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

"It seems that everyone understands the new rules."

Everyone nodded.

As for stock options, apart from the brave Liu Jianjun, Wang Song wouldn't beg anyone else to get on board.

"I've thought about how to spend the 200,000 yuan advance payment."

"All of it will be used to upgrade the infrastructure," Wang Song added.

"The school has converted our innovation and entrepreneurship incubation room into a music division, and we are going to build our own recording studio."

"Sister Yao is overseeing the equipment procurement; the budget is around 80,000 yuan, and we hope it can be used in March."

There was a moment of silence below.

Yao Beina was the first to speak: "I agree. Having our own studio makes it convenient to practice singing and arranging music, and it's also easier to arrange our time."

Chang Sisi nodded in agreement.

"Computers," Wang Song continued.

"The IP team will receive six new machines. I've sent the model numbers to Vice President Jiang. We'll pick them up in Zhongguancun tomorrow."

Ma Xiaojun's eyes lit up: "Boss, can we replace those three big CRT trucks?"

"It'll do." Wang Song glanced at him.

"As long as it can run word processing software, new machines will be given priority to new employees."

Ma Xiaojun looked a little deflated; a new person using a new machine, seemingly without any advantages.

Wait, a newcomer? Ma Xiaojun looked up.

Seeing that no one else spoke, Wang Song changed the subject.

"So, do you want to be leaders?"

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, is the last day before school starts.

The campus has fully awakened from its winter slumber, filled with the laughter and playful chatter of students and vendors who have been reunited after so long.

And the nearby gun tower...

The job fair started at nine o'clock, but Liu Jianjun arrived at eight-thirty.

He and Ma Xiaojun carried a display stand and shoved it in front of the booth, immediately attracting several stares.

The display rack was made by Jiang Yilei last night.

On the left is the grand prize, and on the right is a screenshot of the ringtone ranking list. The visual impact is explosive.

A large red cloth in the middle reads: "Xianming Culture Studio - IP Content Group is recruiting, limited to six people."

"Hey! Isn't that the commentator from Tudou Video? Is he also from their studio?"

"Yes! That's her! Jiang Yilei, from the 05 Directing Department!"

At the back of the line, two girls excitedly whispered to each other, "They really are famous! My phone's ringtone is theirs!"

"I heard the pay is pretty good, why don't we give it a try?"

"I heard that ringback tones can generate hundreds of thousands of yuan in revenue per month?"

When the words reached Jiang Yilei's ears, he felt even more energetic as he worked on the test questions, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Chen Shugang arrived carrying a large stack of blank registration forms and test paper sheets.

Before I could even put it down, a girl stopped me: "Senior! You really recruit story writers?"

As if given a signal, the crowd surged forward.

Liu Jianjun nodded: "Confess."

"If you pass the written test, you will enter the internship period. There is a basic allowance during the internship, and project revenue sharing will be given after you become a full-time employee."

"How is the revenue split calculated?"

Liu Jianjun paused for a moment. The three of them had discussed this issue until midnight last night and finally reached a conclusion.

"Project-based," he said. "If the project you participate in makes money, you get performance-based pay and a share of the profits."

The person wanted to ask more, but there was already a queue behind them.

Ma Xiaojun was in charge of distributing the test questions, shouting as he did so: "The test questions for screenwriting positions are here, and the test questions for online literature positions are here."

"Choose your own questions, submit your answers within two days, and we'll notify you of the interview within a week!"

Liu Jianjun was in charge of registration. "First write down the school and grade, then write down the name."

Chen Shu was responsible for reviewing unfinished works.

Another female student from the drama department handed over the bound script.

Chen Shu took the book, flipped through a couple of pages, and looked up to ask, "Do you usually browse forums? What kind of stories do you usually read?"

"The ghost stories on Tianya, and the military section on Xici!" the girl answered quickly.

"I also wrote down a lot of niche stories in my notebook!"

Ma Xiaojun watched from the side, feeling a bit emotional.

Three months ago, they were still struggling in front of their computers in a bungalow.

I don't know if I can continue writing, and I don't know if anyone will read it.

Now he's actually sitting in a job fair, handing out test questions to others.

Ma Xiaojun leaned closer and whispered, "Jianjun, do you think we're considered leaders now?"

Liu Jianjun grinned. "Xiao Ma, please address me by my job title when we're working. I now have a stake in the studio."

"you……"

Meanwhile, Li Ran and Zhou Tao each led a team to the Central Conservatory of Music in the morning and the Middle Conservatory of Music in the afternoon.

They simply hang up the signboard and sit wherever they want; that becomes the best signboard.

The music group's recruitment booth was already packed with people.

"Is it Xianming Studio? The one that made 'Wait a Minute'?"

Li Ran nodded, speaking sparingly, only pointing to the CD player: "Play original demos if you have them, play them live if you don't."

Zhou Tao added, "Our studio is hiring arrangers, orchestrators, and harmony designers, but we are not hiring singers at the moment."

Some people were playing and singing original songs, while others were handing over meticulously crafted demos. Li Ran sat at the table, listening intently and taking notes on a piece of paper.

Those who closed their eyes and nodded left their information.

Those who shake their heads also get straight to the point and don't beat around the bush.

But there will always be people with a higher appreciation for art.

Wang Song gave them his go-to line: "Yes, yes, you're right."

Just deal with it and that's it; don't argue about it.

The sound of the piano downstairs in the music room kept coming and going, creating a feeling of wanting to sing and drink but lacking the wine.

Zhang Zhen was the busiest, registering people and answering questions, with the most frequent question being about authorship rights.

"Senior, will my name be credited for the music I composed?"

"The boss said that as long as it's your work, the attribution rights will belong to you permanently, whether it's ringtones or works from Super Girls, it's all the same."

Chang Sisi was in charge of receiving guests and distributing registration forms.

Chang Sisi wore a white sweater and a high ponytail today.

I was asked three times this morning if I was the one who sang "Decent".

She smiled and nodded in agreement, then handed over a form.

Zhang Zhen whispered from the side, "You're practically becoming a mascot."

Chang Sisi kicked him.

The news spread like wildfire across campus forums and dormitories:

"The 'Fairy Name Studio' at the Central Academy of Drama is hiring! The requirements are ridiculously high!"

"Xianming, the arranger, is personally overseeing things at the entrance of the Central Conservatory of Music. Shall we give it a try?"

"I heard they give out this much in commission every month for ringback tones!" someone said mysteriously, gesturing with their ring finger.

The excitement lasted all afternoon.

Application forms arrived like snowflakes, only to be quickly consumed.

The two stacks of blank forms that Jiang Yilei brought were quickly used up, and they had to send someone to make copies.

Chen Shu's voice was a little hoarse, and the test questions in front of her had been copied several times.

Li Ran and Zhou Tao listened to no fewer than fifty impromptu performances or original demos; their ears were practically calloused from listening.

On the other side...

"You're entrusting me with such a big task??" Yao Beina covered her face.

"I'll write songs and arrange music, but I know absolutely nothing about this equipment."

Wang Song smiled and said, "It's okay if you don't understand, your mentor does. When students have difficulties, teachers should also help them."

Yao Beina was taken aback for a moment, "You..."

She pointed at Wang Song and remained silent for a long time.

For companies, college students can sometimes be a huge advantage.

Faculty strength, the sect's holy maiden's telephone summoning technique.

Yao Beina buried her face in her hands and muttered, "Did I make a mistake by investing my 5% stake?"

"Once you're on, don't even think about getting off." Wang Song patted her shoulder. "Make a phone call, treat her to a meal, I'll reimburse you."

Yao Beina couldn't resist, and her voice carried a hint of cautious flattery.

"Hello, Teacher Zhou..."

Wang Song's lips curled up slightly.

Five minutes later, Yao Beina hung up the phone and walked back.

"Teacher Zhou is free the day after tomorrow afternoon, please come over and help us make a list of equipment."

Wang Song gave a thumbs up.

Yao Beina glared at Wang Song.

"Alright, boss, they've all gone to recruit. There's no point in us just standing here staring blankly."

Wang Song stood up and patted his buttocks.

"Come on, Brother Li's recording studio. As a reward, I'll give you a few new songs."

We drove all the way to the recording studio.

Wang Song grabbed the microphone and hummed a tune.

Yao Beina leaned against the mixing console and said, "Boss, how come you haven't improved at all? It still sounds awful."

"It's good enough to have something, why be so picky?" Wang Song said nonchalantly, humming a couple more lines of the chorus.

"Just tell me if the lyrics and music suit your taste."

Yao Beina listened in silence for a long time without refuting it.

The two spent a whole day in the recording studio. After Wang Song hummed a few melodies, Yao Beina casually jotted down the sheet music.

Occasionally, I'd pick a particular tune and argue with him about it.

After much procrastination, I still managed to produce six songs.

Wang Song clapped his hands. "That's enough. Let's head back and screen our new members."

Inside the bungalow of Xianming Studio.

Two small mountains had already been piled up on the table.

On one side were the resumes and exam questions collected by the Central Academy of Drama.

On one side were the registration forms and CDs from the Central Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, neatly stacked.

Jiang Yilei, Li Ran, and the others had already packed up and returned, and were slumped in their chairs.

Upon seeing the two enter, Jiang Yilei quickly stood up: "You're finally back! The resumes are piled up like a mountain, just waiting for you two bosses to make the final decision."

Wang Song and Yao Beina exchanged a glance, each pulled up a chair, and sat down at the table.

New resumes, new names, new members.

We need to get our act together in the new year.