Huayu: A master director who debuted as a singer

Chapter 58 PolyGram's Decision

For the next six days, the recording studio became their home.

They order takeout for everything, and the ashtray is constantly being emptied and refilled. They drink strong tea like it's water.

"Old Zhang, the distortion on the guitar isn't enough, add a little more."

"Ah Qiang, the bass needs to be steady, nothing fancy, and it needs to support the vocals."

"The snare drum sounds too dry, let's try a different sample."

Late at night on the sixth day.

The remix of the last song, "Single Love Song," has ended.

Zheng Hui and the musicians gathered together to listen to the playback.

"Find someone you love most, someone you deeply love, someone you want to love, and someone dear to you, to say goodbye to being single..."

A few seconds later, guitarist Chong Zheng Hui gave him a thumbs up: "Awesome."

Zheng Hui didn't stand on ceremony. Holding the master tape, he said to Li Zongming, "Buy train tickets and go back to Hong Kong."

……

A few days earlier, while Zheng Hui was boarding the train back to Guangzhou, Manager Chen in Hong Kong was also busy.

He went to PolyGram immediately and found the executive he had contacted before, Music Director Feng.

"Hui is releasing a new album?" Director Feng frowned after hearing Manager Chen's report.

"Was he provoked by the media? Making an album in a month, isn't that ridiculous?"

Manager Chen repeated Zheng Hui's original words: "He said he could finish the song in a week and told us to prepare the contract."

Director Feng paced back and forth in his office: "Signing him for his next album now is too risky. He can't produce any good songs in a week."

He stopped and looked at Manager Chen: "What's most important to you and me right now? It's securing the profits."

"We signed Zheng Hui's album release under pressure, and now it's doing very well, which is thanks to us."

Even if Universal takes over, seeing these results, we can keep our position.

"But what if we rush into signing one now and end up losing money? Who can guarantee the quality of something he produced in a week?"

If the new album flops, we'll both be the company's culprits and will definitely be fired.

He sighed, "Making the most of our time is to secure the profits from this album. We can worry about the future once we're more established."

Manager Chen understood; this was a prudent approach, and also a way to protect himself.

But he always felt uneasy; Zheng Hui wasn't an impulsive person.

Seeing Manager Chen's hesitant expression, Director Feng thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I can't make up my mind about this on my own. I'll take you to see someone."

Director Feng picked up the internal phone on the table and dialed a number.

"Mr. Zheng, there's something I'd like to report to you about that mainland singer, Zheng Hui... Okay, we're coming right now."

After hanging up the phone, Director Feng straightened his tie: "Let's go."

The Mr. Zheng mentioned by Director Feng is Zheng Donghan, the head of PolyGram Records. Even after the company was acquired by Universal Music, he remained the de facto manager of Universal Music in the Asian region.

This is also the origin of Ronald Cheng's nickname "Prince Cheng," as he is Ronald Cheng's father.

The two entered Zheng Donghan's office.

"Sit down." Zheng Donghan pointed to the chair opposite him.

Director Feng and Manager Chen sat down cautiously.

Zheng Donghan poured a cup of tea for the two of them: "Try it, this year's Da Hong Pao."

The two picked up their teacups, took a sip, and neither dared to speak first.

"Tell me, what happened to that singer?" Zheng Donghan put down the teapot.

Director Feng gave a full account of the whole story.

From Zheng Hui's sales figures in mainland China to his autograph sessions in Taiwan, to Ying Huang's public attacks, and Zheng Hui's plan to release a new album in a week to retaliate.

After listening, Zheng Donghan's face remained expressionless: "Did you bring Zheng Hui's song?"

"I brought it. It's the CD of his first album, 'Stubborn'." Manager Chen quickly took the CD out of his bag and handed it over with both hands.

Zheng Donghan took the CD and put it into the speaker next to him.

Press the play button.

The prelude to "Stubborn" begins.

"If I'm different from the world, then let me be different..."

Zheng Donghan closed his eyes and listened quietly.

One, two, three.

The room returned to silence after the entire album had finished playing.

Zheng Donghan opened his eyes and said, "It's a good song, powerful and sincere."

Director Feng and Manager Chen both breathed a sigh of relief.

Jung Dong-han added, "However, your release strategy for this album has actually gone astray."

Manager Chen's heart jumped into his throat.

Zheng Donghan looked at him and said, "You're promoting him like an ordinary idol singer, targeting young people and the student market."

"The Cantonese music market in Hong Kong is indeed large, and young people do like to follow celebrities, but you have overlooked another group of people."

He pointed out the window: "Those middle-aged people in their forties and fifties."

"When they were young, it was the era when Taiwanese folk songs and Mandarin songs were popular. They had no problem listening to Mandarin songs."

"Now, after the financial crisis, these are the people who are suffering the most and feeling the most pain."

"They have elderly parents to support and young children to raise, are burdened with mortgages, and are struggling to keep their families afloat. Stocks have plummeted, the housing market has collapsed, and companies have laid off employees."

"They are suffering in their hearts, but they cannot speak of it, and they dare not cry."

"They have the ability to spend money and the demand for it. They need a voice to comfort them and encourage them."

"Your previous promotion of him going on those pop music radio stations and TVB's 'Jade Solid Gold' to show off his face was wrong."

"He should be sent to a financial channel, to an interview program for the elite, so that he can talk to middle-aged people who are struggling to make a living."

Tell them that even if they are disappointed, they must not despair.

Zheng Donghan's words enlightened Manager Chen and Director Feng.

They only saw the superficial excitement, but ignored the social sentiments at the bottom.

They turned a singer who could resonate with the whole society into an idol who was only popular on campus.

They were digging for silver instead of gold, and a cold sweat broke out on their backs.

However, Zheng Donghan did not criticize him too harshly.

"Of course, this is the fault of the marketing department, and has nothing to do with your artist production department."

I've seen your hard work. It's truly remarkable that a newcomer's Mandarin album has sold close to gold in Hong Kong.

He looked at Manager Chen and said, "Mr. Chen, your salary can be increased next year."

He then turned to Director Feng: "Old Feng, don't worry, just sit in your seat. I'll talk to Global."

This reassurance put both of them at ease.

After saying this, Zheng Donghan's gaze returned to Manager Chen.

"You just said that Zheng Hui is going to release a new album to compete with Ying Huang?"

"Yes, that's what he said."

Did he say what the new album is about?

Manager Chen shook his head: "He didn't go into details, only saying that he would bring the master tape over in a week, and that the album would be a complete crushing defeat."

Zheng Donghan smiled and said, "That's interesting. There aren't many young people these days who dare to say things like that."

He pondered for a moment, then spoke to Director Feng.

"Prepare two contracts."

"For the first deal, we'll sign two albums, with the royalty split increasing to 15%, and all other terms remaining unchanged."

Director Feng nodded and made a note of it.

"For the second deal, we'll sign three to five albums, with royalties at 18%. Since Yinghuang is offering five million for the signing fee, we'll offer ten million."

Director Feng hesitated for a moment: "Mr. Zheng, this..."

"If the master tape he brings back is truly as overwhelming as he claims, then it's worth our big bet."

"Yinghuang wants to promote Nicholas Tse as a leader of the new era. Since someone wants to challenge them, why don't we give them a push?"

Zheng Donghan looked at the two of them and said, "When he comes back, I want to talk to him in person."