Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 399 The winner takes it all
On November 24th, US time, Shen Juan, who had just finished a concert in Santa Clara, returned to Los Angeles with his team.

After getting my hair and makeup done at the hotel, and putting together an outfit and accessories.

LV, Tiffany & Co., Luppertin, Jaeger-LeCoultre.
As a human-shaped sales machine with immense commercial value, Shen Juan was adorned with expensive luxury goods from head to toe without compromising the overall look. In South Korea, this outfit could probably buy the clothing and accessories of all the artists at an awards ceremony.

As the American media, which loves to stir up trouble and create antagonism, said: Alex, who had a brief experience in K-pop, has brought a devastating blow to the K-pop industry. This blow is not only limited to the most obvious aspects of music and appearance. In fact, he has suppressed the South Korean idol industry system in every aspect.

So rather than saying Shen Juan is a martial arts master who came from K-pop, it's more accurate to say he's an "Avenger".

He is seeking revenge against every K-pop professional who failed to help him achieve his dream of becoming an idol, and even against the entire industry.

On the way to the Microsoft Theater, the venue for this year's AMAs awards ceremony, Shen Juan browsed news reports about the Leviathan Era tour on his phone.

"Starting in Shanghai on July 13th and now in Santa Clara, in nearly five months, with 59 concerts and $7.05 million in box office revenue! Alex Shen's The Leviathan Era Tour is the first tour in global history to potentially break the $7 billion mark at the box office!"

"That's right! If anyone in the world could do that, it would be Alex Shen! That's a fact known to everyone!"

“Alex Shen is a game-changer. The Leviathan phenomenon is sweeping the globe. We can see hundreds of millions of young people following his footsteps on social media platforms like TikTok. This is a very rare social phenomenon, and he has had a significant impact on the global economy.”

"Data suggests that Shen Juan's Leviathan era tour may help the Japanese economy avoid a potential recession."

"We have already felt the economic impact he has on the tour cities. With less than a week to go before Shen Juan's Leviathan Era tour arrives in Seoul, let's wait and see what kind of audio-visual feast this singer, whom Rolling Stone calls the world's leading pop superstar, will bring us."

"Shen Juan himself is an economic giant, and his Leviathan Era tour has brought a huge economic wave to the world."

"This weekend, the arrival of global superstar Alex Shen quickly impacted Madrid's economy. I was fortunate enough to experience the atmosphere in Paris a while ago, and this is a tour that can dominate the entire venue. Not only locals, but fans from all over the country came to contribute to the GDP."

"Good news for Bangkok's economic recovery: market research shows that Shen Juan's tour in the United States directly boosted economic benefits by more than $20 billion. It is reported that this Asian star will bring his Leviathan Era tour to Bangkok next January. Let's wait and see."

There was almost no controversy; it received overwhelmingly positive reviews.

After all, tours and movies are quite similar; box office figures are real and reliable, and tours are even more authoritative.

Because high-grossing movies don't necessarily have good reviews, while high-grossing tours rarely have audiences complaining.

So the only remaining question is:
This seven-month, 85-show tour is expected to break the $7 billion mark at the box office.

Honestly, he cares about this a lot.

After all, 9 million and 10 billion are worlds apart.

He wants more than just to be number one; he wants to be a groundbreaking number one that will create a new history!

However, it still seems quite difficult now.

After all, we'll be returning to Asia soon.

Although the number of people here who want to see the tour is definitely no less than in Europe and America, there is still a certain gap in the average ticket price.

Putting aside other things, Shen Juan's average ticket price in China is about $130, while in the United States it is $200, and in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, it has reached $300. In this era before concert ticket prices have collectively increased, it can definitely be called an astronomical price.

Therefore, it would indeed be difficult for the remaining 26 concerts outside of Europe and America to generate $3 million in box office revenue.

But it doesn’t matter.

Anyway, there's the upcoming sense of duty to use as a reason.

Shen Juan's publicly announced tour plan is to run from July this year to June next year, completing a double cycle of "Asia-North America-Europe-South America-Asia". However, he actually only plans to finish the first cycle at the end of January next year and then announce its end under the pretext of "bringing in the heart".

So if we're still a little short of the billion mark, we can use the last bit of time before the end of the campaign to add more shows overseas to make up for it, or wait until the campaign has stabilized a bit, and then, under the guise of comforting the fans, find time to hold a few more shows, claiming it's to fulfill the promise we made.

Moreover, after seeing how exaggerated the economic benefits brought by the Leviathan Era tour were, many countries would definitely be willing to spend millions of US dollars as "concert subsidies" like Singapore did, to invite Shen Juan to hold tours in their countries.

So just relax.

there's always a solution to any problem.

As long as the mind does not slip, there are more solutions than difficulties.

(First set an exorbitant ticket price, then lower the price if they don't sell out)
Six pm.

Shen Juan arrived at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles by car.

First, as is customary, they made their appearance on the red carpet.

Amidst frenzied screams, Shen Juan arrived at the waiting area in front of the red carpet to be interviewed live across the United States by the host.

He offered some polite thanks to everyone about love and peace, then expressed his ambition to bring home as many trophies as possible tonight. He then discussed the phenomenal tour that has already grossed over $700 million, sharing some interesting stories from behind the scenes.
Finally, after making her official appearance on the red carpet, she followed the staff through the crowded streets to enter the inner area.

Shen Juan was very familiar with this kind of social occasion, so he handled everything with great ease.

Taylor greeted him with a smile when he arrived.

She first congratulated Shen Juan on his tour's box office exceeding 700 million US dollars, and then wished him success in breaking through 1 billion US dollars. It should be noted that the combined box office of her previous five world tours was only over 900 million US dollars, while Shen Juan's achievements in just one tour this year were equivalent to five of hers.

So it's really hard not to feel envious and jealous.

Shen Juan said that he has only temporarily become number one in the world. Maybe after Taylor finishes re-recording the album next year, his popularity will explode to an unimaginable level. At that time, if he holds a concert and performs these old albums as a series, he will definitely achieve great results.

Taylor was immediately stunned and stood there dumbfounded, feeling that what the media said was true, Alex was a genius!
After regaining her senses, she gave him a very warm hug, which caused fans from both sides in the stands to scream wildly.

If she didn't know that boyfriends are disposable and only friends have a lifetime shelf life, she would really want to have a relationship with Shen Juan, this leader of Generation Z, and then draw inspiration from him for her creative work, learn from his genius mind, and make up for her own shortcomings in personality and ability.

When Selena came over to chat with him, he switched to a "cool and silent" attitude to deal with her perfunctorily.

Both Jelena and Jelena are marketing masters; they'll stop at nothing to generate buzz and attention.

Whenever Bieber lacks exposure or traffic after his marriage, he pulls stunts to make the public believe that he still has feelings for Selena Gomez.

And Selena Gomez is pretty awesome too.

In the name of publicity, she started dating Charlie Puth during her on-again, off-again relationship with Justin Bieber. But then something really weird happened: she didn't let him touch her for a whole month, which left him dumbfounded. He ended up writing "Attention" to commemorate this experience of being manipulated.

So Shen Juan can at most maintain a good relationship with one of them. Does he want to "have his cake and eat it too" and get two streams of traffic?
There's only a possibility of a rollover.

After all, neither of them are easy to deal with.

Then, the increasingly overweight Ma Long walked over with a smile and gave Shen Juan a big hug. Shen Juan felt that his voice seemed to be getting hoarse, and told him to smoke and drink less, but Fatty Long said that this was his biggest hobby in life, and Shen Juan had nothing to say about it.

As for Li Nacha, there's no need to say more; they collaborated on many songs at the Santa Clara concert just last night.

So a simple nod and a greeting are all it takes to finish the job.

The awards ceremony officially began after a short chat.

The opening performance was a medley of Selena Gomez's songs.

how to say?

I pooped a big thing.

Although AMAs has always had issues with sound recording, it's still quite an achievement to be able to run it successfully; it's somewhat similar to its predecessor.

Bieber is also known for his numerous car accidents.

Therefore, Shen Juan's expression was very serious, to avoid being caught by the live broadcast camera pouring oil for his senior with a playful smile.

Following closely behind was the host, a Black female singer named Ciara, who also delivered a song and dance performance.

The audience erupted in applause and screams.

"Wow! This is the American Music Awards! I can't believe I'm performing at the AMAs for the second year in a row, and now I'm hosting you guys, it feels amazing! It's a little unreal, but anyway, let's keep the party going!"

The first award presented tonight is for Most Popular Alternative Rock Artist, and the presenter is the lead actor from the movie Black Panther.

Billie Eilish beat Imagine Dragons and Panic! At The Disco to win her first AMA trophy.

The award for most popular pop/rock song, which was presented later, went to Monkey's "Without Me".

Its upset performance and its victory over other nominated games make it a strong contender for the TGA Game of the Year.

With two hugely popular singles, "Blind Light" and "Old Town Road," the award was given to a song that even the Sunflower Movement couldn't beat.
So where are the sunflowers?

Sunflower was excluded because Shen Juan had too many songs nominated this year (Blind Light + Old Town Road).

That's just outrageous!

Fans are furious, spamming question marks like crazy. This is the answer that no one is satisfied with!
However, Shen Juan's mood was not affected.

Because he knew very well that this was a small prize for dividing up pork.

He wasn't born and raised in the United States, so it was impossible for him to monopolize and reap all the honors.

So I'll just use it as a makeshift card.

You might lose the sesame seeds, but you might gain the watermelon in the end.

So, after about half an hour of the awards ceremony, the suspense of another major award tonight was about to be revealed.

Most popular pop/rock album.

The three nominated albums are:
Ariana Grande's "thank u, next", Taylor Swift's "Lover", and Shen Juan's "Leviathan".

After the nomination videos finished playing, the two presenters, holding envelopes containing the results, directly announced the answers:

"Great! The American Music Awards have given this award to 'Leviathan' by Alex Shennnnn!!!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

The fans in the stands instantly erupted in cheers.

The surrounding guests immediately stood up and applauded for the new king of pop, offering their heartfelt blessings and affirmation.

"Well deserved, you absolutely deserve this award!"

“Alex, I must send you my best wishes.” “Alex, you certainly did better than me.”

Listen to the screams behind you, your fans can't wait! Go and enjoy your moment!

Amidst the continuous cheers and screams from the fans and the congratulations from his colleagues, a beaming Shen Juan first stood up from his seat and hugged Taylor next to him, as well as his good homies Ma Long and Li Na sitting on the other side.

Then, full of confidence, he strode onto the stage and accepted his first award of the night from the presenter.

Standing before the standing microphone, Shen Juan looked down at the crystal trophy in his hand and began his acceptance speech:

"Thank you for the applause and cheers, thank you to the American Music Awards, and thank you to everyone in my company and team."

"To be honest, it's an honor to be nominated alongside such great and legendary musicians as Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift."

The live stream camera focused on Taylor in the audience, who was smiling broadly, clearly enjoying Shen Juan's compliments.

"And then there are my fans, my Alovers, without your screams I wouldn't be where I am today."

The live broadcast director then switched the camera to the audience stands, to the area that was collectively occupied by Shen Juan's fans.

The Red Sea shimmered, a breathtaking sight witnessed by all viewers watching the awards ceremony live.

"Leviathan is a story we wrote together, and tonight it finally has the coolest ending! And then..." Shen Juan glanced down at the gleaming trophy in his hand, then looked up at the surging sea of ​​red in the stands, shrugged, and smiled, "The party continues, let's party until dawn!"

Amidst thunderous applause and cheers from the audience and guests, Shen Juan walked off the stage with his trophy.

After changing his clothes in the lounge and staying there for about fifteen minutes, Shen Juan took a short break before returning to the main area at the reminder from the staff outside.

The moment of truth for the annual collaboration has arrived.

"The following are the nominees for Best Collaboration of the Year: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, Lina Cha and Alex Shen, Marshmallow and Bastille, Alex Shen and Ariana Grande, and Alex Shen and Post Malone."

Of the five nominations, Shen Juan received three.

There's really no suspense involved.

Although Old Town Road achieved phenomenal success, it was largely due to the song itself, rather than the collaborators.

And without a doubt, Alexana is the most popular CP in the music industry in recent years, second only to Jelena!

So, the suspense is revealed directly: "Senorita, starring Alex Shen and Ariana Grande!"

Amid cheers from the audience, Shen Juan returned to the stage, but unfortunately Ariana Grande was not present.

Therefore, Shen Juan on stage looked somewhat lonely.

“It’s a bit strange to be standing here alone, but I still have to thank Ari for sharing her luck with me. Although she’s not here, she told me that if we win an award today, we must thank Alexana’s fans for her. It’s you guys who made Senorita so popular!”

Although the couple was proven to be fake, their open and honest attitude actually won them favor from the public.

"Then I would like to thank the judges for recognizing Ari and me, and also thank Post and Nas for their nominations."

The live stream camera focused on Ma Long and Li Na in the audience; one shook his head with a wry smile, while the other dramatically rolled her eyes.

"Finally, I hope I can meet a partner like Ari who can carry me to victory next year. Let's wait and see."

After stepping down from the stage and handing the trophy to the staff, the awards ceremony continued smoothly.

One singer after another took to the stage to complete their performances.

One by one, the award winners took to the stage to give their acceptance speeches.

During this period, Shen Juan won five prestigious awards in succession: Annual Tour, Most Popular Pop/Rock Male Artist, Most Popular Rap/Hip Hop Song (Old Town Road), Most Popular Country Song (10000 Hours), and Most Popular Social Artist.

By now, he has been on stage seven times and won seven trophies, making him the clear winner of this year's AMAs.

In fact, it would be difficult for him to win so many awards.

At the very least, awards in sub-genres like hip-hop and country music wouldn't be given to someone like him, a "pop singer" who's famous for pop music.

But who can blame him for having collaborated with so many singers?
The collaboration between Li Na and the film "Old Town Road"

10000 Hours features a collaboration with Justin Bieber.

Even if the intention is to distribute the prize money to increase overall attention and not concentrate all the important awards on one person, the feelings of these guys should still be taken into account.

This gave the organizers a reason to break with convention and make him constantly run back and forth between his seat and the stage.

Of course, Alovers, who was watching the live stream, was very happy to see this "winner-takes-all" situation.

After all, in their eyes, Shen Juan's Leviathan absolutely deserved all the praise and honors they could think of.

No one can stand up to Shen Juan this year!
As a result, they all took to various social media platforms to express their thoughts and opinions on Shen Juan's sweep of this year's AMAs.

[Seven trophies piled up like a pyramid! Is Alex turning the AMAs into a personal awards showcase?]

Seamlessly switching between pop, country, and hip-hop, is there anyone in the world better at crossover than Alex?

Alex looked so radiant and charming when he accepted his award! He's totally my dream guy!

Although Ariana Grande wasn't there, Alexana still showered us with sweetness. Thanks to Alex for carrying the show on his own! Next time we collaborate on an award ceremony, please make sure to bring your wife along! We want to see Alexana and Ariana together again! We want a performance that rivals "Senorita"! Alexana is the best!

[It was so sweet when Taylor clapped for Alex. Joe Alwyn, I'm sorry, but I really think Alex is a better match for Taylor than you are. I really hope they have a deeply memorable relationship and then write songs for each other after breaking up! It would be such a waste if their songwriting talents didn't combine.]

[When "Leviathan" broke sales and streaming records, this outcome was to be expected; it truly deserved its success!]

[Seven times on stage, seven times the audience screamed; we suggest AMAs be renamed "Alex and His Trophy Night"!]

[Grammy judges, take note! The VMAs and AMAs have shown you that anyone with a brain can see the obvious gap between Leviathan and its competitors. Alex's advantage this year is absolutely overwhelming. So, if you don't want to get criticized, you know what to do.]

As time ticked by, the American Music Awards ceremony came to its final stage.

At this moment, another important grand prize awaits to be announced.

The award presenter, Oscar and Golden Globe winner Regina Kim, walked gracefully onto the stage carrying an envelope containing the results.

"The festivities continue, but now I am excited to announce and present this year's most prestigious awards."

"The following are the nominees for Artist of the Year."

"Drake, Ariana Grande, Boze Malone, Taylor Swift, Alex Shen!"

The cheers from the stands grew louder and louder in stages until they reached their peak when Shen Juan appeared.

The number of fans who came to the scene to show their support, or rather, the current size and level of enthusiasm of the fanbase, are already quite evident.

Perhaps Taylor Swift has higher name recognition, wider popularity, influence, and more widely sung songs, and has more fans and casual listeners.

But Shen Juan definitely has the advantage when it comes to fans.

This is the core key to East Asian artists' success in the US: fan culture and the cohesion of their fans make them invincible!
The American Music Award for Artist of the Year was given to...

After the room quieted down, the award presenter opened the envelope and took out a card containing the final results.

"Alex Shen!"

Hearing his name called out, hearing the thunderous screams behind him, and hearing the countless blessings from his colleagues that night, Shen Juan didn't rush to get up. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

My heart is beating so fast, and my head is spinning.

Every human being has a sentimental side.

How can one remain rational at all times?
That only means that nothing he has can excite him, and the glory he has gained cannot satisfy him.

Despite having already won seven trophies, would you say that you weren't nervous at all just now, or that you didn't care about this award at all?
That must be fake.

Ultimately, he was just an ordinary person, and naturally he wanted to achieve as many honors and accomplishments as possible.

This Artist of the Year award, which symbolizes the status of singers in the industry, is the most important award in the entire awards ceremony!
Amidst the welcoming crowd, Shen Juan high-fived each of them as he strode quickly toward the stage.

"Phew~" Standing in front of the familiar standing microphone, he took a deep breath and adjusted his breathing rhythm. His fingertips caressed the edge of the trophy, and he said with a mix of emotion and relief, "To be honest, when Ms. Regina called my name, I was so happy I exploded! Look at the names that were called along with me: Drake, Taylor, Ariana, Post Malone. They were already my role models and goals even before I officially debuted."

A few scattered, good-natured laughs came from the audience.

They don't think it's shameful, after all, everyone starts from humble beginnings, right?
"And then, what I want to say is..."

After a pause, Shen Juan gazed at the giant light-up signs held high in the center of the Red Sea in the distance, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "We come into this world not just to do what we are supposed to do, to build families, to continue the family line, and to be dutiful sons and daughters."

"We can also observe how flowers bloom, how water flows, how the sun rises, and how the sun sets. We can also observe some of the patterns of the world, find some interesting things, and use memories or images to preserve some of those moments. That's what we want to do."

“Our birth itself was an accident, but each of us is looking for cause and effect in it, so I feel honored to meet you in this process. I must thank my Alovers, it is you who engraved the name of a Chinese boy into the history of AMA with the Red Sea.”

After the cheers and applause from the audience gradually subsided, Shen Juan looked down at the gleaming trophy in his hand and said with a smile, "Finally, I want to say to everyone who is still pursuing their dreams: if you are struggling in the mud like I once was, then this trophy is the answer tonight."

"Nothing defines where you should stand."

"This trophy belongs to all the unknowns!"

"Thank you."

Shen Juan bowed deeply to the audience.

Applause and screams came like a tidal wave.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted "Alex!" This shout was like a fuse, and instantly, everyone in the entire Microsoft Theater joined in, chanting his name in unison.

A sincere gaze, a genuine smile, an acceptance speech as poetic as poetry, and a young man burning with earnest passion.

This stunning scene has become a cherished memory for many fans, one they will never forget.

　There will be another update tonight, posted later.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)