Judging from Madonna's still somewhat absent-minded expression, Eric's words obviously failed to impress her at all.
However, Madonna didn't want to be too strong in front of Eric, she picked up the champagne in front of her and took a few sips, habitually gave Eric a look, and said with a smile: "Eric, I never I don’t think I’m a smart person, so I’m very good at listening to the opinions of the team around me. Although what you just said is very reasonable, I still believe what my agent said a while ago, this little thing, it’s called Fireflyer, right? Nice name. However, if this product becomes popular, it will definitely affect the sales of physical records, which is the survival of us people. Also, my manager also told me that the piracy of Internet music is very serious , so I still plan to leave this new field far away. Even if, as you just said, in 20 years, this little thing will reach the height of the video recorder industry today, but at that time, I must have already retired Already."
"Speaking of piracy," Eric continued undaunted by Madonna's straightforward rejection, "Maggie, do you know what the current Internet is like to the music industry?"
In fact, the example of the video recorder that Eric just cited has already shaken Madonna's mind. The long speech just now seemed more like she was strengthening her confidence.
Madonna has already realized that the young man in front of her seems to be very good at persuading her, but she is very resistant to this feeling, at least, she is not willing to be persuaded on this occasion tonight, so she even has the idea of getting up and walking away , but Eric's ingenious topic guidance still aroused some uncontrollable curiosity in her, and she asked, "What?"
Eric gestured lightly, and with a hint of bewitchment in his magnetic voice, he said: "For the music industry, the Internet world with more than 100 million users in the world is like a dark room, an extremely huge room. And the vast black room."
Madonna remained silent, turned her head slightly, and continued to listen.
Eric didn't stop, and continued: "In this empty and dark dark room, countless people look forward to the light, and they have enough ability to pay enough for the light, but the light regards this space as the place of original sin, Refusal to come, when abandoned by the light, in order to obtain the light, people can only steal the fire, this is piracy."
"The current situation of the Internet music industry is like this. It has gathered a huge group of people with the most powerful spending power in the world. There is no doubt about it. However, due to various scruples, the record companies refuse to recognize this huge potential market. They think that by doing so, It will be able to resist the impact of the Internet on the physical record industry, but in fact, the result is just the opposite. The resistance of the record industry will not only be unable to prevent the strong demand for music from Internet users, but will in turn lead to more rampant Internet piracy. More serious What is worse is that the lack of genuine music sales platforms will lead users to become more and more accustomed to free pirated music. The power of habit is very scary. When everyone is used to downloading hundreds of free songs from the Internet anytime and anywhere Do you think they're still willing to pay $20 for a physical record?"
Madonna twitched her eyes and retorted: "Eric, your assumption is not valid at all. No one dares to spread pirated music on the Internet so recklessly. Those who do this will not only be sued for bankruptcy, but also be sentenced by the federal law. Last 1000 years."
Eric smiled and said, "Maggie, you don't know much about the Internet. You are right to think so. But what you don't know is that even a person who is not very familiar with Internet technology can buy The template structure of a music website. Similarly, with some money, you can even rent a server in any country and region in the world. Then, he can build a pirated music website that stores tens of thousands of songs Websites. It’s so easy to be anonymous on these websites, and you have no way of recourse to those responsible. Moreover, because of the huge demand for music by Internet users, even if 10,000 pirated music websites are shut down for legal reasons every day, in almost At the same time, there will be thousands of new music piracy sites popping up again."
Madonna was finally a little moved.
Eric did not stop, and continued: "Therefore, the most effective way to combat piracy is to establish a genuine online music sales platform, so that all users have a legal channel to obtain genuine music, and since the industry has just begun to develop , to cultivate the public's habit of buying genuine music. As I said just now, if there is light in a dark room, although it cannot illuminate all dark corners after all, at least a large number of people do not need to steal 'Tinder', and no one will take things like stealing 'Tinder' for granted, so, Maggie, what do you think?"
Madonna paused for a moment before she came back to her senses, looked at Eric with undisguised interest in her eyes, and said, "Listening to you talking so much, I suddenly feel that it would be better if the Internet didn't exist. "
Eric spread his hands, with a smile on his lips, and said: "Actually, I also think that if this society can suddenly go back to 10,000 years ago, it must be very wonderful."
Madonna thought Eric was laughing at her point of view just now, curled her lips and said, "You really think so?"
"Of course," Eric nodded firmly, looked over the glass table, looked up and down at Madonna in a black low-cut dress, and said with fascination: "According to the standards of 10,000 years ago, people should still not wear it." clothes."
Madonna was stunned for a moment, and then laughed out of joy. After a while, she leaned forward slightly, almost lying on the glass table, looked over with silky eyes, and said, "Eric, do you want to see me for ten thousand years?" Is it the way it was before, why don't we find a room now?"
Eric really wanted to slap himself, dig a hole and bury himself.
After coughing twice, Eric recovered and said, "Maggie, let's talk about music. Even if you can't sell your new album on the Internet for the time being, but the music released in previous years, I think you can still give it a try, these albums that have been released will certainly not be able to sell many physical records now, but I believe that putting them on the online platform can still bring you very considerable income every year.”
Madonna was not angry because Eric avoided the topic she just said, and leaned back on the sofa behind her, saying: "But, Eric, most of my music distribution rights are not in my own hands, so you Should talk to Warner."
"No, I still believe that you have enough distribution rights in this matter."
Eric shook his head and said that although Madonna's status in the music industry cannot reach the height of Michael Jackson, she cooperates with Warner Records in the same way as Jackson. Both parties jointly set up a music subsidiary to be responsible for her own music production and issued.
This also means that Madonna has a lot of autonomy in the distribution of her music. What's more, the Internet digital music distribution is still just emerging, which can be said to be a completely new concept. With Madonna's status in the music industry, she can completely re-discuss the relevant supplementary contract with Time Warner. It is precisely because of this that Eric spent so much effort tonight. If it is a second- and third-tier singer who is completely controlled by the record company, Eric will not waste his words with the other party.
Seeing that Eric saw through her excuse, Madonna was not embarrassed, and said, "But, Eric, if I do this, what benefits can I get?"
"Oh, this," Eric said with a smile: "Yahoo's online music store adopts a 30% to 70% share model, the platform gets 30%, and the copyright owner gets 70%. If you fully own the digital distribution rights of your own music, I Think, you don’t need to make a second share with Time Warner, at least, you don’t need to give them too much, don’t you?”
Madonna's eyes lit up, and at the same time she keenly captured a new vocabulary in Eric's words: "Digital distribution rights?"
Eric nodded and said: "This should be a brand new concept, which refers to music distribution that is separated from physical media such as tapes, CDs, and films. At present, it refers to Internet music distribution. I think you signed a contract with Time Warner In the contract, there should be no clauses related to this aspect, right?"
Madonna nodded subconsciously.
"So," Eric immediately bewitched again: "I think, next, you should re-discuss a supplementary agreement with Time Warner as soon as possible to agree on the ownership of the digital distribution rights."
Madonna blinked a few times, then suddenly laughed, and said, "Eric, this is your ultimate goal tonight. If I take back the digital distribution rights of my records from Time Warner, it will definitely cause trouble for all the major records. The company's first-line artists followed suit. Yahoo failed to get digital sales rights from the five major record labels, but if these rights are distributed to the artists themselves, you can break them individually."
"I have to say, Maggie, you are actually very smart," Eric boasted, and said, "However, you definitely wronged me. Do you think I am the kind of person with deep thoughts?"
Madonna really looked at Eric again, and said firmly: "Like."
"Okay, I'm hurt," Eric covered his chest, and handed the Fireflyer that he just put on hand to Madonna, saying: "These two small things are for you, the rest of the accessories Someone will give it to your assistant. Also, here is my business card, if you make any decisions, you can call me anytime."
Seeing that Eric handed over a business card and was about to get up and leave, Madonna quickly stopped him, "Hey, Eric, you asked me so much, shouldn't you compensate me a little?"
"Uh, Maggie, I'm actually a very conservative person."
Madonna rolled her eyes at him, and she flirted so many times, Eric was indifferent, and of course she wouldn't bother herself, and said: "You guy, actually, I mean, I'm preparing my own right now. What about the new album, how about writing some songs for me?"
Over the years, Eric has produced a very small number of songs, but almost every song has reached an amazing level.
A few hours ago when she was backstage at the Oscars, Madonna took the initiative to say hello. In fact, she had this thought in mind. To be honest, her career has begun to decline over the years. If Eric can help her write a few songs that match the quality of his previous works, even if they are released without Eric's personal fame at all, it will definitely help her make a comeback.
Eric is really looking forward to Madonna's agreement to enter the Yahoo music store, and he can't refuse it straight away. After thinking about it, he said: "Someone send me a copy of the style information of your new album, preferably with a few sample songs. , I’ll give it a try. Of course, I can’t guarantee it, it needs inspiration.”
"I'll have someone send it to you tomorrow." Madonna nodded quickly, thought for a while, and added: "I'll also get someone to negotiate with Warner on digital distribution rights as soon as possible. We cooperated."
"Then, I hope we won't let each other down," Eric said, reaching out his hand.
Madonna shook hands with him, nodded and said, "It's a pleasant cooperation." (To be continued.)