HuaYu: Superstars Starting from Super Star Avenue

"Okay, thank you, Director Wang and Teacher Yuan."

Lin Mo stood up, picked up the contract,

"Then I'll head back now."

"I'll see you off." Yuan Weiren also stood up.

Stepping out of the office, the corridor was dimly lit.

Yuan Weiren patted Lin Mo on the shoulder, his tone more intimate than it had been in the office:

"Lin Mo, to be honest, this contract is one of the best I've ever seen for a newcomer. Think it over carefully and don't miss this opportunity."

"I will, thank you, Teacher Yuan."

As I stepped out of the CTV building, a gentle evening breeze blew by.

Lin Mo looked at the contract documents in his hand and let out a soft sigh.

He refused to sign on the spot, not because the contract terms were bad.

But he wanted more than that.

Lin Mo has no shortage of good works, but he lacks exposure and a platform.

As "Super Star Avenue" continues to be a hit, his exposure will only increase.

This contract is too restrictive for him.

What he really needs is a platform and brokerage firm that can better serve him.

Rather than an "employer" who wants to hold his future for the next seven years firmly in his hands.

If it were Lin Mo from the beginning, he probably would have signed on the spot, because he had no other choice.

But now...

Angie Chai's Comic Productions has abundant film and television resources and a strong ability to create stars, but music is a weak point.

HIM International Music has strong capabilities in music production and distribution, but relatively weak film and television resources, and its contracts are highly restrictive.

Is there a third way?

Lin Mo looked up at the night sky.

The stars in Taipei appear somewhat dim against the backdrop of the city lights.

He wanted to be the brightest one.

Back at the rented room, Zeng Peici had already prepared dinner.

"You're back? How was your day?" she asked as she served rice.

Lin Mo put down his backpack and briefly explained the recording process for the day, as well as the contract that HIM International Music had submitted.

"A contract with HIM International Music?" Zeng Peici's eyes lit up.

"That's great! Wait...you refused?!"

She almost dropped the rice spoon in her hand.

Lin Mo nodded and sat down at the table: "They just said they needed time to consider it, and didn't sign it on the spot."

Zeng Peici handed him the food and sat down opposite him, her brows slightly furrowed.

She recalled some of the things Lin Mo had said to her before, and calmed down to begin analyzing:

"Amo, you said before that although the record industry is still at its peak, the internet has already begun to impact it..."

However, the industry's discourse power, commentary channels, award public relations, and singer packaging are still firmly in the hands of record companies.

The more she spoke, the clearer her thoughts became:

"Do you think that HIM International Music is trying to drive down your price by trying to sign you, and that you're comparing offers from different companies?"

After talking to himself for a while, Zeng Peici suddenly realized what was going on.

She knew that Lin Mo was not lacking in good songs; she knew quite a few herself.

"So, are you thinking of signing with Sister Chai's company?"

Zeng Peici pressed further,

"Comic is really good at packaging idols."

Lin Mo added a piece of meat to his mouth and asked:

Do you think there's a fundamental difference between signing with Comic Bookstore and signing with HIM International Music?

Zeng Peici was stunned.

Lin Mo stopped keeping him in suspense:

"They are all large companies, with resources and constraints."

"One is known for its film and television work, while the other focuses on music."

"Actually, given my current circumstances, signing with Comic is indeed a good choice."

"Acting in idol dramas offers a large market and high exposure."

"However," Lin Mo changed the subject,

"This still doesn't change the fundamental problem."

"What fundamental problem?" Zeng Peici asked.

"The right to speak".

Zeng Peici blinked, not quite understanding.

Lin Mo looked at her:

"Zeng, what do you think is the most important thing for a celebrity?"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Peici suddenly had a flash of inspiration, recalling a line from Ah Zu in the movie "Gen-X Cops" that she and Lin Mo had watched the previous night, and blurted it out:

"It's the background!"

"That's right." Lin Mo nodded with a hint of relief.

"But what do you think is the background of a celebrity? Is it the company behind them?"

"Isn't that right?" Zeng Peici said matter-of-factly.

"Wrong." Lin Mo shook his head. "The biggest background of a celebrity is not the company they work for, but the country they live in."

Zeng Peici was taken aback.

"Only countries with great power status, large economy, and large territory can cultivate true superstars."

Lin Mo's tone was calm, yet his words were firm and resolute.

"The sudden popularity of Hong Kong and Taiwan stars is merely a product of a special era."

"In the end, they will return to the embrace of their motherland to develop."

These words left Zeng Peici completely stunned.

She was born and raised in Taiwan, and from a young age she witnessed the popularity of Hong Kong and Taiwanese stars across Asia.

I've never thought about it from this perspective before.

"But..." she tried to argue.

"The reality is that the most popular singers, like Choi I-ling and Jay Chou, and the most popular actors, like Cheng Lung and Tse Ting-fung, are mainly from Hong Kong and Taiwan."

"The most popular idol dramas and urban dramas are all produced in Hong Kong and Taiwan..."

"This is what I mean by 'special period'," Lin Mo explained patiently.

"Hong Kong and Taiwan are small places, and their urbanization started earlier than that of the mainland, so their entertainment industry also developed earlier."

"But this advantage will soon be broken."

After Lin Mo finished speaking, seeing that Zeng Peici still didn't believe him, he decided to provide examples to support his point:

Why do you think there are so many celebrities in Taiwan who both sing and act?

Zeng Peici answered without hesitation:

"Because it's popular! It allows me to better attract attention and develop in all aspects."

"Wrong." Lin Mo laughed. "It's because we're poor."

"ha?"

"It means that singers don't earn enough to support their families through their main profession, so they have to act. Actors don't earn enough from acting, so they have to sing," Lin Mo said bluntly.

"Even singers who can sing very well may feel anxious about the uncertainty of the future and turn to acting to earn money."

Zeng Peici opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but couldn't find the words for a moment.

"But the mainland is quite the opposite," Lin Mo continued.

"There are very few artists who can both sing and act."

"Of course, those who only sing one song occasionally don't count. Why?"

Lin Mo's words made Zeng Peici, a young man, feel a little itchy.

No, I feel like I'm going to grow pigtails.

Pig brain overload.

"Because our country is too big."

Lin Mo gestured on the table with his chopsticks:

"For example, if a singer releases a new album and needs to promote it, they'll definitely need to do commercial performances in major cities, right?"

"Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shenzhen... as well as various TV variety shows, autograph sessions, interviews, and so on."

"It takes more than half a month to travel to just one city."

"It will take at least two months to travel to all four first-tier cities."

"And that doesn't even include the second and third-tier cities. If we were to visit them all, it would take half a year."

"And this is only the initial promotional phase of the album release."

"There are also invitations for commercial performances, concerts, galas... and so on."

"If you really want to make money, there's no end to how much you can make."

Lin Mo paused, then looked at Zeng Peici:

"What about Hong Kong and Taiwan?"

"Hong Kong Island is the smallest, and Taiwan Island is slightly larger, but still limited."

Why do some Hong Kong singers release three or four albums a year? And why do Taiwanese singers release two or three albums a year?