Chapter 449: Walking KPI

You see, compared to a new album whose performance is unknown, splitting a viral hit into individual singles for re-release is the kind of thing that leaves both the singer and the record label so satisfied they couldn't possibly be more satisfied.

【1】 Compared to an unknown new album, this method of splitting a hit single into standalone releases is something both singer and record company could hardly be more satisfied with.

Because for many people, there's a very real chance that this one album, this one song, or these few songs, are all they'll ever blow up on in their entire life.

【2】 Many people may only have one album, one song, or even just a few songs that ever become popular in their lifetime.

If you play the long game and stay away from gambling and drugs, you'll basically never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of your life—you can stay rich until the day you die.

【3】 If you stretch it out steadily, as long as you avoid gambling and drugs, you'll never worry about food or drink—you can live lavishly till you die.

After all, compared to the other two, spending money on women is practically negligible.

【4】 After all, compared to the other two, spending on women is negligible.

This is also why so many people couldn't understand Zhou Yi's decision this time; even among his European and American fans, theories like "Did Warner force Zhou Yi to release a new album?" started popping up.

【5】 This is also why many people couldn't understand Zhou Yi's decision—even among his Western fans, rumors arose like, "Did Warner force Zhou Yi to release a new album?"

Less than a year and you're already dropping a new album—don't you think that's being a little disrespectful to the European and American music scene?

【6】 You haven't even reached a year since your last album—don't you think you're treating the Western music scene like it's not even human?

Do you really think you have no competition, and you're rushing over here to harvest your fans?

【7】 Do you really think you have no rivals, rushing in to cut the green onions?

Of course, that doesn't mean nobody figured out the release pattern of the Chinese music scene—

【8】 Of course, some people did uncover the pattern of album releases in the Chinese music scene—

"I think this might just be because the national circumstances are different, right? I went through a lot of trouble to look up the official websites of the Chinese branches of the five major record labels, and even though I can't read Chinese, the release schedules of those artists are absolutely terrifying…"

【9】 "I think it might be because of different national conditions? I went through great trouble to check the Chinese branch websites of the Big Five labels; though I can't read Chinese, the release dates of those singers were terrifying…"

A big-name blogger posted on his personal blog the release volumes he'd found for those Chinese-language artists under the Chinese branches of the five majors, and the staggering pace was enough to send a shock through plenty of people—

【10】 Someone posted online the album output of Chinese singers under the Big Five's Chinese branches—their insane pace left many stunned—

Holy crap, so in China, releasing one album every eight months to a year actually counts as slacking off?!

【11】 Holy shit, in China, releasing an album every eight months to a year is considered lazy?!

One album a year, five or six in two years, seven or eight in three years—was that really commonplace in China back in the eighties and nineties?!

【12】 Three albums a year, five or six in two years, seven or eight in three years—this was common in China during the 1980s and 1990s?!

"Are Chinese singers literally emotionless record-pressing machines???"

【13】 "Are Chinese singers all heartless record machines???"

"Don't they ever get tired?"

【14】 "Don't they ever get tired?"

"Spike's release pace actually counts as slow in China?"

【15】 "Spike's release speed is considered slow in China?"

「……」

【16】 "…"

Remarks like these, at a moment when the Grammys were already starting to heat up, quickly shot to the top of Yahoo's trending discussion list, and along with them, keywords like Zhou Yi's name and "Chinese singers" became trending searches on Google.

【17】 Amid the ongoing Grammy hype, such remarks quickly dominated Yahoo's trending discussions, and Zhou Yi's name and "Chinese singers" became top Google search terms.

The first time active European and American netizens came into direct contact with news from the Chinese music scene was through this long-range salvo fired by Zhou Yi.

【18】 Active Western netizens first encountered Chinese music scene news through Zhou Yi's remote strike.

Because of the time difference, when the direct flight from Beijing to New York touched down smoothly after more than ten hours in the air, the sky over New York had only just begun to brighten.

【19】 Due to the time difference, when the direct Beijing-to-New York flight landed after more than ten hours, it was just barely dawn at the New York airport.

After a solid sleep on the plane, Zhou Yi freshened up and walked out of the cabin with his team. What greeted him outside the airport wasn't New York's slightly chilly weather, but an endless barrage of camera flashes—

【20】 After sleeping soundly on the plane and washing up, Zhou Yi stepped out with his team—and instead of New York's slightly cool air, he was met by relentless flashes—

"Spike! Spike! Is announcing your new album plan at this point in time deliberately for hype?"

【21】 "Spike! Spike! Are you deliberately stoking hype by announcing your new album now?"

"Spike! In the Premier League Goddess poll that wrapped up at the end of last year, Kelly Brook was voted Premier League Goddess, crushing the runner-up by a landslide—are you two really dating?"

【22】 "Spike! In last year's Premier League Goddess poll, Kelly Brook won by a landslide over second place—are you two really dating?"

"Spike! Jason Statham, the famous British actor who's recently risen to prominence, publicly accused you in an interview of inserting yourself into his relationship with Kelly Brook. Is there any truth to that?"

【23】 "Spike! The rising British actor Jason Statham publicly accused you of interfering in his relationship with Kelly Brook—is this true?"

"Spike, are the photos of you entering a hotel with Mariah Carey from last year real or fake…"

【24】 "Spike, are the photos last year of you entering and leaving a hotel with Mariah Carey real…?"

"Spike…"

【25】 "Spike…"

「……」

【26】 "…"

The endlessly flashing lights nearly blinded some members of Zhou Yi's team, but fortunately Zhou Yi, Qian Jiang and others had come prepared, putting on sunglasses in advance to shield their eyes from what could only be called light pollution.

【27】 The flashing lights nearly blinded some members of Zhou Yi's team, but Zhou Yi, Qian Jiang, and others had already put on sunglasses to shield their eyes from this extreme light pollution.

The bigger the controversy, the higher the news value.

【28】 The more controversy, the higher the news value.

Especially since Zhou Yi also carries a buff called "Chinese person."

【29】 Especially since Zhou Yi carries the buff of being Chinese.

"OK, OK, calm down everyone. I don't want to see any of you show up on the evening news as a casualty of a stampede at the airport."

【30】 "OK, OK, calm down, I don't want to see one of you dead in a runway stampede on the evening news."

Seeing that he couldn't get away without answering, Zhou Yi decisively stepped forward to stop the reporters swarming in like a plague of locusts, pushed the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose up with his right index finger, and said: "First of all, I need to make one thing clear to the public—I have never inserted myself into anyone else's relationship.

【31】 Seeing he had no choice but to answer, Zhou Yi stepped forward to halt the swarm of reporters like locusts invading, and pushed his sunglasses up with his right index finger: "First, I must clarify—I never interfere in others' relationships.

"Who is Jason Statham? I've never even met him. I don't even know who he is.

【32】 "Who is Jason Statham? I've never even met him—I don't even know who he is.

"Second, Kelly Brook and Mariah Carey are both good friends of mine. I sent Kelly my congratulations when she won the Premier League Goddess crown, and I sent Mariah my congratulations when she released her new single. Our relationship is completely normal—far more normal than you imagine.

【33】 "Second, Kelly Brook and Mariah Carey are both good friends of mine. I congratulated Kelly when she won Premier League Goddess, and I congratulated Mariah when she released her new single. Our relationship is perfectly normal—far more normal than you imagine.

"Lastly, my suggestion is you'd better catch me naked in a hotel with someone, because otherwise just walking in and out of a hotel by itself doesn't carry any credibility."

【34】 "Finally, I suggest you take photos of me naked with someone in a hotel—otherwise, just seeing me enter or leave a hotel means nothing."

The corner of his mouth beneath the sunglasses curved into a provocative smile, and Zhou Yi shrugged noncommittally: "As everyone knows, I'm a superstar. When I travel abroad, I stay in hotels. If I'm not walking in and out of hotels, where am I supposed to stay? In a tent on the street with the homeless?"

【35】 Beneath his sunglasses, a mocking smile curled on Zhou Yi's lips; he shrugged indifferently: "Everyone knows I'm a superstar—I stay in hotels when I travel abroad. Where else would I stay? Sleep in a roadside tent with homeless people?"

「……」

【36】 "…"

Damn!

【37】 Fuck!

That actually makes sense!

【38】 That's actually logical!

Wait, no!

【39】 Wait, no!

Almost got led astray by this bastard. The Empire is so prosperous and strong—how could there possibly be homeless people!

【40】 Almost got tricked by this bastard—how could there be homeless people in such a powerful, prosperous empire!

"What are your thoughts on the comments from some Brit Awards judges that you're too young and your album doesn't have enough musical substance? Does this mean all your nominations at this year's Brit Awards will end up empty-handed?"

【41】 "What's your reaction to some Brit Awards judges saying you're too young and your album lacks musical depth? Does this mean all your nominations this year will end up empty?"

"My album is my call. They can say whatever they want."

【42】 "I make my own albums—they can say whatever they want."

"Then will you be attending this year's Brit Awards? Or will you be watching the live broadcast from a hotel?"

【43】 "Then will you attend this year's Brit Awards, or watch the live broadcast from your hotel?"

"No."

【44】 "No."

Zhou Yi shook his head and said lightly: "A Brit Awards without me isn't worth watching at all, so fans shouldn't get their hopes up for it."

【45】 Zhou Yi shook his head dismissively: "The Brit Awards without me aren't worth watching at all, so fans shouldn't bother expecting it."

「……」

【46】 "…"

？？？

【47】???

Fuck！

【48】 Fuck!

Only you could pull that off, Spike!

【49】 Only you, Spike!

I love that mouth of yours!

【50】 I love your mouth!

Nobody expected Zhou Yi to drop a bomb the moment he got off the plane. The reporters who had been staking out all night were wide awake now, their cheeks flushed with excitement, wishing they could shove the microphone right into his mouth.

【51】 No one expected Zhou Yi to pull off such a big move right off the plane—the reporters who'd waited all night lost their sleepiness, cheeks flushed with excitement, desperate to shove microphones into his mouth.

The Brit Awards—the highest honor ceremony in the entire British pop music scene—basically holds the same status as the Grammys do in America.

【52】 The Brit Awards, the highest honor in British pop music, are roughly equivalent in status to America's Grammys.

If it weren't for the massive decline in British national power after World War II, the Brit Awards would very likely occupy the position the Grammys hold today.

【53】 Had Britain not declined so sharply after WWII, the Brit Awards might now hold the exact status the Grammys do.

But even so, even a troublemaker like Eminem has never let slip words this sacrilegious toward a music award over the Brit Awards not giving him a prize.

【54】 Even so, even a rebel like Eminem never dared to say anything so blasphemous about the Brit Awards for denying him an award.

Putting it mildly, this is contempt for the authority of the Brit Awards; putting it bluntly, it's contempt for all of Great Britain!

【55】 At best, this disrespects the Brit Awards' authority; at worst, it disrespects all of Britain!

"Are you retaliating against the Brit Awards? Are these angry words aimed at Britain?"

【56】 "Are you retaliating against the Brit Awards? Is this just a tantrum against Britain?"

"Of course not. I have a very good impression of Britain. I really like Arsène Wenger's beautiful football at Arsenal. Premier League Goddess Kelly Brook has a great figure and is gorgeous, and the models aren't bad either…"

【57】 "Of course not—I have a great impression of Britain. I love Arsenal under Mr. Wenger's management, Kelly Brook as Premier League Goddess has a great figure and is beautiful, and the models are all great…"

「……」

【58】 "…"

Qian Jiang was drenched in sweat, that's for sure.

【59】 Qian Jiang was drenched in sweat.

If it weren't for the beads of cold sweat on his brow as he crab-walked alongside the security team to hold back the excited reporters, it was hard to imagine what other earth-shattering remarks might have come out of Zhou Yi's mouth.

【60】 If he hadn't, sweating from his forehead, sidestepped like a crab and teamed up with the security team to block those furious reporters, it's hard to imagine what other shocking things Zhou Yi might have said.

"A-Yi, saying that about the Brit Awards makes it sound like you don't think they're worth a damn."

Qian Jiang, having gotten into the car, wiped cold sweat from his brow, his expression extremely strange.

"Am I mixing it up in Britain?" Zhou Yi, legs crossed, retorted.

"..."

"Besides, the Brit Awards are not the same as Britain. Moreover, if they don't give me an award, it's racial discrimination." Zhou Yi sneered, dismissing the matter with a curled lip, his logic weak but his spirit strong.

(End of this chapter)