Chapter 291: The Eminem Delivered to Our Doorstep

"Ah Yi, do you have any more songs you can cobble together?"

On the afternoon of the 28th, after holding a meeting with the headquarters of Warner Music USA together with Zhou Jianhui, Qian Jiang pushed open the door to Zhou Yi's home in Taiwan and rubbed his hands together with a hint of anticipation.

"Songs you can cobble together?"

Zhou Yi, who was clearly somewhat drowsy because he had stayed up too late helping Xiao Yaxuan record songs last night, looked puzzled: "Cobble together what?"

"It's like this; you might not understand the album sales situation over in Europe and America."

Qian Jiang, who had plopped himself down on the sofa, took out the small notebook he had used to record notes during the morning meeting: "The company's current idea is to make your English album into three versions—

"Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Luxury Edition. The prices are set at $22.9, $25.9, and $55.9 respectively.

"Since this is your first English album targeting the global music scene, we must prepare beautiful posters, postcards, introduction booklets, lyric books, and various stickers or badge merchandise for the Standard Edition. After all, this part accounts for the largest sales volume; we must ensure that the listeners who buy your Standard Edition album can fully understand you."

Qian Jiang spoke out the difficulties Zhou Yi, this Chinese singer, faced when breaking into the European and American music scene.

He had not, like others, run around radio stations and offline music festivals in Europe and America for a year or two before his debut, which meant that the general public who knew him was not very large.

The two singles only let the passersby across the ocean know that there was a Chinese singer named him; that was all.

In order to promote Zhou Yi's relevant information along with the album as much as possible, Warner decided after meeting and discussion to shift most of the configurations of other people's Deluxe Editions over to Zhou Yi's Standard Edition album.

So, a problem arose then—if they did this, what could be added to the Deluxe Edition album, which was subsequently mocked as 'cutting leeks'?

In the Chinese music scene, putting aside posters, postcards, lyric books, outer paper covers, stickers, and small dolls, the Deluxe Edition generally also included one or two, or two or three, song MV VCDs as a bonus.

For the European and American music scene, the simplest method was to add songs.

On the basis of the Standard Edition, add a few songs—

They could be unfinished demos, songs of not very high quality purely used to pad the numbers and euphemistically called 'feedback for fans', or simply remixing songs from the album or his own old songs and stuffing them in.

Those who could add premium tracks were, one and all, considered conscientious.

As for the Luxury Edition, besides containing the contents of the Deluxe and Standard Editions, the most valuable part was the inclusion of high-definition DVDs of all the songs' MVs in the album and some limited-edition items.

"$55.9... Hiss, making money really has to be Warner."

Zhou Yi, who was not very familiar with the first-edition pricing of Luxury Edition albums in the European and American regions of this era, couldn't help but whistle in surprise upon seeing this price.

Truly the last period of madness in the era of physical albums.

"You only get this pricing after making a name for yourself in Europe and America; if it were that top tier of people, they even sell for $69.9. However, this thing doesn't move volume; it is usually used to anchor status."

When it comes to making money, it still relies on the volume-moving Standard Edition.

Therefore, Qian Jiang gave Warner's opinion: add one more song to the Deluxe Edition.

"The company thinks this way: if you add one more song, the price of the Deluxe Edition is only $3 more than the Standard Edition. Yet your English single is priced at $4, so effectively that counts as a $1 discount.

"Don't underestimate this theoretically discounted $1; many people will choose the Deluxe Edition with one extra song because they feel they got a bargain; this is universal psychology worldwide.

"If you are not interested in writing, the company can also arrange a song for you. If you are willing, I can even try to contact the agent for Linkin Park to have them collaborate with you on a song to put into the Deluxe Edition."

"... That's unnecessary; it's just one song."

Zhou Yi shook his head and rejected Qian Jiang's well-intentioned proposal: "I'll just put that song 'Galway Girl' into the album."

He originally intended to save this song for the next album as a lead single, after all, this 'Attitude Show' was already luxurious enough.

However, since Warner had already arranged the three versions of the album for him, for the sake of making money, putting it into the Deluxe Edition was fine—

After all, the price was $3 higher.

"Just add it after 'Wavin' Flag' in the Deluxe Edition album; it won't disrupt the overall structure of the album and can echo the before and after."

After thinking for a while, Zhou Yi added 'Galway Girl' to the tracklist of the Deluxe Edition.

On the B-side, the old song 'The Lazy Song', which had already been released, happened to have a plot in its lyrics about going to find a good-looking beauty to start a new life, which could be perfectly supplemented by 'Galway Girl'.

At the same time, the life in the song 'Galway Girl' could connect with 'Wavin' Flag'—

Because he liked football and Arsenal, he went to London to watch a football match, and then met a 'Galway' girl who he thought was a local in Gao Wei while traveling in Gao Wei.

And all of this was also part of life, part of 'Good Time'.

……………………………

"'Wavin' Flag'? 'Galway Girl'? That British female model named Kelly?"

On the 29th, as the only singer within Warner who could know Zhou Yi's album planning immediately, Sun Yanzi thought of the scandal Zhou Yi had caused in the UK a while ago the moment she saw the planning for the three versions of his album.

"Why did you really write her into the album? Do you really like her? Are you going to make an official announcement?"

Sun Yanzi, who had once carefully studied that fiery figure, folded the A4 paper down without a trace and asked a question.

"That sounds a bit distant; we are just good friends who can communicate at zero distance without any burden," Zhou Yi shrugged.

"..."

What you said is quite fresh and refined.

Hiding behind the A4 paper, Sun Yanzi subtly lowered her eyes to glance at herself, and the moment she thought of that Kelly completely outshining her figure, she immediately felt a wave of discouragement.

How can this be compared?

Why haven't the papayas taken effect yet??

Sun Yanzi, who now couldn't go a day without papaya supplementation, was instantly full of resentment.

"Eh? Where are you going?"

Zhou Yi, who was just about to go find Qian Jiang and Zhou Jianhui to ask about the World Cup situation, hurriedly shouted: "Don't forget to come help sing the female vocals for 'Good Time' when the time comes."

"I know, I'm going home to eat first!"

Sun Yanzi, with her cheeks puffed out in anger, wished she could drag all the rumor-mongers on the internet who claimed papayas enhanced the bust out and chop them up!

It's all a lie!

I'll eat papaya one last time tonight! I definitely won't eat it again after this!

Sun Yanzi's somewhat "fierce" appearance attracted some attention; after Zhou Yi entered Zhou Jianhui's office, the latter opened his mouth and asked: "Did you provoke Yanzi again?"

"No, it wasn't me."

Zhou Yi flatly denied it.

"Then you've got no way out."

Zhou Jianhui, who had long known the temperaments of his two subordinates, made the final decision, causing Zhou Yi to roll his eyes.

"Alright, stop rolling your eyes for now. This is the preliminary promotion plan for your English major; see if you can accept it."

Zhou Jianhui smiled and handed a document to Zhou Yi. The latter flipped through it casually, but upon seeing a name at the top of the third page, he raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Eminem?"

"Yes, this person is very popular in the European and American music scene, and also extremely controversial.

"His latest album, 'The Eminem Show', was originally scheduled for release in June, but due to a pirated leak, he moved it up to May 26, just two days ago."

Zhou Jianhui, fiddling with his fountain pen, nodded: "First-day sales were nearly three hundred thousand. To date, the album's sales have broken the million mark; it is truly a hot album."

"So, what does this have to do with me?" Zhou Yi pointed to the words on the folder: 'Promote by associating with Eminem'.

"Your time appearing in Europe and America hasn't been long, and you aren't based there permanently. To maintain visibility continuously during the album's initial sales period, it is best to have a hot, continuous anchor point for promotion; Eminem is that anchor."

Zhou Jianhui explained the reasoning personally: "Eminem's new album contains two songs that publicly Diss another top European and American female singer, Mariah Carey. He is very angry that Mariah Carey has always denied having a romantic relationship with him in 2001, which has caused a huge uproar in the world music scene.

"The company believes this forms a sharp contrast with 'Galway Girl' in your new album and the praise Kelly Brook publicly gave you before media reporters.

"He is a notorious bad man, a scoundrel who Disses the woman in his songs because he can't have her; while you are a playboy who can make a beauty willingly submit even after a one-night stand.

"If handled properly, the controversy and fame surrounding Eminem can feed you for a long time, even if you aren't in Europe and America.

"The premise is that your album cannot sell poorly; otherwise, this marketing stunt will become a joke."

Zhou Jianhui stated the pros and cons.

Eminem's move to Diss Mariah Carey was unexpected by everyone and caused him to face even more criticism.

After all, before this, Mariah Carey had never publicly Dissed him once; when asked about the romance, she just smiled and denied it, then brushed it aside.

Don't think there is no marketing in Europe and America; marketing in Europe and America is far more terrifying than in the domestic entertainment circle, with even higher costs, especially in confrontations between singers.

If Zhou Yi goes head-to-head with Eminem in marketing right from the start, if he has the strength to take it on, he can reach the sky in one step; if he lacks the strength to take it on, he will become a laughingstock.

The human world!

Two more updates coming~

(End of this chapter)