The opening of China Entertainment Group gave Jay Chou a head-on confrontation

Chapter 927 What does it mean to advance and retreat together?

Looking back, the Golden Melody Awards actually had a very strong compensatory function, even more so than its independence.

Not only were there countless times of supplementary rewards, but they were all very deliberate compensations.

Therefore, since the end of the last century, the Golden Melody Awards have not only become more fond of discussing musical independence, but also like to make up for the lack of awards when they are about to be overdue.

Of course, compensation can be made if there is enough time.

They always pull strings during the years when the award recipients deserve it, preventing them from receiving the awards they are entitled to. Then, after they've worn down the recipients to the point of being indifferent to whether they win or not, they suddenly hand them the award out unexpectedly.

Of course, they don't recognize the Golden Melody Awards now because of their continued influence.

Qian Jiang ruthlessly burst this illusion, but it directly caused the new Golden Melody Awards jury to jump in anger.

"Nonsense!"

"Isn't this a threat? Is this still a musician?"

"He just quit like that?"

"He's already won so many international awards, what more does he want to do?"

"But what if he really wants to retire from the music industry?"

One sentence during the meeting instantly brought the entire atmosphere to a standstill.

Forcing out a global legend is a disgrace to the Golden Melody Awards, an act that will forever be etched in their memory whenever it is discussed.

"Zhou Yi is only a few years old now. Is he willing to do that? I don't believe it."

"Didn't he not renew his contract?"

"Warner is all his, so what difference does it make to him whether he renews his contract or not? It's just playing word games. Don't forget he also signed a lifetime contract with Coca-Cola."

"But what if he really does retire indefinitely like Faye Wong?"

"..."

In that instant, no one dared to gamble.

"Where's Yao Qian? Could we ask him to subtly inquire? Warner's people are all smooth talkers; we can't trust them."

As a veteran in the Taiwanese music scene, Yao Qian has a high reputation and credibility, and at the very least, she is genuinely willing to do her best to ensure fairness.

“He won’t get involved in this kind of thing, especially since Xiao Yaxuan, who is under his management, was also nominated this year.”

"According to information I received in Japan, it seems that Zhou Yi did indeed make related remarks during his activities in Japan..."

The Golden Melody Awards committee was at their wits' end, sifting through all sorts of news to separate the truth from the falsehood—

The main problem is that the I Ching has an excessively high international status; if this gets out, people will laugh at us for life.

For music award ceremonies, especially those that constantly tout musicality as their motto, what is most important?

Face, face, it's all about face.

Left with no other choice, they could only release some information to test the waters first.

"It's just cheap."

While in the hotel, Zhou Yi scoffed at Qian Jiang's report.

"That's not quite the case. The main issue is that Cai Jianya has also announced her intention to retire from the music industry, which naturally attracts public attention," Qian Jiang shook his head, pointing out a difficult point.

"Isn't that still cheap? It shows that their compensation mechanism has been seen through by many people and can no longer be operated."

Zhou Yi felt no sympathy whatsoever; in fact, he wanted to laugh.

In fact, Tsai Chien-ya also played the game of retiring from the music scene this year. After realizing that she was far behind Dai Pei-ni in both media opinion and industry reputation, she immediately went to the media to play the victim and said that she was going to retire from the music scene.

If I remember correctly, by playing the victim and "quitting the music scene," Tsai Chien-ya came from behind and eventually overtook Tai Pei-ni's best album, "Crazy in Love," winning her first Best Female Vocalist award at the 17th Golden Melody Awards.

This is why Cai Jianya didn't have a good reputation among the general public before her name as a "tailor" became widely known.

The title of "most unworthy female singer" was given to her by a large number of listeners after she played the victim and said she would retire, but then announced that she would not retire after winning the award. However, the title was given to the newly crowned female singer Tsai Yi-lin the following year for her lip-syncing performance with a completely silent microphone at the 18th Golden Melody Awards.

This shows that the Golden Melody Awards have indeed become increasingly decadent.

You, who won the title of Best Female Singer this year, didn't dare to perform with a full microphone, not even a half-microphone with backing vocals. You just lip-synced with a completely muted microphone. And the organizing committee even allowed it. Aren't you just spouting nonsense and contradicting yourself?

"Sony Japan has also agreed to use their influence and connections in the Taiwanese music scene to help you, but on the condition that you also help them."

"How to say?"

"There's a female singer named Mika Nakashima under Sony Japan. I don't know if you've heard of her."

Qian Jiang handed over the documents he had on hand: "She debuted in 01, a year later than you. She has already appeared on the Kohaku Uta Gassen four times. In Japan, she has already shed the title of supernova and is preparing to make a strong push for the position of queen of pop."

Zhou Yi laughed: "Weren't you going to talk about Liu Yifei's new album trying to ride on my popularity?"

"That would only be acceptable to Sony Japan." Qian Jiang rolled his eyes.

Finding an excuse is enough. If there really is an opportunity to get involved with Zhou Yi, Sony Japan is very aware of the situation: "They are now eager to raise Mika Nakashima's status and want to ask you to write a song for her."

Looking at the Asian music scene today—no, I should say the global music scene—collaborating with Zhou Yi is the easiest way to elevate one's status.

Not to mention, there's a very real example in the Japanese entertainment industry right here—Masami Nagasawa.

With "Hana-bi," her career, popularity, and status soared to new heights. Fueled by Toho's abundant resources, she became one of the fastest-rising new actresses in the industry. Don't underestimate this.

It's important to understand that rising to stardom in the Japanese entertainment industry is incredibly difficult. Unless you're a legendary figure like Utada Hikaru, who dominated the entire Asian music scene from the very beginning, Zhou Yi was practically invisible in her eyes before releasing her English album.

“Writing songs is no problem, just give me a friendly price as a token.” After glancing at the profile and matching it with the female singer in his memory, Zhou Yi agreed without any difficulty.

Mika Nakashima, born in 1983, is a Japanese female singer and a prized possession of Sony Music Japan in the new century.

After failing to land female singers like Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, and Hikaru Utada, Sony Japan finally discovered Mika Nakashima, a trump card—for many domestic listeners, she is often confused with or misunderstood by Miyuki Nakashima.

In fact, these two things have nothing to do with each other; the problem mainly lies with the translation.

Miyuki Nakajima is a veteran artist; many well-known Hong Kong songs from the last century were written with lyrics by purchasing her songs.
Mika Nakashima's most widely sung and famous song in China is probably "僕が死のうと思ったのは", which is translated into Chinese as "曾经也想一交百了".

It just so happens that this song was only released in 2013.

"Okay, I'll go reply then." Having received a definite answer, Qian Jiang left full of fighting spirit.

Although he said a lot of things to fool Chen Zeshan, there was one thing he didn't lie about—he really wanted Zhou Yi to leave the Golden Melody Awards without any regrets.

Zhou Yi, who had just watched him leave, soon received a call from another person—

"Ah Yi, are you really going to withdraw from the Golden Melody Awards?"

Jay Chou's slightly muffled voice came from the speaker. Zhou Yi nodded: "Yeah, I won't hide it from you. Just don't tell anyone else. It's true."

"Did the Golden Melody Awards go too far before? Do you want to reconsider? Maybe the Golden Melody Awards will compensate you this year?" Jay Chou's anxious mood was evident in his extremely fast-paced speech.

When he first heard Yang Junrong report that Zhou Yi might permanently withdraw from the Golden Melody Awards, he was completely stunned.

Although he is often jokingly told by the media that he lives in the shadow of the I Ching, he has always maintained his spirit of challenging the I Ching. As a result, he is still making great strides in catching up, but his original goal has suddenly disappeared.

Isn't this a public relations tactic?

How did it suddenly become a reality?

"Well, even if he offered me compensation, I still planned to back out."

“You—never mind, it’s hard to explain over the phone. Wait for me for two days. I’m still out there. I’ll change my schedule and come back to Taiwan to find you.”

After hanging up the phone, Jay Chou immediately called Yang Junrong, the general manager of Alfa Romeo and the person who had discovered him.

"Brother Rong, let's change the schedule. I want to attend this year's Golden Melody Awards."

"Huh? Are you sure?"

Yang Junrong on the other end of the phone was shocked: "What are you doing without even a nomination? Just sitting in the audience watching Fang Wenshan and the others? They might not even win an award."

Because he received no nominations this year, Jay Chou publicly expressed his dissatisfaction and chose to leave Taiwan and return to the mainland to start making money by traveling around. But how long has it been since then?
Why are we so enthusiastic about the Golden Melody Awards?

Are you still planning to stick with the I Ching or something?
Just as Jay Chou was planning a surprise return, Chiang Kai-shek International Airport welcomed a female celebrity who looked exhausted after finishing a concert. Numerous reporters, who had been waiting there knowing her schedule, rushed forward and started snapping photos at her.

"Yanzi! Yanzi! Do you know that Zhou Yi is withdrawing from the Golden Melody Awards?"

"Yanzi, is it true that Zhou Yi plans to retire from the music industry?"

"Yanzi, how many songs will your English EP album have? Were they all produced by Zhou Yi himself?"

"Yanzi, is Zhou Yi planning to retire from the limelight?"

“Yanzi…”

Wearing a pale yellow dress and sunglasses to conceal the fatigue around her eyes, Sun Yanzi smiled at the camera and said, "I don't know, don't ask me, I don't know anything."

?

Ok?
Holy crap, it's actually true?!

After Sun Yanzi didn't directly deny it, the reporters' spirits lifted. They wanted to ask more questions, but were forcefully pushed aside by bodyguards clearing the way—

Cai Jianya, who had already left Warner Music, was stunned.

She and Sun Yanzi flew back from Singapore one after the other, so why is there no buzz about her withdrawal?

Dude, how dare you, a big shot like Zhou Yi, steal my headline?!

Your wife and I are both from Singapore!
"When fellow villagers meet, they shoot each other in the back."

In the hotel's VIP lounge, after seeing the man reappear before her, Sun Yanzi's smile gradually brightened: "Tanya is probably cursing me in her heart right now."

Tanya, Cai Jianya’s English name.

"She was cursing you, what does that have to do with me?" Zhou Yi opened his arms and smiled as he welcomed the woman's arrival.

Are you really planning to cancel?

This isn't the first time you've asked this.

"Then I'll have to withdraw too."

Sun Yanzi pouted: "After 08, I also plan to take a break."

"Isn't that a bad idea? Won't your fans tear me apart?"

(End of this chapter)