HCB Chapter 98 Record Company
Chapter 98 Record Company
Lin Zhou tapped his fingertips lightly on the mahogany surface of his desk, producing a rhythmic sound, his eyes growing brighter. Secretary Chen's words had undoubtedly opened a new door for him.
"Mostly covers?" He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice. "So, the market for original songs is practically nonexistent?"
Secretary Chen nodded and read the contents of his notebook in more detail: "Yes, Mr. Lin. Nowadays, most record companies in Hong Kong buy the copyrights of songs from Japan or Europe and America, add Cantonese lyrics, and release them to the market."
Occasionally, he might have a few original songs, but most of them are folk songs or ditties, rarely becoming hits. Half of Mr. Xu's most popular songs are covers or adaptations.
"Moreover, the current record industry has not yet formed a complete industrial chain," Secretary Chen added. "The recording studio equipment is outdated, the production teams are of varying quality, and many singers rely entirely on their company's connections to promote their albums on radio charts."
Lin Zhou listened, but instead of frowning, he laughed out loud.
Chaos means opportunity. Emptiness means infinite possibilities.
The hit songs that swept the Chinese music scene in his previous life, those classic melodies that were sung hundreds of millions of times, are now quietly lying in his computer hard drive.
From ballads to energetic dance tracks, from inspirational hits to movie theme songs, there's something for everyone. In this era of rampant cover songs, these tracks are akin to a game-changer.
"Secretary Chen," Lin Zhou leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming more serious, "you need to do two things for me."
First, collect information on all record companies in Hong Kong, including their signed artists, main genres, and market share, the more detailed the better.
Second, could you please keep an eye out for any promising newcomers with solid singing skills who haven't been discovered yet, or singers who are struggling at their previous record labels? Please provide a list.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Chen immediately picked up her pen and began scribbling rapidly in her notebook, the pen tip making a soft scratching sound as it glided across the paper. Having worked with Lin Zhou for so long, she naturally knew the young boss's style—when he displayed such a determined expression, it meant that something big was about to begin.
"Mr. Lin, are you planning to set up a record company?" Secretary Chen couldn't help but look up and ask.
"That's right." Lin Zhou nodded without hesitation, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Zhonghua Group wants to get a share of the entertainment industry."
Secretary Chen paused slightly, then quickened her pace of note-taking. She was secretly amazed. Zhonghua Group started as a newspaper, and now its handheld game console business was booming worldwide. She hadn't expected President Lin's attention to be on such a completely different field.
But on second thought, with President Lin's vision and boldness, whatever he does will probably stir up a storm.
"I understand, Mr. Lin. I can organize these documents for you first thing tomorrow morning," Secretary Chen said confidently.
"Thank you for your hard work." Lin Zhou nodded slightly and added, "Also, please make an appointment with the manager of the best recording studio in Hong Kong. I want to go and check out the equipment in person."
Also, find a few reliable music producers, preferably those who know how to arrange and mix music, who don't stick to conventions, and the younger the better.
"Okay, I'll arrange it right away." Secretary Chen wrote down all the requirements in his notebook before getting up to take his leave.
The office door closed gently, and Lin Zhou was alone again. He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the dazzling night view outside, his fingers lightly tracing the glass.
Setting up a record company sounds easy, but it's incredibly complicated in practice. But Lin Zhou remained calm, holding his biggest trump card—songs from the future.
He closed his eyes, and familiar melodies floated through his mind. There was Leslie Cheung's "Silence is Golden," Anita Mui's "Woman Flower," and Beyond's "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies"... These songs will be timeless classics in the Chinese music scene for decades to come.
However, Lin Zhou also knew that he couldn't rush things. In Hong Kong during the 1970s and 80s, the tastes of the audience were still relatively conservative, and songs that were too avant-garde might not be accepted by the market.
He needs to select a few songs with a gentle style and catchy melodies as a stepping stone to getting into record companies.
Lin Zhou became more and more excited, wishing he could immediately put these songs into the recording studio. But he also knew that everything had to be done step by step.
The first step is to build a team. A recording studio, a producer, and an arranger are the foundation.
The second step is to sign singers. Whether they are newcomers or veterans who are struggling to find their place, the key is to have singing skills, a distinctive style, and the ability to bring out the essence of the song.
The third step is song selection and production. We select the songs that best suit the current market, carefully polish them, and ensure that each song is a masterpiece.
The fourth step is promotion and distribution. This includes collaborating with radio stations for chart rankings, newspaper advertising, etc.
Lin Zhou's lips involuntarily curled upwards. He could almost see the Zhonghua Records logo appearing on the covers of best-selling records.
He could almost hear the songs produced by Zhonghua Records playing everywhere; he could almost feel Zhonghua's entertainment empire expanding little by little.
"It's okay to put the film company on hold for now," Lin Zhou muttered to himself. "Once my record company is established and has accumulated enough capital and connections, venturing into the film industry will be a natural progression."
He turned back to his desk, and with a thought, entered the space again.
The projector in the living room was still on, and the movie's end credits were still playing softly. Lin Zhou didn't watch the movie anymore; instead, he went straight to the computer and opened a folder called "Golden Songs Library."
It was filled with his collection of song files, each labeled with its title, artist, release year, and genre description.
Lin Zhou sat in front of the computer, his fingers gently sliding across the mouse as he carefully selected ten songs to be the title tracks for Zhonghua Records' debut album.
"This song is good; the melody is soothing and suitable as a ballad title track."
"Yes, this one is also very good. The lyrics are profound and easy to resonate with the audience."
After selecting ten songs, he closed his laptop with satisfaction, then exited the virtual space and returned to his office. He stretched, feeling brimming with energy.
Zhonghua Group's electronics products have already reached a considerable scale. Now, it wants to build an equally brilliant foundation in the entertainment industry to raise funds for Zhonghua Group's electronic communications project in the future.
Just then, the phone on his desk rang. Lin Zhou picked up the receiver, and Su Wanqing's gentle voice came through: "Zhou, it's so late, are you still busy? I asked the housekeeper to make some soup, let's go home and have some together."
Lin Zhou felt a warmth in his heart; the fatigue of the past few days seemed to vanish in that instant. "It'll be done soon, Wanqing," his voice softened. "I have a new idea; I'll discuss it with you when we get back."
"Okay, I'll wait for you at the door right away." Su Wanqing chuckled and hung up the phone.
Lin Zhou put down the receiver, a happy smile spreading across his face. With a grand vision for his career and a tender partner in his life, what more could one ask for?