481 As heavy as a thousand pieces
How much courage does it take to make an experimental album that goes against market trends? How much courage does it take to break away from a record company and independently produce a unique album that carries your dreams?？
“Without the guarantee of any record company contract, George spent $150,000 of his own money on the production of the album "Don Quixote". George was just an individual, not even an independent record company. Once "Don Quixote" "De" can't find a record company to buy a contract and cannot release it, then George will be in danger of losing all his money..
Not only that. Even if "Don Quixote" is successfully signed, the record company is willing to pay for the production of the album, and the risk George takes is not only that..
As Matthew just said, the contract stipulates in black and white that the budget for the album is 150,000 US dollars. This also means that after Renly receives the advance payment from the record company, he only needs to fulfill the contract and pay "150,000 US dollars." The production cost can be.
But what if the production cost exceeds the budget? According to the contract, Renly does not need to pay. In other words, George will pay for the excess..
In fact, it is almost certain that the budget will be exceeded. Although it is relatively more cost-effective for independent musicians to produce albums, just like independent films, many expenses in the production process are unavoidable. Even if it is just a production The most common pop album costs between 200,000 and 300,000 yuan. The space that independent musicians can save is really limited..
This also means that George is ready to dig into his pocket to repay the money..
That’s not all, the royalty provisions also continue this pattern.
After an artist signs a contract with a record company, in addition to the advance payment, they can also make money through royalties. Generally speaking, the royalty rate for newcomers is 10 to 15%, and the royalty rate for mid-level singers is 16%. to 18%, and the top singers can get 20%.
According to the contract, Renly can receive 15% of the album's royalties, which is almost the maximum amount that a newcomer can receive. Renly couldn't help but think of what Andy said. He spent almost no effort, and George took the initiative. Given the highest standard of treatment. What does this mean?？
This means that when signing a contract with the record company, as a producer, George will take the initiative to get this percentage of treatment for Renly, without Andy even needing to come forward..
In addition, in addition to artists, producers also have the right to share royalties. However, unlike the film industry, the producer's income is not paid by the record company, but by the artist. The producer's fees can be divided into two parts. One is an advance payment, and the other is royalty dividends..
According to the current market conditions, the average cost of hiring a producer is about US$70,000 to US$90,000. For top producers like George, the cost is only higher; and the producer's royalty dividends are relatively fixed. Twenty-five percent of the artist's royalty income, after conversion, is about 3% to 5% of the overall album royalty income..
Judging from the terms of the contract, George only requested normal royalties and dividends based on the average market price, but did not mention the advance payment..
Let alone a well-known top producer like George, how should the cost be calculated appropriately? Even if the market price is 70,000 to 90,000, George has not mentioned it at all. It is completely free of charge. Obviously, after deduction This cost saved "Don Quixote" nearly one-third of its album budget..
Not only that, the prerequisite for royalty dividends is that the album can be launched and sold. As for the 3% to 5% royalty dividends, how much you can earn depends on the market sales performance of the album. However, "Don Quixote" is another album with no regard for commercial potential.……
“I just wanted to make a heartfelt album.”
Renly couldn't help but think of George's words. It was only now that the deeper meaning of these words became clear..
Even if there is no record company signing, even if he loses everything, even if he has nothing, George will still complete the production of "Don Quixote". Stripping away commercial considerations, stripping away career achievements, stripping away realistic compromises, everything is only related to art. , related to persistence, related to life pursuit.
This is not so much another job as a rekindled dream. George, who has retired for three years, once again showed his indomitable and unstoppable momentum, which is enough to move people..
This "sincerity" is as important as a thousand pieces.
As a human being in two lives, Renly believed that he was persistent enough, hardworking enough, and determined enough in pursuing his dreams; but the world is so big, there are people outside the world, and there are mountains outside the mountains. In George, Renly truly saw I can't help but stand in awe of the madness that dedicates everything to my passionate career..
Music has always been an interest for Renly. It was so before, it is now, and it will be so in the future. His passion comes from acting. This will not change, just like George..
Acting is a dream worthy of his lifelong pursuit. His goal is to be like George, thirty or forty years later, or even one day before the end of his life, he can still stand on the stage and focus on Among the performances he loves.
At one time, he thought that this was unrealistic idealism that existed only in Japanese comics, and that there was no room for dreamers in real life; but now, Renly got to know George and truly saw it. A version where dreams come true, when ideal meets reality, this time the ending is beautiful.
When Renly nodded and agreed to make an album, the reason was actually very simple. On the one hand, it was a hobby, to try some new challenges, and to get involved in different areas of life; on the other hand, he was impressed by George's sincerity and focus, and on the road to his dream The joy and excitement of meeting another traveler led to this project.
But now, Renly is beginning to re-examine his attitude.
This should not be just an interest, nor should it be just a dream. For George, this is a carnival party, a party that burns life and releases the soul..
After experiencing countless vicissitudes and witnessing countless ups and downs, George's life has entered the second half of his life. It is very likely that this will be the last wanton in his life, and he will use his life's persistence and concentration, his life's enthusiasm and madness, and The brilliance and youthfulness of a lifetime are fully blooming, just like a fireworks display on the Fourth of July, with hundreds of flowers blooming, loud drums and music, colorful and gorgeous, instantly releasing all the magnificence, grand and majestic.
What an honor it is to be a part of this carnival dance party. It can even be said to be the most touching moment in Renly's two lives so far. Even if it is "buried alive" or "crazy in love" The performance process cannot be compared. Because Renly not only witnessed a craftsman dedicating his life to a dream, but also became a part of it. Once in a lifetime.
No matter if this is Renly's only album, no matter what the future of this album is, no matter what happens in the future, all he needs to do now is to devote himself to it, nothing more. Unreservedly, Concentrated and selfless, according to my own ideas, I integrated my own artistic understanding, my own soul resonance, my own life understanding into this album, and joined hands with George and Herbert to complete this album. creation of art.
Just like every previous exploration of acting skills, moths fly to the flames, burning and releasing as much as they can..
In the distant future, when Renly looks back on his life, he will be grateful that he produced the album "Don Quixote" and, more importantly, participated in every detail of the production process. This It will become a part of his life, belonging to his original intention, his dream and himself..
George Slender, who would have thought that he would become Renly's first life mentor in his two lives?？
His mind slowly settled down, like the lemonade gradually cooling in his hand. In the coolness and silence of midnight, Renly felt heavy and light again. He raised his head, looked at Matthew, and changed the topic, "So , you mean, can this contract be signed?？”
Matthew could catch the light between Renly's brows, wise and vicissitudes, not bright, but always with an unquestionable determination..
Renly in his memory seems to have never changed. His resolute and upright figure is always standing in front of him, bravely facing the wind and rain, pursuing his life arrogantly and wantonly. Such a Renly makes people look forward to it. , involuntarily, I want to follow his footsteps, move forward, and move forward, exploring the unknown in the fog, imagining what kind of magnificent and thrilling it is..
“Of course." Matthew replied with a smile, "However, I don't know much about the professional content. I'm not sure whether the numbers inside are reasonable. For example, the album production cost of 150,000 yuan, is it too much or too little? Another example is the tax dividend ratio between you and George. Does it comply with industry standards? In these cases, you need to confirm with Andy. If there is no problem, you can sign at any time..”
Renly lowered his jaw and said, "These numbers were all agreed to by Andy." Thinking back to Andy's playful tone on the phone and Matthew's teasing today, Renly couldn't help but smile. I guess Andy was also frightened by George's generosity at that time, "Give me the contract.".”
Renly folded his legs, sat up straight, reached out to take the contract, and put it on the coffee table, ready to sign - but there was no pen at hand..
Matthew was not surprised at all by such a scene. He took out a pen from the inner pocket of his suit and handed it over. Renly glanced at it and chuckled, "How old are you this birthday present?"？”
“Eleven years old." This was a birthday gift given to Matthew by Renly on his eleventh birthday. In the blink of an eye, it had been with him for ten years..
Opening the pen, Renly quickly signed his name on the different pages of the contract. He would never miss this party of chasing dreams and burning life..
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