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Chapter 54 A New Contract
The next day.

Huang Ze found a lawyer in the United States who specialized in artist contract law, and signed an agent contract with Susanna, who had freckles on her face, and CAA behind him.

As a singer and songwriter, the agent only gets 7% commission. If the agent harms the employer's interests, the employer can unilaterally terminate the contract.

In short, within the scope permitted by law, Huang Ze asked his lawyer to make the contract as favorable to him as possible.

The money can be less, but the initiative must be taken!

I don't want to become a pawn in the hands of my agent.

Sign and the contract becomes effective.

Susanna breathed a sigh of relief, her face full of relief.

As a newcomer who just came out of the mail room of CAA, it would have been good enough for him to be responsible for some small things at most. Now that he has signed a singer who is becoming famous and may possibly make it into the top three of the Billboard charts, it is not just a matter of income. His status in CAA will also rise rapidly.

Maybe I’ll have my own office soon, and becoming a partner at CAA isn’t something I can’t imagine!
Thinking of this, she was filled with gratitude towards Huang Ze who was willing to sign her.

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I won't let you down."

"Well, I'm optimistic about you." Huang Ze nodded slightly, and then said, "For the time being, stay put and wait for Warner to discuss a new contract with me."

"Huang, can I know some of the terms of the old contract? Just pick out the important ones."

"Okay." Huang Ze recalled and mentioned the main terms such as the three albums and the 4.5 million yuan penalty.

Then, Susanna's eyes lit up and her voice was filled with joy.

"In other words, if you produce two more albums, even if they are in Chinese, you will have completed your contract with Warner."

"Also, can I ask what the monetary unit of the 4.5 million liquidated damages is? After all, you signed a contract with Hong Kong Warner."

"Hong Kong dollars, almost 600,000 US dollars."

"What the f****." Susannah almost stood up. "Believe me, Huang, with your current achievements, a $600,000 liquidated damages is like giving it away for free to other record companies!"

"You have to know that they signed not only a singer, but also an extremely outstanding songwriter."

"Oh, give me some time."

Susanna held her forehead and said with a smile, "I'm curious, how did Warner Records sign such a contract? Didn't they realize that this pitifully small penalty is not worth your worth?"

"Who knows?"

Huang Ze smiled and said, "Maybe it's because the ship is too big to turn around."

"Based on the record sales of Warner Hong Kong, a contract like that with a penalty of more than 4 million is not low. Who could have thought that my English EP would become so popular so quickly?"

"It was only half a year from the time we broke out of Hong Kong Island."

"It's possible that no one noticed this kind of multinational corporation, but I'm more inclined to believe that they didn't think I'd be that popular in the U.S., so they were given a month to react!"

"Huang, I can get you a high enough signing bonus!" Susanna's heartbeat quickened a bit, after all, she could get 7% of the signing bonus! Even if she had to give a portion to the company, it would still be a considerable fortune. "If we find other Warner competitors, such as Universal and Columbia, they might be able to give us more US dollars."

"No, No, No." Huang Ze shook his head. "When Warner finds you to discuss a contract, talk to Warner first, don't look for other companies!"

That was an option introduced after we failed to reach an agreement with this side.

If possible, Huang Ze doesn't want to change jobs during this period.

It hasn't even fully gained momentum yet. As a foreigner, why would I want to make enemies with a US-based giant like Warner?

As long as we can make money, that's good for you, me and everyone.

Don't get involved in these messy things that will delay your ability to make money and film.

Even if someone poaches you, they may not take you seriously!

Maybe he is thinking of cutting out a future superstar from his competitor. If possible, it would be nice for him to stay in Warner first.

"I understand." Susanna nodded and didn't offer any further comments.

…The song entered the top ten of the Billboard charts, and Warner immediately launched a bigger promotion plan.

Huang Ze was given a two-week training period to participate in more popular TV and radio programs.

A week later, with "Never gonna give you up" entering the top five of the Billboard singles chart and "Right Here Waiting" ranking tenth, the other party seemed to realize the problem with the contract and sent someone to discuss a new contract with me.

"Huang, we noticed that you signed a contract with our Warner Hong Kong Island branch. Now our Warner Music Group is willing to sign a new contract with you to be responsible for your global record distribution and help you become a world-class superstar."

“This is a new contract.”

Huang Ze looked down.

Four new albums in five years, limited English albums, a contract fee of US$3 million, and two rounds of concerts of no less than 30 shows. I have to cooperate with the promotion, so I have to quit my job in China, and I haven’t mentioned the penalty for breach of contract.

It can be said that it is a patch on the original contract.

Huang Ze, who now had some bargaining chips, naturally didn't want to give in just for three million US dollars. He smiled and pushed back the contract, "You can talk to my agent about this."

"I'm very busy now. I have to be in charge of the promotion to hit the Billboard singles champion."

"Also, if I leave my job at a domestic company, I have to go back to China. Otherwise, even if I sign the contract now, if Shanghai Film Studio doesn't let me go, I won't be able to do anything!"

Huang Ze looked embarrassed, but he was actually using the Shanghai Film Studio's reputation to buy time.

The country issued a regulation on unpaid leave two years ago.

With my father's connections in the factory, there won't be any problem whether he resigns or takes a leave of absence without pay.

Even if there are problems, the foreign exchange promised will earn US dollars for the country, and it is not something that Shanghai Film Studio can stop.

"Once my promotion is over, I'll go back to China and resign from there first, how about that?"

"OK." The other party then went to discuss the new contract with Susanna.

Huang Ze had only one word for his agent Susanna: delay!

Until I return home.

Then they could seriously negotiate terms. In the United States, Huang Ze always felt a little insecure. Although the other party was wealthy and powerful, it shouldn't be that difficult, but if they did use some tricks, he would really be unable to resist.

The propaganda continues.

The new round of Billboard singles chart is released, "Never gonna give you up" successfully made it to the third place, and all three songs entered the top ten.

One is number six and the other is number ten.

The name Jerry Huang has become a rising star in the pop music scene.

Huang Ze came to the airport after the promotion was over for a few days, just like when Susannah met him, but this time it was the opposite. He stuffed a ball of paper into her hand and said, "Wait until I get on the plane."

Susannah didn't open the paper until the plane took off.

There are a few sentences above.

"Cooperation with the promotion requires my consent, and a penalty for breach of contract must be set. There is also a clause that the remaining copyright of the song can be redeemed after a certain number of years. The term should not exceed 20 years. But as long as I am willing to pay, the other copyrights must also be returned to me. After the negotiation is completed, come to Shanghai to sign the contract with me."

As for the penalty for breach of contract and the redemption price, Huang Ze did not write it, so let Susanna negotiate it.

The copyright of a song is divided into lyrics copyright, music copyright, performer's performance rights, and recording copyright.

The last one is usually in the hands of the record company.

If conditions like this are put forward to redeem the copyright of recording production, it will affect the fundamental interests of the record company and the price will definitely be sky-high!
It would be too much to ask Susanna to set a number.

Even I can accept a sky-high price. After all, it will be more than ten years later. Whether the so-called sky-high price is still high for me is another matter.

The key is that after several years, all copyrights will be in your hands. It is not for pure profit, but more for the sake of thought.

(End of this chapter)