"Tell me exactly what you think …"
Lin Zhijie asked Lu Chen, "What do you think about the release of this album?"
After listening to the seven songs in Lu Chen's debut album in the studio, he gave a lot of advice to Wang Jing and Wang Hui. In the end, he still wanted to say more. He pulled Lu Chen to the reception room and asked questions about the release.
Originally, Lin Zhijie asked Lu Chen to meet to persuade him to join Flying Stone Records, but he didn't achieve his goal.
Out of the idea of helping the newcomer, he didn't mind helping Lu Chen with a small favor.
It was completely a spur of the moment idea. Lin Zhijie suddenly became interested in the album Lu Chen was making, so he came to this small studio to listen to it. As a result, he listened to it as soon as he listened!
As the music director of Flying Stone Records, Lin Zhijie is also a veteran in the industry. He keenly discovered that Lu Chen's album, in addition to the quality of the work itself, has a very unified and distinct style, which focuses on nostalgia.
Completely different from the most popular fast songs, Lu Chen's target group of fans is obviously not those teenage boys and girls, but pop music lovers born in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.
This is a huge group!
Domestic pop music once had countless brilliance in the 1980s and 1990s. After stepping into the new century, it was influenced by the pop trend in Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea, and eventually formed the current pattern.
What's popular nowadays? It's new idols, little fresh meat, fast songs and dances, rap songs … The new generation of young people pursue fashion and worship stars. They are full of rebellious spirit and don't like the traditional ones of the past.
The parents of these boys and girls are the backbone of society, and most of them have good economic conditions. Therefore, they are very willing to spend money to chase stars and like to buy peripheral products of stars and idols. They don't care about spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to watch a concert.
Therefore, domestic entertainment media companies desperately cater to their tastes, introduce the things of Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea, and localize them, relying on the fan economy to make a lot of money.
The competition between entertainment companies is fierce to the extreme. Artists are trained in large numbers like assembly line products, doing their best to consume the huge market brought by young fans.
But what about those in the 70s and 80s?
They might passively accept new music, or they might fall in love with new idols, but there were still many who missed and persisted in liking the classics of the past.
The most typical example was Tan Hong. He was almost in a state of retirement. Last year, when he held a concert at Beijing's National Stadium, tens of thousands of tickets were sold out within three days!
Why? This was because Tan Hong still had millions of fans who loved him. They might not be young anymore, but they were still powerful. It was just that they were not as willing to spend money on their idols as young people.
In LuChen's album, the 7 songs that have been completed are all folk songs, with a strong nostalgic flavor. The talent and intention that he has shown in them have moved Lin Zhijie!
Therefore, Lin Zhijie wanted to help Lu Chen more in terms of sales and distribution, so that the album would not be covered in dust.
It deserved the honor it deserved!
Lu Chen and Lu Xi looked at each other, and the latter motioned for him to answer Lin Zhijie's question himself.
Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, "Teacher Lin, it's like this …"
Lu Chen's idea was to record his debut album through Flying Stone Records, including CD and USB flash drive, and at the same time, divided into three versions: ordinary edition, collector's edition and deluxe edition, and determined the quantity by fans ordering.
That was to say, however many fans ordered, they would record it here to minimize the risk.
In addition to processing, Flying Stone Records would also distribute the album through their channels.
This channel was Xinhua Bookstore, which has branches all over the country!
Xinhua Bookstore was a large-scale state-owned book distribution enterprise, which has been established for 70 years. It belonged to the National Propaganda Department and China Publishing Group, with up to 15000 sales outlets, headquartered in Beijing.
In the past, when everyone bought books, basically everyone went to Xinhua Bookstore to buy them, especially teaching materials and books. The state also distributed them through Xinhua Bookstore, so the annual sales volume was extremely amazing.
But in the new century, the state fully liberalized the restrictions on publishing, coupled with the rise of online shopping, Xinhua Bookstore's hegemonic position has been greatly impacted, and its profit margin has declined year after year.
Many branches in remote places rely on renting out storefronts to maintain their business, and selling books doesn't make much money.
The predicament faced by Xinhua Bookstore has a lot in common with Flying Stone Records. In recent years, the senior management of the bookstore has also been seeking innovation and change, expanding various operations, and making full use of their advantages.
For example, in the past, Xinhua Bookstore sold tapes and CDs, but now these things have been eliminated and declined, and there is no benefit to speak of. The bookstore has in-depth cooperation with entertainment agencies to sell various peripheral products of star idols, and even concert tickets.
Due to the influence of Xinhua Bookstore and the fact that they are all genuine, entertainment agencies are also happy to use this channel to expand fan groups, so they have formed a very mature operating process early.
Flying Stone Records was one of the partners of Xinhua Bookstore.
Lin Zhijie understood: "You want to pre-sell it online first, and then put it in Xinhua Bookstore to sell it, right?"
This sales method has been around for a long time. Fans order the peripheral products of stars on the official website, get the corresponding authentication code, and then take their mobile phone to the local Xinhua Bookstore sales outlet to scan it, and then they can get the things.
For entertainment agencies, this sales method is Big, relieving their pressure. They only need to hand over all the produced products to Xinhua Bookstore, and with the help of the latter's strong logistics system and huge sales network, they can ship the goods.
Coupled with direct sales on the website, a perfect sales system has been formed, and the cost has been reduced to a reasonable level.
Lu Chen said with a smile, "Yes!"
He actually has a different sales plan from others, which is inspiration from the dream world.
It's just that it's not convenient to tell Lin Zhijie for the time being.
Lin Zhijie nodded in approval.
Lu Chen obviously did a lot of homework in advance, and has a basic understanding of this release process. The choice of Flying Stone Records for cooperation was certainly not a temporary idea. It was obviously carefully considered.
But this does not mean that Lin Zhijie is very optimistic about the sales prospects of this album.
After all, Lu Chen is still a newcomer who has just made his debut. Although he has accumulated a lot of popularity by winning the championship in "Singing China", it is not a simple matter to turn popularity into real benefits.
Lu Chen'sbiggest problem is that he doesn't have a complete and experienced team to support him behind the scenes, lacks interpersonal resources, and is doomed to not go far by relying on the impulsive spending of a few fans.
Lin Zhijie really didn't want to pour cold water on Lu Chen. Moreover, it's not purely a bad thing for young people to suffer some setbacks.
So he didn't say anything more.
"Then hurry up and finish this album. I should be able to help with Flying Stone Records."
Lu Chen was grateful: "Thank you, Teacher Lin!"
With the help of the music director of Flying Stone Records, it will be much easier for him to release the album there!
Lin Zhijie said solemnly, "Remember to pay attention to quality. You can't be sloppy in the details, and …"
He asked, "Did you ask Wang Jing to do your arrangement?"
Lu Chen replied, "Yes."
Lin Zhijie pondered for a moment and reminded, "You have to strengthen this aspect. With your talent, only by participating in the arrangement yourself can you fully express the essence of the work to the greatest extent."
Truly excellent singer-songwriters can often write songs and arrange music. Of course, it doesn't mean that composing music must be very good at arranging music, but having both will undoubtedly greatly improve the work.
After all, others may not be able to fully understand the intentions of the creator, and there are obstacles in communication.
Lu Chen is not a professional, and it's normal for him to be weak in arranging music.
Lin Zhijie hopes that he can make up for this shortcoming.
Lu Chen said with surprise: "I've thought about it. I want to attend lectures at Beijing Conservatory of Music or Beiyin, but I heard that it's very difficult to get a permit."
Lu Chen has long had this idea, but he asked Wang Jing and knew that it was very difficult to get a permit whether it was Beijing Conservatory of Music or Beiyin. The college is very strict, and only a few permits are issued a year.
As for other private institutions that can be casually entered with money … It's better to save it.
Lin Zhijie said with a smile, "It's good to have a spirit of learning. I know two professors at Beijing Conservatory of Music. Maybe they can help you get a permit, but it's not 100% guaranteed."
Even if it's not guaranteed, it's already a surprise!
Lu Chen said quickly, "Thank you, Teacher Lin!"
"You've thanked me many times today …"
Lin Zhijie waved his hand and said, "Since you call me teacher, it's also our fate. I'm willing to help if I can."
"The key is still your own efforts!"
As long as it doesn't affect the interests of himself and the company, Lin Zhijie is very willing to help the promising young man in front of him. What he sees in Lu Chen is a quality that is different from others.
Why not do a small favor and make a good karma?
Lu Chen nodded vigorously.
He knew that this favor was really owed, and he would have to return it when he had the chance in the future.
Lu Chen is undoubtedly lucky. On this starry road to success, he has certainly met Zhao Deping, Jin Hongwei, Zhuang Hao, and ChenJianhao, but also met ChenJianhao, Tan Hong, and Lin Zhijie, such as guides!
Lu Chen and Lu Xi together saw off Lin Zhijie and his party.
Back in her studio, Lu Xi turned out her notepad and said to him, "At 2 o'clock this afternoon, you have to go to EMI Culture Brokerage Company. I've already talked to Wen Zhiyuan, the director of the brokerage department over there. He will arrange for artists to meet you for an interview."
Lu Chen said without hesitation, "Okay."
He wants to make money, a lot of money!
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