, when, in a New Yorker profile, he outlined his plans for a streaming service backed by the company that put curation at the fore. At the time, Reznor said that the service, "uses mathematics to offer suggestions to the listener... [but also] would present choices based partly on suggestions made by connoisseurs." Those plans crystallized into Daisy, the precursor to what eventually became Beats Music. However, his future there came into question after the acquisition talks, as his face has been conspicuously absent from the discussions.

Reznor himself has been mum about his position

Though Beats has worked to dispel rumors of Reznor's ouster, the musician himself has been mum on the subject so far. However, it can be said that Apple believes in the Beats philosophy. In a letter sent to Apple employees regarding to purchase, Tim Cook wrote, "Beats Music was built with deep respect for both artists and fans. We think it’s the first subscription service to really get it right." Whatever Reznor's formal position is, Apple hasn't yet hinted at bringing him into the fold.

Update 4pm ET: Trent Reznor confirmed on Twitter this afternoon that he is still the Chief Creative Officer for Beats, putting previous rumors to rest.