After leaving for just five days, Li Jinlong brought back several sisters of the Wu Su combination to Jinan Prefecture.

  This time back, he brought a big contract for Li Qian.

  After signing the contract, Li Qian officially became the producer of Wu Xing Wu Su's second album.

  According to the domestic music production norms, the producer and supervisor are often taken on by one person, which is considered the greatest power. Once the two positions are separated, it must be because a big-name musician has joined, so the separated supervisor will take full responsibility for music-related matters and have final decision-making power. The producer will thoroughly step behind the scenes, responsible for powers other than album music content, such as financial rights, personnel rights, etc.

  To make a rough analogy, record producers are similar to film producers, while music directors are similar to film directors, and singers are like actors.

  Of course, like many film directors who do not have the final cut privilege for the theatrical version, record producers, especially those of big-name artists such as Li Jian, who has just signed this contract, must definitely have the final say in the album's content.

  In short, after signing this contract, Li Jindong changed from the superior of Wuxingwusu to a steward serving Li Qian and Wuxingwusu, responsible for preparing and handling other affairs. And Wuxingwusu's superior in music became Li Qian.

  Of course, signing this contract means that Li Qian has become a community of interests with Wu Xingshu from now on.

  Wu Xian's album was a huge success, and Li Qian became rich.

  But the album sold poorly, and Li Qian might not even get a penny, let alone wasting several months of hard work, and also losing several songs.

  Specifically, the other party implemented the contract with no changes to the conditions proposed by Li Qian: calculated at a unit price of 10 yuan, if the new album sells 1 million copies, Li Qian takes 5 points, then he gets 500,000 yuan. If it sells 2 million copies, Li Qian takes 7 points, then he gets 1.4 million yuan. If it sells 3 million copies, Li Qian can take 10 points, that's 3 million!

  As for 5 million copies... If it really sells that many, according to the contract's 15% high copyright tax, Li Qian's income from Five Lines & Innocence for this album will be as high as 7.5 million!

  This income model is completely different from selling songs for a few dollars like a song!

  Even those with considerable strength and reputation, who can sell at a relatively high price, if they don't have the qualifications to get sales dividends, it's likely that even after writing for several years, dozens of works, they still won't be able to get this amount!

  Of course, judging from the current domestic market, even if Li Qian makes a move, even if he uses all his skills, there is no guarantee that he can achieve such sales data that would be frightening.

  Isn't Liu Mingliang impressive enough?

  That is the king of the music scene. And in terms of sales, it's also absolutely NO. 1. However, even his top-tier album, which once set a domestic record with weekly sales of 370,000 copies, has only sold six platinum records since its release in '92, and that's over three years ago.

  And this is also one of the only three domestic six white gold records.

  Apart from his album, Flying Pig's "Jiā zhū xī qù" took eight years to get six platinum certifications. Zhao Xinfu's representative work also took a full six years to get six platinum certifications.

  Going down, there are only eight records that can get the Five White Gold certification. However... That's right, all of them are male singers! Liu Mingliang, Zhao Xinfu, Hu Yang, Feixiang Band...

  The highest level among female singers is Zhang Zhen's one four-platinum and two three-platinum albums, He Rongqing's two four-platinum and two three-platinum albums, Feng Fei's one three-platinum album, and Zhou Mei's one three-platinum album.

  As for the singing group, the current domestic record is the first album of the "Sister" combination of Shinda Records. However, even they only got the gold record certification more than half a year after it went on sale, and so far, more than two years have passed since its release, but there is still no news about getting a platinum record...

  This is the market situation that Li Qian and Wu Xing Yu Su will face next.

  Of course, apart from Li Qian himself, no one would have the luxury of thinking about making a platinum record. Not even the sisters in the Wu Xing Wu Su combination could possibly have such a luxury.

  They just hope they can get a platinum certification!

  If they're lucky enough to get two platinum records... that already means they've become extremely popular, what more could they want?

  Like Liu Mingliang, Zhao Xinfu, and Fei Xiang Band, they are all phenomenal, belonging to the sound of an era. It can even be said that they respectively represent the peak of folk songs, rural ballads, and rock music.

  In everyone's eyes, they have already become unbeatable in their respective fields!

  …………

  After signing the contract, he took out his own copy and Li Qian took out three new songs in one breath.

  Next, his task was to listen carefully to the six songs that Li Jindong had brought over, which were already well-made beforehand, and try to select one or two works that could be used next, also helping Huage Records and producer Li Jindong minimize their previous production losses, after all... the money had already been spent.

  And our five sisters' tasks are... practicing singing, practicing singing, practicing singing!

  As for Liu Jinlong, his task is even heavier because he has to go back to Shuntianfu to do the accompaniment, including five songs such as "Sisters Stand Up" and "Let's Row the Oars".

  After all, the two songs that were recorded earlier were just demos. Firstly, they were live recordings of the singer with accompaniment, and even if there was post-production processing, it's impossible to fully meet the requirements of a studio album. Secondly, when we get to Shuntianfu, the musicians that Huage Records headquarters can contact are definitely going to be better than the temporary session musicians found in Jinanfu, right?

  So, of course, strive for perfection!

  Of course, in fact, even if it's just accompaniment recording, it should be Li Qian's job as the producer, but who let him still be in school? It's impossible for him to run to Shuntianfu to do this job, so he had to hand it over to Li Jindong to take care of it. He was only responsible for reviewing the semi-finished products and if he didn't approve, he would attach guidance opinions and send them back.

  …………

  Saturday, September 11th, morning.

  In the morning, Li Qian rushed to Lao Dou Records and gave a singing guidance for Wu Xiong's sisters for an entire morning. After that, he declined Wu Min's invitation and completely ignored Zhou Pingping and Sun Ruoxuan, Xie Bing's pitiful gazes, leaving only one sentence: "Don't think about sneaking in extra food, just honestly eat your apples! Golden Dragon brother instructed me to keep an eye on you before he left!" He ruthlessly shattered their plan of eating a big meal together with Li Qian. Then, he went downstairs and rode his bike towards Jing San Xiao Wei Liu's place.

  He went there at this time, first, he had agreed that he could have a meal at Cao Tian's place, secondly, to send a song and invite a song.

  Song is helping Cao Yun repay the debt of romance he owed in those years, while inviting song is his duty as the producer of this album "Wu Xing Wu Suo".

  However, the ride was from Lao Dou Records to Buwen Bookstore, a full 7-8 kilometers away. He often exercised and boxed, so he didn't feel tired, but it took a full 20-30 minutes, which really wasted time.

  Actually, while waiting for the red light, he looked at the cars stopped at the intersection with various brand names and was really moved to buy a car - before thinking it was unnecessary to buy a car, thinking that riding a bicycle was already very good. Mainly because he did not expect that there would be so many tasks coming soon, and thought that the next year would be a quiet high school life.

  Now, when he was in school, it was still okay to ride a bicycle to and from school. He himself felt quite comfortable and enjoyable, mainly because riding a bike would give him a strange sense of blending into the times, finding youth, and having a carefree feeling like an old vegetable vendor wearing a young leafy hat.

  It's just a weekend, and I have to go back and forth to Lao Dou's place every day. The problem of wasting time riding a bicycle is highlighted. If I encounter Lao Cao calling me again, asking me to watch a movie together or go hiking or fishing somewhere, then I can only wait for someone to come pick me up.

  It feels a bit suffocating!

  However, after careful consideration, Li Qian decided not to buy a car before graduating from high school.

  Whether to pretend or not, whether to show off or not, are all out of consideration. The main thing is the psychological pattern that has been formed over the years - you're just a high school student, what's with driving such a car? Do you think this is America?

  About half an hour later, he rushed to the Wén Shū Diàn (a bookstore) because they had made an appointment in advance. Cao Yun had already ordered takeout for two people, so after Li Qian went upstairs, he handed over the songbook that had been prepared long ago to Cao Yun, and then picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

  Cao Ting was also hungry and was about to wait for Li Qian to arrive before eating, but after taking the score and glancing at it, he couldn't help but pause, saying "It's actually already been composed?", and then began to study it seriously.

  And he was more and more surprised as he looked on.

  Afterwards, his fingers kept tapping lightly on the paper, as if he was beating out a rhythm.

  After finishing the first time, he went back to watch it for a second time.

  In just over ten minutes, Li Qian had finished his meal, but he was still watching, his eyes gleaming brightly.

  Li Qian also didn't see outside, got up and pulled open the drawer to find his tea leaves, made himself a cup of green tea with boiling water, then sat on the sofa drinking tea to digest, while smiling at him.

  A moment later, as if noticing Li Qian's gaze, Cao Yun finally stopped.

  He put down the song book and looked at Li Qian, "Are you very interested in Buddhist things? Have you studied it?"

  Li Qian smiled and thought, "I knew you'd ask that," and said: "It's not even research, just a little understanding. I think this style should suit He Runqing's style, so I tried writing a poem. You can send it to him later. If he's not satisfied, I'll change my approach and write another one. I'll definitely help you pay off your debt of love!"

  Cao Ting picked up the songbook and took another glance, then put it down and finally picked up his chopsticks, saying: "Not satisfied? If a song of this standard is not satisfactory, let them go find someone else to invite to sing!"

  He picked up a chopstick of vegetables, turned his head to glance at the songbook again, chewed for a few moments, as if savoring something, then nodded, "Half a pot of silk, what a great name! Good song!"

  Li Qian smiled silently, thinking that although this song didn't truly become a hit in its time, it was only restricted by the domestic market and the overdeveloped internet back then. If brought to this era, paired with He Runqing's sweet vocals, this Chinese-style song might just set off a huge fire.

  Of course, this time he came, sending this song is just one of them, more importantly, it's an invitation.

  So, he sipped his tea and smiled, saying: "Cao Ge, about what we discussed last time, I asked you to help write a song suitable for young girls to sing. How's it going? Do you have any ideas?"

  The question is asked in this way, Li Qianke didn't immediately have high hopes for the song.

  Cao Yun started with rock, had a big name, but the result was that one album after another flopped. Later, he returned to Jinan and switched to writing sentimental songs, folk songs, and ballads, and unexpectedly gained fame. Of course, he is a master of both lyrics and melody, but when it comes to writing songs suitable for a youthful girl group like Wu Xing Yu Su, he may not necessarily be able to write well, and even if he can, it's definitely not that fast.

  But what surprised Li Qian was that as soon as he finished speaking, Cao Yun pointed to his own desk and said with confidence: "Get it yourself!"

  "Already have one?"

  Li Qian was surprised to find a songbook on his desktop.

  Love Me!

  Li Qian looked at Cao Yun in surprise after reading through the song book from cover to cover.

  He has listened to Cao Yun's works, and many of them, from his rock works in those years to the songs he wrote for others in recent years, almost all of which he has heard. This song "Love Me!" is a bit unlike his style!

  Cao Yun eats slowly, and it's only halfway through the meal that he feels Li Qian's gaze. He chews the food in his mouth thoroughly and swallows it, then takes a sip of water before speaking calmly: "Your suggestion, let me take my time. I went to kindergarten for a day, then to my son's middle school playground for another day, even played a game of soccer with some kids! After coming back, I wrote seven versions, and finally settled on this one! I sang it to several children, they all said it sounds good, that's when I decided to give it to you!"

  Li Qian couldn't help but burst out laughing upon hearing this. It seems that Cao Yun has indeed put in a lot of effort this time!

  Is it because the first song in Liao's album didn't make a name for itself, so subconsciously you want to try again?

  It's a good thing for musicians, this kind of mentality is necessary! Especially his approach to putting things down immediately when he wants to do something, it's something that many well-established people can't even do!

  Then Li Qian waved the song book in his hand and smiled: "It's settled!"

  "How much does it cost?"

  Cao Ting looked at him for a moment, chewed for a while, swallowed something, picked up the nearby "Half Pot Shang" song book and asked: "How much money?"

  Li Qian smiled and said, "Let them watch for now!"

  Cao Yun put down his songbook and said, "Let them watch for now!"

  Li Qian burst out laughing.

  ***

  This chapter is four thousand words again! Please vote for monthly tickets! (.)

  PS: This chapter is 4,000 words again! Please vote for monthly tickets!