Huayu 1992, my entertainment era

Chapter 156 PolyGram's Internal Meeting
Hong Kong, PolyGram Records.

After sweeping Europe, America and other places, "Zhou Ziheng" officially landed in Hong Kong and Taiwan in early January.

Although it is an English song, it was a huge success in Europe and the United States, and even sold well in neighboring Japan, which made the media's pursuit of this album even more enthusiastic.

With the collective promotion of the media, this album immediately exploded with a terrifying impact after it was released in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Directly in the category of English albums, the sales figures in Hong Kong and Taiwan were 100,000 and 160,000 respectively.

This terrifying explosive power frightened all the major record companies.

Especially PolyGram.

The period from late November to December is usually the peak season for records.

Because the Spring Festival is coming soon and students are on vacation, all major record companies are releasing albums of their big-name singers during this period.

Andy Lau released "Tian Yi" with the help of the momentum of "Forget Love Water" in the first half of the year. In addition, the quality of this album is indeed very good. As soon as it was released, it firmly occupied the top position on all major charts.

Wakin Chau released "You Xuan You Ju", in which "Sword Like Dream" was the theme song of the TTV TV series "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber". After the TV series was introduced to Hong Kong, it caused a viewing frenzy. The song also became known to fans along with the TV series. Wakin Chau took this opportunity to release his first Cantonese album, which not only sold well but also the songs have been ranked at the top of major charts.

And PolyGram.

PolyGram is the record company that released the most albums this year.

Jacky Cheung released "This Winter Is Not Too Cold".

Leon Lai released "Dancing in the Sun".

Faye Wong released "Sky" and "Please Myself" in November and December respectively.

The leader of the jade girls, Vivian Chow, also released "Know Yourself and Know Your Enemy".

The release of a series of albums at this time had already caused problems in PolyGram's resource allocation, leading to its sluggishness in the competition for the charts.

Just at this time, Zhou Ziheng's English album, which was originally not taken seriously, also came into the limelight.

PolyGram is no fool either.

The album "Zhou Ziheng" is so popular in Europe, America, Japan and other places. In the words of Koreans, it is a hit album.

This is an English album though.

But Zhou Ziheng is Chinese!
He is already at the top level in the Chinese music scene.

His songs are now very popular in Europe and the United States. If he returns to Hong Kong and Taiwan, will the charts leave him a place?

The competition on the list was already fierce, and now Zhou Ziheng would definitely occupy one or two positions, leaving even fewer spots.

You know, the charts in Hong Kong and Taiwan usually only have about ten songs.

To avoid the company's record labels being impacted.

Zheng Donghan specially organized a meeting.

“I think we need to make some choices. We have released too many records. In order to maintain exposure, we should focus our resources on promoting one or two people first.

Rather than spreading promotional resources evenly as it is now.”

As soon as the topic of the meeting was confirmed, Jacky Cheung's exclusive producer Ou Dingyu spoke first.

PolyGram Records producers have a lot of power.

Every producer has enormous power, especially a few gold medal producers.

Ou Yuding joined PolyGram in the 1980s and has trained top singers such as Priscilla Chan.

Later, after Jacky Cheung joined PolyGram, the company became part of his company.

It can be said that it was he who cultivated Jacky Cheung.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that this guy was Chen Huixian’s boyfriend in the 1980s.

It plays an important role in PolyGram.

"Who do you think should be promoted?" Zheng Donghan asked, tapping the table.

Zheng Donghan also felt that this was the only appropriate method.

The truth is that the company has not been as strong as it used to be in the past two years. Two years ago, the company would have been able to promote ten singers, let alone four or five.

However, in recent years, PolyGram's business has actually been much worse than before.

First, Warner took over a portion of its market share.

Since last year, EMi has risen strongly again thanks to Zhou Ziheng and has taken over a part of the market share.

Today's PolyGram is in a state where it looks huge, but is actually very empty inside, with thin profits and greatly reduced resources. It is simply not enough to push four singers' songs to the top of the charts at the same time.

"Then let's go with a man and a woman. For the female singer, let's recommend Faye Wong! It just so happens that she covered Zhou Ziheng's "The Edge of Love and Pain" in her new album. We can use this opportunity to increase her exposure."

Zheng Donghan spoke.

PolyGram actually has a huge talent pool of singers; among the major record companies, PolyGram has the most big names.

However, if people have different opinions on who is the top male singer.

As for the female singer, the top management has already reached a consensus.

Ever since Faye Wong became famous with "A Woman Easily Hurt", she has been defined as the top actress by the company, and PolyGram plans to train her to be the new Priscilla Chan.

"For male singers, who do you think should be promoted, Leon Lai or Jacky Cheung?"

Although he had already made up his mind, Zheng Donghan still asked.

"Jacky Cheung is the best choice. He is our trump card."

Ou Dingyu supported his singer without hesitation.

"I think we should give Leon Lai a chance. Every time the company allocates resources between him and Jacky Cheung, Jacky Cheung is always given priority. He has objected to this several times.

His contract expires in May next year, and I am worried that he will be dissatisfied with the company and switch to other record companies."

Xiang Xuehuai, who was sitting next to Zheng Donghan, said calmly.

Many people don’t know that Xiang Xuehuai should be considered the person who pushed Leon Lai to become so popular.

Leon Lai was able to join PolyGram because of his signing with Xiang Xuehuai.

However, compared with Ou Dingyu, Xiang Xuehuai is not obsessed with the struggle for power in the company.

In addition, Jacky Cheung was indeed the person that PolyGram had already decided to promote, so he never helped Leon Lai to compete for the position of the number one star in PolyGram.

This time, he didn't want to mention this matter.

But he did recently feel Leon Lai's strong dissatisfaction with PolyGram.

Speaking of which, this is actually related to Zhou Ziheng.

They are all friends, and to some extent, Leon Lai is a little jealous of Zhou Ziheng's way of making a lot of money as an independent singer.

Although his family is rich, who would complain about having too little money?
Leon Lai was already feeling somewhat uncomfortable at PolyGram, and when he saw Zhou Ziheng starting his own company and living a free life, he was immediately attracted.

"The response to Leon Lai's album is not very good, not as good as "This Winter Is Not Too Cold". I think it's better to promote Jacky Cheung."

A senior executive who supports Jacky Cheung made the suggestion.

"I think so."

"Me too."

"Okay!" Zheng Donghan interrupted everyone, "Just promote Jacky Cheung's songs. I'll go talk to Leon Lai. I think he'll give me face."

"Heh..." Hearing this, Xiang Xuehuai couldn't help but shook his head and stopped talking.

Jacky Cheung has been in PolyGram since the 1980s, and almost everyone in PolyGram supports him. Leon Lai only became popular in the company in the 1990s, which is only three or four years.

This amount of time is not enough for him to snatch the top spot from Jacky Cheung.

However, Xiang Xuehuai felt that Li Ming would definitely not accept the company's approach of not considering him this time.

Next year, after May, Leon Lai will definitely not renew his contract with PolyGram.

(End of this chapter)