The next afternoon, Qi Jie and Li Qian, Liao Liao came together to Changsheng Records.

  Li Qian and Liao Liao are about to start recording a new album, trying to complete the recording work within the time Li Qian stays in Shuntianfu for the art exam. Qi Jie, on the other hand, went straight to General Manager Chen Changsheng's office as agreed upon by both parties yesterday.

  Ten minutes later, she walked out from inside.

  Of course, Chen Changsheng also followed out, but after finding Li Qian in the recording studio, this outsider who was always stylish and casual only asked one question, "How confident are you?"

  In the room, producer Zhao Mei Feng and the recording engineer didn't understand what the two were saying at all. But after a moment's thought, Li Qian replied, "Let's go with 55 open!"

  Then Chen Changsheng made a decision after a very short consideration: "It's settled then!"

  So, before anyone was aware of it, the album war that would leave a deep mark on the Chinese music scene was outlined by the two of them in just a few words.

  …………

  The day after arriving in Shuntian Prefecture, Li Qian and Wang Jinglu went to the Imperial Palace before going to the Imperial Palace. They separately submitted their application forms to the Shuntian Film Academy and Huaxia Theater Academy. The exam will not start until April 16th, so before that, Li Qian had seven or eight days to work on Liao Liao's album.

  Because of yesterday's time, all the songs have been gone through once, so from today on, producer Zhao Mei Feng has joined in, plus the recording engineer inside, a four-person recording team was formed and immediately started full-speed operation.

  …………

  On the afternoon of April 8th, Wu Suo officially received a notice from the company: their new album will be produced by Du Xiaoming, the music director of the company, and Li Jindong will continue to serve as the producer!

  Moreover, the company has already reserved thirteen songs for their new album, and even the accompaniment for these works has been done, only recording is left! And when they finish recording, ten to twelve songs will be selected from these thirteen songs to make a new album, leaving one to three songs for a commemorative edition. Even the choreography of several fast songs and dance tracks has been completed in advance. They need to practice dancing again after completing the album recording.

  As for Li Qian - he thought the company's offer was too low and had refused to continue negotiating, so he won't be able to participate in Wu Xing Wu Su's new album production.

  Upon hearing this news, the five girls of Wu Suo Wu were stunned at that moment.

  Although they can react quickly, looking at the company's fully prepared attitude, it is clear that the preparation work for their new album has been quietly carried out long ago. In fact, although they had not received any relevant information before, they could vaguely guess that even if only considering the profit-sharing issue, the company would probably only ask Li Jian to contribute a few songs. However, the current situation where Li Jian is completely excluded from their new album, without even one song, and not even as a producer, has suddenly stunned several girls.

  "Why?" Wang Jingxue was the first to stand up and asked Huang Dazhong, "What is this all about?"

  Because they were afraid that the five elements would not be able to withstand it, the company's general manager, Huang Dazhong, personally announced the news to them. However, Wang Jingxue's intense reaction still made Huang Dazhong wrinkle his brow.

  There are many reasons why Wang Jingxue can take out the CD, but her excited appearance and several other girls who were also shocked, let Huang Dazhong know that this mess is inevitable!

  Fortunately, in the face of the company's top money maker, Huang Dazhong and Huage Records had already made sufficient preparations. So, Huang Dazhong and Wu Jie, the agent of Wuxingwusu, took turns to analyze various reasons one by one.

  You are the Five Elements, you can't be a Five Elements that only relies on one person to survive. Without Li Jian, with the strength of Hua Yu's singing, we still have the ability to continue creating you until we really make you the absolute top group in the Chinese music scene!

  The company. Including you, from now on, we can all continue to cooperate with Li Qian completely, and our relationship has not broken down, it's just that the price of this album couldn't be negotiated.

  The company thinks that you need a more diversified style, and can't just stay in the style of the last album made by Li Xian for you. In the face of this ever-changing market, if you don't move forward, you'll fall behind!

  …………

  And so on and so forth.

  Of course, the final killer is definitely interest.

  Li Qian can no longer work with you on the next album, which is a great pity. However, his departure has greatly reduced the company's profit pressure. Therefore, the company has decided to take out an additional 2% from the original album sales share to reward you, making your share ratio reach 10%, equivalent to that of top singers!

  At the same time, the company has decided that in view of your great contributions to the company, from now on, the company will take 10% out of the brokerage contract and return it to you. In other words, the original 50% commission and an additional 10% of the brokerage contract, this 60% portion will be returned to you in proportion, a total of 6% share. That is to say, your future commercial performance and endorsement income will have 46% belong to you!

  …………

  On the afternoon of the day when the notice was received, Wu Su chose to go on temporary strike.

  Then, Wang Jingxue represented the five of them and called Li Qian who was in the recording studio.

  The company's offer to Li Qian and Li Qian's counteroffer are things that can't be hidden from people, so it's natural that Huage Records wouldn't dare to tell such an easily broken lie to the five girls. Therefore, when Li Qian announced his withdrawal, they didn't have anything good to say - not to mention the issue of profit distribution, because Huage had never allowed Li Qian to participate in profit distribution from the start. In fact, everyone understood that this was already a clear attitude of wanting to kick Li Qian out.

  No one understands this principle better than the five girls of Wú Xīng Wú Sù: without Li Qian, there would be no Wú Xīng Wú Sù today. Therefore, considering Li Qian's contribution to Wú Xīng Wú Sù's success and his share in the previous album, refusing him a share in this album is equivalent to telling him that even if he were given a higher production fee or more money for selling songs, it would not make up for the intention of cutting ties with him.

  So, don't mention Li Qian. Even someone with a slightly temperamental personality would not be able to tolerate this kind of treatment. With Li Qian's abilities and talents, he certainly could not bear such humiliating treatment!

  However, whether it's due to their feelings for each other or subconscious trust in Li Jian's work, the girls obviously didn't want to see Li Jian leave their new album production team.

  In response, the five girls of Wu Xing Su came up with a solution after discussing it together: they hoped to mediate and reconcile, even if the total amount remained unchanged, but Lee Jian's income would be recalculated as a share!

  For this, they would rather lower their share ratio to some extent.

  But on the phone, Li Qian clearly told them: Don't think too much, don't do anything else, just record songs well and make money well, there will definitely be opportunities to cooperate in the future!

  Then, three days later, when agent Wu brought the decision of General Manager Huang Dazhong to improve their treatment and share, Wuxu only expressed his indignation and had to choose to slip down the slope. He returned to Huaying Music that day and resumed work.

  It can be said that this not-so-big-not-so-small storm, from start to finish, was under the control of Huaguo Records. Whether it was Li Qian's departure or Wu Xing Wu Suo's manipulation, even in the music circle, there was no news at all, and the matter had already been thoroughly settled - until the next day, when Huaguo Records announced that Du Xiaoming, the company's music director, would lead the preparation of Wu Xing Wu Suo's new album. Only then did the entire music circle suddenly realize that Li Qian had already been kicked out!

  The outside world, even the media circle closest to the entertainment and music circles, is also very confused about this, but the music circle is in an uproar.

  Then. The clamor turned into silence.

  Actually, it's very simple.

  Wu Xing Wu Su, although already not what it used to be, is still very weak in front of the giant Huaying Music. Even the combination of Wu Xing Wu Su itself belongs entirely to Huaying Music. The five girls are just a few names filled in. In a certain sense, if they really offend Huaying Music, the other party can completely replace them with five new people and continue to call themselves Wu Xing Wu Su.

  So, they can talk about conditions and go on strike to show their dissatisfaction, but that's all. It's like when a child encounters something unpleasant, an adult will allow you to cry for a while, allow you to throw a tantrum, and even buy you some snacks or toys to coax you, but absolutely do not allow you to confront the company on major issues.

  So, at the press conference for the new album preparations, the five girls smiled sweetly and expressed their belief that with Du Xiaoming's joining as general manager, this album will definitely sound better and more enjoyable.

  …………

  Liao Liao's new album recording is still in progress.

  In the professional recording studio of Chang Sheng Records, Zhao Mei Feng saw a Liao Liao who was so obedient for the first time.

  Li Qian said it's good, this way is OK, she listened to it herself and also said that it's indeed not bad, OK. Li Qian said that here and there seems to be a bit off, the emotions aren't grasped firmly, it's gone off track, there are too many jumps, need to hold back, now start again...... Liao Liao obediently nodded her head and started again obediently.

  Then, in just three days, their four-person team amazingly completed four songs!

  Chao Mei Feng has been a producer for over ten years, and her experience in the music industry is even longer, sixteen or seventeen years. Over these years, she can guarantee that this is the most harmonious recording she has ever seen, and also the fastest progressing recording in history.

  But surprisingly, the recording effect made her also involuntarily convinced, and she could only raise a big thumbs up to praise!

  Liao Liao's folk songs are elegant and mellow, like a bowl of old wine. Liao Liao's rock music is grand and unrestrained, like the Yangtze River flowing eastward. Liao Liao's Chinese style music is charming and sentimental, like the golden hairpin on an ancient woman's hair that trembles with every movement...

  So beautiful it's breathtaking.

  …………

  After working continuously for three days, in order to allow Liao Liao to better recover her voice and not delay the progress of future work due to her voice, everyone unanimously decided to take a day off.

  So, on this day, Li Qian came to Liao Liao's apartment as a guest.

  At noon, the company had a good meal prepared by Liao Liao's nanny. Qi Jie even personally cooked a dish to show that she was now a qualified chef. However, her dish was not very popular.

  After lunch, the nanny tactfully ran upstairs to clean up, while Li Qian and Qi Jie, Liao Liao sat scattered in the living room on the first floor drinking tea and chatting.

  Yes, Huang Wenjuan is in charge of serving tea.

  Liao Liao looked at Li Qian, not avoiding the presence of others, and smiled as he asked: "How is it? Can you accept this house? If you think it's okay, after the college entrance exam, you can move in and live here. At that time, I'll drive Juanzi away. Even your agent teacher can move in... hey, what's with that expression of yours? Two big beauties accompanying you to live in a suite, what more do you want?"

  Little assistant Huang Wenjuan just bowed her head and sat there honestly, not daring to express any opinions.

  After chatting and laughing, everyone's topic unknowingly returned to the music circle.

  Some websites started to appear with the function of downloading songs, and many companies in the industry jointly sued them. Several companies suspected of spreading online piracy have been shut down. The news about Zhou Xun was lively for a while, but she never showed any intention of making a comeback, and now it has cooled down again. However, it is said that Sony is very close to Zhou Xun's agent, and it is also said that Wu Yifan will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the preparation of his new album...and so on.

  But in the end, it all came back to Liao Liao himself.

  Liao Liao said: "After finishing this album, the contract I signed with Changsheng Records will be over. Although there are still more than half a year of brokerage contracts left, you also know that I have only taken two advertisements and have not accepted any commercial performances, so my brokerage contract is not much different from having none! Next, I need to consider whether to jump ship or not."

  Qijie asked her in surprise: "Doesn't President Chen want you to stay?"

  Liao shrugged and said, "Of course he wants to. He quoted me a price of 150 million last year. Thirty songs, then... well, I'll be free from my contract. I can find my own agent then."

  Qijie thought for a moment and slightly furrowed her brow, saying: "So that's 500,000 per song? This is... buying out?"

  Liao nodded, "Yeah, bought out! But Old Chen's heart isn't quite sincere, he knows that too. Even if he quotes a higher price, I won't sign a new contract with him before this album is finished, so he's holding back for now! Sony's quote isn't low either, 40 songs for 300 million. But they also know I have another album left to release, so this is just them trying to get close ahead of time, can't take it seriously! If my new album sells well, I can raise the price later, but having a quote like this beforehand makes it seem like they've already shown their sincerity... if my new album flops... haha, we'll talk about it later, definitely won't be able to get that high of a price!"

  Qijie nodded, saying that at this point, she was still new to the industry and hadn't been around for long. Although she had grown quickly, she lacked a comprehensive understanding of the entire music scene. Once the conversation delved deeper, she gradually lost her right to speak and could only listen quietly.

  But at this time, Liao Liao turned his head to look at Li Qian and said: "Hey, I think I've mentioned this topic to you before. Now I still can't help but say it. Why don't you start a company? I don't want a signing fee, just let me jump ship!"

  Li Qian heard this and smiled, putting down his teacup. After a moment's thought, he said, "Don't mention whether I can afford to start a company or not, even if I could, I wouldn't be able to afford your salary, which is in the millions... You're now a big shot!"

  Liao Liao rolled his eyes, just about to speak, unexpectedly, Li Qian continued: "However, I am considering, maybe I should set up a studio first."

  Liao Liao's eyes lit up as soon as he heard the words, and he straightened his back at once. "The studio is also okay!"

  Then, she couldn't wait to say: "There are already several people in the circle who have built their own studios. Liu Mingliang's is semi-formal, while Zhao Xinfu's is more formal. They produce their own albums, from selecting songs to arranging music, all done within their own studio. Only when it comes to recording accompaniment and formal audio do they go to other companies to rent a recording studio. I heard that Zhao Xinfu plans to build his own recording studio this year too! Anyway, you don't need to set up the most advanced kind of studio; just a normal one for recording albums is fine, and it can be done with an investment of only 2-3 million! Then, each album is signed separately, not only retaining the copyright but also directly getting more than 20% of the share. Although distribution is outsourced, you still have to let other companies take a big cut, but 20% isn't bad at all! Several top producers in the circle also have their own studios! And I heard that recently, they've been making good money from doing soundtracks and theme songs for movies and TV dramas too!

  As she spoke, she became more and more excited, even batting her eyelashes at Li Qian, "You build one, build a studio, I'll be your first signed singer!"

  Li Qian smiled and looked around the luxurious double-layer apartment, sighing: "What a pity! Once you jump ship, you can't live in such a good apartment anymore! And it's free!"

  Liao Liao's eyes widened at his words, "What's the big deal? I can just buy it myself!"

  She paused, then said: "An apartment like this, about 200 square meters... um... probably... um..." She looked at Huang Wenjuan, who was looking down but suddenly raised her head and whispered: "Around 15 million!"

  Liao Liao clapped his hands and said, "You see, it's only 15 million. Is it that you can't afford it or I can't afford it?"

  Li Qian heard this and slowly nodded his head.

  At this time, before he could say anything, Liao Liao suddenly smiled and said with a flattering expression: "Well, Teacher Li Jian, I still have some spare money on hand, can I invest in it?"

  ***

  The second update is also a 5,000-word long chapter! (.)