The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 1866 Nowhere to Escape

2004 was hailed as Usher's year. His album "Confessions" became a massive hit, not only selling like hotcakes but also sweeping the charts with its singles. It propelled the R&B and hip-hop craze of the past two years to new heights, revitalizing the market and evoking memories of the glorious 1980s.

"Confessions" sold nearly eight million copies throughout the year, to be precise, seven million nine hundred and eighty thousand, igniting the market and sending all the media into a frenzy. In a situation where physical albums were becoming increasingly sluggish, Usher's album was undoubtedly hailed as a "market savior" and established Usher's status.

Circumstances create heroes.

That's just like Arthur.

For younger music lovers, they may not understand Usher's lofty status in the North American music scene. Usher's later albums have never been able to replicate the glory of "Confessions". It can only be said that he was in the right place at the right time and seized the opportunity.

Even with just one album, "Confessions," this has already secured Usher a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

However, it all ended with Anson.

When the album "Dawn Breaks" was released at the end of the year, people realized that Usher had actually done the work for someone else, and that the real creator of history and the real savior was someone else.

Usher's "Confession" naturally sold 7.98 million copies within the year, nearly 8 million copies, which was met with cheers, applause and applause.

However, everything paled in comparison to Anson; the entire record market resembled the aftermath of a mushroom cloud rising into the sky—

All was quiet, not a sound could be heard.

12.33 million.

"Dawn Breaks" made history. It not only became the first album in history to sell more than ten million copies in a single year, completing the unfinished business of Superboy, but it also accomplished such a feat in less than three months, overwhelming people's understanding of the record market.

Indeed, Usher performed well throughout the year, but both his albums and singles were completely overshadowed by Anson.

There is no harm without comparison.

When people marvel at Arthur's history-making achievements, they worship him and elevate him to godlike status. But look at Anson; all the praise and amazement are swallowed back down, and people even forget how to speak. Their minds go blank, with only countless profanities surging and boiling.

2004 North American year-end album sales chart.

First, "Dawn breaks, twelve million."

Second, "confession," eight million.

Numbers don't lie, and the facts speak for themselves. Just as the Los Angeles Times said, Anson has revitalized the record market. North America hasn't seen such a boom in over two decades. The record market, which had been in a continuous decline, slump, and stagnation, has been given a shot in the arm and is now experiencing a strong revival.

And that's not all.

Third, "Midsummer Midnight", 4.13 million.

The album from the band August 31st has entered the top five of the year-end charts for the second consecutive year, and its cumulative sales are now approaching the ten million mark.

When people discuss the biggest influences on the music market over the past two years, Fifty Cent, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Linkin Park, and many others are inevitably mentioned, and August 31st is no exception. While R&B and hip-hop have completely dominated popular trends, the rock revival remains a vibrant phenomenon. Linkin Park, Green Day, Avril Lavigne, Evans, Maroon 5… and many more, and of course, August 31st.

Everything reached its peak in 2004. Two years after its release, "Midsummer Night" still managed to sell four million copies, demonstrating its enduring appeal and firmly holding onto a place in a generally sluggish market environment, which rekindled people's confidence in rock music.

Sure enough, rock and roll never dies.

Following "Midsummer Night's Dream," three other albums by Norah Jones, Eminem, and Avril Lavigne also sold three million copies.

However, that's all there is to it. Only six albums sold over three million copies throughout the year. Behind the joy and fervor, the market once again faces a severe test.

Incidentally, the soundtrack for "Spider-Man 2" sold 2.87 million copies, ranking eighth. It's a great pity that it didn't break through further, but this also means that Anson alone occupies three spots in the top ten of the year-end album sales chart.

It stands out from the crowd.

Not only does it lead the list by a wide margin, but it also demonstrates its dominance in all aspects.

It is against this backdrop that the global music market continues to decline and slump, and major record companies stand at a crossroads in the course of history. The traditional record market is facing severe challenges. This is not just a predicament for a singer or a company, but the state of the entire industry, shrouded in gloom and despair.

Now, Anson has emerged as a dark horse, subverting market rules with overwhelming force. It has not only broken the global slump, but its achievements are also unparalleled in the long history of the world. It has rewritten perceptions and broken the deadlock by its own strength. Its appeal is enough to make people worship it.

It's no exaggeration to say that the entire North American music market is dominated by Anson's voice.

To the untrained eye, these sales figures are already astonishing, but to the experts, the sales figures are merely the surface. The cultural wave hidden behind the sales figures is the true glory that will be recorded in history. Whether it is film, music, fashion, or other industries, they are witnessing the rise of an iconic figure who breaks the shackles of the times.

And this is not the end—

In the digital music market, the sudden emergence of "Another Ray of Light" and "Sunflower" opened a door to a whole new world. Not to mention bystanders, even professionals within the music industry were all shocked, dizzy, and overwhelmed, with one or two falling into a frenzy.

Currently, all records and history in the digital music market belong to Onsen, and Warner Music holds a dominant position in this new field.

Incredibly, Universal Music, which had held the top position in the fierce competition for global market share for many years without ever feeling threatened, is now seeing Warner Music break into the digital music market, losing its initial advantage and even falling into a passive position.

True professionals know that the tide of the times is unstoppable, and only those who truly grasp the pulse of the times can maintain their advantage.

This is true for comic book superhero movies, which are crucial to the film industry; the same is true for digital music, which may determine the landscape of the entire record market for the next decade.

Following his success in the film market, Anson has also grasped the pulse of the music market. If album sales are a direct impact, igniting market enthusiasm, then digital music sales represent the future, placing him at the forefront of the times. This is the fundamental reason why Anson is even more dominant than Yasser Boys.

Usher was merely seizing the moment, a fleeting respite from the golden age of music; but Anson had already taken the lead and ushered in a new era.

This is the fundamental reason why everyone is caught up in the frenzy, and it's far more important than those numbers. It's not just the Los Angeles Times; all media outlets are collectively in a frenzy.

It was overwhelming, leaving no place to escape.

(End of this chapter)