Huayu 1992: Starting with the CCTV Young Singers Competition

Chapter 95: Buying the Waste Song, an Accidental Encounter with the First Generation Sweet Girl Ganggang

Seeing Lin Hanjiang's resolute attitude, Feng Xiaoquan hesitated for a moment.

Ultimately, the creator's attachment to their work prevailed.

With Jin Tielin's influence, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, since you like it, you can sing this song. Forget about authorization, it's yours anyway. It's just a useless cassette tape here."

Lin Hanjiang shook his head and said seriously, "Senior Brother Feng, this won't do. This work is your hard work, and I can't give it away for nothing. How about this: if I'm lucky enough to gain some fame with this song, and I release an album or do commercial performances in the future, I'll give you 5% of the profits from this song as your share of the songwriting revenue. What do you think?"

"5%? A percentage?"

Feng Xiaoquan almost burst out laughing, not out of joy, but because he thought Lin Hanjiang was too naive.

"Hanjiang, I'm not trying to discourage you, but in our industry, especially in the mainland, it's good enough for lyricists and composers to get paid, let alone share the profits?"

Do you know how much of a song's revenue goes to the lyricist and composer after a cassette tape is sold?

"It's minuscule. The majority goes to record companies and singers. Your 5%, even if it sounds good, you might never get a penny in your entire life. It's really not worth it."

What Feng Xiaoquan said is indeed true.

The harsh reality of the domestic music scene in 1992 was that singers and distributors held absolute dominance, while the rights and interests of creators were extremely weak.

Even when referring to the relatively standardized rules in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and even Europe and America at the time, the royalty rates that lyricists and composers could receive were often pitifully low.

Lin Hanjiang knew that Feng Xiaoquan was telling the truth, but he also knew how popular "Chinese Folk Songs" would become.

He could not readily accept this authorization, which was almost a gift.

"Rules are rules, and intentions are intentions."

Lin Hanjiang still insisted on his principles.

Although Feng Xiaoquan himself didn't want it, he still had to give it to him.

I'm also worried about future troubles, since there's no supporting evidence.

"How about this, Senior Brother Feng, let's not talk about profit sharing for now. I'll follow industry practice and pay you a song buyout fee. How about 5000 yuan?"

"5000 yuan?"

Feng Xiaoquan was genuinely shocked this time. He stood up from his chair and looked at Lin Hanjiang as if he were a monster.

"Junior Brother Lin, are you kidding me? You're going to pay 5000 yuan to buy out a song that nobody wants? You could use that money to hire a better songwriter. No way, absolutely not. I can't take advantage of you like that."

The two went back and forth several times.

Feng Xiaoquan genuinely felt the song wasn't worth the price and admired Lin Hanjiang's character, so he resolutely refused to accept more.

Finally, at Lin Hanjiang's insistence, Feng Xiaoquan, almost with guilt, reluctantly accepted the 2000 yuan and insisted on signing a written agreement.

It states that this is a permanent transfer of the rights to use the lyrics and music of "Chinese Folk Songs," and that no further revenue will be distributed to the transferee.

He also solemnly handed over his somewhat blurred original manuscript and the only demo tape to Lin Hanjiang.

"Junior Brother Lin, this money is too hot to handle. You should sing this song well."

When Feng Xiaoquan saw Lin Hanjiang out, he still felt bad.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng."

Lin Hanjiang grasped his hand, shook it vigorously, and looked at him earnestly.

"I believe in the value of this song. Perhaps it just needs the right opportunity. Thank you."

As I left the Central National Orchestra, the sun was already setting.

Lin Hanjiang returned to school with his manuscript and cassette tapes.

Sitting down on the sofa in Zhang Ye's dormitory, I felt much more at ease despite having just spent a huge sum of 2000 yuan.

He refused the 2 yuan offer from New Era Company, but instead spent 2000 yuan to buy a worthless song.

If Zhang Ye finds out, he'll all say he's a spendthrift.

The summer sun was already quite scorching.

Lin Hanjiang looked at the familiar streets of Beijing; he had already bought his train ticket for the evening.

The journey from Beijing to Guangzhou takes about 37 hours. If you can't get a sleeper berth, your butt will suffer.

Today is the recording day for the Beijing TV program "Echoes of Golden Melodies," and it's also his last recording in Beijing before heading south to Guangzhou.

The Beijing Television building came into view. In the early 1990s, this building was considered quite impressive on the streets of Beijing.

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A prominent "BTV" sign hangs at the entrance.

With the recording notification slip in his hand, and after a slightly cumbersome registration process at the gatehouse, Lin Hanjiang entered the building under the guidance of a staff member.

The corridor was covered with dark red synthetic fiber carpet, and the bulletin board on the wall was covered with various program posters and notices.

The staff hurried along, carrying documents, tape cases, or equipment parts.

The staff member led him to the 16th floor, through several corridors, and finally to the area marked Studio 3.

Pushing open the soundproof door, you enter the backstage area, where the noise immediately increases by several decibels.

The lighting here wasn't bright, but it was packed with people.

The dressing room consisted of several areas separated by simple partitions, each labeled with a different name.

"Ms. Lin, please prepare in dressing room number two. Your makeup artist will be here shortly. The recording order is on the whiteboard over there. Please take a look. I'll get back to work now."

After saying that, the staff member hurriedly ran away.

Lin Hanjiang found dressing room number two and pushed the door open to go in.

There are already several people inside.

He spotted Wang Zhongxiang, whom he had met briefly the day before, at a glance.

The audio-visual editor was talking to a slender girl with her back to the door.

Hearing the noise, Wang Zhongxiang turned around and saw Lin Hanjiang. His face immediately lit up with a warm smile: "Mr. Lin, you've arrived. Are you also recording a program?"

"Yes, we're here to record today."

The girl next to Wang Zhongxiang also turned around.

She wore a pale yellow dress, her long hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders, and her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll's, especially her eyes, which were clear and held a shy smile.

Lin Hanjiang felt a chill run down his spine; this face was too distinctive.

It was Yang Yuying.

This artist is known for his album "Blessings for Love" and his current hit song "I Don't Want to Say".

A singer from Guangzhou New Era Audio-Visual Company, who is currently famous throughout the country for her sweet and innocent image, unexpectedly came to participate in this program.

I should have thought of that a long time ago.

Yesterday, Wang Zhongxiang said he was coming to participate in the program, but it turns out he brought Yang Yuying with him.

"Come, Mr. Lin, let me introduce you."

Wang Zhongxiang introduced them to Lin Hanjiang and Yang Yuying with a smile.

"This is Yang Yuying, who came from Guangzhou. Yuying, and this is Lin Hanjiang, the one who broke the record and won the gold medal at the CCTV Young Singers Competition a few days ago. He writes his own songs and sings them himself. He's amazing."

Yang Yuying had obviously heard of Lin Hanjiang's name and deeds.

She gracefully extended her hand, her voice as sweet and gentle as rumored: "Mr. Lin, hello. I've listened to both of your songs, 'The Story of Spring' and 'Entering the New Era,' as well as your song 'Ode to Young China' from your school graduation party. They're all very good."

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