Entertainment 1998

Chapter 94, Single "Dusk", released
Professionals are professionals!

Jiang Feng and Song Ke finalized the details of the cooperation between the two parties. Wang Jinghua immediately took out two standard contracts from her black bag, added a few notes, and asked the two to sign on the spot.

In this glorious era of records, efficiency is the main focus.

Song Ke's vision was indeed extraordinary. Before signing, he added a note to the two contracts [single "Twilight"].

Among the ten songs recorded by Jiang Feng, Song Ke chose this song at first sight to test the waters of the current Chinese music scene.

In his previous life, in 2000, the sales of the genuine album of the song "Twilight" released by Zhou Chuanxiong were no longer traceable, but the number of pirated copies of this album in the mainland directly exceeded 900 million copies, and there were dozens of covers of pirated albums containing this song alone.

Now, it is 1998, and the record market is even more prosperous than in 2000.

...

It is troublesome and simple for singers to release singles or albums. To put it in the succinct words of Jinghua Wang:
The first step is to produce songs. If you have money or are particularly confident in your songs, you can just hire someone to shoot a few MVs.

In the second step, the record company burns the finished songs onto tapes and CDs to form an album entity.

In the third step, the record company will distribute the album through distribution channels, including various music and video stores, shopping malls, bookstores, school stationery stores and all other places where albums can be sold.

Step 4. While carrying out step 3, the record company will promote the single or album through radio, television, and various print media.

Step 5, Sell!
This is easy to say, but if you break it down, there are many tricks involved.

Take the album "Singing and Traveling" released by pop diva Wang Fei last month as an example. The album was recorded using HDCD recording technology, and the creative team included well-known musicians such as Lin Xi, Chen Weiwen, Xin Weili, and Jiang Zhiren. The concept of the album is unrestrained and unconstrained. The "sunburned" head portrait on the album cover was designed for Wang Fei by the famous stylist THOMAS CHAN, and the photos of the Fifth Element and Jurassic Park were made on the inside pages...

The production cost of the entire album just for the above content is no less than 400 million RMB.

Well, in addition, for the subsequent release and sales, EMI Records has prepared 300 million copies of Wang Fei's album, and the distribution channels include music and video stores in major cities such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and Singapore.

Compared with Wang Fei, Jiang Feng at this moment is simply not worth mentioning in the music scene. Therefore, even though Song Ke, the founder of Maitian Music, is particularly optimistic about the song "Twilight", he dare not make too big a move.

After repeated discussions among Song Ke, Jiang Feng and Wang Jinghua, the two sides decided that the first batch of goods would be burned into 40 tapes and 5 CDs and put on the market.

This was the compromise that Song Ke made because the TV series "Love to the End" was about to be broadcast during prime time on the news and comprehensive channel of the national television station.

Otherwise, the production and sales costs of this single alone would be enough to overwhelm Wheatfield Music, a record company that has only been established for two years and is not very large in size.

……

After signing the contract, Jiang Feng returned to the Film Academy.

As for Song Ke's invitation to Wang Jinghua to stay and persuade Dou Wei to return to singing, Jiang Feng had no interest in watching it because he already knew the result. The arrogant Dou Wei had already become an immortal and it was impossible for him to sing in his previous style again.

Two days later, November 12nd.

Jiang Feng was supervising the editing of the movie "Moon" at the Beijing Film Studio when he received a physical sample CD of the single "Dusk" sent by Wheatfield Music Company.

The moment he saw the physical sample CD, Jiang Feng instantly understood one thing.

Why was Song Ke willing to use the song "Twilight" to test the Chinese music market when he refused to give up the copyright of the song?

Because the physical sample CD that Jiang Feng got was said to be a single, but in fact there were only 10 songs on the disc, making it a generic album.

In addition to the song "Dusk" as the main song, there are nine other songs, including "Train to Winter", "Long Lost Sea", "No Regrets for Youth", "B Minor After the Rain", "The Age of White Clothes Flying", and "Echo". Except for the first two songs, which are Pu Shu's personal singles, the other songs are all works by female singer Ye Bei.

Seeing this, Jiang Feng immediately became furious.

I immediately took out my cell phone, ready to call Song Ke and question him. This was not what we discussed at the beginning. The agreement only stated that this was a music single released by a friend, but it did not say that the two singers from your company wanted to take advantage of my popularity.

But before Jiang Feng could make the call, Song Ke called.

Brother Jiang, there's nothing we can do. One song cannot be sold at a high price. People nowadays are poor and they like things that are affordable. If an album only has one song, fans will always feel like they're losing out. But if you add nine more songs to make up the number, no matter what the quality is, as long as there are enough of them, people will be willing to pay for it.

Well, if you don’t believe me, just ask your agent, Sister Hua, to see if most record companies have dozens of these “tool songs” to increase sales so that they can create a miscellaneous album at any time.

But, Jiang Feng, don't worry.

Although our CD contains a total of 10 songs, the promotional focus is still on "Twilight".

If you don't believe me, take a look at the packaging of the CD. Isn't it all the name of the song "Twilight" as well as the lyrics and introduction of the song? Yes, and even the cover of the CD is a direct copy of the promotional poster of the TV series "Love to the End" starring you.

Generally speaking, Jiang Feng is a reasonable person, especially when his own strength does not allow it.

Therefore, after hearing Song Ke's explanation and seeing that "Twilight" indeed took up 90% of the entire packaging cover of the physical sample CD, and the remaining 10% was filled with 9 "tool songs" squeezed together in the corners, looking particularly pitiful, Jiang Feng just let the matter go.

"Twilight" is now available in all stores.

Although this music single is not perfect, Jiang Feng is still very happy. After all, this is the first step in his career takeoff.

Happy.

Then get ready to find someone to talk to.

Coming out of the Beijing Film Studio, passing through the small door, and arriving at the Film Academy, Jiang Feng raised his hand to look at his watch and saw that it was now 5: in the afternoon. He took out his cell phone and was about to call Yan Danchen.

I want to ask her if she is free tonight. If she is, I will invite you to the hotel and then tell you a big secret.

But before the call was made, a broadcast was heard on the campus of Beijing Film Academy.

"Good afternoon, listeners. This is Beijing Traffic Radio. I am the host Li Xia. Welcome to listen to "Everyday Music".

This evening, as usual, we would like to recommend you some nice songs. The first one is "Twilight" performed by the new singer Jiang Feng.

This is a very nice sad song, perfect for people to listen to quietly on their way home."

At this point, the voice of the female host Li Xia gradually faded away, and the melody of "Twilight" sounded, followed by Jiang Feng's slightly melancholy voice.

"Sadness doesn't get any better after spending the whole summer

Driving on the endless road
I feel like I'm leaving myself

Can't finish a song
... "

(End of this chapter)