Chapter 30: Joint Sniping
“Lin Yuan.”
Upon seeing Lin Yuan again, Zhao Jue greeted him warmly, “Zhao Yingge has signed with me. She really likes ‘Flammable and Explosive.’”
“That’s good.”
Lin Yuan’s original intention was to lend Zhao Jue a hand.
Zhao Jue said, “Let me take you to sign a contract first. As per the usual arrangement, the company takes 80%, and the remaining 20% is split between you and Zhao Yingge.”
“Alright.”
Zhao Yingge is not just an ordinary tool.
So Lin Yuan was already prepared to share more of the profits and didn’t raise any objections. Half for each is fine.
However, no matter how eloquently Wu Yong spoke, Lin Yuan’s heart still belonged to the concept of a tool person, as he believed they offered better value for money.
“There’s nothing more to say.”
Zhao Jue patted Lin Yuan on the shoulder, “This is a big favor, and I will repay you in the future. At Starlight, I have the confidence to say this.”
Lin Yuan replied, “You already treated me to a meal.”
Zhao Jue chuckled, “If a simple meal could exchange for a song like ‘Flammable and Explosive,’ then should I treat you to a few more meals and reach the heavens? This isn’t just about a meal. I can’t take advantage of a kid like you for nothing. If you need anything in the future, just come to me.”
Zhao Jue had said this once before.
But saying it a second time carried a completely different meaning.
Lin Yuan didn’t think much of it, simply nodding, “Let’s go sign the contract.”
Zhao Jue nodded.
Five minutes later, Lin Yuan followed Zhao Jue to the artist department and met Zhao Yingge.
“Hello, Teacher Xian Yu.”
Zhao Yingge greeted with a smile, internally surprised at Xian Yu’s youth. She had assumed he was at least over thirty.
“Hello.”
Lin Yuan shook hands with her out of courtesy.
Zhao Yingge actually wanted to chat more with Lin Yuan, but he didn’t seem to have much interest in conversation.
She tried to start several topics, but Lin Yuan only responded politely, so Zhao Yingge had to close her mouth. She had her own pride too.
After signing the contract, Zhao Yingge asked, “Does Teacher Xian Yu have anything to add?”
Lin Yuan thought for a moment, “Don’t change the released version. You can modify other versions later if you wish.”
Zhao Yingge replied, “I don’t plan to change the composition, arrangement, or lyrics.”
“Okay.”
Lin Yuan then got up to leave.
After Lin Yuan left, Zhao Yingge murmured, “Are all the teachers in our composition department this aloof?”
“Yes.”
Zhao Jue was not surprised, “Most people in the composition department are aloof. Xian Yu’s personality is considered good; at least he’s polite.”
“Alright.”
Zhao Yingge asked expectantly, “Now that all the contracts are signed, are we releasing the single on the first of next month?”
“Of course.”
Zhao Jue smiled, “I told you, our company is very efficient. From the moment you signed with the company, the publicity department has already started promoting your new song. Your fans already know about your song release next month.”
Zhao Yingge is the champion of “Bloom.”
The show has just ended, and Zhao Yingge’s popularity as the champion is still high, so the company wants to strike while the iron is hot, leveraging the momentum of “Bloom.”
If they delay too long, the champion’s popularity will fade.
Just then, Zhao Jue’s phone suddenly rang.
After a short conversation, her face darkened, and she said coldly, “Brilliant Silver Light and Sand Sea have joined forces?”
After a while, Zhao Jue hung up the phone.
Zhao Yingge asked, puzzled, “Did something happen?”
Zhao Jue, somewhat irritated, replied, “Next month, Sand Sea and Brilliant Silver Light have two first-tier singers releasing songs on the first. Originally, these two singers were scheduled to release in March next year, but they suddenly changed their schedule, clearly targeting you.”
“So do we need to change our schedule?” Zhao Yingge frowned.
Although she had confidence in “Flammable and Explosive,” the two singers from Silver Light and Sand Sea were first-tier.
What is a first-tier singer?
Even if their songs aren’t that great, they have a large fan base willing to buy them.
Just like Qian Xingyu on the Newcomer Chart.
Even though everyone knows Qian Xingyu’s song might not be the best on the chart, his popularity alone can bring significant attention to his song.
“It’s not that simple.”
Zhao Jue shook her head, “Under normal circumstances, we could change the schedule, let them clash with each other, and then release next month. But the problem is, you can’t afford to wait! Your popularity comes from the ‘Bloom’ champion bonus. If you delay a month, your popularity will drop by a third.”
Zhao Yingge gritted her teeth, “I can still bear a third.”
These two companies joining forces to block her was clearly revenge for not choosing them.
To put it bluntly, if Zhao Yingge had chosen to sign with Sand Sea, it might have been Starlight Entertainment joining forces with Brilliant Silver Light today.
So, while Zhao Yingge was angry about this, she could understand it.
“It’s not just one month.”
Zhao Jue’s eyes flashed with cold light, “If you don’t release in January, you can’t release in February either. You’ll have to wait until March because February is Blue Star’s Spring Festival.”
“Spring Festival.”
Zhao Yingge’s face changed.
She had completely forgotten about that!
Every December, the new song chart is fiercely competitive, and while the month of the Spring Festival isn’t as intense, many big names release songs due to the special sentiment Blue Star people have for the festival.
So choosing February is worse than January.
As for releasing in March, that’s even worse.
By March, it would be months since “Bloom” ended, and Zhao Yingge’s champion popularity would likely have dissipated.
“So we have to clash?”
Zhao Yingge felt a bit anxious.
She had confidence in “Flammable and Explosive.”
But the new song chart’s situation is too complex.
Take December’s new song chart, for example. Because many big names entered, even a song like “Big Fish” didn’t make it into the top ten—
Of course, this was partly because “Big Fish” entered mid-month.
But this also shows that a song’s ranking isn’t just about quality; it’s also about the fame of the singer and composer.
Xian Yu already has some fame.
But compared to ace composers, there’s still a gap.
She also has some fame, being the champion of “Bloom” carries some weight.
But compared to first-tier singers, there’s still a significant gap in fan base!
“There is no retreat.”
Zhao Jue squinted, “They dared to release two first-tier singers to snipe you because they know we have no retreat and can only face it head-on.”
Such sniping is rare.
If not for the need to prove a point, the targeted party could simply change the schedule.
But Brilliant Silver Light and Sand Sea were smart in understanding Zhao Yingge’s situation and seizing this special timing, leaving her no chance to change the schedule!
If they can’t have her, they’ll destroy her.
This is the level of competition among the three giants in Qinzhou.
If they succeed in ruining Zhao Yingge’s first song, her value as the “Bloom” champion would significantly diminish.
Zhao Yingge understood this too.
So she was quite worried.