Chapter 317: The Earth Talent Emerges—An Unfavorable Start (Thanks to the Alliance Leader [Qian Cao Yun Fei Yang]~)

"Luo Dayou is still too magnanimous. How old is Zhou Yi? If he's already like this with a little success, where will he go next?"

"It's just the old senior's tolerance. I hope Zhou Yi and his fans don't take advantage of it."

"..."

Each generation has its idols; each generation has its own obsession with chasing stars.

Compared to fans of other singers who dislike Zhou Yi and love to start fights, Luo Dayou's fans have largely decided that even if they are unhappy seeing Zhou Yi compared to Luo Dayou in the public opinion storm, they won't jump up and argue the case as they did in their youth.

They have already passed the age of getting blood-boiled and engaging in face-to-face real-person PKs or cursing matches.

Although young fans easily get heated in the emerging internet, for Zhou Yi's fans who have plenty of free time after summer vacation, they still don't amount to much.

However, in terms of print media, Luo Dayou's fans are clearly the dominant side.

Those who spent their confused years listening to Luo Dayou's songs have achieved certain status in the cultural and entertainment print media sector. Even if they are constrained by Zhou Yi's scale and cannot openly launch chaotic criticisms, they can still subtly say a few words in Luo Dayou's favor.

Zhou Yi, who lacks a basic fanbase in traditional print media channels, holds many advantages in the emerging internet.

"Old man, don't play the age card!"

"Young man, be careful not to break just after bending."

Even though neither Zhou Yi nor Luo Dayou wants to start a debate about each other, once this fuse is lit, the subsequent explosion is no longer up to the two of them to decide.

In this turn of the century, in these years when young people of the new era are rushing to "seize power," the essence of this dispute sparked by Apple Daily is still a struggle for discourse power and the succession of the new over the old.

After all, since his debut, Zhou Yi has represented the image of the "new millennium's new humans."

If it weren't for his good studies and the golden filter of having passed the college entrance exam with black-and-white proof to get into Peking University, he would probably hold the same status in the hearts of many parents' generation as Jay Chou, who is frequently criticized for "unclear speech," "stuttering," and "what kind of thing is he singing."

Although Warner, knowing that this debate would definitely yield no results, still intensified efforts to turn the tide of public opinion, focusing on Zhou Yi's "Star" concert itself.

"Universal, Sony, those dogs, none of them will escape."

Beijing, Zhou Yi's home.

Qian Jiang, who had been monitoring the public opinion situation for these two days, was grinding his teeth in hatred.

If no one had stirred up trouble behind the scenes, attempting to fish in troubled waters, this storm of discussion would not have been stirred up.

Warner is essentially fighting several companies with its own strength; it would be strange if the wind direction wasn't led astray.

"They want to weaken the influence of your concert. Your album sales are already hot enough; if the concert DVD eats up another big wave of the market, they won't be able to play anymore."

As someone who witnessed the fiery situation of Zhou Yi's concert with his own eyes, Qian Jiang knew with his butt what the other side wanted to do.

2002 has already passed more than half, and the decline of the domestic record market has been fully revealed. Compared to last year, the legitimate record market suffered another heavy blow from piracy.

Up to now, even for someone as hot as Ah Du, record sales still have a certain gap from Haidie's expectations; legitimate sales and popularity are completely out of proportion.

At this time, if the already dominant Warner releases Zhou Yi's concert DVD to grab food, the result is obvious—the already shrinking record market will inevitably have another part snatched away by the dominant Zhou Yi.

"It would be strange if they didn't make a move."

After finishing the first concert, Zhou Yi felt a significant burden lifted from his shoulders; regarding Qian Jiang's indignation, he himself didn't feel much.

After all, it is a struggle for real interests.

If they don't seize the opportunity to create some news that can ruin some people's good impression of Zhou Yi to brainwash them, and the market really becomes Warner's, all of them will have to pack up and go home.

"How is the situation on the UK side?" Compared to this small patch of land in China, Zhou Yi, who is more curious about earning US dollars, British pounds, and Euros, took the summary data handed to him by Qian Jiang.

"Thanks to the high-intensity programs you recorded while in the US, those programs are now being broadcast in an orderly manner. Plus, when top-tier diva Mariah Carey is asked about questions related to you, she doesn't avoid them. Although the heat has declined compared to the feud with Eminem, it still remains at a high level."

"Your single 'Yeah' is still the number one single this week, achieving consecutive number ones."

Qian Jiang briefly introduced the situation on the US side.

Earlier, through his connections with Time Warner, he had participated in many promotional programs on its radio stations, TV stations, and other television networks.

Some of these were live broadcasts, and others were recorded broadcasts.

The live broadcasts were mainly on radio stations, while the recorded broadcasts were mainly on TV stations.

After Zhou Yi left the US and returned to China on the 23rd, the TV programs he acted in and recorded continued to be broadcast in an orderly manner according to the schedule, continuously providing him with heat and increasing his familiarity.

"As for the album charts, sales dropped to 890,000 this week, but global sales have risen. Your album has basically had no face-to-face promotion in other countries, relying entirely on word-of-mouth fermentation. Now it is gaining momentum."

Qian Jiang, speaking to this point, wore a look of gratification.

Times have changed; even if the US domestic music market is huge now, climbing to four or five million sales in a year is the absolute limit; reaching five or six million is already something one would call God.

Even the US domestic sales of Linkin Park's god-tier album, the pillar of Warner headquarters, were only 4.8 million in a year.

Zhou Yi achieved four consecutive number ones on the album chart in four weeks; US domestic sales have been squeezed to the extreme in a short time, and the rest is just a slow climb.

However, the global market relying on word-of-mouth fermentation, combined with the channels of Coca-Cola's promotional help, has seen album sales begin to unleash astonishing potential; basically all songs in the album can be seen on various popular charts.

"According to the company's estimate, based on the current trend in the global region, your album is highly likely to achieve global sales in the range of 15 million to 20 million copies within its lifecycle. If the momentum is even stronger, climbing higher is not impossible."

Listening to Qian Jiang's narration and looking down at the documents in his hand, Zhou Yi fell into thought.

It can be said that his hard work in the US, where he transformed into a donkey to attend and record programs, was not in vain.

And in China, after he finished the concert on the 26th, sales of his English album and his past Chinese albums and EPs saw a small rebound in Beijing and the surrounding areas.

It is obvious that this was driven by the concert.

"Oh right, there is one more thing. The song 'Baby' is overwhelmingly strong in Europe and the US, exceeding expectations. After word-of-mouth fermentation, 'Baby' has now topped the pop music charts in eight countries."

"Many people call you a succubus from the East."

Before leaving, Qian Jiang jokingly teased Zhou Yi about his "succubus" attribute.

He went to Ireland to hook up with Kelly Brook, a Premier League goddess who rose to fame in the Premier League this year, and went to the US to hook up with top-tier diva Mariah Carey.

After that, there were many rumors that Zhou Yi had had super-friendly exchanges with some models with striking height and looks, which directly led to Zhou Yi's reputation spreading far and wide.

Especially in the UK.

British actor Jason Statham, who participated in the promotion of the movie "The Transporter," was frequently asked questions related to Zhou Yi, which made him extremely depressed and annoyed.

"Succubus?"

Zhou Yi, closing the documents, raised an eyebrow, then got up and saw Qian Jiang out of the house.

"Zhou Yi, I'm going to Malaysia. When I come back, we can almost start filming the MV."

Due to the proximity and the relationship with Chen Hao and her parents, Sun Yanzi, who often dropped by to visit, suddenly popped out from behind Chen Hao's door, giving Qian Jiang a fright—

"Yanzi? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I came to discuss transferring her father's case with Chen Hao."

Sun Yanzi, who had been peeking around, immediately became well-behaved upon seeing Qian Jiang: "Brother Qian, take care~"

Qian Jiang: "..."

Why did that sound so strange?

After Qian Jiang left, Sun Yanzi finally strolled over to Zhou Yi with her hands behind her back, smiling like a weasel that had stolen a chicken: "Mr. Succubus, do you have time to help clean up?"

Zhou Yi rolled his eyes and firmly refused: "Sorry, no."

"There can be."

"There really isn't."

"Please."

Sun Yanzi simply grabbed Zhou Yi's arm and dragged him toward Chen Hao's house: "Chen Hao went to the hospital to communicate about transferring her father to the US for treatment. I feel awkward going directly to the airport without cleaning up."

"You insisted on living with her these past few days; what does that have to do with me? Shouldn't you two handle the cleaning yourselves?"

"No, isn't it normal for two sisters living together to share some secrets? I only have Chen Hao as a close friend I can talk to here on the mainland." Sun Yanzi argued logically, while also grabbing two dust caps—

One she put on her own head, the other she pressed onto Zhou Yi's forehead.

"I won't do it. Go find your assistant."

"I'll cook for you at home, and I'll wash the dishes, three times."

"... Ahem, it's not about the food or anything; I just don't want to see your assistant working so hard to serve you."

Zhou Yi, whose expression changed instantly, rolled up his sleeves, exuding the aura of a professional.

"..."

Watching Zhou Yi enthusiastically prepare to start work, Sun Yanzi, who had closed Chen Hao's door, blinked, quietly lifted her heel, and kicked over the trash bin by the door.

"Wait, have you two been living in a dog kennel for the past three days? Why is it so messy?"

Through the screen partition, Zhou Yi's incredulous voice came through—

A triumphant smile appeared on Sun Yanzi's lips, then she quickly suppressed it, glanced at the trash bin, and smiled as she sidled into the living room: "Understand, this is what laziness looks like. But don't worry, I'll stay with you to clean up and absolutely won't run away early."

Sun Yanzi summarized the first tactic of her self-created love manual: Create something out of nothing—create a "public" space that can generate countless topics!

………………………………………………

"Now I want to run away. Is Sony even promoting me?"

Taiwan, Sony.

Seeing the newspapers filled with reports like "Zhou Yi Sun Yanzi," "Zhou Yi Luo Dayou," "Zhou Yi Concert," "Zhou Yi English Album Consecutive Championships," and not seeing a single headline she expected, Cai Yilin helplessly complained.

The new agent was also helpless: "You just had bad luck and ran into this. Warner is still increasing its promotion of Zhou Yi; the headlines these past two days are all about them. You were out of the spotlight for a year and got involved in a lawsuit; the company has already worked hard to buy you the 'Talent Through Hard Work' and 'Hardworking' persona press releases."

"..."

On August 2, 2002, the former Universal "Boy Killer" Cai Yilin released her first single EP after switching to Sony, "Knight Spirit," which corresponded exactly to her previously released personal photo book "Masked Princess · Knight Spirit."

She wrote the lyrics herself, and the composition was by Jay Chou.

This was the beginning of Sony and Goodie's plan to market the "Double J Romance," but they met with an unfavorable start—

They directly collided with the new and old king's battle between Zhou Yi and Luo Dayou, missing the headlines again...

(End of Chapter)