Mysterious Hunting Ground

Chapter 29 29. One-time buyout

With Chevrolet in front and Ford behind, they drove south along the road outside the school for half an hour, and stopped outside a single-family warehouse in a remote block away from the city center.

"Dangdangdangdangdangdangdangdangdangdangdangdangdangdang! Let me solemnly introduce you to the secret base of the Good Morning Band..."

Noah completely changed his face, enthusiastically and hard-working to please the new friend, he took out the key and opened the iron gate, and a group of people stepped in.

That's it?

Dean looked around.

The entire warehouse is very poorly decorated, the four walls are only painted with a layer of cheap putty powder, a chandelier covered with blue iron hangs from the ceiling, and a narrow staircase leading to the second floor can be seen at the opposite corner.

The only thing that can be called decoration is a dozen posters of big stars on the walls, famous bands and singers from the 70s and [-]s: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, still active today, and just won the Billboard Top [-] The queen band of the single champion.

"This year is Queen." Robert pointed to the bucktooth poster in a white jumpsuit showing chest hair, "But I promise that with your song support, the future Good Morning will surpass their glory and create a new one." Miracle."

Who wouldn't brag?
Dean said,

Then I was attracted by the assortment of musical instruments in front of the hall: microphones with stands, drums, guitars, basses, electronic organs, stereos...even a violin and a saxophone that didn’t quite fit the band’s style. Know who is using it.

"The band's financial resources are limited... It's not easy to rent such a warehouse for a long time in Las Vegas, where land is very expensive." Robert saw the surprise in Dean's eyes, and emphasized, "Most underground bands have rudimentary training conditions. It's like a sewer."

"So how do you usually record songs?" Dean asked. "I don't see any recording equipment."

In his impression, a decent music studio should at least have soundproof glass, a mixing console, monitor speakers, headphones, and a bunch of professional equipment that he can't name.

"Recording songs, of course, go to a professional recording studio!" Caroline looked helpless, "Our small band can't afford the purchase and maintenance of equipment."

"The owners of the recording studio are all a bunch of vampires." Katie said with a pained face.

"Okay! Liam, Cardi, Noah, take these two friends to play on the first floor, take good care of them, and let them listen to previous works." Robert glanced at Ruster and Britney,
"Last, Britney, would you like to play the drums?"

Liam was full of enthusiasm.

"Caroline, go upstairs and discuss cooperation with Dean."

……

The decoration on the second floor is much better, the environment is quiet, with blue wallpaper.

Dean looked around, a bookcase, desk, leather sofa, water dispenser.

Two pots of green radishes in the corner exude an elegant fragrance.

"Sit down for a while, I'll look for something." Robert went to the desk and opened the drawer to search.

Dean sat on the leather sofa and moved his butt uncomfortably.

Caroline sat very close to him, with her head lowered as if she was struggling with some major problem. Her white arm was inadvertently pressed against Dean's sleeve. Her body temperature and the scent of shampoo in her blond hair made Dean feel a little nervous. Impatient.

"You said before that you wrote a lot of works, are there any that are suitable for me?"

Caroline looked at him suddenly, her big moist eyes were full of expectation, and her pursed red lips were as tender as flowers.

Dean's eyes turned, and the girl's skin was radiant and delicate, her face was small, and the lines of her face were softer than most white girls, showing delicate features.But she has a good figure. Sitting on the sofa, she can still see the undulating curves under the black vest on her chest, and a small white waist.

Dean couldn't help but think of his girlfriend in his previous life. The appearance of the light wheel was not as good as Caroline.

"Well, there are a few songs sung by girls, but they still need polishing."

Dean answered casually,

"I found it! Caroline, don't just sit around and make two cups of coffee." Robert put a pile of documents on the table and called Dean, "Man, are you full?"

"I know what you're worried about, I'm of legal age to sign a contract on my own."

Dean opened the file and found that it was a sample of a song transfer contract. The dense clauses dazzled him and he couldn't grasp the key points.

After a few glances, he closed the document again.

"Are you a member of the Composers or Radio Music Society?"

"No." Dean replied truthfully, how did he know what association it was.

"Good!"

Robert shook his fist excitedly,
"What's the matter, I'm just being fooled if I didn't join the association?" Dean asked with a smile,
"NO, how is it possible? I'm just happy, I can be your guide, bring you such a newly born talent into the Vegas music circle, and help you grow into a well-known composer. This is a period worth showing off Capital."

Robert took the steaming coffee from Caroline, took a sip,

"Do you know how difficult it is for laymen to come in? Countless young boys and girls dream of becoming singers. In order to enter the circle and become their own people, they are willing to pay any high price, money, body, everything! But 90.00% of them are not It's daydreaming that they have mediocre singing voices, no talent or creative talent, and they end up being scammed out of nothing by some shameless jerk in the business."

"But I'm different. I'm a principled professional. And you, Amazing day is your best stepping stone, made of pure gold...You give it to Good Morning, after it is successfully published, the professional music association will naturally Throwing an olive branch to you, the author. From a legal point of view, you will continue to write songs for Good Morning, which is as convenient as drinking water and eating!"

Caroline propped her chin with her right hand and her eyes moved back and forth between the familiar band manager and her new friend.

"It's okay to sing good morning." Dean nodded,
"Then let's talk about the copyright transfer of the song and the rights and interests of the singles that will be released in the future."

said the fat broker.

Dean picked up the coffee cup, looked at Robert's impatient face, and smiled.

A lawyer negotiating song rights with an outsider who just turned eighteen?Treat him like a fat sheep?

But he didn't care.

"I have a few conditions. After this song is published, it must be signed by my name. Of course, the names of other members of the Good Morning Band can also be added, I don't mind."

Dean didn't think about becoming fat all at once, he wasn't afraid of losing money, but at least he had to take a step forward, as Robert said, gain some fame in this circle and leave a business card, so that he can continue to sell songs in the future.

He dropped a bomb.

"I don't take any relevant copyright benefits after the song is published."

"Dude, are you kidding me?" Robert looked at the expression of a fool. He had never seen a rookie who voluntarily gave up his rights. Most rookies were arrogant and wanted to take 100% of the song's revenue.

Every point that is lost is cutting their flesh, and they can chatter for days.

Professional sensitivity made Robert suspicious. There will be no problem with this song, right?
"Dean, there's no need to do this." Caroline hurriedly shook her head, "We never wanted to take advantage of you, and we prefer to maintain a long-term friendly cooperative relationship!"

"I'm serious. And don't worry, this song has just been written for two days. It's cleaner than a mirror. There are no copyright issues. You can register it at any time. But I ask..." Dean paused, straight Staring into Robert's eyes, he said word by word, "You have to pay me a one-time buyout fee for Amazing day."

Dean wasn't interested in spending a lot of time wrestling with copyrights.

Besides, he doesn't want to be a big singer, it would be better to get money behind the scenes.

A one-time buyout is much faster than a share of the money, and he urgently needs the first money.

"One-time buyout fee?"

Robert couldn't help but nodded, this result is completely acceptable, when the time comes, the names of the members of Good Morning will be added to the song.

Amazing day is equivalent to their original track.

Isn't the band supposed to sing their own songs?This is a huge plus for the audience.

But things were progressing too smoothly, Robert observed his words, this Chinese had a sly look, and he was definitely not that kind of fool.

Robert knocked on the table with his index finger upside down, and tentatively said,
"How much do you want?"

Dean grinned,
"Ten thousand dollars, yes, after tax."

Digging hair!
The calmness on Robert's face was like a dam washed away by a flood, and it collapsed in an instant.

And Caroline's mouth grew, and she dared to open her mouth like a lion.

"Dude, do you know the quotes? Do you know what the usual price is for a song written by a rookie with no history?"

"I don't know...but I'm sure that the value created by Amazing Day in the future must be far more than [-] US dollars, ten times, a hundred times."

"To put it another way, if I'm not a newcomer, do you think you can get this song at this price?"

Dean blew in a determined tone.

"Buying it for [-] dollars is definitely a lucrative business. You... have made a lot of money."

"Your asking price is outrageous. Be realistic, newcomer..." Robert added two spoonfuls of sugar to the coffee, "The most expensive of the seven songs we bought before was only two thousand dollars, and tax is not included."

"Did that song help you make an album?" Dean turned to look at Caroline, "Helped you win any past Vegas singing competition championships?"

The girl pursed her lips, looking lonely.

"Can those songs compare to the quality of Amazing day?" Dean asked continuously,
"I still say the same thing, you are too demanding!" Robert shook his head, "If you don't believe me, you can pass this song to other bands and see if anyone is willing to spend more than 1 to buy it."

"Why not? Let's call it a day. I'll try it out with other bands, and then I'll talk to a professional lawyer."

Dean got up abruptly, and strode towards the stairs in a chic stride, counting silently.

3.

2.

1.

"Wait, Dean, I have to remind you that you haven't copyrighted this song, and other band managers are not as principled as I am. They are a bunch of crafty old foxes... Do you understand? You are a dog in their eyes A lamb waiting to be slaughtered." Robert couldn't help but speak,
"You mean they're going to just copy my song?" Dean said, turning abruptly, cryptically, as if seductively, "So what about you? Will Good Morning copy it?"

An unspeakable expectation welled up in Dean's heart. If the other party really plagiarized his song and deprived him of the fruits of his labor, wouldn't he have a fair reason to take action and ask for a bigger reward.

This is not a bad thing, right?
Robert remained silent with a sullen face, his eyeballs rolled around, as if he was thinking about this possibility.

"Dean, can it be cheaper?"

Caroline trotted over and grabbed Dean's hand firmly, looked up at his face, and begged softly,
"It's hard for us to come up with a lot of money in such a short period of time. But Good Morning needs this song to open things up...For Rust and Britney's sake, okay?"

There was a stalemate for a while.

Below the stairs, there was a pleasant melody.

Drums, guitars, electronic pianos, and complicated accompaniment, someone sang Amazing day...

But listening to the voice, it turned out to be that guy Ruster.

Dean figured his performance was over.

After all, as a newcomer, it doesn't matter if he is not famous. If he finds a big company or other bands to contribute, there is a high probability that he will go nowhere, and there may be a lot of troublesome things.

The most critical point, only God knows whether the songs 20 years later will be popular now.

"Well, it seems that for Ruster's sake... how much are you willing to pay?" Dean returned to the sofa for negotiation.

"Three thousand dollars." Robert lit a Marlboro and handed it to Dean, "We will help you settle all copyright issues and retain your authorship."

"You are sending homeless people, how can three thousand dollars be worth my painstaking efforts?" Dean politely refused the cigarettes handed over, and said in a deep voice, "One price, five thousand dollars."

This is Dean's psychological expectation.

"You win, buddy, five thousand dollars, a one-time buyout of Amazing day." Robert took a cigarette in his mouth and bit it hard, and reached out to shake Dean's hand.

Caroline next to her held her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. She couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it would be to let this good song go away from her.

"You have to be glad that you met me, Robert, and replaced it with another agent, who 100% took advantage of the legal loopholes to eat you alive." The agent's eyes shrank into a slit, "Aren't people in the Celestial Dynasty pay attention to reciprocity? I'm so frank, you shouldn't Show something? How about handing over the management contract of lyrics and music to me?"

"We'll wait until Good Morning wins the Vegas singing competition with this song." Dean resolutely refused, and instead said, "Now sign the contract and pay?"

"Not so fast, first of all, the copyright of this song must be registered!" Robert shook his head, "Write good morning and your name."

"how long?"

"You all cooperate fully, plus I am an industry insider, at least ten days and a half months."

Dean's expression changed, and it will be summer vacation in half a month.

"But I need money urgently. I'd better give me cash."

"Young people, I would like to advise you to sign a contract with someone. Don't ask for cash. It is a method used by black people to evade taxes. If you don't want to be approached by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), just give me a bank account, or I will give you a bank account. You write a check."

Robert explained thoughtfully, seeing Dean's ugly face, his heart moved,
"Well, on behalf of the band, I will lend you [-] knives to strengthen our friendship."

"I don't have a bank account," Dean said with an innocent smile, "you've got to help me sort this out."

……

(End of this chapter)