I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

Chapter 95 Three Major Endorsements and Income

The Beijing News entertainment section headline: "The Miracle of Traffic Stars' Sales: Jiang Chen's Album Sells Over 70 Units on First Day"

Southern Metropolis Daily: From Being Hated Online to Being Sought After Online: Jiang Chen's Fans' Counterattack

Music Weekly: "The Wind Rises, Dominating the Charts on Three Major Platforms: Is the Recording Industry Ushering in an Unexpected Spring?"

But the voices of doubt are equally loud.

A music critic published an article titled "The Bubble of Fan Economy: The Truth Behind Jiang Chen's Album Sales."

"150,000 physical albums sold out in two hours—an astonishing number. But upon closer examination, the buyers were highly concentrated: women aged 18-25, primarily students. Can this model of fans driving sales truly represent mainstream aesthetics?"

"The melody of 'The Wind Rises' is simple, the lyrics are straightforward, and it lacks musical depth. Is its chart-topping success due to organized data manipulation by fans, or genuine word-of-mouth?"

The comments section was polarized.

"That's right, it's just fans having fun on their own."

"If you're so good, why don't you try writing a chart-topping song?"

"If it's sour, then it's definitely sour."

May 28, 10:17 AM.

Yu Zheng finally couldn't hold back any longer. He posted on Weibo and directly engaged in the online debate.

"Some people's fans, stop trying to show off here. High sales mean good work? Does that mean the auntie selling cabbages at the market is an artist?"

"Who in the industry doesn't know the trick of boosting sales by having fans buy 50 or 100 copies? You can fool laymen with the numbers, but don't fool yourself."

"The Wind Rises? I listened to it specifically. The melody is mediocre, the lyrics are pretentious, and the arrangement is outdated. Any composition student in my crew could write a song like that. Dominating the charts? It's just a false prosperity created by fans."

"True musicians let their work speak for itself, not fabricated data."

"The people I despise most in my life are those who engage in deception and fraud."

The comment section was flooded with comments instantly.

"Teacher Yu is right! The fan economy is a bubble!"

"That brat is so stubborn, she's still cursing even though her face is swollen from being slapped."

"I have the utmost contempt for people who engage in deception and fraud?"

"Why don't you listen to 'The Wind Rises' before you speak?"

"You brat: I'm proud of my plagiarism, I'm proud of my hype."

An hour later, Tan Xuan posted an article.

He is a top-notch film and television composer and Yu Zheng's go-to music director.

In 2012, he composed theme songs for many popular dramas on Hunan TV, and later became known in the industry as the "King of Film and Television Music".

"As a film and television music producer with more than ten years of experience, I rarely comment on the works of my peers. But since Teacher Yu mentioned professionalism, I will speak frankly from a professional perspective."

"The melody of 'The Wind Rises' is too simple. The verse only has four chords in a loop, and the chorus is raised by a fourth. It's a standard pop song formula. This kind of writing was already commonplace ten years ago."

"The lyrics lack depth. I was once overwhelmed by the vastness of the world and indulged in its ramblings. They seemed artistic, but were actually empty. There was no concrete imagery, no emotional progression; they were just a pile of pretty words."

"The arrangement is old-fashioned. Piano at the beginning, strings in the chorus, guitar solo at the end, standard healing template. Many old songs basically follow this pattern."

"This song became popular not because of its quality, but because of its timing. Against the backdrop of widespread online criticism, fans needed a healing song to move themselves. The melody is simple and easy to understand; anyone can hum a few lines. The lyrics are sentimental, which perfectly caters to the emotional needs of teenage girls."

"To put it bluntly, this is a product precisely targeted at fans, not a musical work."

"True music needs time to settle, needs polishing, and needs reverence for art. It's not about creating a false prosperity by fans inflating data and sales figures."

But it's not very useful.

The criticism continues, but the tide has turned.

October 8, Shanghai.

Head & Shoulders brand launch event.

Jiang Chen wore a navy blue suit with a white shirt underneath. He wasn't wearing a tie, and one button at the collar was undone, giving him a touch of lazy sophistication.

He stood in front of a red backdrop, with the blue Head & Shoulders logo behind him, the lights highlighting his features.

The audience was packed with people.

Fans held up light boards, and the words "Orange Family" shimmered like a sea of ​​orange under the flashlights.

Media reporters crowded into the aisle, their cameras and microphones aimed at the stage.

"Mr. Jiang Chen," the host said with a smile, handing him the microphone, "congratulations on becoming Head & Shoulders' new brand ambassador. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?"

Jiang Chen took the microphone, glanced at the audience, and smiled slightly.

"Thank you Head & Shoulders for your trust, and thank you to all those who have always believed in me."

The audience erupted in cheers.

"Ahhh, brother!"

"We heard you, those who always believed in you!"

"The Orange Family only loves Brother Chen!"

Reporters frantically snapped photos, with one muttering, "This popularity—it's truly terrifying."

February 3, Shenzhen.

QQ Browser New Product Launch Event.

Jiang Chen changed into casual clothes, a light gray sweatshirt paired with black cargo pants and white sneakers, looking like a senior student who had just walked out of a university campus.

The audience was packed with people.

"Mr. Jiang Chen," the host asked, "as the first celebrity spokesperson for QQ Browser, what do you usually search for most when you're online?"

Jiang Chen smiled and said, "Search—how to write a song."

The audience erupted in laughter.

"Did you find it?"

"I found it, but I'll write it down for you to hear."

On September 8th, the press conference for the game "Moonlight Legend" was held.

Outside the venue, orange support banners hung from the third floor to the first floor.

Fans started lining up in the early hours of the morning, holding up banners with "Jiang Chen" that swayed slightly in the autumn breeze.

Security was tripled compared to usual, but it still couldn't quell the crowd's restlessness.

Inside the venue, the lights were dimmed.

Seasun CEO Zhou Tao personally took the stage and, after a brief speech, announced: "I hereby announce that Mr. Jiang Chen will become the dual-track spokesperson for 'Moonlight Legend'."

"A male star in period dramas and a singer specializing in traditional Chinese style—unprecedented!"

There was thunderous applause.

The media area was filled with the sound of camera shutters clicking, and the flashes illuminated the stage as if it were daytime.

Zhou Tao continued, "In addition, Mr. Jiang Chen specially composed a theme song for the game. Today, he will perform it live for the first time."

The audience erupted in cheers.

The spotlight dimmed again.

A few seconds later, a cool blue light shone from behind the stage, outlining a tall, slender figure.

Jiang Chen was dressed in a modified black Hanfu with dark gold patterns on the hem, a dark red belt around his waist, and his long hair was half tied up. He stood in front of the microphone, his head slightly bowed.

The prelude begins.

The guzheng, flute, and electric guitar intertwine, creating a blend of the vastness of the martial arts world and the passion of modern life.

"A wandering swordsman, whose name is known far and wide, is now the talk of the martial world. He has many enemies, two or three friends, but few worthy adversaries."

The entire room fell silent.

As the chorus begins, the drumbeats intensify, and the vocals rise accordingly.

"Only the young men of this world have a particular fondness for chivalrous swords."

Discussing philosophy in drunkenness, plucking flowers when sober.

In my dreams of yesteryear, my sword pointed to the ends of the earth.

Fans held up banners and swayed gently to the rhythm.

Some reporters forgot to take pictures and stared blankly at the stage.

Even the employees of Xishanju in the back row put down their phones and listened quietly.

The song ended, its lingering notes still echoing.

Jiang Chen bowed slightly, and the audience erupted in a thunderous roar of screams, as if a play button had been pressed.

"Jiang Chen! Jiang Chen! Jiang Chen!"

The sound waves came one after another, almost lifting the roof off the stadium.

After the press conference, the data for "Moonlight Legend" began to surge.

That afternoon, the game's official website received over 200 million visits.

Before the press conference, the daily average number of visits was less than 15.

Baidu Index for "Moon Shadow Legend" surged from 8000 the previous day to 22, breaking into the top three in the game category.

The Weibo hashtag #MoonShadowLegendJiangChen# garnered over 80 million views within four hours.

Client downloads surged by 58, and registered users increased by 21.

The servers were overwhelmed, and Seasun Games urgently deployed two more servers, but players were still complaining on the forums that the queuing interface was stuck for half an hour.

That evening, Zhou Tao, CEO of Seasun Entertainment, posted on his WeChat Moments: "Partnering with Jiang Chen was the best decision we made this year."

Three endorsements in 10 days.

Head & Shoulders, QQ Browser, and "Moonlight Legend".

All implemented.

All official announcements.

The place was packed with people.

Those brands that had previously hesitated, and those contracts that had stalled, were all restarted within 72 hours of the album's huge success.

Moreover, the conditions are better than before.

Head & Shoulders has added an annual cooperation framework.

QQ Browser promises a featured spot on its homepage for the entire year.

"Moonlight Legend" directly increased the endorsement fee and included the right to create the theme song.

However, Jiang Chen signed one-year contracts with them!

He estimates that he can raise his price once his new drama airs next year.

Head & Shoulders pays six million a year, which is still a bit behind established top-tier brands in the current industry, but it is already significantly higher than most top-tier stars, representing the standard premium for newly emerging top stars.

The dual endorsement deal for "Moonlight Legend" plus the custom-made theme song comes with a total of five million.

QQ Browser's offer is slightly lower at four million yuan per year. While the cash price seems less attractive, it benefits from the massive online traffic of Tencent and a guaranteed homepage recommendation throughout the year, making its exposure value far superior to that of ordinary endorsements.

Three endorsements, 1500 million yuan in income!

This doesn't even include the revenue sharing from "Gu Jian Qi Tan".

They didn't ask for a salary initially, but rather a 10% share of the profits.

The money wasn't received in one lump sum.

The copyright fees for TV stations are settled in installments after the first round of sales. Subsequent rounds, such as second and third rounds, terrestrial channels, and overseas distribution, are settled in batches only after the other party confirms receipt and makes payment.

Since its launch, it has earned more than five million yuan.

Subsequent rounds will gradually come in. Although the unit price cannot compare with the first round, it has the advantage of more channels and wider coverage. It is expected that another two to three million will be accumulated.

The money from the album is also coming in.

After deducting distribution costs, promotional expenses, and the record company's share, the studio ultimately received over three million yuan from the sales of physical records and digital albums.

This money will not be paid in a lump sum.

The platform has payment terms, and the channels have return periods, but the bulk of the money is already sitting in the account.

The copyright for lyrics and music is calculated separately, which can generate another income.

In other words, the studio currently has more than 2300 million yuan in its accounts.

Of course, you also have to pay taxes here!

His studio is registered in the Hengdian Film and Television Culture Industry Experimental Zone in Zhejiang Province. As the first national-level film and television industry experimental zone in China, it provides substantial financial support to film and television culture enterprises.

Newly established enterprises are exempt from corporate income tax for three years. In addition, with the preferential treatment of assessed taxation, the actual tax burden is about 20%.

The 460 million yuan in taxes was paid out cleanly and efficiently.

Xu Yiruo was still somewhat puzzled by this.

She's been in the industry for so long and has seen too many things go wrong.

Which of the top-tier and second-tier figures in the industry isn't a master of "tax planning"?

"Ah Chen, this 460 million, actually, could be—"

"What can it be?"

"6

"We can pay less. I know a few friends who work in finance and specialize in helping artists with their projects. They break down contracts, handle studio costs, and find ticket sales to offset expenses—all in the end, they can save a million or two."

"Everyone in the industry does it this way, and nobody checks."

Jiang Chen looked at her: "Sister Yan, do you know why I registered my studio in Hengdian?"

"Tax incentives."

"No," Jiang Chen shook his head, "it's because it's close to Buddha."

Xu Yiruo was taken aback: "Huh?"

"Buddha is watching," Jiang Chen said devoutly, his hands clasped together. "How could I, a model young man of the new era, evade taxes?"

Xu Yiruo:

"————"

"Besides, I, Jiang Chen, live an upright life and earn money honestly. I pay every penny I'm owed and take every penny I'm not entitled to. What's 4.6 million? When I earn 4600 million or 460 million in the future, I'll still pay taxes in full!"

He spoke with righteous indignation and in a booming voice, as if he were making a declaration to the whole world.

Xu Yiruo was stunned by his imposing manner, and after a long while, she managed to stammer out, "—Achen, have you been recruited by some organization?"

"Yes," Jiang Chen nodded, "a probationary member of the Communist Party of China, who will eventually become a full member."

Xu Yiruo: "————"

Jiang Chen knew exactly what was going on.

This is something you really can't be careless about!

Some money really shouldn't be saved —

It wasn't that he was particularly noble or patriotic; it was that he was afraid of dying.

Anyway, making money will become easier and easier for him from now on.

Soaring actor salaries, increasing endorsements, concerts, variety shows, and film and television investments —

With start-up capital, you can make money anywhere.

Not to mention, he also invested in miHoYo.

He also made plans for his money.

Leave five million as a budget for the studio's daily expenses and emergency reserves.

I'll take a few million more to improve my quality of life.

Now that I have money, I definitely have to enjoy myself.

Otherwise, what's the point of making money?

He's not here to be a beast of burden.

That 40-square-meter office at the old Beijing Film Studio site needs to be replaced.

house----

Um, I still can't afford it for now, I'll wait a bit longer ———

We need a whole courtyard house!

car?

I need to buy one, not too expensive, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class will do, understated and practical.

And then there are my parents, who have worked hard for half their lives. They should be brought to Yanjing to live for a while, or we should just buy them a bigger house back in our hometown.

The rest ————

There are still 1000 million left.

He plans to try investing in a movie to get into the film industry.

He has already established himself in television dramas, and next up are "Battle of Changsha" and "My Love from the Star".

Following Zhengwu are "Nirvana in Fire," "The Disguiser," and "Candle in the Tomb."

He is confident he will win.

Anyway, it's my own company.

But he also wants to try his hand at the film industry.

September 15, 2012, the third week of the new semester at Beijing Film Academy.

Jiang Chen has become a third-year student.

The production team of "Battle of Changsha" has started filming in Changsha, and Yang Zi joined the team ahead of time to begin script readings.

She sent Jiang Chen several text messages, urging him to come quickly, saying that Director Kong asked every day, "When will Jiang Chen arrive?"

But he still made a special trip to the school.

Today, Lu Yang, a senior student at Beijing Film Academy, has an event at the school.

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