Chapter 194: Foreign Archenemy?

The Japanese Oricon chart, abbreviated as the O-chart and also known as the Japan Oricon Charts, is one of the most famous barometers of the Japanese music market.

Moreover, because the sales calculation method relies on physical channels and strives to avoid counting duplicate purchase sales, during this period, the actual sales of singles that topped the O-chart singles list were, under normal circumstances, actually higher than the statistics shown on the chart.

"Because the O-chart's statistics run until Sunday, with data released the following Tuesday, that means your English single, which debuted in Japan, broke into the top 100 in just Saturday and Sunday, two days!"

Seeing that Zhou Yi remained unmoved, Qian Jiang, in his excitement, hurriedly explained to him just how much potential this achievement implied.

"The Lazy Song" was released on September 22, which was a Saturday.

This meant that as the largest music market in Asia, where Japanese local singers were as numerous as cattle, Zhou Yi's English single sold nearly ten thousand copies in two days, forcibly squeezing into the 98th spot, even surpassing two Japanese singers, which could be called a bright future.

Even with the heat from the recent release of "Rush Hour 2" and the tireless promotion by Warner's Japanese branch, if the quality wasn't up to par, no amount of carpet-bombing marketing could have achieved these sales figures.

"According to O-chart statistics, your English single sold 8,864 copies in two days.

"In terms of actual sales, although you are a foreigner and didn't have much fan base before, having only gained a small group of face-fans last year by riding Guo Fucheng's marketing wave, these fans still supported some duplicate purchase sales for you.

"And according to statistics from Warner Japan, your single's true sales over two days were 9,325 copies."

When mentioning this number, Qian Jiang was so excited his face even turned red.

Actually, after the promotion plan was finalized, the senior management of Warner (Japan) agreed with the senior management of Warner (China), led by Zhou Jianhui, on a sales target—

Considering Zhou Yi's foreigner status, the final sales target was set at 10,000 copies in the first week to continue strong promotion.

If it could sell 10,000 copies in 7 days, that would be enough to prove Zhou Yi's English single was worth continuing to invest funds in for promotion.

Record companies are very realistic; you, Zhou Yi, selling well in China is because the language is the same, what does that have to do with me, Warner Japan, and the money earned won't count toward my performance.

But this time is different.

"Star of Stars" and "Century-Old Beautiful Youth" frequently appearing in the press did cost Warner Japan a lot of money, but in the face of visible market potential, they now wished they could tie Zhou Yi up on the spot and hold a handshake event, grabbing a huge sum of money first by holding dozens of such events.

Completing the original one-week sales target in almost two days, this result couldn't be called earth-shattering, but at least it could be said to be a Wuhu takeoff.

Once the snowball effect of the Japanese record market starts rolling, it is extremely terrifying.

"Jackie Chan's 'Rush Hour 2' just premiered; the promotional bonus from his movie should be able to be ridden for another week or two, right? What is the estimated final sales figure?"

Having gotten used to domestic sales starting at over a hundred thousand copies, suddenly hearing the Japanese market's sales data of over nine thousand in two days, Zhou Yi found it hard to get used to this gap for a moment.

"It's hard to say for now; the momentum of your single is too good. These are statistical data collected privately by Warner Japan; look at it yourself."

Qian Jiang took a fully English document out of his briefcase and handed it to Zhou Yi.

The single was released last Saturday; today is September 28, Friday.

In the days in between, "The Lazy Song" was almost every day surging upward with an explosive sales trend, and word-of-mouth spread abnormally fast.

"A considerable proportion of buyers are... Americans?"

When seeing that pie chart of share statistics, Zhou Yi couldn't help but type a question mark.

He isn't American either.

"Stationed US military, the kind that has to go to work."

Qian Jiang coughed and hinted subtly: "According to the survey, they really like the lazy attitude expressed in your songs, especially the lyrics about not wanting to work and not wanting to do anything.

"For example, your song's sales momentum was best in Okinawa. The reputation of your single could rise, and it was initially thanks to some American soldiers who had nothing to do every day."

"..."

The mindset of these sky soldiers is truly unqualified; no wonder they get worse year by year.

Zhou Yi pursed his lips.

Regarding the matter of farming gold coins from the stationed US military, although a bit unexpected, he could only say the more the better.

"Of course, besides the song itself being melodious and having a strong rhythm, another factor is that the MV was shot too uniquely; no one in the Japanese market has shot it like this before."

Regarding the MV that Zhou Yi shot initially, which claimed to be a single continuous shot, Qian Jiang actually didn't take it too seriously.

After all, that thing was just Zhou Yi randomly arranging a room he found at Warner; the dancers wearing gorilla masks were nameless nobodies randomly picked from Warner's existing personnel reserves, and even the cameo appearance by Sun Yanzi was because she wanted to be lazy, so he casually dragged her over.

The whole MV highlighted simplicity and unadornedness, taking an afternoon to shoot, costing one lunch and one dinner.

The result was that such a simple and unadorned, even somewhat boring MV in Qian Jiang's eyes, received quite a lot of good reviews in the Japanese music market; everyone said it was interesting, and there were even people who bought CDs specifically for this MV.

He didn't understand it, but he was greatly shocked.

One can only say it's no wonder it's Zhou Yi; whatever he shoots becomes a hit.

Moreover, because in this MV, besides the singing Zhou Yi and the cameo Sun Yanzi, the other dancers were all wearing gorilla masks and making funny faces, it further strengthened the audience's impression of Zhou Yi's face.

"Truly a century-in-one-chance Chinese beautiful youth! Even with this face-to-face shooting, he can still be so handsome!"

"I'm more curious about who that short-haired woman who popped up in the middle of the MV is? She looks so sunny and has such temperament."

"Does anyone feel that short-haired woman looks a bit like Masami Nagasawa?"

"His pants area looks huge..."

"???"

In Japan, after 6 days of word-of-mouth fermentation, "The Lazy Song" had already gained considerable discussion thanks to that extremely catchy MV and the high quality that was easy to sing along to.

Never expecting that one day they would be reverse-penetrated into the music market by a Chinese person, the Japanese entertainment media began digging up information on this Zhou Yi.

Quite a bit of information about Zhou Yi that had been reported in Chinese media in the past refreshed on many newspapers every now and then; among these, the long-distance clash with Utada Hikaru, the hottest female singer of the current Japanese younger generation, really grabbed eyeballs—

"According to the Chinese media's statements and the information revealed by the official 'Rush Hour 2', Chinese singer Zhou Yi once defeated Utada Hikaru, who holds the title of the strongest new singer in our country, in the soundtrack of 'Rush Hour 2'..."

Warner Japan, wishing the public opinion would escalate even more, directly pushed the waves and rode this song's heat, directly making a false connection with Utada Hikaru, who defeated Ayumi Hamasaki in the "Light Step War" a few months ago and topped the album sales chart.

Zhou Yi was born in 1981, Utada Hikaru in 1983;

Zhou Yi debuted in China as a superstar, his first album sweeping major domestic charts with sales of over two million copies within a year, sales power suppressing Xie Tingfeng who was at the height of his popularity at the time, and his popularity soaring even higher;

Utada Hikaru debuted in Japan, similarly becoming a superstar upon debut, her first single album also selling over two million copies, similarly sweeping major charts as a newcomer, matching Ayumi Hamasaki who was at the height of her popularity in terms of popularity, and even defeating Ayumi Hamasaki in album sales...

Similar!

It is simply too similar!

September 30.

When Warner Japan launched the prepared second marketing plan, Utada Hikaru, belonging to EMI Records, Warner's competitor, was sitting at home when an archenemy fell from the sky.

It is well known that the Japanese are fond of themes like "fate" and "arch-enemies."

Especially this pair of "arch-enemies" from two different nations.

"What do you mean by 'the man who defeated Utada Hikaru'? Who is Zhou Yi? I have not even heard his name before."

Inside the EMI Records headquarters, several executives frowned, their gazes immediately turning toward the young girl seated on the left side of the conference table—

Utada Hikaru, the strongest new miracle in the Japanese music scene.

"I have heard of him. My manager mentioned him when we lost the competition for Rush Hour 2."

Facing the inquiry, Utada Hikaru nodded, admitting it without hesitation: "However, his victory was influenced by Jackie Chan."

The EMI executives' faces darkened: "Damn Warner!"

(End of this chapter)