X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Trent Reznor Biography

Birth Name:Michael Trent Reznor

Birth Place:Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States

Profession Composer, Music department, Actor, Producer, Writer

Fast Facts

  • Has garnered multiple nominations and awards for his music, including an Oscar for his score in "The Social Network," and a Grammy for his score and soundtrack for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo․"
  • After a year of college at Allegheny College, he dropped out and moved to Cleveland, pursuing a music career
  • Quote: "I think fundamentally music is something inherently people love and need and relate to, and a lot of what's out right now feels like McDonalds․ It's quick-fix․ You kind of have a stomachache afterwards․"
  • Quote: "I would hope that the music that inspired me, that got me going, that talked to me, felt like it was coming from some place that had some true emotion and true integrity behind it․ I think that can reemerge․"
  • After joining and leaving several bands, he finally started his own called Nine Inch Nails, his first album reaching Gold status, and his second reaching No․ 2 on the 1994 Billboard 200 chart
  • Approached by director David Fincher to compose a score for the film "The Social Network," which won multiple awards and high praise
  • His home with a built in recording studio is an old renovated funeral home, which he did all of the renovations and added a door he salvaged from a former rented house
  • Has collaborated with artist David Bowie, produced music for Saul Williams, and discovered and produced for Marilyn Manson, as well as writing scores for multiple films

Awards

  • 2010ACCA-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2010BSFC Award-Best Use of Music in a Film: winner
  • 2010CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2010HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2010Sierra Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2010LAFCA Award-Best Music: winner
  • 2010SDFCS Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2010SLFCA Award-Best Music: winner
  • 2010WAFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2011ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2011Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score: winner
  • 2011EDA Award-Best Film Music or Score: winner
  • 2011ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2011COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2011CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2011Critics Choice Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2011DFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2011Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: winner
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2011ICS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2011INOCA-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2011IOMA-Best Original Score (Miglior colonna sonora): nominated
  • 2011OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: winner
  • 2011SLFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2011WAFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2011World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Soundtrack of the Year: nominated
  • 2012ASCAP Award-Top Box Office Films: winner
  • 2012EDA Award-Best Film Music or Score: winner
  • 2012Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music-: nominated
  • 2012COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2012Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2012DFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2012INOCA-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2012IOMA-Best Original Score (Miglior colonna sonora): nominated
  • 2012OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
  • 2013Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: winner
  • 2014ACCA-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2014FFCC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2014HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
  • 2014ICP Award-Best Original Score or Soundtrack: nominated
  • 2014PFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2014SDFCS Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2014SLFCA Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2014WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2015EDA Award-Best Film Music or Score: nominated
  • 2015COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2015Cinema Bloggers Award-Best Original Score - International Competition: nominated
  • 2015Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2015CCOP-Best Original Score (Melhor Banda Sonora): nominated
  • 2015GAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2015Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2015Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: nominated
  • 2015ICS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2015INOCA-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2015IOMA-Best Original Score (Miglior colonna sonora): nominated
  • 2015Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2015Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Music, Original Score: nominated
  • 2016HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Documentary: nominated
  • 2016HMMA Award-Best Original Song - Documentary: winner
  • 2020AFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020Black Reel-Outstanding Score: nominated
  • 2020BOFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2020BSFC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020CFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2020CFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2020Chlotrudis Award-Best Use of Music in a Film: nominated
  • 2020FFCC Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score of the Decade: nominated
  • 2020GWNYFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2020GWNYFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020GMS Award-Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television: nominated
  • 2020HCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
  • 2020LAFCA Award-Best Music: winner
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score): winner
  • 2020SCL Award-Outstanding Original Score for a Television or Streaming Production: nominated
  • 2020SFC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2020VHS Award-Best Use of Music: winner
  • 2020World Soundtrack Award-Television Composer of the Year: nominated
  • 2021Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score): nominated
  • 2021Oscar-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score): winner
  • 2021Saturn Award-Best Music: nominated
  • 2021Annie-Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature: winner
  • 2021AFCC Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021AFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021AFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021BAFTA Film Award-Original Score: nominated
  • 2021BAFTA Film Award-Original Score: winner
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Score: winner
  • 2021CIC Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021CIC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021COFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021Critics Choice Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021Critics Choice Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021DFWFCA Award-Best Musical Score: winner
  • 2021DFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021DFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021DFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021DFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021GAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021GAFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: winner
  • 2021Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: nominated
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2021GMS Award-Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television: winner
  • 2021HFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021Artisan Achievement Award-: winner
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021HFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021ICFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021ICFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021ICS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021ICS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021IFMCA Award-Best Original Score for an Animated Film: nominated
  • 2021IFC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021Sierra Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021LEJA Award-Best Musical Score: winner
  • 2021MNFCA Award-Best Music: winner
  • 2021MCFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021MCFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021NMFC Award-Best Music/Score: winner
  • 2021NDFS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021NDFS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021OFCC Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021OFCC Award-Best Body of Work: winner
  • 2021OFTA Film Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021OFTA Film Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021OFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021OFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021PCC Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021PCC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021PFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021SFBAFCC Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021SFBAFCC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021Satellite Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021SFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021SFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021SCL Award-Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film: winner
  • 2021SCL Award-Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film: nominated
  • 2021SCL Award-Outstanding Original Song for Visual Media: nominated
  • 2021SLFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2021SLFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2021UFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2021WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2021World Soundtrack Award-Film Composer of the Year: nominated
  • 2022FFCC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2022Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: winner
  • 2022HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
  • 2022HMMA Award-Best Original Song - Feature Film: nominated
  • 2022IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
  • 2022OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Score: winner
  • 2022SFC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2022SFC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2023CinEuphoria-Best Song (Original or Adapted) - International Competition: nominated
  • 2023CinEuphoria-Best Original Music - International Competition: nominated
  • 2023COFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2023DFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2023Chainsaw Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2023GWNYFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2023HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
  • 2023HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2023IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
  • 2023IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
  • 2023Sierra Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2023NDFS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2023NDFS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2023SCL Award-Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production: nominated
  • 2023Soundtrack Stars Award - Special Mention-Best Soundtrack: winner
  • 2024Annie-Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature: nominated
  • 2024Astra Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2024Astra Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2024AFCC Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2024BOFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2024BOFA-Best Music Score: nominated
  • 2024CFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2024CinEuphoria-Best Original Music - International Competition: nominated
  • 2024C.A.S. Award-Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures - Animated: nominated
  • 2024DFWFCA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
  • 2024FFCC Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2024GWNYFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2024HMMA Award-Best Original Score - Feature Film: nominated
  • 2024HMMA Award-Best Original Song - Feature Film: nominated
  • 2024IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
  • 2024IFJA Award-Best Musical Score: nominated
  • 2024Sierra Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2024LAFCA Award-Best Music Score: winner
  • 2024NYFCO Award-Best Use of Music: nominated
  • 2024NCFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2024PCC Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2024SDFCS Award-Best Use of Music: nominated
  • 2024SFBAFCC Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2024SFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2024SEFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2024SLFCA Award-Best Music Score: nominated
  • 2024VHS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2024WAFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025AFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2025AFCA Award-Best Score: nominated
  • 2025BOFA-Best Music Score: winner
  • 2025BOFA-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2025BOFA-Best Original Song: winner
  • 2025Windie-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2025Windie-Best Original Song: winner
  • 2025COFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025CACF Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025CACF Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2025Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
  • 2025Critics Choice Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025DFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025DFCS Award-Best Original Song: winner
  • 2025DFCA Award-Best Original Song: winner
  • 2025DFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2025DFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025GAFCA Award-Best Original Song: winner
  • 2025GAFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025Gold Derby Film Award-Original Score: winner
  • 2025Gold Derby Film Award-Original Song: winner
  • 2025Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2025Golden Globe-Best Original Score - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2025Grammy-Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: nominated
  • 2025HFCS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2025HFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025HFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2025Image Award-Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film: nominated
  • 2025ICFCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2025ICS Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2025KCFCC Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025LEJA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025LEJA Award-Best Song: nominated
  • 2025MNFCA Award-Best Music: winner
  • 2025MCFCA Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2025MCFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025NCFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025NCFCA Award-Best Original Song: winner
  • 2025NDFS Award-Best Original Song: winner
  • 2025NDFS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025OFCC Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025OFTA Film Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025OFTA Film Award-Best Original Song: nominated
  • 2025OFCS Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2025PFCA Award-Best Song: winner
  • 2025PFCA Award-Best Score: winner
  • 2025PCA Award-Best Original Score: nominated
  • 2025SCL Award-Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production: winner
  • 2025UFCA Award-Best Original Score: winner
  • 2026Saturn Award-Best Film Music: nominated
  • 2026HFCS Award-Best Song: nominated