The opening of China Entertainment Group gave Jay Chou a head-on confrontation

Chapter 485 He is worth million
"I'm just a fucking kid and I'm still guessing!"

"Drag this bastard Zhou Yi out and light a sky lantern!"

"Apart from anything else, this guy is really mean, Wen Lan is going to call the police!"

"..."

Thursday, June 2003, 7.

Many people who watched the special episode of Zhou Yi's "Morning Star" on "Art Life" last night complained about Zhou Yi's suspense and inhumanity on the Internet.

It was a friendship of life and death, but the life that was saved was Wen Lan's.

Listen, is this human language?
"Wen Lan: I have no objection."

"We have been friends for life, but Zhou Yi didn't write a few songs for Wen Lan?"

"Wen Lan has Jay Chou's songs, right? They're all in every album. It's not appropriate for Zhou Yi to interfere."

"It seems so. She was also rumored to be having an affair with Jay Chou. The rumors were very detailed. Her fans in Taiwan were all calling Cai Yilin a mistress. It seems that this pervert, Jay Chou, is actually quite righteous."

"You can't bully your brother's wife..."

Wen Lan, who was originally active in various background stories, has rarely been discussed on the mainland Internet after the new episode of "Art Life" was broadcast, which made the few remaining Wen Lan fans laugh and cry.

Good news, their little-known idol has become a hot topic in mainland China and is about to become a big hit!

Bad news, the fun is on fire!
"But even if Zhou Yi is criticized, he is still a model worker. Warner is treating him like a donkey. He just released his English album in March and is now preparing for his Chinese album. I'm really worried that he will die suddenly at his workbench one day."

"This album title always gives me the feeling that he doesn't want to work in the music industry anymore. He has already used up all the names of the Yijing trilogy, including 'Zhou Yi', 'Lian Shan' and 'Guizang'. Will he quit after releasing this album?"

"Not really, will Warner let go of this cash cow?"

"The above, if I remember correctly, Zhou Yi's contract with Warner expires around April or May 04? That's next year."

"What the hell! It expires in the first half of next year?!"

"All the money he's made in the past few years, after tax, is nearly $200 million in cash, right? Not to mention the endless stream of English song copyright fees in the future. If I were him, I'd be lying too."

"He seems to be investing..."

"The main reason is that the album title is a bit confusing..."

Thanks to the fame of the I Ching trilogy, the news that Zhou Yi's new album is titled "Gui Zang" gave people the feeling that his music career is about to end.

Of course, this is just the remarks of a few sensitive people.

Since there is the second album "Jiangnan" which does not belong to the I Ching sequence, most people still think that the fourth album "Gui Zang" is probably just closer to Zhouyi in terms of album concept.

Some people even put forward their own ideas: "Perhaps Zhou Yi wants to end his music career at Warner with the Yijing trilogy?"

With less than a year left on Zhou Yi's contract with Warner, this speculation has undoubtedly been recognized by most people - especially those fans who feel that Warner is exploiting Zhou Yi.

The top executives of giants such as Sony, EMI, and Universal are all in high spirits and are eager to poach Zhou Yi.

Especially EMI.

Compared with companies like Sony Universal, they have a trump card, that is, Elva Hsiao, the top singer of Virgin Records under EMI.

Isn't it better to be able to whisper in Zhou Yi's ear than for you guys who can't even see Zhou Yi?

EMI executives were full of confidence and immediately contacted Yao Qian, the general manager of Virgin Records. Then, they received a piece of news that made them collectively fall into silence:

Because of the conflicts in her family, Xiao Yaxuan suffered from depression and has now gone abroad for treatment. No one knows where she went, and only the doctor knows her itinerary. This is personal privacy, and even Yao Qian is not clear.

"depression???"

“Yes, her divorced father recently made a comment about Hsiao Ya-Hsiao in Taiwan, saying that his daughter should be grateful to him, which directly caused the family to lose control. Her mother privately found her ex-husband and had a big fight with him.

"Xiao Yaxuan is exhausted both physically and mentally. The doctor diagnosed her with depression. Because she still has to release an album, she has to receive treatment."

Yao Qian read the note left by Xiao Yaxuan, whom he raised as his own daughter, with a strange expression on his face. The senior executives of EMI headquarters were stunned by what they heard.

No, what do you mean?
Is this depression?

After checking again, wow——

Xiao Yao has not seen his daughter for nearly 20 years. He abandoned his family and went to the United States to pursue his dreams when Hsiao Ya-hsiao was young. He returned to Taiwan after he fell ill. He also talked about it on the show that it was because of his departure that his daughter became independent and famous.

They say it's for their daughter's own good.

Many programs invited him to be on the show and paid him, just to hear him talk about his daughter Xiao Yaxuan.

That's indeed depression.

It is no wonder that Hsiao Ya-Hsien openly said in front of the Taiwanese media cameras who took the trouble to interview her, "I have no relationship or connection with him."

Due to confidentiality, Xiao Yaxuan did not even tell Yao Qian the time of her departure, and only her doctor answered the phone.

In short, it’s just one word: Do Not Disturb.

Unable to take shortcuts, EMI executives could only try to contact Zhou Yi himself without going through his agency team, but with little success.

Since the contract period is less than a year, Zhou Yi, who can theoretically have normal contact with his next team, has been asked the most questions about his next team rather than his third album during events.

"Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi, it is rumored that Sony will sign a cooperation agreement with you for a sky-high signing fee of 80 million RMB. Is this true?"

"Zhou Yi, EMI Records and Universal Music are both interested in cooperating with you for 90 million RMB. Do you have any target in mind now?"

"Zhou Yi, it is rumored that Warner Music Group will face the dilemma of being sold by Time Warner. Will you renew your contract with Warner?"

On July 7, after Zhou Yi arrived in Guangzhou, while preparing for the concert, he also participated in a Coca-Cola sponsored event in Tianhe District. It can be said that he spent most of the event being asked questions about contract renewal or job change.

"I haven't thought about it too much yet. My cooperation with Warner is very pleasant, and my agent, Mr. Zhou, also takes good care of me."

Facing the continuous flashes of light, Zhou Yi gave a rare polite smile and spoke courteously.

Perhaps because of the public opinion, or perhaps for some other reason, Zhou Jianhui, who was at the center of controversy because of the Zhou Yi contract issue, accepted a rare interview.

"There is no doubt that Ayi is a treasure of Warner. We have had a pleasant cooperation over the past few years. I am certainly confident that he will stay in Warner, just like we have completed the contract extension with Yanzi before."

"Then do you think the signing fees offered by other record companies to Zhou Yi are irrational? Will this have an impact on the contract renewal negotiations between you?"

"I don't think so."

Zhou Jianhui shook his head: "In fact, in my personal opinion, just Ayi is worth more than 100 million..."

"..."

? ? ? ? ?

No, you don’t even consider money as money?!

The reporter was a little confused.

You should know that signing fees are usually a guarantee given by the company to the singer. For example, when Wang Fei signed a contract with EMI Records for 60 million Hong Kong dollars at the end of the last century, the signing fee she received was actually an advance payment.

If she earns HK$100 million for the company in the future, the HK$60 million previously given to Faye Wong will be deducted first, and the remaining HK$40 million will go into Faye Wong's pocket.

This means that the company covers all risks of losing money, and the singer is guaranteed to make a profit.

The large signing fee therefore becomes a factor in whether the company values ​​the singer.

However, in the boasting of many Filipino maids, the 60 million Hong Kong dollars became 60 million that EMI simply gave to Wang Fei after signing her.

But from what Zhou Jianhui said, does he give 100 million simply to keep Zhou Yi?

One hundred million for just signing?!
Do you, Zhou Jianhui, want to create a precedent in the Chinese music scene?

(End of this chapter)