George Slender was a little worried.
Not because the recordings were bad, on the contrary, but because the recordings were too good. Renly completed the recording of sixteen songs before and after, each of which is wonderful and irresistible. In George's opinion, "Don Quixote" is likely to surpass Nora Jones' debut album" Fly Away," became one of the best albums of the 21st century.
But such an album means that there is no market.
At that time, after Nora Jones completed the recording of "Flying Away", she was full of expectations, but almost no distribution company was willing to take over this hot potato, and almost no one was optimistic about the market sales prospects of this album. After going around for nearly a year, it was finally released by two independent record companies and listed on the market.
However, the market sales of "Flying Away" was terrible, and it was only circulated among senior professional music lovers, which also responded to the speculation of industry insiders.
Later, the Grammys not only awarded Nora eight trophies, tying Michael Jackson's single-session record, but also won four comprehensive awards, sweeping thousands of troops.
Originally, "Flying Away" was the album with the lowest sales among the four Grammy nominees in the four comprehensive categories; however, after the awards ceremony ended, the Grammy effect took off, and the album's cumulative sales doubled in just one week. Double—in other words, the number of albums sold in one week equals the number of albums sold in the past ten months.
After that, over time, "Flying Away" has gradually become one of the best albums in the United States since the 21st century, with total sales exceeding 8 million copies and one of the highest-selling albums.
It was 2002, just a few years after the last boom in the music market in the 1990s, and even then it was so difficult, let alone 2011 now. Not every album can replicate the "Go Away"-style wonder, and not every great album can be recognized by the Grammys.
Being high and low is a big problem in any era, and it is even more so in the Internet age where fast food culture is prevalent. The excellence of "Don Quixote" is also a fatal shackle.
Cruel, ridiculous, and absurd, it's the truth. What sells well is not necessarily the best; and the best does not necessarily sell well. The replacement of the market has become more and more entertaining, more and more popular, and more and more simple and rude.
During the past period, George has been actively contacting major record companies, including the five major record companies and independent record companies. He has contacted seventeen record companies before and after, and has expanded his network to the extreme. But got very little.
Even the small British record companies that dare to produce avant-garde and experimental music need to reconsider - after all, their distribution channels are effective, and cost recovery is naturally more difficult. They are more willing to support artists from local underground music than albums produced in the United States.
"The Fast and the Furious 5" was a big hit at the box office. George originally dismissed it, but his mind turned fast, hoping to seize this opportunity to find a suitable partner for "Don Quixote". The results were still unsatisfactory. In the final analysis, Renly's foundation was still unstable, and it was booming and bustling, in fact, it was just a layer of bubbles.
Abraham-Grey was George's first contact and George's last hope.
Abraham worked for Atlantic Records. He was an album producer, and then gradually transformed into a production director. Now he is in charge of the recording department. It can be said that he is in charge of the overall style of Atlantic Records and the tone of the album.
When it comes to Atlantic Records, I am afraid that everyone in the industry knows that it is this company that promotes the rise of rhythm and blues; it is also this company that signed Aretha-Franklin, not only casting After creating the greatest soul music in the American music market, and bringing soul music to the golden age; it is this company that signed Led-Zeppelin, considered an important cornerstone of the rock era.
Although Atlantic Records was acquired by Warner Records, Warner Bros. still maintained their independent creation. Compared with other record companies, Atlantic Records, as a top record company, has always maintained a high degree of enthusiasm for independent music and artistic creation, which is really commendable. In the 21st century, Bruno-Mars is an artist created by Atlantic Records, and, of course, Ed Sheeran, whom George introduced to the past.
In the previous Ed, Abraham signed the contract simply and neatly. Next week, Ed’s first single will be released in the UK. Atlantic Records still hopes to see the market’s reaction before deciding on the release time of the album.
Ed's music style combines various styles such as pop, folk, soul, hip-hop, etc. It is not the mainstream style of the current market, but overall it is more in line with the tastes of contemporary young people, and the market prospects are relatively bright; but Renly's music This album is slanted and unique, and its unique style can almost be said to perfectly avoid all the key factors of market popularity, and wholeheartedly pursue breakthroughs in music and art.
This is even more capricious than "going far away". In the fourteen songs on the album that year, Nora only participated in the production of three of them. The artistic tone of the album was controlled by Jessie-Harris and several other producers. But "Don Quixote" is almost all artistic creation by Renly alone.
For such an album, anyone will sweat their palms. Under the current market environment, it is almost a sure-fire project. Even a superstar bonus like "Johnny Depp" doesn't necessarily work, let alone a small role like Renly Hall
Abraham is no exception. He can sign Ed Sheeran, but not Renly Hall, even if it's just a "Don Quixote."
When George came to him before, he mentioned the two songs "Cleopatra" and "Ophelia", and then brought up this album. Abraham conducted some market research and research, and repeated it over and over again. He listened to Renly's three singles so far, but still lacked the guts to make a final call.
After listening to it live in the studio today, on the one hand, I am even more sighed, lamenting Renly's understanding and interpretation of music, which is a kind of talent, a talent that others can only dream of; on the other hand, it is more embarrassing. Everyone knows more clearly that such albums are bound to struggle in the market, and over the years, the Grammys have gradually begun to compromise with the market, and it is difficult to find the courage to reward "Go Away" ten years ago. blocked.
In addition to sighing and sighing, Abraham said that he was a willful young man and could only reluctantly refuse. Deep down, he regrets more than anyone else, and he understands George's ambitions and ideals. Because this is a dream that is doomed to be unfulfilled.
Although the reality is cruel, it cannot be denied.
"It's not difficult to make a commercial album; but it's not easy to make an art album. Anyone can do a commercial album, but not an art album." A voice sounded in their ears, and both Abraham and George raised their heads , followed the voice and looked over, and then the two exchanged glances. Abraham noticed the confusion in George's eyes, and obviously didn't understand what was going on.
Roy felt the gazes of the two people, stabilized himself a little, sorted out the thoughts in his mind, and then continued, "Indeed, in the current market environment, making an art album is like making an art film. Similarly, it is destined to lose money. For businessmen, no one is willing to lose money, and no one will do it even knowing that it is lost; but for artists, they cannot give up the pursuit of art.”
"The reason is very simple, if everyone does not make art, then no one will continue to do it in the future; if there is no pursuit and persistence in art, then all movies in the future may become 'Transformers', and all music will also be They have become electronic drums." Roy's words were fast-paced, but his thoughts were very clear, like a machine gun, fast and accurate, and the amount of information poured out, "It's not that 'Transformers' is bad, nor is it electronic dance music. No, actually, I like 'Transformers' so much, and I'm really looking forward to it coming out next week. But when the whole market is full of stuff like this, it's a disaster."
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"What we need to encourage is not artistic creation that is more and more deviated and dangerous, nor is it artistic research that abandons commercial considerations, but a market where a hundred flowers bloom. Then, everyone is making commercial albums, but who will make art albums? What? Those record labels that really have a long-term vision and that have real artistic value.”
Having said that, Roy didn't continue talking, his eyes fell on Abraham, and the subtext was: yes, it's you, it's your record company.
Abraham was stunned for a while, and Roy was making a lot of speeches. He really didn't pick up the words for a while. After finally waiting for the gap, his smile couldn't help but rise.
Everyone understands the truth, but reality doesn't work that way. Atlantic Records can take risks, but not gamble. Ed Sheeran was an adventure, while Renly Hall was a gamble. The balance between art and business, everyone is pursuing, but not everyone has such confidence, such capital, such courage, such ability, even Oscar and Grammy can't do it, let alone What about Atlantic Records
Abraham opened his mouth, organized the language, and prepared to discuss with Roy: he didn't want to, but couldn't.
But before he had time to speak, someone interjected again, "I think this is a very interesting album, but I don't know if Renly is interested in giving it to our studio to release it?"
Not Abraham, not George, but the man at the back of the couch, the man who was silent and almost ignored from start to finish.