Chapter Eight Hundred and Forty Second Dark Room

Judging from Madonna's still somewhat absent-minded expression, Eric's remarks obviously did not impress her at all.

However, Madonna didn't want to be too strong in front of Eric. She took a few sips of the champagne in front of her, and habitually gave Eric a glance, and said with a smile: "Eric, I have 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 makes sense, I still believe what my agent said some time ago, this little thing, it's called irelyer, right? Nice name. However, if this product becomes popular, it will definitely affect the sales of physical records. Record sales are fundamental to our existence. Also, my manager told me that the piracy of Internet music is very serious , so I'm still planning to leave this new field far away. Even if, like you just said, in 20 years, this little thing will reach the industry heights of video recorders today, but by then, I must have retired long ago Yes."

"Speaking of piracy," Eric was not discouraged, and continued: "Maggie, do you know what the current Internet is like to the music industry?"

In fact, the example of the VCR just cited by Eric has already shaken Madonna's mind. The long speech just now was more like she was strengthening her confidence.

Madonna has 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 does not want 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 made her have some irrepressible curiosity and asked, "What?"

Eric spread his hands slightly, with a hint of bewitchment in his magnetic voice, and said: "For the music industry, the Internet world with more than 100 million users around the world is like a dark room, an incomparably huge and vast room. The dark room."

Madonna said nothing, 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 price for the light, but the light treats this space as the place of original sin, Refusing to come, when abandoned by the light, in order to obtain the light, people can only steal the fire, which is piracy.”

"The current situation of the Internet music industry is like this. It has gathered a huge group of people with the strongest spending power in the world. There is no doubt about it. However, because of various scruples, record companies refuse to recognize this huge potential market. They think that by doing so, It can resist the impact of the Internet on the physical record industry, but in fact, the result is just the opposite. The boycott of the record industry cannot stop the strong demand of Internet users for music, which will only lead to more rampant pirated music on the Internet. Because genuine music sales platforms The lack of free pirated music will cause users to become more and more accustomed to free pirated music. The power of habit is very terrible. When everyone is used to downloading hundreds of free songs from the Internet anytime, anywhere, do you think they are still Would you be willing to pay $20 for a physical record?"

Madonna raised her eyebrows and retorted: "Eric, your assumption is not true at all. No one dares to spread pirated music on the Internet so unscrupulously. Those who do so will not only be accused of bankruptcy, but also convicted by federal law. 1000 years ago."

Eric smiled and said: "Maggie, you don't know much about the Internet, so it's not wrong to think so. But what you don't know is that even a person who is not very familiar with network technology can buy it for a few dozen dollars. A template structure for a music website. Similarly, with some money, you can even rent a server in any country in the world without spending any money. Then, he can build a pirated music store that stores tens of thousands of songs Websites. These sites are so easy to be anonymous, you have no way of recourse. And, because of the huge demand for music from Internet users,

Even if 10,000 pirated music sites are shut down for legal reasons every day, at almost the same time, thousands of new pirated music sites will appear again. "

Madonna finally 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 this industry has just begun to develop. , just cultivate the public's habit of buying genuine music. As I said just now, if there is light in a dark room, although it can't illuminate all the dark corners after all, at least, most people don't need to steal it anymore 'Tinder', and no one will take the stealing of 'tinder' for granted, so, Maggie, what do you think?"

Madonna paused for a moment before she regained her senses, looking at Eric with undisguised interest in her eyes, and said, "I heard so much from you, I suddenly felt that it would be better if the Internet didn't exist. "

Eric spread his hands and said with a smile on his face: "Actually, I also think that if this society can suddenly go back to 10,000 years ago, it will definitely be very wonderful."

Madonna thought Eric was laughing at her just point of view, pouted, and said, "Do you really think so?"

"Of course," Eric nodded firmly, looked over the glass, looked up and down Madonna in a black low-cut dress, and said with a fascination: "According to the standard of 10,000 years ago, people should still not wear them. clothes."

Madonna was stunned for a while, and then burst into laughter. After a while, she leaned forward slightly, almost lying on the glass table, looked over with her eyebrows and said, "Eric, 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 and dig a hole and bury himself.

After coughing twice, Eric slowed down and said, "Maggie, let's talk about music. Even if it's impossible for you to sell your new album on online platforms for the time being, the music released in previous years, I think you can still give it a try, these albums that have been released will definitely not be able to sell many physical records now, but I believe that putting them on the online platform can still bring you a very considerable income every year.”

Madonna was not angry because Eric avoided the topic she had just said, and leaned back on the sofa behind her and said, "But, Eric, most of my music distribution rights are not in my own hands, so you Should go talk to Warner."

"No, I still believe that in this matter, you have enough distribution rights."

Eric shook his head. Although Madonna's status in the music industry could not reach the height of Michael Jackson, she cooperated with Warner Records in the same way as Jackson. Both parties jointly established a music subsidiary responsible for the production and distribution of her own music. .

It also means that Madonna has a lot of autonomy over the distribution of her music. What's more, the Internet digital music distribution is just emerging, which can be said to be a brand new concept. With Madonna's status in the music industry, she can completely re-discuss related supplementary contracts with Time Warner. It is precisely because of this that Eric took so much effort tonight. If it was other second- and third-tier singers, Eric would not have said so much to the other party.

Madonna was not embarrassed to see Eric see through her excuse, and said, "But, Eric, if I do this, what benefits will I get?"

"Oh, this," Eric laughed: "The split model adopted by Yahoo's online music store is 30% to 70%, the platform gets 30%, and the copyright owner gets 70%. If you completely own the digital distribution rights of your own music, I Think, you shouldn't need to make a second split with Time Warner, at least, you don't need to give them too much, don't you?"

Madonna's eyes lit up, and she also keenly captured a new word 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 tape, d, and film. Currently, it refers to Internet music distribution. I think you and Time Warner signed a contract. There should be no clauses in this regard in the contract, right?"

Madonna nodded subconsciously.

"So," Eric immediately bewitched again: "I think you should renegotiate a supplemental agreement with Time Warner as soon as possible to agree on the ownership of the digital distribution rights."

Madonna blinked a few times, then laughed suddenly, and said: "Eric, this is your ultimate goal tonight. If I take back the digital distribution rights of my own records from Time Warner, it will definitely cause major records Some of the company’s singers followed suit. Yahoo didn’t get the digital rights to sell from the Big Five, but if those rights were distributed to the singers themselves, you could beat them all.”

"I have to say, Maggie, you're actually very smart," Eric boasted, "However, you definitely wronged me. Do you think I'm the kind of person with deep scheming?"

Madonna really looked at Eric again and said firmly: "Like."

"Okay, I'm injured," Eric covered his chest and handed the irelyer he had just placed to Madonna, "I'll give you these two little things, the rest of the accessories. Someone will hand it to your assistant. Also, this is my business card, you can call me anytime if you make a decision."

Seeing Eric handing over a business card, she was about to get up and leave. Madonna hurriedly stopped him. "Hey, Eric, shouldn't you compensate me for so many demands from me?"

"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 would not make fun of herself, and said: "You guy, in fact, I mean, I am preparing my own What about the new album, how about writing a few songs for me?"

Although Eric has produced a very small number of songs over the years, almost every song has reached an amazing level. When she was backstage at the Oscars a few hours ago, Madonna took the initiative to say hello. In fact, she had this in mind. Seriously, 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 work, even if it is released without Eric's personal fame, it will definitely help her make a comeback.

Eric was really looking forward to Madonna's approval to enter the Yahoo Music Store, and he couldn't refuse it outright. After thinking about it, he said, "Let someone send me a copy of your new album's style information, preferably with a few sample songs. , I'll give it a try. Of course, I can't promise it, it needs inspiration."

"Of course, I will send someone to you tomorrow," Madonna nodded hurriedly, thought about it, and added: "I will also have someone negotiate with Warner about the distribution rights of the branches as soon as possible. In fact, I also have some hopes to be able to I worked with you."

"Then, hopefully we won't let each other down," Eric stretched out his hand and smiled.

Madonna shook his head and nodded, "I hope so too." (To be continued.)