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==Inspiration==
The release of ''Broken'' followed on from a major disagreement between [[Trent Reznor]] and his record label at the time, TVT Records, and the influence of the conflict is evident in multiple aspects of the record. After the credits in the packaging, a line reads "no thanks: you know who you fucking are" followed by "the slave thinks he is released from bondage only to find a stronger set of chains." This is most likely directed towards TVT's Steve Gottlieb, who refused to allow Reznor out of his contract, resulting in a legal battle between the two parties. A direct reference to Gottlieb appears in one of the performance music videos video for "Gave Up", where the words "Fuck you steve" can be spotted on a computer screen. The words "Eat your heart out, Steve" can also be heard in the beginning of "Physical".
Reznor has also stated that during the [[Pretty Hate Machine Tour]], the songs grew more aggressive when played by a live band compared to their studio counterparts. Violence on-stage also became a common feature at their shows as a result of the band venting pent-up frustration and anger on their instruments. Consequently, ''Broken'' sounds much more abrasive and harsher with the increased prominence of distorted guitars, amongst other things.