RPAGF Chapter 49 Dong'an Records Established
Chapter 49 Dong'an Records Established
After discussing the music video, Xu Zhongming picked up his enamel teacup, took a sip, put the cup down, leaned back in his chair, and lingered on Li Si'an for a moment.
"Xiao Li, let me tell you the truth."
Li Si'an sat up straight.
"I've seen the sheet music for these three songs, and I've met you in person. The songs are good, and you're a good performer. I think this album can make money."
Xu Zhongming patted his thigh lightly. "And it's not a small amount of money."
Zhou Weidong listened from the side without interrupting.
"Since we can make money, we have to make it a masterpiece." Xu Zhongming leaned forward. "For the recording studio, I suggest you use China Record Corporation."
Li Si'an's brow twitched slightly. He had heard his teacher mention the recording studio of China Record Corporation when he was in school.
It's a top-tier studio in China, with excellent equipment, a great soundstage, and experienced recording engineers. Those who can get an album recorded at China Record Corporation's studios are either big names or have a lot of money.
"China Record Corporation's studios aren't cheap," Zhou Weidong added.
"It's not cheap. But I'm familiar with the area." Xu Zhongming picked up his teacup and took a sip. "I'll find you the best sound engineer."
Old Sun, Sun Jiansheng. He's been working at China Record Corporation for over ten years. He's recorded albums by Cui Jian and Mao Amin. He's skilled and has a sharp ear.
He put the cup down.
"Regarding the price, I'll put in a word and see if they can offer a discount."
Zhou Weidong thought for a moment. "Approximately how much would it cost to record everything?"
Xu Zhongming leaned back in his chair and mentally reviewed the situation.
"Let me calculate the time for you. The three main songs are 'Fairy Tale,' 'Running,' and 'The First Time'—two days for each song, so that's six days in total."
The other seven filler tracks don't require too much effort; just make sure they're listenable. Record them all in two days. In total, eight days in the studio.
He paused.
"The going rate for a China Record Corporation (CRC) booth is a little over three thousand yuan a day. I went and made some calls, and they managed to get it down to two thousand five. For eight days, the booth fee would be twenty thousand yuan."
Where are the musicians?
"I'll assemble the musicians for you. Drummer, bass, keyboardist, guitarist—the same people we regularly work with at China Record Corporation. They're reliable, efficient, and reasonably priced."
The three main singles will have full instrumentation, while the seven filler tracks will be played with MIDI as a base and one or two real instruments. The musician fees will total no more than 15,000.
Xu Zhongming broke off another finger.
"Old Sun's fee, mixing and mastering, I'll have him give you a discount, ten thousand. You have someone on your side for the arrangement, so I won't calculate that. Including miscellaneous fees, it'll be fifty thousand at most."
Li Si'an was secretly taken aback. Fifty thousand?
The studio was set up by China Record Corporation, with top-notch recording engineers and a full ensemble of musicians. He originally thought it would cost at least 70,000 or 80,000, or even 100,000.
The number 50,000 was almost half less than he had expected.
Xu Zhongming smiled when he saw his expression.
"What, you think it's cheap?"
"A little," Li Si'an said honestly.
"That's because I put in the effort to make the arrangements. Anyone else wouldn't have gotten this price." Xu Zhongming picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"I lost money on that deal at the beginning of the year, but I still have a good relationship with China Record Corporation. They'll still give me that much face."
He put the cup down.
"But let me be clear from the start. I'm offering you a lower price because I think this album can make money. If it doesn't—then I'll have done you a favor for nothing."
Zhou Weidong smiled and took the unlit cigarette out of his mouth.
"Old Xu, don't worry. Si'an's album will be great."
Xu Zhongming hummed in agreement and said nothing more.
Zhou Weidong stood up and straightened his shirt.
"Okay then, I'll get the company registration sorted out in the next couple of days. Once the license is issued, we'll sign the contract."
Xu Zhongming also stood up and nodded.
"I'll handle the arrangements at the China Record Corporation's studio. I'll let you know once the date is set. You should make sure Si'an is in good shape; getting into the studio is no joke."
Zhou Weidong glanced at Li Si'an. Li Si'an stood up and nodded to Xu Zhongming.
"Thank you, Mr. Xu."
"No need to thank me." Xu Zhongming picked up his teacup. "Come thank me after your album sells over a million copies."
When we left Jingwen Records, the sun was already setting. The shadow of Tianning Temple Pagoda stretched long, falling beneath the two rows of old locust trees in the courtyard.
Zhou Weidong opened the car door, got in, and started the car. Li Si'an leaned against the passenger seat, watching the gray building outside the window recede into the distance.
50,000 yuan. A recording studio owned by China Record Corporation. Top-notch recording engineers.
He coded for almost 20 years in his past life and never stepped into a recording studio. In this life, he not only wants to go in, but he wants to go in the best one in the country.
The car turned off Tianningsiqian Street and onto the main road. Zhou Weidong, gripping the steering wheel, suddenly spoke.
"Xu Zhongming has really gone all out this time."
Li Si'an turned her head to look at him.
"He said it was because he thought this album could make money. That's true. But he lowered the price for you, found Lao Sun for you, and let you use China Record Corporation's studios—it wasn't just about making money."
Looking at the road ahead, Zhou Weidong said, "He truly believes you can succeed."
Li Si'an remained silent.
"Record it well," Zhou Weidong said. "Don't let their efforts go to waste."
Li Si'an leaned back in her chair, watching the street scene outside the window recede into the distance.
"I know."
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The car turned off Tianningsiqian Street and onto the main road.
Zhou Weidong gripped the steering wheel and drove a short distance before spotting a small restaurant by the roadside. It had a sign that read "Old Liu's Home-Style Dishes" and a few bicycles parked in front.
"Let's eat something first." Zhou Weidong pulled the car over to the side of the road.
The two entered the restaurant and found a seat by the window. Zhou Weidong didn't even look at the menu and casually ordered two dishes—shredded pork with garlic sauce and Kung Pao chicken—along with two bowls of rice.
The waiter brought over a teapot, turned over two glasses, and poured in tea. The tea was flower tea, a bright yellow color, with a strong jasmine aroma.
While waiting for the food, Zhou Weidong took out a cigarette case from his pocket, lit one, and took a puff.
"Si'an, we need to settle the accounts between us regarding company matters."
Li Si'an held her teacup and waited.
How much money do you have on hand right now?
Li Si'an mentally reviewed the situation.
The audio-visual store, video arcade, and magnetic card business, combined, have brought in more than 20,000 yuan per month from July last year to now, which is about eleven months.
After deducting purchases and daily expenses, there's a little over 200,000 in the savings account.
"At least two hundred thousand."
Zhou Weidong nodded and flicked his cigarette ash.
"I can scrape together 150,000 yuan for you, even if I have to empty my pockets."
He picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Together, it's 350,000."
Li Si'an quickly did the math in her head. Production cost: 50,000. The music video budget, shot on film, would be at least tens of thousands. Company registration, daily expenses, and funds for post-production promotion also needed to be allocated.
Three hundred and fifty thousand, a bit tight, but enough.
"More or less," he said.
The dish was served. The shredded pork with garlic sauce was placed on a white porcelain plate, glistening with red oil. The shredded pork was cut into uneven pieces, but it smelled delicious.
The peanuts in the Kung Pao Chicken were fried until golden brown, and the chicken pieces were coated with a thin layer of starch, making them glisten. Zhou Weidong picked up a piece with his chopsticks, chewed it twice, and then put it down.
"The money is settled, let's talk about the company."
He looked at Li Si'an.
"How should we split this company, father and son?"
Li Si'an swallowed the food in her mouth.
"Fifty-five."
Zhou Weidong paused for a moment.
"Fifty-fifty?" He put down his chopsticks. "Si'an, that's not how the accounts are calculated. You put in 200,000, and I put in 150,000. Logically, you should get the bigger share."
"Uncle," Li Si'an put down his chopsticks, "on the surface, this company is a partnership between the two of us. But the one who really takes charge is you."
The connections are yours, the channels are yours, Xu Zhongming was brought here by you. I'm just contributing some money, writing a few songs, and singing them on stage.
All those messy things afterwards—running paperwork, negotiating contracts, monitoring issuance—you'll have to handle them all. I'm just an eighteen-year-old kid; I can't do any of that."
He picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Besides, we're family. Why be so calculating when we're family? You're my uncle, and since my mom went to Hong Kong, the only person in this family who has truly been good to me, besides my maternal grandfather, is you."
If the company makes money, my son and I will spend it together. If it loses money, it's on me.
Zhou Weidong stared at him for several seconds. Outside the window, the streetlights came on, their orange light shining through the glass and onto the table.
Two middle-aged men at the next table were drinking and playing drinking games, their voices rising and falling in waves.
Zhou Weidong stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, picked up his teacup, but didn't drink from it before putting it down again.
"You little rascal..."
He didn't finish speaking. He picked up his teacup and clinked it against Li Si'an's. The glasses met with a clink, and the tea sloshed around.
"Okay. Fifty-fifty it is."
Li Si'an was amused and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating.
Zhou Weidong picked up a piece of diced chicken, chewed it a couple of times, and suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, what are you planning to name the company?"
Li Si'an thought for a moment. "How about—using your name? Wei Dong Records. Sounds quite respectable."
Zhou Weidong almost choked on the diced chicken, but managed to swallow a mouthful of tea to get it down.
"Weidong Records?" He put his cup on the table. "If you didn't know the name, you'd think it was a record label that only released revolutionary songs."
Li Si'an chuckled. Come to think of it, the name "Wei Dong" in a record company name does indeed have a cultural troupe feel to it.
"So what do you mean?"
Zhou Weidong thought for a moment, then dipped his chopsticks in some tea and wrote two characters on the table.
"Your name has the character 'An' in it, and mine has the character 'Dong' in it. Let's each contribute one character—Dong An Records."
Li Si'an stared at the two words on the table: Dong'an.
When Dong and An are put together, it feels reassuring.
"Dong'an Records," he read it aloud, then smiled, "Great! That's a good name."
Zhou Weidong picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of shredded pork with garlic sauce.
"Okay. Then let's call the company that."