The Road to Superstardom: Starting as a Singer

While he was enjoying his romance with Christine, Huang Weijie also began promoting his third single, "Just the Way You Are."

Not only Huang Weijie is looking forward to this single, but so are Christine and Bruno Mars.

Compared to Huang Weijie's immense popularity, the two of them are practically unknown in the industry.

Kristen is a bit better off, because she has acted in many movies, and because of "Baby," many people online already have an impression of her.

I believe that once the news of her second collaboration with Huang Weijie spreads, many people will take notice of her.

Although those who notice her may not be so enthusiastic in their comments, Christine is still looking forward to it.

As an artist, what you fear most is not being criticized, but being ignored.

Discussion is what generates buzz!

Black and red are still red!

In contrast, Bruno Mars is truly unknown.

He doesn't receive much attention online or in the industry; even if he wanted to be criticized, no one would bother to notice him.

At 8:00 AM on September 2nd, Huang Weijie's official MySpace and Twitter accounts were simultaneously updated with a photo.

In a corner of the recording studio, a handwritten sheet music sits on a music stand. The camera is out of focus, and only the title "Just the Way..." can be vaguely seen.

The caption was simple: "September, a new story to tell."

This post was forwarded over 10,000 times within half an hour.

Fans are wildly speculating in the comments section:

"New song! It's definitely a new song!"

"Ah, being a Jace fan is so wonderful! I can't wait to hear his new song!!"

"The title sounds like a love song? Is it from the same series as 'What Makes You Beautiful'?"

"Insider information: Jace is collaborating with a newcomer again this time!!"

Huang Weijie and his team did not immediately respond to the various speculations from fans.

The suspense lasted for a whole day.

On September 3, radio airplay for "What Makes You Beautiful" increased by 15% in the past 24 hours.

This aligns well with the data trends before reaching the top of the list.

An excited Taylor Swift immediately called.

"Hey? Jace, were you busy? Why did it take you so long to answer the phone?"

Huang Weijie twitched his lips. "Yes, I'm busy learning acting."

"Oh, okay~" Taylor Swift said nonchalantly, then continued, "The radio data is out, have you seen it? Oh right, you probably haven't had a chance to see it yet. Let me tell you, the data is different from before..."

Huang Weijie hurriedly hung up the phone.

On the other side, Taylor Swift held her phone in astonishment, not putting it down for a long time.

A moment later, she realized what that scream meant.

Slut!

Cheap stuff!!

Taylor Swift roared inwardly. She didn't have much dissatisfaction with Huang Weijie, but she was very annoyed by the screaming female voice!

In her logic, this was a blatant provocation against her!

I called her a while ago and said I wanted to treat her to dinner, but actually I was just warning her to stay away from Jace.

That's fine...

You don't even try to hide doing this kind of thing today!

Taylor Swift believes that without her approval, Jace would have waited until later to answer the phone.

The fact that you didn't answer the phone immediately is proof of that!

It must have been that bitch who made Jace answer the phone. He acted so normal just now, he must have been holding it in for a long time.

Thinking this, Taylor Swift felt a surge of competitive spirit.

You won't let me get close to him?

I insist!

I not only want to get close to him, I want to steal him away!

Huang Weijie was unaware that Taylor Swift had fully utilized her rich female imagination and mobilized her initiative to actively prepare for her breakup with Joe and plan how to steal him away.

……

At 9 PM on September 4th, Billboard's official website updated its latest weekly Hot 100 singles chart.

Huang Weijie, Madeline, and the publicity team sat together in front of their computers in the Los Angeles office.

The room was silent for a few seconds as the page refreshed.

A round of applause followed.

The room was filled with congratulatory and congratulatory voices.

On the webpage, at the top of the charts, familiar song titles and artist information are displayed:

#1 "What Makes You Beautiful" - Jace Huang & Taylor Swift

"Jace, congratulations!" Madeline said with a smile, "Your second single is number one again!"

"Jace, I believe your third single will also be a great success!"

"The third song will definitely take first place too!"

The room was filled with lively discussion.

"Haha, thank you, thank you, I also hope for a good result."

"Thank you, the rest of the promotion is up to you! If we win first place, I'll treat everyone to dinner!"

Huang Weijie smiled and chatted with the publicity team for a few minutes. After they all left, he sat back down and stared at the screen again.

He scrolled down and saw that "Baby" was still firmly in seventh place.

One song is at the top of the charts, and another song is in the Top 10.

Good results, but also entirely within expectations.

Almost simultaneously with the release of the list, press releases from the media began to appear.

Billboard magazine's official website headline: "Historic Speed: Jace Huang's Second Number One Single, Just 106 Days After Debut."

The article states, "The last time a singer had two number-one singles within three months of their debut was Britney Spears in 2000. Jace Huang proved with 'What Makes You Beautiful' that the success of 'Baby' was no accident. This 16-year-old Chinese singer is redefining the standards for newcomers in the pop music scene!"

The New York Times entertainment section published a short commentary: "The Jace Huang phenomenon is noteworthy not only for his music, but also for his cross-cultural appeal. During the week 'What Makes You Beautiful' topped the charts, it simultaneously ranked in the top ten in multiple countries across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In the accelerating globalization of 2008, he may become the first truly global pop icon."

The industry's reaction was more direct.

The company CEO sent a congratulatory email, with a note at the end: The board of directors has approved a proposal to increase the promotional budget for the "Jace Huang" album by 40%.

Several well-known producers expressed their interest in collaborating through Mark, who acted as an intermediary.

One of the renowned music producers even sent a party invitation, praising Wong Wai Kit's musical talent in the email and saying he would love to talk to him about music.

Huang Weijie didn't care at first, because he received many such invitations. If he accepted them all, he wouldn't have to work for the rest of the month; he wouldn't be able to attend all the parties.

However, after Madeline showed him the email from the famous music producer...

Huang Weijie stared at the name and gasped.

Wodefa!

You noticed me so quickly?!

The email was filled with enthusiasm: "Mr. Diddy greatly admires your music and believes you represent a new generation of pop. There's a small gathering this Saturday at his private residence in Beverly Hills, and we hope you can grace us with your presence and chat with Mr. Diddy about music and the future."

Huang Weijie's heart sank when he saw Madeline and Jessie's excited expressions.

Because in this matter, everyone around actually said it was a good thing.

By 2008, Puff Daddy was far from being an ordinary rapper.

After 15 years of hard work, he has transformed from a top music producer into the builder of a "hip-hop empire" spanning music, fashion, film and television and business. It is no exaggeration to say that he is one of the most powerful and influential giants in the US entertainment industry!

Being invited by him is equivalent to having a powerful backer in the hip-hop world, the music industry, and even Hollywood.

It's totally worth it to get along with him, even if it means putting up with some grievances!

These were the thoughts of everyone, including Madeline.

"Jace, such a good opportunity, why aren't you...?"

"Madeline." Huang Weijie looked up at her, his handsome brows furrowing slightly. "Having known me for so long, when have you ever seen me enthusiastic about parties?"

Madeline paused for a moment: "I know you don't like it, but in this industry, sometimes it's necessary to participate in some things for better development..."

They even talk about "building good relationships," but if I go there, I'll get messed with!

What's wrong with that? Why don't you suffer the injustice yourself!

Faced with Madeline's question, Huang Weijie did not voice his thoughts.

Because aside from Madeline possibly being unaware, he didn't believe that the company's higher-ups were unaware of the nature of Puff Daddy's party.

"Please politely decline for me," Huang Weijie interrupted her. "Just say that my schedule is completely full recently, with the album release just around the corner, and I really can't find the time. Express your gratitude and regret, and hope that we can collaborate again in the future."

Madeline wanted to say something more, but after meeting Huang Weijie's gaze, she swallowed her words.

That look in his eyes was familiar, just like when he insisted on not debuting early and insisted on studying at Curtis, full of determination.

"Okay, I'll handle it."

……

Business offers came in like snowflakes.

Nike has reissued an endorsement offer, and compared to the conditions for the China regional spokesperson two months ago, this time it has directly jumped to the position of global spokesperson for its youth product line, and the offer has also increased to $800 million.

Huang Weijie stated that it was the right decision not to accept the Huaxia region endorsement in the first place!

The saying "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" is really not just empty words. In just two months, I've been promoted to the global level!

Apple has invited Huang Weijie to be among the first celebrity users to experience the iPhone 3G and to participate in a global GG video shoot.

Huang Weijie didn't hesitate much and immediately let Madeline take it. He knew better than anyone how amazing the iPhone 4 would be two years later.

By collaborating now, we can ride the wave of the groundbreaking iPhone 4 when it's released, gaining wider recognition and understanding of the brand.

Huang Weijie knows that Apple rarely uses traditional spokespeople.

It simply emphasizes that the product is the main focus, hoping that consumers will concentrate on product innovation and experience.

He understands that, but even if he can't be a spokesperson, collaborating with his boyfriend is still a form of exposure.

It's worth noting that Apple sold nearly 2000 million iPhones in 2010.

Even if Apple doesn't officially have a spokesperson, it won't stop his team from posting articles to promote him, raise his profile, and increase his value.

Pepsi and Coca-Cola, two industry giants, also expressed their intention to cooperate.

Huang Weijie was in a dilemma for a moment, not because he was wondering which one tasted better, but because he was wondering which one to choose for cooperation.

The two companies are competitors; if you choose one, the cooperation with the other will definitely fall through.

Furthermore, the two companies have distinctly different strategies in choosing brand ambassadors.

Pepsi emphasizes "youth, trendiness, breakthrough, and desire," and is committed to becoming a part of popular culture.

This aligns well with Huang Weijie's current image. Although he only has two songs, both are very strong, solidifying his "teen idol" label.

Coca-Cola emphasizes "happiness, sharing, classic, and emotion," aiming to create a classic and joyful image that connects everyone.

Huang Weijie felt that this was actually a bit different from his own image. Putting aside everything else, he had only been in the industry for a little over three months, so where did he get the classic status?

However, the fact that the other party sent an invitation clearly shows that he has the potential to become a legend and a classic!

This forced Huang Weijie to hesitate.

Judging from the model and number of collaborations, Coca-Cola clearly has a higher prestige.

Overall, Pepsi tends to pursue trendy topics, while GG emphasizes the personality and attitude of the celebrities themselves, with a large number and wide range of celebrity collaborations, focusing more on "quantity".

Coca-Cola, on the other hand, focuses more on building deep and long-term emotional connections with celebrities and maintaining its classic brand image, with a greater emphasis on "quality".

Taking Pepsi's brand ambassadors in China this year as an example, Pepsi's brand ambassadors include Huang Xiaoming, Luo Zhixiang, Lee Joon-gi, Louis Koo, and Jolin Tsai.

It covers almost all markets in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Coca-Cola, on the other hand, only has three: Liu Xiang, Yao Ming, and Guo Jinjin.

Its main selling points are quality and national popularity.

Especially in Olympic years, the value of top sports stars is much higher than that of popular celebrities in the entertainment industry.

After some hesitation, Huang Weijie still chose Pepsi.

Actually, he also really craves Coca-Cola, but it's not wise to be too greedy right now. His priority should be to realize his own commercial value.

Although Pepsi has many spokespeople, the advantage is that it reduces the sales pressure that individual celebrities need to bear.

Huang Weijie can first solidify his position as a trend icon by collaborating with Pepsi, and accumulate works and popularity.

In particular, Pepsi's GG emphasizes "the personality and attitude of the star himself," which can provide Huang Weijie with more space to showcase and enhance his musician personality and stage charm. The promotional content is highly consistent with his core business as a singer, which can create synergy.

In addition to these three major brand collaborations, Madeline's email inbox received 17 new emails within two hours of the list being released, all of which were inquiries about business collaborations.

"Jace, your business value has been reassessed."

Madeline's eyes were briefly filled with the sparkling sound of the knife, but she calmed down and smiled at Huang Weijie, "Many people were still watching from the sidelines before, but now that 'What Makes You Beautiful' has topped the charts, they can't sit still anymore."

"That's good news, Madeline, congratulations!"

"?"

"Another wave of income is coming soon, shouldn't we congratulate you?" Huang Weijie joked.

"Hahaha!" Madeline laughed twice, then shrugged lightly at Huang Weijie. "I'll work hard to get you onto a bigger stage! Jace..."

"Yes, I know, I know. I'll handle the creative aspects; everything else is up to you."

"Yes!"

……

Online, #JaceNo1 remained on Twitter's trending list for over 12 hours.

Fans celebrate in all sorts of ways:

[Two number-one singles in 106 days! Compare: Britney Spears 140 days, Christina Aguilera 280 days, Jace is rewriting history!!] (with detailed comparison images)

I cried. I've supported him since the first day "Baby" was released, watching him go from being doubted to reaching the top. This three-month journey felt like a dream.

[Question? I've never questioned it. Jace is number one in my heart! Always will be!!]

[Just bought my 50th digital download of "What Makes You Beautiful," just to boost sales. What's a little money? Jace deserves it!] (Attached is a screenshot of my iTunes purchase history)

Taylor Swift and Jace's collaboration is a game-changer! "What Makes You Beautiful" has topped the charts, and Taylor's latest single, "Love Story," is coming out on September 12th! Be sure to check it out!!

If you haven't heard "What Makes You Beautiful" yet, go listen to it now! It's not just a number one single, it's the best pop song of 2008!

Remember those music critics who called Jace a "one-hit wonder" three months ago? Are they embarrassed now? Her second number-one single is here!

[Congratulations from Brazil! Jace is super popular in Latin America too! "Baby" has been number one here for eight consecutive weeks!]

2008 was a difficult year for many, but Jace's music brought us joy and hope. Thank you, Jace!

Looking at these comments, Huang Weijie couldn't help but smile.

Faced with this overwhelming praise, it was hard for him not to feel happy. Although he didn't know how much of it was from his own press releases, it was truly pleasing to the eye!

In addition, the comment sections of some music critics and media accounts that had previously questioned Huang Weijie have now become a scene for fans to verbally attack him.

Three months ago you said Jace wouldn't make it through the summer, and now it's almost autumn, and he has two number-one singles. Is his face swollen now?

Some "professional music critics" are like this: they only know how to talk on the keyboard, but become impotent when faced with real problems. I just want to ask, is it so hard to admit you misjudged someone?

[Exactly! The success of "Baby" was attributed to luck, but can the top spot of "What Makes You Beautiful" also be attributed to luck? Is it really that hard to acknowledge someone else's excellence?]

The person upstairs underestimated their integrity. They're like outhouses in the summer; you can relieve yourself on their heads countless times, but if you fall in even once, you're in for a world of hurt. You'll be nagged about it for the rest of your life!

[Terrifying! I'm trembling with fear~~]

【Sexy? Where? Where?】

[I've screenshotted all the tweets questioning Jace, and I'm tagging them one by one now. This is called: witnessing history!]

Music critics who question Huang Weijie are feigning death, while those who support him are elated.

A Rolling Stone critic wrote on his personal blog: "The silence from some colleagues today is deafening. The fact is, Jace Huang has silenced all the doubters with two consecutive number-one singles! The question now is: where exactly is his ceiling?"