HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 243 [243] Li Wen's agent: Can a director like Li An, who failed miserably, be compared to Qi Yuan?
Getting down to business, Qi Yuan didn't mince words: "You know I'm very expensive."

Writing the theme song is fine, but you have to pay me!
At this point, Li Xue joined the discussion and offered a price of one million.

Li An makes films that appeal to foreign audiences to earn US dollars, so it's reasonable for Qi Yuan to charge international prices, right?
One million RMB is approximately equal to 12 USD.

In China two thousand years ago, this price would have been astronomical, and it would have been considered expensive even in Hollywood.

Li An hesitated for a long time. Li Xue secretly glanced at Qi Yuan halfway through, wondering if she had asked for too high a price and scared Li An into a daze.

After thinking about it for a long time, Li An finally agreed.

However, he said he didn't have that much money right now, but could pay one-third of the initial payment first, and settle the remaining balance after the film was released.

He promised that even if the film lost money, he would prioritize settling Qi Yuan's remaining payment.

Zhang Ziyi stared in disbelief.

The differences between people are truly vast.

She flew to Xinjiang with the documents, but couldn't even meet Li An.

In Qi Yuan's case, it was Li An who took the initiative to come to the capital to see Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan's agent made an exorbitant demand, and Li An actually accepted it, which is unbelievable!

She endured so much hardship while filming "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," yet she only received a total of 13 yuan in payment.

Qi Yuan wrote a theme song that cost seven times more than her.

In this industry, the income of top artists and ordinary artists is vastly different.

“One million is no problem. You, the King of Asian Pop, are worth that price. If I may be so bold as to make another request, could you try to invite Li Wen to sing the theme song with you?”

When Li An made this request, he was clearly not confident enough.

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. He had used Britney Spears' famous song to help Li Wen open up the European and American markets, and he was sure he would get some interest from Li Wen.

He sang the theme song with Li Wen and stood on the Oscar stage with her. He can also ride on Li Wen's popularity when he releases an English single.

Qi Yuan asked curiously, "Shouldn't you be the one to invite them?"

He remembered that in his previous life, it was Li An who invited Li Wen.

Li An looked embarrassed: "..."

Seeing Li An's complicated expression, Qi Yuan could guess most of what was going on.

In his previous life, Li An hired Li Wen, who had failed in the North American market.

Li Wen is now a hot commodity in the European and American music scene, a far cry from what she was before.

Finally, Qi Yuan spoke up to break the awkward silence: "Li Wen is an international singer now. I have some personal connections with her, but her record company is not easy to deal with!"

Li Wen is his close friend and relative, so he has to pay extra!
Li An immediately said, "President Qi, you can give it a try. If you can get Li Wen, I'll consider it a favor I owe you."

Debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay.

Qi Yuan wasn't very interested in Li An's later films, but he didn't mind having Li An owe him a favor.

Furthermore, he had originally planned to ask Li Wen to sing a duet, so this favor was just something he picked up along the way.

Li An is a man of his word.

Qi Yuan was very happy at this dinner party. He earned a million yuan, made Li An owe him a favor, and could also ride on Li Wen's popularity to pave the way for releasing an English single next year.

That's killing three birds with one stone! Li An should thank him.

……

Australia. Li Wen just finished an event where she sang "Oops! I Did It Again".

Once inside the van, Li Wen suddenly said to her agent, Jason Morey, "I might have to go back to Taiwan in a while."

Jason was a little surprised, but quickly recovered: "Coco, are you still planning to sing the theme song for that Chinese director whose movie flopped at the box office? Please don't, his new movie won't be a hit, and he's about to leave Hollywood."

Hollywood is very snobbish; to be precise, that's just how the capitalist market is.

In the United States, singers, directors, and actors all look at data, which could be viewership ratings, album sales, box office revenue, etc.

If the data is good, American businessmen can elevate this star to the heavens. If the data is bad, they'll immediately be relegated to the sidelines.

Li An and Zhou Ruifa are directors and actors for whom no data exists.

Li An won two films in a row, while Zhou Ruifa was even more ruthless, winning three films in a row.

This kind of group is called the Losers' League, and Jason thinks they're going to be kicked out of Hollywood right now.

If the movie flops, Li Wen, the singer of the theme song, might be affected, and it's hard to guarantee that her competitors won't take the opportunity to attack her.

The competition in the American music scene is fiercer than in the Chinese music scene. Li Wen is Chinese, so she was already being ostracized here, and her rivals were preparing to find fault with her and knock her out of the scene.

Jason was well aware of this.

Jason is an outstanding music agent. He also represents another singer named Mariah Carey, who has four number-one singles and two Grammy Awards.

In recent years, Mariah Carey has been suppressed by her company and has also had relationship problems, which has made her very depressed.

Jason signed Li Wen, whom he believes has potential, and he certainly hopes that Li Wen can go further in her career.

Agents and artists are a community of shared interests.

Li Wen received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance after releasing her first English album, and her future looked bright. He would not allow Li Wen to make a wrong decision that would waste time and jeopardize her career.

When Li An invited Li Wen out, Jason immediately rejected Li An.

Who do you think you are, Li An? It would be more like Cheng Long would invite Li Wen to sing the theme song.

Li Wen had anticipated her manager's attitude: "This time it was my good friend Kris. You know how much help Kris has given me. Without him, my attempt to break into the American music scene might have failed."

Jason was stunned: "You mean Kris Qi? The new king of Asian pop? The one from Warner Music Asia?"

"Yes, it's him."

"I have no objections. You can talk to him and set a time. I'll try my best to help you avoid scheduling conflicts."

Jason changed his tune.

Are you kidding me! This is Kris Qi, not that bumbling director Ang Lee.

Kris Qi's song saved Li Wen's career in the United States. Without Kris Qi's song, Li Wen would definitely have been abandoned by Sony headquarters, and her next English album would have been a long way off.

The single "Oops! I Did It Again" was spun off from the album and re-released, and has sold millions of copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling single in recent months.

Most importantly, according to Li Wen's introduction, Kris Qi has never been to the United States, but he was exposed to American pop music from a young age. As an adult, he was able to write authentic American pop music. This kind of person is a true musical genius!

Jason wanted to ask Li Wen if she could persuade Kris Qi to switch to Sony. If Kris Qi agreed, he could persuade Sony executives to help pay the breach of contract penalty.

However, it's too early to talk about these things now. He will go to Taiwan with Li Wen later so that he can see Kris Qi in person.

……

Qi Yuan, far away in Beijing, was unaware that Li Wen's agent had plotted to poach him.

If Zhou Jianhui knew, he'd probably curse them out: "Are all Sony people this shameless? I haven't even become the president of Asia yet because of Qi Yuan, and you dare to poach Qi Yuan? I'll fight you to the death!"
(End of this chapter)