How can you ascend to heaven when you are a star?

Chapter 428 Golden Melody Award Nomination

Time slipped by as they worked, and changes were quietly taking place within Tianxi Media.

After the bullying incident gradually faded from public view, a new face appeared among the company's senior management: Vice General Manager Chen Mingyuan.

Chen Mingyuan was a middle-aged man who wore gold-rimmed glasses. He always spoke slowly and deliberately, and often had a smile on his face, giving people the impression that he had a very good temper.

However, on his first day at work, he convened a two-hour meeting with the directors of various departments, the core of which was cost control.

Immediately after the meeting, he took a stack of reports to the artist management department and demanded a review of the profit-sharing ratios and compensation clauses for all artists.

His purpose in doing so was very clear: on the one hand, to firmly control the artists who could make money for the company, and on the other hand, to reduce investment in artists who could not bring benefits to the company.

Suddenly, tensions rose within the company. Everyone realized that this Vice President Chen was actually a smiling tiger, and every department was on its guard, fearing that it would become the next target for rectification.

Compared to Deputy General Manager Chen's active approach, General Manager Li has been much more low-key lately. He rarely holds meetings and even seldom comes to the company. When asked, he says he's on a business trip, and if there's anything, he tells people to go to Chen Mingyuan, acting like a hands-off manager.

As a result, the power of Deputy General Manager Liu Haiyang has been greatly reduced, and he can only manage some non-core departments, such as the publicity and planning department, marketing department, new media operation department, etc.

Without Li Lehua's targeting, Zhang Wen has been living a very peaceful and comfortable life. He spends most of his time in the record production department, producing the new album for the Future Girls group. Occasionally, he returns to the training department to see if there are any good resources available to help his artist, Du Wenjuan, get some benefits.

In the blink of an eye, it’s July.

Because it's the last month of the year, there are more events in the entertainment industry, such as the Tencent Video All Star Awards, Weibo Night, iQiyi Scream Awards, and some annual award ceremonies.

Bai Lu had a TV series air this year. Although the ratings were not good and she did not win any awards, as a young actress, she still received invitations from various event organizers.

Tang Yi also received many invitations. As the hottest new singer this year, she was not only a guest but also a performing guest. She happily reported the good news to Zhang Wen as soon as she returned to the company.

"Teacher Zhang, I received another invitation today."

Inside the recording studio, Tang Yi happily displayed the red invitation with gold lettering, while the five members of the Future Girls group looked on with envy.

They haven't received a single invitation yet, and although they know that even if they go, they'll only be able to sit in the audience, they still feel a little disappointed.

It seems I need to work even harder.

The five members thought to themselves.

Zhang Wen didn't pay much attention to the invitation, but instead focused his gaze on Tang Yi.

Good, your vocal skill points have increased again, breaking through 60 and reaching 63, which is the elite level.

It seems that this girl did not forget to study and train while participating in various activities.

"Buzz!"

Just as Zhang Wen was about to praise Tang Yi, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He glanced at the screen; it was an unfamiliar number.

"Hey?"

"Hello, is this Teacher Zhang Wen?" A woman's voice came through the microphone, gentle and pleasant.

"It's me. And who are you?" Zhang Wen asked, puzzled.

"I am Wu Tong, a staff member of the Huaxia Music Association. The Global Chinese Golden Melody Awards will be held in Guangzhou on December 16th. Mr. Zhang, you have been nominated for three awards: Best Lyricist, Best Composer, and Best Arranger. We hope you can attend the awards ceremony that evening..."

Zhang Wen was slightly taken aback when he heard this, and two words immediately popped into his mind: liar.

Neither Bai Lu nor the Future Girls group received an invitation from the music association. How could a songwriter like him receive an invitation? It's clearly an attempt to lure him to another city and then cut off his kidney.

These days, there are too many scammers, especially at the end of the year. To meet their targets, scammers will stop at nothing, making up all sorts of excuses and daring to scam anyone. They are utterly ruthless.

"What did you just say?" Zhang Wen asked.

"We'd like to invite you to the awards ceremony..."

“No, no, it’s the sentence before that,” Zhang Wen said.

The microphone went silent for a moment, as if someone was recalling what they had said before, before the sound came through again.

"Hello, are you Teacher Zhang Wen?"

"No, you typed it wrong."

After finishing his sentence, Zhang Wen decisively hung up the phone, feeling unsafe to say another word.

It was him who had a strong sense of anti-fraud and was able to resist temptation; someone else might have already been on their way to have their kidney cut off.

"Ring ring ring!"

Just then, Tang Yi's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and immediately answered the call.

"Sister Yue, what's the matter?"

The caller was none other than her agent, Gao Yue.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the recording studio with Teacher Zhang, Teacher Wang, and the Future Girls," Tang Yi replied.

"Perfect timing, there's something I need you to pass on to the future girl."

"Well, you said."

"..."

Tang Yi listened attentively to what her agent was saying. At first, she remained calm, but as Sister Yue continued speaking, her eyes widened, her face filled with joy, and finally, her hands trembled with excitement.

"I understand. I will pass it on to the future girls."

After that, he hung up the phone.

Zhao Tong and the others looked over in confusion, wondering what instructions Manager Gao had.

Tang Yi jumped up excitedly, grabbed Zhang Wen's arm and said, "Teacher Zhang, Sister Yue just called me and said that the China Music Association invited me to attend the China Golden Melody Awards ceremony. She also said that I was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award and the Best Golden Melody Award."

At this point, he turned to Zhao Tong and the others beside him, "You also received an invitation and were nominated for the Best Newcomer Group Award and the Best Song Award."

"Really?" Upon hearing this, Zhao Tong and the others' eyes immediately lit up, as if they had turned on their high beams.

“It’s absolutely true. Sister Yue even said that we’ll receive the invitation in a few days,” Tang Yi said with a smile.

The Huaxia Golden Melody Awards, hosted by the Huaxia Music Association, is one of the most authoritative music award ceremonies in China and an honor that countless musicians aspire to receive.

Even just being shortlisted is a recognition of one's abilities.

The expressions on Zhao Tong and the others' faces changed from surprise to delight, and finally they screamed with excitement.

"yeah!"

"Two entries! We've been shortlisted for two!"

"Waaah, that's great." Cheng Sisi covered her mouth, tears falling without warning; Zhang Jiajia suddenly picked up Chen Silu and started spinning around in circles; Zhao Tong pulled Su Jin, and the two of them jumped and bounced in place.

Wang Qi, who had been sitting, suddenly stood up, rushed to Zhang Wen, grabbed his shoulder, and said happily, "Did you hear that? The Golden Melody Awards! Our song has been nominated for the Golden Melody Awards!"

Zhang Wen stood there dumbfounded, his mind buzzing, the gentle female voice from before echoing in his ears again.

"Three nominations: Best Lyricist, Best Composer, and Best Arranger..."

I'm speechless!
Isn't he a scammer?

"Teacher Zhang? Teacher Zhang?" Wang Qi asked in confusion, "Why do you look unhappy?"

"No." Zhang Wen snapped out of his daze, quickly shook his head, and said with a smile, "I'm so happy, so very happy. But the person who called me just now seems to be from the China Music Association as well."

"Ah? Then you..."

"I thought it was a scam," Zhang Wen said with a wry smile, his cheeks burning as he recalled his earlier comment, "You dialed the wrong number."

"puff!"

The girls around couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Teacher Zhang, aren't you being a little too vigilant?"

"Didn't you ask a few more questions?"

"Teacher Zhang, you should call back right away. This is such a big deal, don't miss it," Tang Yi reminded him.

"Yes, Teacher Zhang, hurry up and call it back!" the others urged.

Zhang Wen picked up his phone, about to dial back, when it vibrated again. It was the same number as before, and this time he answered without hesitation.

"Hello, is this Teacher Zhang Wen?" The voice on the other end of the line was the same as before, but this time it carried a hint of uncertainty.

"Ms. Wu, it's me. It was a misunderstanding. I thought it was a scam call. Please don't mind," Zhang Wen quickly explained.

Wang Qi, Tang Yi, and others crowded around the phone, holding their breath and listening quietly to the conversation.

The person on the other end of the line breathed a sigh of relief and then said nonchalantly, "It's alright, it's alright. There are so many scam calls these days. It's good to be as vigilant as you are, Teacher Zhang. Give me your email address and I'll send you both the electronic and paper invitations. Just bring one of them with you."

“Okay.” Zhang Wen immediately gave the other party his email address and company address.

After writing it down, Wu Tong repeated it again, afraid that he might have misremembered. After confirming that there was no problem, he said, "Teacher Zhang, let me double-check the three nominations. Your works 'Human World,' 'New Life,' and 'The Best of Us' have all been nominated for Best Lyricist, Best Composer, and Best Arranger. Is that alright?"

"No problem," Zhang Wen replied quickly.

Wang Qi, who was standing nearby, listened intently and excitedly gave a "V" sign when he heard "Best Arrangement Award".

"We were also worried that the information might be wrong, since you and Teacher Wang Qi jointly arranged all three songs. I will contact Teacher Wang Qi again, and you will be nominated together for the Best Arrangement Award. Do you agree?"

“Agreed.” Zhang Wen glanced at Wang Qi, who was practically glued to his face, and added, “When I was nominating her, I put my name after hers. She was in charge of the arrangement, and I just offered some suggestions. Actually, I could have been fine without being nominated.”

“That won’t do!” Wang Qi said loudly, “You are the lyricist and composer, and your opinion is very important to me. Without your opinion, the arrangement would not have gone so smoothly. The arrangement award must include your name.”

Wu Tong was taken aback, not expecting that Teacher Wang Qi was right next to Teacher Zhang. So he said, "Okay, then I'll enter the information according to this. I'll call Teacher Wang Qi later to confirm again. I hope Teacher Wang's phone will be reachable."

“Okay, I understand,” Wang Qi replied.

Goodbye, teachers.

"Goodbye."

About twenty seconds after the call ended, Wang Qi's phone rang. She had her phone tightly in her hand, and as soon as she saw the caller ID, she pressed the answer button.

Wu Tong first asked if the person who had spoken to Zhang Wen on the phone was Wang Qi himself. After receiving a confirmation, she began to enter some basic information. Since they had already talked before, the call ended quickly.

In addition to the Best Arranger award, Wang Qi also received a nomination for Best Producer, for Jiang Li's album "New Life".

Wang Qi clenched her fists tightly and swung her arms vigorously. Although it wasn't her first time being nominated for Best Arranger and Best Producer, she felt that this time she had the best chance of winning.

Especially the Best Arrangement Award.

Previously, only one song was shortlisted, but this time three songs were shortlisted, doubling the chances of winning. If you still can't win an award, then something really strange will happen.

"Congratulations, Teacher Zhang and Teacher Wang," Tang Yi said with a smile.

"Hehe, congratulations to you both!" Wang Qi grinned from ear to ear. "Didn't you also get two nominations? Let's go together then."

“Okay, let’s go together!” Tang Yi said, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Zhang Wen, asking, “Teacher Zhang, isn’t ‘New Life’ a song you wrote for Sister Li? Does she know about it?”

Zhang Wen took out his phone, just about to send a message to Jiang Li, when the screen lit up; it was a call from Jiang Li.

"Looks like there's no need to ask," Zhang Wen said, then pressed the answer button.

"Hey?"

As soon as he opened his mouth, Jiang Li's surprised voice came through the microphone.

"Zhang Wen, I just received a call from the China Music Association. 'New Life' has been nominated for Best Song, and you have three nominations as well. Is that true?"

"It's true, Sister Li, what nominations have you received?" Zhang Wen asked.

Given the sales and critical acclaim of Sister Li's album "New Life" and her own status in the music industry, it's impossible for her to only receive a Best Song Award nomination.

"Besides the Best Song Award, there are also the Best Female Singer of the Year and the Album of the Year awards, which are also three nominations," Jiang Li said.

"Sister Li is amazing!" Zhang Wen praised after hearing this.

The latter two awards are both prestigious awards, which not only have extremely high requirements for the works, but also take into account the singer's popularity and influence.

Tang Yi, for example, although her new album is also very limited, even comparable to Jiang Li's, is a newcomer. Her popularity and influence are nowhere near those of a diva like Jiang Li, so she won't even get a nomination.

"What's so great about me? You're still the best. If it weren't for your songs, I would have been a runner-up even if I had been nominated this year. But now it's different. I'm a strong contender," Jiang Li said, her words brimming with confidence.

"Then I wish Sister Li all the best in winning all three nominated awards," Zhang Wen joked.

"I also wish you success in winning all three of your nominations," Jiang Li said with a smile.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before ending the call.

As Zhao Tong counted on his fingers, he said, "Sister Li's Best Song Award, Best Female Singer Award, and Best Album of the Year Award; Teacher Zhang's Best Lyricist Award, Best Composer Award, and Best Arranger Award; Teacher Wang's Best Producer Award and Best Arranger Award; Sister Yi's Best Newcomer Award and Best Song Award; and our Best Song Award and Best Group Award..."

After they finished counting, everyone was stunned.

You wouldn't believe it until you counted; they practically swept all the other awards except for Best Male Singer.

Everyone couldn't help but turn their attention to Zhang Wen.

Teacher Zhang, you're awesome!
……

(End of this chapter)