Huayu98: Starting with mentoring pop divas

Zheng Xiuwen, who promised to take a good rest, left with her manager Li Jin.

Xu Huanliang from Ocean Butterflies Music, who had been waiting nearby, took a few steps, a smile on his face, and approached Li Shuo, who was tidying up his things.

"Li Shuo, I heard you're transferring to a school on Hong Kong Island!?"

He lowered his voice and spoke warmly.

"Yes, the flight is the day after tomorrow."

Li Shuo knew Xu Huanliang's purpose. After all, the royalty terms for the song licensing contract with Ocean Butterflies were slightly higher than those with Warner Music, but he was confident that Xu Huanliang, as a music producer, would not refuse.

"Um... the S$1.5 cash license for your single is fine... but the royalty split, the 18% that Attorney Chen is insisting on, is frankly higher than the usual rate for new authors in our industry. The company partners and finance department, well, they have some reservations."

Xu Huanliang, unaware of the smile in Li Shuo's eyes, first complained, but then quickly changed the subject.

"But personally, and all of us at Ocean Butterflies, truly love the song 'When It Gets Dark'! Most importantly, it suits A-Do so perfectly. You see, maybe we can do it again..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shuo smiled and raised his hand to stop him.

Attorney Chen Jingwei, who was standing to the side, handed over a black portable music player and headphones at the right moment.

Li Shuo took it and stuffed it directly into Xu Huanliang's hand.

"Mr. Xu, no rush. Please listen to this first."

Xu Huanliang paused for a moment, looked at Li Shuo, and curiously put on the headphones.

He pressed play.

A few seconds later, a powerful string prelude, like waves crashing on the shore, began.

How long has it been since you last saw that sea?

How well do you really understand yourself now?

Always unwilling to admit defeat...

Huh? Is this kid imitating A-Du's singing style again?

"But I care a lot about everyone's expectations of me."

An ordinary character, standing on a small stage...

The lyrics, which build up layer by layer, seem to describe a person's experience, and there's a strange sense of familiarity about them.

"But Andy, there is no reason to live."

Anyone can lose courage temporarily...

Xu Huanliang is a music producer himself, and as soon as "Andy" was sung, he immediately grasped the key point!

Isn't that A-Du singing? Andy is his English name!

Moreover, this song is both a reflection of A-Du's past and a source of inspirational resonance!

Upon hearing the chorus, he was so excited that he stopped listening and pressed pause.

"How do you know all this? You've clearly written this based on A-Du's experiences, haven't you?!"

"I heard about Brother Du Chengyi's experiences from Lin Junjie. I happened to be organizing some of my previous creative inspirations these past few days, and I found that I hadn't been able to find a suitable reference for this part of the lyrics. Now I think it's particularly suitable, so I modified it and it became this song. As for the 'Andy' used in the chorus, it's Brother Lin's English name that he told me about Brother Chengyi. I thought it was appropriate, so I used it. After recording, I thought it would save trouble, so I simply named the song 'Andy'."

Li Shuo glanced at Lin Junjie, who was tidying up his things over the glass, and Lin Junjie happened to look over as well… Li Shuo gave a slightly guilty, bright smile.

Although Lin Junjie found Li Shuo's smile a little creepy for some reason, he returned the smile.

Upon hearing this, Xu Huanliang felt that this young man had once again refreshed his understanding... His sensitivity to musical creation was simply amazing.

He went back and listened to it again... and then again, before he remembered there was another song.

This time, he didn't rewind the tape. Instead, he watched the tape slowly turn with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

"I hid in the car, holding a glass of champagne, wanting to surprise you on your birthday."

When Xu Huanliang first heard this new song, he didn't think much of it, until he heard Li Shuo imitate A-Du's tone and sing that line pitifully...

"I should be under the car, not inside, to see how sweet you two are."

This way, it will be easier for me to give up and give me the courage to leave.

The term "simp" wasn't popular in 1998.

So Mr. Xu felt that the man described was... both devoted and tragic... and also a bit silly...

However, a girl he had pursued in the past flashed through his mind again…

Later, when people gathered around the Singapore campus, they saw her agree to date a senior and even hug him.

The boy even clapped along with it, his eyes red with tears... If only there had been a car underneath him back then...!

As I imagine and recall Adu's even hoarser and more strained singing voice than Li Shuo's imitation... it's simply a perfect match!

The two demos, when rewound and listened to repeatedly, totaled only about ten minutes.

When Xu Huanliang took off his headphones, the calculation and hesitation that had been on his face earlier had completely vanished.

He suddenly looked up at Chen Jingwei, Li Shuo's lawyer, who was standing quietly to the side waiting.

"Sign! Attorney Chen! With these two songs included, sign now according to your terms!!"

As a seasoned musician and businessman, he was all too aware of the value of these two demos, along with his previous work, "It's Getting Dark."

It's not something that can be measured by a few percentage points higher royalties; this is a work that can establish the future of a record company and the male singer A-Du for the next few years!

Not long after, watching Xu Huanliang hurriedly leave with the agreement...

Li Weisong peeked out from the control room again, showing no airs of a principal whatsoever.

"Li Shuo, come to my office. Attorney Chen, please come along too."

Well... they're all lined up, that's fine... let's finish negotiating quickly... then we can pack up and leave Singapore!

Li Shuo understood what was going to be discussed and gestured for Chen Jingwei to go with him.

Inside the office, the tea had already been brewed.

Brothers Li Weisong and Li Sisong sat in the main seats.

"Li Shuo. Mr. Zhou Jianhui, the president of Warner Music Greater China Region, has confirmed his intention to sign Sun Yanzi, and he has given very high praise to the songs you wrote for her."

Li Sisong picked up the conversation, his tone full of admiration.

"Warner Music has also authorized us and your legal representative, Ms. Chen Jingwei, to finalize the licensing agreement for the three songs 'Darkness Falls,' 'The Happiness I Want,' and 'Tears Become Poems.' Mr. Zhou has expressed a strong desire to establish a long-term partnership with you, and subsequent works can be carried out within this framework."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingwei opened her leather folder, handed it to Li Shuo, and explained.

"Based on your authorization, Mr. Li Shuo, we propose that Mr. Li Shuo permanently retain all copyrights and related rights to the lyrics and music of all songs. This authorization is solely a limited license granted to Ms. Sun Yanzi, an artist under your company, to exclusively record, distribute, and promote the recorded version of this song worldwide..."

Chen Jingwei carefully explained the lengthy clauses, summarized the conventions, and put it concisely.

"Three core points: The authorization period is fifteen years, and the rights will automatically revert upon expiration. For physical record sales, you will receive 15% of the company's retail price. For all future digital download revenue, especially ringtones, we will sign a separate agreement, and you will receive no less than 12%, with a guaranteed minimum amount. For other uses such as film and television, you will need to give separate consent, and more than 80% of the revenue will go to you."

Actually, the only part Li Shuo deliberately emphasized here was the digital download part...

I thought there would still be some back and forth, but I didn't expect that even Warner, one of the "Big Five" record labels, wasn't paying much attention to this area at this point, let alone Ocean Butterflies Music, which just had a 3% higher royalty and digital share.

Adults... after the millennium... times are going to change!

After Li Shuo read the contract again and finally signed it, Li Sisong quickly mentioned what Zhou Jianhui from Warner had asked him to bring.

"The company's senior management has already made the decision to assemble a dedicated planning and production team for Yan Zi, with resources being allocated accordingly. Mr. Zhou specifically emphasized that he hopes you can not only be a provider of music works, but also participate in the creation of Yan Zi's first album as a 'music planner'."

Li Shuo listened quietly and smiled.

"I am grateful for Warner Music and the teachers' trust and support. However, I can only participate as a 'special guest creator' in a non-binding capacity. I will soon be going to Hong Kong Island to study, and I also have personal plans to pursue. In terms of time and energy, I cannot be completely tied to one project."

A hint of regret flashed in Li Weisong's eyes, but he nodded understandingly.

After all, I have mixed feelings about this student. Why didn't I discover this "rough gem" sooner?

Now it seems he has a path to follow... It's already quite remarkable that such cooperation has been established.

Seeing that they had almost finished talking, Li Shuo quickly got up.

He bowed very formally.

"Teachers, I won't say goodbye before leaving Singapore. Thank you for your guidance! I have an important appointment to attend to right now... so please excuse me!"

Thinking of what Sun Yanzi had said in his ear when no one was around, Li Shuo hurried to a very important place in the school.