Noon.
At a famous fried pork belly restaurant in the city. Zhang Ye was wearing a pair of sunglasses while Wu Mo was wearing a suit. The two of them walked out of the restaurant with their stomachs pouting after lunch.
Wu Mo laughed and said, "We just negotiated a 100 million RMB contract, and now we're eating 45 RMB fried pork belly and sesame seed pancakes for lunch?"
"It's better to love it than to eat it." Zhang Ye was having a great time eating.
"That's true." Wu Mo said, "I really love eating this."
Zhang Ye said, "Alright, I'll get someone to prepare the contract when I get back."
Wu Mo opened the car door and said, "Alright, let's go. I'll send you back?"
Zhang Ye waved it off. "Go ahead and do what you need to do. I still have some matters to attend to. This title sponsorship fee of yours has put some pressure on me, so I need to quickly contact the program's guests. I need to find a few big names, or else I won't be able to handle the situation. That would be a waste of your 100 million title sponsorship fee."
Before Wu Mo left, he said, "Then I'll leave the advertising message to you as well?"
"No problem." Zhang Ye did not hesitate and said, "I'll think of something for you before recording the show. When the time comes, you can add a tagline of 'Drink Brain Gold and support The Voice' for the TV commercials. We can promote each other and discuss the details of the collaboration later on."
Wu Mo said, "OK."
The most direct way to judge the level of a new program was to look at the amount of investment.
Investing a few million to 10 million RMB? It would be on an average scale.
Investing 20 million RMB? It would be considered on an average scale.
Investing 30 to 40 million RMB? That would be on a large scale.
What if he invested more than 100 million RMB? Then it would definitely be on an extremely large scale! In this world, not to mention the singing talent show industry, even in the variety television industry, it was almost unheard of to invest more than 100 million in a program. No television station dared to play so big, and no team dared to take such a big risk. After all, the average title sponsorship fee was around 10 to 20 million. It was impossible to earn back the investment, or it could be said that the investment and the return were not proportional. So investing 30 to 40 million in a television program was already a huge production fee.
But Zhang Ye wanted to play it big this time. The production cost of The Voice was estimated by Zhang Ye to be at least 80 million RMB. Now that the title sponsorship rights had been sold, Zhang Ye had increased his expectations even more. He was prepared to spend the 120 million RMB that he had asked for. He would not play around and throw in all his money and money to create a super large-scale singing talent show according to this standard!
Equipment? He wanted the best match!
Stage? I want the best design!
Publicity? He wanted the most expensive time slot!
Contestants? Give them the best treatment, food and lodging!
As for the guest coaches … of course, he wanted the best in the industry!
Wu Mo had just left when Zhang Ye's cell phone rang. The number displayed was from his office. Needless to say, the only person who would dare to use his office phone was Chenchen. The other employees did not have the guts to do so.
"Hello?"
"Zhang Ye."
"Chenchen?"
"When are you coming back?"
"I have something to do outside, so I'll be back in the afternoon. Oh yes, I almost forgot about you. Go have lunch with your Auntie Qiqi. Get her to bring you to the cafeteria. Don't wait for me."
"… OK."
"Be obedient at the office."
"Got it."
After comforting Chenchen, Zhang Ye rubbed his hands together eagerly. Faces started flashing through his mind. He did not plan to return to the office now. With the money and confidence, he would definitely settle everything in one go. Then he would decide on the guest coaches to join the team. That way, the pre-production arrangements would be more or less complete and his mission would be accomplished.
Who should he look for?
Who would be more suitable?
An average celebrity would definitely not do. Someone who was not a professional singer would definitely not do either.
Zhang Ye had racked his brains on this matter. When he decided to start preparing for The Voice, he already had some ideas in mind. It was just that he did not put them into action when he did not have the money. Now that he had so much money in his hands, he was really too rich. Zhang Ye could totally achieve things that others would not even dare to think of. For example, inviting some celebrities that no one else could or did not have the money to invite!
As such, he made the first call.
She was one of the oldest singers in the country. In terms of reputation and qualifications, there was no need to doubt Zhang Xia's status and strength in the music industry. She had been singing all her life, and just based on her basic skills, Zhang Xia was miles ahead of those Heavenly Kings and Queens. In terms of the use of the voice, the adjustment of the tone of the voice, and the understanding of music, Grandma Zhang was undoubtedly much more experienced. Most importantly, she did not only sing bel canto. For example, when Zhang Ye wrote "Woman Flower" for her and Zhang Yuanqi, Grandma Zhang could also handle pop music in a unique way. In addition, she was an old friend of Zhang Ye's, so no matter how one looked at it, Grandma Zhang would definitely need a place in the team for The Voice of China.
Du du.
Du du.
The call connected.
"Little Zhang?" Zhang Xia answered the call. She was probably having lunch as there was the sound of a range hood on the other end. "Wait a moment, I'll switch off the stove. I'm cooking."
A moment later.
Zhang Xia smiled and said, "Go ahead, Little Zhang."
Zhang Ye said, "Why don't you eat first?"
"You go ahead, I'm not in a hurry," Zhang Xia said kindly.
Zhang Ye nodded and then said, "Grandma Zhang, I've recently made a program with Central TV Department 1 called The Voice of China."
"I heard about it and saw the news." Zhang Xia said, "I was thinking of giving you a call when I had the time in the next few days. Do you really want to make a talent show that only listens to the voice?"
"Yes, what do you think?" Zhang Ye asked.
Zhang Xia smiled and said, "I think it's pretty good. Regardless of whether it's a niche or not, or how the viewership ratings will be, at least I feel that this program is meaningful. Compared to those other singing talent shows, it has more positive energy and is relatively healthier. Do it, I'll support you. Don't listen to what others say about it."
Zhang Ye was amused. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Grandma Zhang, you can't just support me with your words."
Zhang Xia was taken aback when she heard that. She had just mentioned it casually and did not expect Zhang Ye to really accept it. "Hur hur, then how can I support you? Forward it to you on Weibo? Or help you promote it in the industry? Or perhaps you've taken a liking to one of my apprentices? Do you want to get a few of my students to appear on your program? "
Zhang Ye said, "Neither. I would like to invite you to join The Voice of China as one of the four guest coaches. Is your schedule available?"
Zhang Xia sounded very surprised. "Oh? Why are you inviting me? I do have a bit of fame, but I'm not as popular as the young singers these days. Their fans easily number in the millions or even tens of millions. A talent show like yours is meant for the younger generation, right? Most of the contestants also sing pop music, right? "
Zhang Ye said, "Your popularity is still low? How many people in our generation do not know about you? Among the parents and relatives of our generation, how many of them didn't grow up listening to your songs? If your reputation is considered small, then you won't be able to find a bigger one in the entire country. As for the music, we don't necessarily only sing pop music. Our stage welcomes all kinds of contestants and all kinds of musical styles. Besides, as I've said before, we are a program that only looks at the voice. Naturally, in terms of the voice, our program needs a coach who has a deep understanding and experience of the voice and singing techniques. You've been dealing with the voice all your life, so there's no one more suitable than you! "
Zhang Xia gave a wry smile and said, "I'm already in my seventies or eighties. My children keep asking me to retire, but right now, I just can't let go of my singing. I've long since stopped accepting other jobs. To tell you the truth, last month and at the end of last year, there were actually two singing talent shows that approached me and invited me to take part, but I rejected them both. I have a certain resistance towards these kinds of television variety shows and talent shows."
Zhang Ye said, "Heh, Grandma Zhang, you're not very particular. You just said that my new program is very meaningful and even said that you would support me, so why are you rejecting it now? You said that you can't let go of your singing, but our new program is purely a singing program. We want the singers to return to their roots, so this is not in conflict with your attitude. You're here to guide the newcomers, to help unearth and nurture those good singers and voices that have been neglected by others. This is a great deed of virtue and is a great plan to nurture good seedlings for the singing industry. "
Zhang Xia: "..."
Zhang Ye flattered her and said, "If it weren't for you, our group of youngsters wouldn't be able to do it. In the music industry, your experience is the most valuable asset. Without you to protect and escort these younger contestants, it would be very easy for them to go down the wrong path and go in the wrong direction."
As she listened, Zhang Xia was also amused. "Kid, you've really got a glib tongue."
Zhang Ye said, "Grandma Zhang, as the executive director of The Voice of China, I would like to formally invite you to join us once again."
After pondering for a few seconds, Zhang Xia said, "You've already flattered me so much, so I can't reject you even if I wanted to. Alright then, I'll agree to it."
Zhang Ye beamed with joy. "That's great."
Zhang Xia said, "But let me say this first. I will not participate in any of the cheating or the internal selection of the champion. I will only listen to the voice and say whatever is on my mind."
"To be honest with you, Grandma Zhang, what I want is for you to speak the truth. I promise you that as long as I'm on the program team, there will not be any under-the-table manipulations in my new program! If I find out about it, I will deal with every single one of them! There's no room for negotiation! "Zhang Ye guaranteed.
Zhang Xia was very satisfied and said, "Alright."
Zhang Ye suddenly thought of something. "Oh yes, we haven't discussed the joining fee yet..."
"You can decide on it." Zhang Xia did not seem to care about this.
But even if she said that, Zhang Ye could not be indifferent to it. He asked, "How much did those two programs offer you the last time they invited you?"
Zhang Xia said, "A few million, I don't remember."
Zhang Ye was amused. "They wanted to invite you for a few million? They are too insincere. How about this, Grandma Zhang, let's set the joining fee at 10 million. What do you think? "
Zhang Xia said, "Do you think I'm Little Zhang? Why would I need so much? "
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "You're too modest."
"There's no need, there's no need." Because of the song "Woman Flower", Zhang Xia had never treated Zhang Ye as an outsider. She said, "A few million is enough. Most of the talent shows in the industry charge this joining fee, but you're still offering 10 million? Central TV is famous for being stingy, so why are you being so generous this time? "
Zhang Ye said, "They are them, I am me. I was the one who pulled in the budget this time and am also responsible for the program. I call the shots on everything. 10 million. I will get someone to draft the contract later. Grandma Zhang, let's keep our personal relationship and business matters. Let's just leave it at that."
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