Huayu 1992, my entertainment era

Chapter 150 I am Zhou Ziheng, I speak for myself
Fefield, who was sitting at EMi American Universal Music, hung up the phone with a gloomy face.

Danyal's behavior really irritated him.

It seemed that Danyal just discriminated against Zhou Ziheng and his group, which was not surprising in the United States where discrimination was common.

But Zhou Ziheng and others are not Americans.

They come from China and Asia, where Asians are prevalent.

After EMi, Asia's top singer, came to EMi America, she was discriminated against by the employees of EMi America. If this matter gets out, it will be no small matter.

Given Zhou Ziheng's influence in Asia, if this matter were to be made public, it would definitely be a blow to the reputation of EMi's Asian branch.

Carrying a reputation of discriminating against Asians, does Asia EMi still want to recruit top Asian singers?

Both are under EMi Records.

The Asian branch is on the same level as the American branch.

If the Asian branch complains to the head office about this, how will the head office view itself?

The head office will think that it has not been strict enough in managing its U.S. branch.

This would have been a small matter in the past.

As it happens, next year is EMi’s annual regional president transfer year.

A small matter, if magnified, could become a fatal blow, allowing his competitors to seize the opportunity to remove him from the position of president.

"Aina, inform Danyal from the equipment management department that he doesn't need to come to work tomorrow.

His mismanagement caused the company to lose more than $100,000. Yes, that's why he was fired."

He picked up the phone and notified his secretary.

……

Zhou Ziheng didn't know that Danyal was fired after he made the call.

At this time, he had already interviewed the leading actress with Huang Wei and started filming on Renaissance Street in New York.

For this English album, Zhou Ziheng did not plan to shoot MVs for all ten songs, but only planned to shoot four of the main songs.

Plus, two of his music videos don’t need female lead actors, so he only needs to recruit female lead actors for two songs.

Although Zhou Ziheng is considered a top-tier singer in Asia, he is at best a newcomer in Europe and the United States.

Therefore, EMi did not find any famous actress to play the female lead in the MV for Zhou Ziheng.

Instead, they recruited people directly from the Actors Guild.

I have to say that EMi has good vision, and the two actors they found have first-rate looks and figures.

However, the only thing that made Zhou Ziheng a little depressed was that these two actors had no interest in him or anyone else in the entire crew.

It's totally not like what Ernst said that he could use unspoken rules.

But it’s normal to think about it.

They are just a MV crew.

Although Zhou Ziheng is popular in Asia, he is almost unknown in Europe and the United States. How could others come up to curry favor with them?

It's good enough that they are not discriminated against like other Europeans and Americans.

Originally Zhou Ziheng thought that if the actress seduced him, he must control himself.

After all, a woman who goes to a film crew to seduce someone is not a good woman.

As a result, others did not play according to the rules, which really made Zhou Ziheng depressed for a long time.

Huang Wei was also depressed.

"Ziheng, didn't you say that European and American women are very open-minded? Someone might knock on my door during the filming? Why is it different from what you said?"

Because Zhou Ziheng had told Huang Wei before that Hollywood actresses are very open.

This has caused Huang Wei to be unable to sleep recently.

He wondered every day how he would respond if an actress came to ask for advice during filming.

The result is this...

"This is an exception! An exception!"

Zhou Ziheng was also a little embarrassed.

He really overestimated himself.

He thought that his reputation as a top Asian star would be able to attract these American girls, but he didn't expect that others were not interested in him at all.

"Still need to work hard!"

Zhou Ziheng sighed for the first time.

Just like the current situation where mainland celebrities are looked down upon after arriving in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

When Asian stars come to Hollywood, in the eyes of these people in Hollywood, they are actually country bumpkins.

After all, what is needed in the entertainment industry is fame and influence.

At this time, if he could become a big hit at the European and American box office like Jackie Chan did at the beginning of the century, then, without a doubt, these American girls would rush to curry favor with him.

As for now!
God knows how popular you are in Asia.

If you are not a European or American who pays special attention to Hong Kong and Taiwan, who would know Zhou Ziheng?

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Zhou Ziheng is completely unknown in the United States.

He is still quite well-known among the Chinese community.

In the market scope of Hong Kong and Taiwan records, Canada and the United States actually still occupy a certain share.

There are many Chinese people in these two places.

After Chinese singers’ records are released, they are generally promoted in places in these two countries where there are large Chinese populations.

Canada even has a dedicated Chinese radio station to promote Chinese songs.

However, compared with the huge number of foreigners in the United States and Canada, the Chinese community has always only been a minority, with at most three or four million people.

This is not as many as in Hong Kong, and they are distributed in various cities.

Because it is too scattered, the promotion effect is not concentrated.

Therefore, there are a certain number of people who don't know him at all.

Taking various factors into consideration, although he has influence in the United States, it is almost negligible.

If the American girl isn't interested in me, then I won't be interested.

Although he was depressed for a day, Zhou Ziheng put it behind him and started to concentrate on shooting the MV.

Overall, the shooting of the two MVs was not difficult.

After all, the investment budget is limited, and Zhou Ziheng cannot make a multi-million dollar MV like Michael Jackson.

The total budget for shooting his several MVs was less than one million RMB.

This is indeed a top-notch production in Asia, but in Europe and America, it is just average.

There’s nothing we can do about it, Americans are rich as they are.

But the various expenses are also high.

They are still shooting across borders.

It costs a lot of money just to rent the venue.

Also, European and American actors have to follow the hours set by the Actors Guild when filming.

That is, you get off work when you get off work. If you work overtime after get off work, you will have to pay higher overtime pay.

A lot of money was spent on the actors’ salaries for a few MVs alone.

Not to mention the expenses of Zhou Ziheng and everyone else.

This photo shoot was for business purposes.

It’s impossible for employees to spend their own money!

All this money should be included in the production budget of this MV.

Because money is spent too quickly.

Just like running water, hundreds of thousands of RMB were gone, and Zhou Ziheng felt heartbroken when he saw it.

After carefully shooting two MVs with female protagonists, Zhou Ziheng adopted quick shooting methods for the other MVs.

The original plot was simply abandoned and the currently popular MV shooting method was followed.

He finally understood that major record companies don't make plot MVs. They just can't afford it!
It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time, and even the richest companies don’t dare to shoot like this often.

Only someone like Michael Jackson, who had no worries about selling his records, would dare to make a MV costing millions of dollars.

Zhou Ziheng and others stayed in the United States for a total of half a month.

As soon as the filming was completed, everyone rushed back to their country without stopping.

……

On October 13, Zhou Ziheng landed in Guangzhou and Florence Hui drove to pick him up personally.

Zhou Ziheng wore a mask and didn't rush to get in the car. He walked around the car with a strange look in his eyes, "Mazda 929, isn't there a traffic jam?"

Florence Hui didn't understand what he meant and thought he was asking if there was traffic jam in Guangzhou today. "Not bad! It's only congested near the airport."

"Why would you want to buy a Mazda? Aren't Mercedes-Benz or BMW good enough?"

In fact, Florence Hui is quite rich. Zhou Ziheng treats her very well. After being with him for more than a year, she has saved a million yuan and is considered a wealthy woman.

"They feel the same. Mazda is more comfortable to drive and has a more impressive look," said Florence Hui.

Now there is indeed a lineup.

It may not be the case in a few years.

Tony Leung Ka Fai once said, "We all drive Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce, but you drive a Mazda. No wonder you get stuck in traffic!"

This directly caused Mazda’s stock price to plummet, and it fell from the level of top luxury cars.

When the time comes, when you drive a Mazda, maybe someone will ask you, "Is there traffic jam when driving a Mazda?"

"I heard that you wanted to have sex with a female star in the United States?"

While driving, Florence Hui glanced at Zhou Ziheng.

"Who told you that? Am I that kind of person? Do I still need a woman?"

“Haha..., you’d better be careful and don’t do anything rash. It will have a bad impact on your image.” Florence Hui said righteously.

"Forget it. I can't explain it to you. It seems I have to find a girlfriend as soon as possible."

"up to you!"

As we were chatting, the topic came to an end.

After a while, Florence Hui continued to speak, this time talking about work.

"Pacific and EMi have settled your VCD record revenue.

The total amount of the albums is 11 million. Apart from the amount reserved for tax payment, the rest has been deposited into your account."

After a pause, she said with some regret, "It's a pity that the Hong Kong and Taiwan distribution rights of "Sad Pacific" are in the hands of Yi Neng, otherwise, you could at least increase your income by a large amount."

Records are not a one-time deal.

After a record is released, it continues to sell.

At the very least, within three or four years, popular records will generate revenue. The revenue may be lower and lower, but it will be there every day.

The cumulative income is also very considerable.

Just like Zhou Ziheng's "Wandering Song", as the trend of migrant workers becomes more and more popular.

More and more people can feel that the songs in this album are a true description of working people.

This also makes this record sell very well in the market.

Combined with the revenue of "Pacific Rim" in the mainland, there is also the subsequent revenue of "Fairy Tale" in all of Asia.

and a compilation of most of his hits.

This settlement directly contributed tens of millions of profits to Zhou Ziheng.

Although the saying that one song can make a living for a lifetime is not accurate, it is very true.

Now, even if Zhou Ziheng retired, the few records he owned would be enough for him to become a wealthy man with no shortage of money.

As for the revenue of "Pacific Rim" in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Zhou Ziheng was also quite jealous.

But there was nothing he could do. It was just a one-time deal in the first place. Before 1998, he didn't have to worry about the revenue from this album in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

It is said that Yi Neng Records earned no less than 50 million Hong Kong dollars from the revenue from this album in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other overseas markets.

Yi Neng used the money to renovate the company and built a new building that was even more magnificent than Polygram Warner.

But then again, if it hadn't been bought out, "Pacific Rim" would not have been introduced to Hong Kong and Taiwan.

If this album had not been introduced to Hong Kong and Taiwan, Zhou Ziheng might not have left the mainland yet.

All I can say is that some things have both advantages and disadvantages.

What made Zhou Ziheng angry was that he had obviously made a lot of money for Yi Neng and helped them earn a building just by collaborating on a record, but in the end Yi Neng didn't even thank him.

Instead, after the two parties stopped cooperating, Zhang Guozhong added insult to injury and slandered Zhou Ziheng in the media from time to time.

"Oh, there's one more thing. The Spring Festival Gala production team has sent you an invitation. They hope you can create a song that's suitable for the Spring Festival Gala."

Florence Hui continued.

Hearing this, Zhou Ziheng shook his head and said, "Let's not sing a new song this year. Tell them to choose one of my previous songs.

Don’t choose “Fairy Tale”, choose another song, and use this opportunity to promote some other songs.”

It would be very troublesome to prepare new songs again. Zhou Ziheng's English album is about to be released, and he will definitely have to run around to promote it, so he will have no time to prepare new songs.

There are still certain benefits to singing old songs.

There are so many classic songs in the album "Fairy Tale".

But to be honest, there are obvious disadvantages to having too many hits together.

Except for "Fairy Tale", the other songs are obviously less well-known.

He can use the Spring Festival Gala stage to promote other songs.

"Got it. I'll contact them!" Florence Hui nodded.

……

After returning to Guangzhou, Zhou Ziheng spent several days editing the MV.

At the same time, EMi also began to promote this album.

The promotional locations are mainly concentrated in the United States and Canada.

EMi's goal is very clear, to achieve success in the United States and Canada first, and then turn to exporting to other regions.

As for Asia, there is still a certain market for English songs, especially in Japan.

This is the second largest record market in the world, and English records have always had a good foundation here.

Even world-class superstars such as Michael Jackson and Madonna do not ignore the Japanese market.

After the album is released, I will come here to promote it.

Compared with them, Zhou Ziheng has certain advantages in Japan.

He is Asian.

Although I am Chinese.

But as long as the record achieves certain success in Europe and the United States, and then turns to exporting to Japan, the effect will definitely be better than promoting it in Japan first.

The energy behind EMi, this huge international record company, is enormous.

As the propaganda began.

Zhou Ziheng's personal and album posters began to be shipped to various places and hung on major billboards in Europe and the United States.

At the same time, special radio version records were also sent to some radio stations in Europe and the United States.

In particular, Chinese radio stations such as the Canadian Chinese Radio, under the public relations of EMi, began to promote this album in turns.

And in Asia.

News about Zhou Ziheng's upcoming English album was also hyped.

【Zhou Ziheng officially sets sail for Europe and the United States】

[Zhou Ziheng personally created this pure English album, aimed at Europe and the United States]

[On December 12.16, "Zhou Ziheng" will meet you]

[Zhou Ziheng: "I am not Bruce Lee of the music industry. I am just me. I am Zhou Ziheng. I speak for myself."]

(End of this chapter)