Business Closed Loop: Starting with Ringback Tones to Take Down Giants

"Reset to zero, reset to zero, reset to zero..."

Wang Song pressed the button on the brand-new calculator.

Wife's savings: 10235

GG Bonus Remaining: 4500

The final payment for the recording studio, Yao Beina's production costs, next month's basic salary, and utilities and miscellaneous expenses.

The final figure was a heartbreaking four-digit number, less than five thousand dollars.

"Alright," Wang Song shoved the calculator onto the table, "We're out of money, everyone. The studio is closing down."

"so."

"Starting tomorrow, studio benefits will be downgraded, from 'full meals' to 'just enough to keep you from starving.' Specifically..."

He paused slightly: "Steamed buns are plentiful, but bring your own pickled vegetables."

"ah--!!!"

A cacophony of wails erupted instantly.

"Boss! No way! I'm still growing!" Ma Xiaojun clutched his non-existent stomach.

A cautious voice broke in.

Liu Jianjun stood up, opened a drawer, took out an envelope, walked back, and placed it in front of Wang Song.

"Boss," he said, adjusting his glasses with a sincere tone.

"This is my dividend from last time. You can take it and use it first. The steamed buns... are actually quite good. They keep you full for a while."

"..."

The studio fell silent for a second.

Then, even louder laughter erupted.

"What awareness! What vision! Comrade Liu Jianjun, the organization has decided to give you special training!" Jiang Yilei's DV camera trembled with laughter.

Chen Shu couldn't help but turn her face away, her shoulders shrugging slightly.

"Comrade Liu Jianjun, the organization has received your kind intentions."

Wang Song suppressed a laugh, "But take the money back. Xianming Studio hasn't reached the point where it needs to rely on its employees for support."

"Have you laughed enough?"

Wang Song tapped the table, and the house fell silent instantly. "Steamed buns and pickled vegetables are a joke, but we have to earn the money back."

"Jiang Yilei, turn off the DV camera, we have a job to do."

"Use your papi姜 account to post on the Central Conservatory of Music and the Chinese Conservatory of Music forums."

The title reads: "A Central Academy of Drama directing student writes a song, Yao Beina sings it, and she's here to challenge us—come listen if you disagree!"

Jiang Yilei stopped taking notes.

"Boss, isn't this title a bit too provocative? I'm afraid our studio's signboard will get smashed."

Wang Song raised an eyebrow: "That's exactly the effect I wanted."

"The more we try, the more popular we become. Isn't being infamous enough to be popular? We're not really trying to compete with them in singing skills; we're just asking them to help us generate free traffic."

He bent down, opened the document, and tossed the pre-written copy to Jiang Yilei.

"The Directing Department of the Central Academy of Drama doesn't play plays, but plays melodies. The first drafts of three songs have just been completed, and we specially invited senior sister Yao Beina, a mezzo-soprano, to lend her voice."

"stop!"

Chen Shu had just taken a sip of cold water and almost spat it out. "Three songs? We only have two demos!"

"Don't you understand bluffing?" Wang Song glanced at her.

"Demo clip with link attached, seeking insightful comments. Comments even more welcome than lyricists."

"Also: Xianming Studio is recruiting arrangers and singers. With the right to be credited, the revenue sharing is in black and white, which is better than signing a contract with a record company."

"Make sure the link is hidden on the last line, and use a small font size so they have to search for it while cursing."

As Jiang Yilei typed, he muttered to himself, "You're using two major music academies as targets; sooner or later, someone will come knocking on your door."

"You'd better stand in front!"

Wang Song couldn't hold back anymore, "Then you should think it over, soften your stance a little, I'll be right back."

Jiang Yilei pursed his lips: "I didn't need to say that."

Half an hour later, at a photocopy shop.

The boss took the red and black flyer design drafts and chuckled: "Oh, recruiting? And the two places are different?"

"Adapt to local conditions and target precise delivery." Wang Song paid the money.

Once outside, he found two college students looking for part-time jobs.

"Red paper goes to the Composition Department and Electronic Music Department of the Central Conservatory of Music; black paper goes to the Vocal Performance Department and Opera Department of the Central Conservatory of Music."

The text on the middle section reads: "Recruiting fellow students of Yao Beina. They already have mature songs. Singers can audition directly to the recording studio. There will be a share of the profits from single releases."

The Central Conservatory of Music has established singers who arrange hit songs, and their names are permanently credited. Don't let the rules bind you when you're making music.

"Three days of part-time work, fifty yuan per day, I will be checking randomly."

The two men's eyes lit up, and they took the flyer and left. Fifty yuan was a lot of money in 05.

Wang Song turned around, got on his bicycle, and headed straight for the recording studio.

"Senior sister, come be the chief hearing consultant next Wednesday and Saturday."

Wang Song pushed the plan over, not to discuss it, but to notify the other party.

"consultant?"

Yao Beina carefully reviewed the proposal, then looked up at him: "So you're going to print my name on flyers to fool those younger students?"

"A lie?" Wang Song said seriously, "This is called building a platform with fair competition and high visibility."

"Senior, you wouldn't want a promising talent to be locked up by a record company with a cheap contract before they even have a chance to shine, would you?"

"With me, at least the right of attribution and copyright sharing are clearly stated in black and white, and there's no deception between young and old."

Yao Beina was silent for a few seconds, then took the water bottle, took a sip, and asked, "And then?"

Wang Song grinned.

"That way you become a judge, a producer, a partner, and have your own territory, thus becoming a true academic."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to protect these promising young talents with the same passion you had for making music?"

Yao Beina paused for a moment, then asked, "And what about you?"

Wang Song thought for a moment and said seriously, "I may not have had the initial passion for making music, but you do. How to sell it is my business."

Yao Beina's tone was complicated, "You...you really do have a hard time with your words."

"but,"

Yao Beina glared at him, "This is the last time. Anyway, I have to record a song, so I'll just pretend I'm passing by. We can talk about partners and producers later."

"It's only a matter of time," Wang Song said, getting up.

"Don't be late, okay? Pick your apprentices and establish your own faction. Your promising talents are waiting to meet their idol."

"You..." Yao Beina hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

Finally, she couldn't help but snort, "Talk is nicer than singing. Well, he really does sing terribly."

……

Back in the studio, Ma Xiaojun held up a flyer and asked, "Boss, what do we do now?"

Wang Song's gaze swept over the three members of the editing team. "Just use a few alternate accounts to bump the thread; let the left and right brains work together."

"One said it nicely."

"What's so nice about it?"

"To put it bluntly..."

"What's so unpleasant about it?"

"Share it with readers in a way that keeps them informed about the forum flame wars; the momentum might get too strong and we might not be able to control it."

"Liu Jianjun, especially you, should apologize to the readers and ask for their comments and support."

Liu Jianjun blushed and nodded: "...I'll try my best not to argue with people."

By evening, five hours had passed since the post was published.

"Boss! The four posts have a total of over a thousand replies!" She pointed at the screen, somewhat frightened.

"Some people are criticizing the Central Academy of Drama for its unorthodox approach, while others are asking for the full link."

"Some people even dug up Senior Sister Yao's resume from the CCTV Young Singers Competition, arguing that her judgment must be excellent!"

Wang Song leaned over and glanced at the comments section; the debate had reached a new level.

"Criticism aside, don't the lyrics of these two songs hit home? Aren't the arrangements just right?"

"There's another a cappella piece requesting arrangement; does no one at the Central Conservatory of Music dare to take it on?"

"What a load of rubbish! Even if I arrange the music, I'll just be doing someone else's work for free!"

"Wait, the flyer says the signature is permanently retained? Really? Even record companies don't offer that, do they?"

"OP, is your job posting real?"

Offline, flyers are also starting to show results.

Downstairs in the Composition Department of the Central Conservatory of Music, Li Ran was holding a red paper flyer.

A classmate next to him scoffed, "You're kidding, right? The Central Academy of Drama is recruiting arrangers at the Central Conservatory of Music?"

Li Ran didn't say anything. He had clicked on the preview link last night, and it didn't seem like a game.

"I'll go take a look," he said.

"Are you crazy? This is obviously a shady studio..."

"Could some shady studio afford to hire Yao Beina, the silver medalist?" Li Ran folded the flyer into his pocket. "What if it's real?"

Chang Sisi, from the vocal music department of the middle school, also folded up the flyers.

She stood in front of the bulletin board, looking at the words "Yao Beina personally instructed" on the black paper.

I'm a freshman in college.

I'm in a phase of extreme curiosity about everything external. Since I have nothing to do next Wednesday anyway, I shared it with my roommate, only to be called a liar.

Hmph! I'm going anyway.

It became.

Wang Song glanced at the screen and closed the page.

He took Jiang Yilei's computer and posted a closing message using a secondary account, consisting of just five words: "Join the group and wait for further notice."

Damn! These penguins are charging money to create a group chat!

Wang Song handed the mouse back to Jiang Yilei: "You manage two groups, and then categorize them by department."

"That's enough of the drama on the forum. Any more arguing would be going too far. Now, get to the recording studio and get to work for us."

"Since things have come to this, let's eat first."

"Steamed buns?"