Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: An Offer From Billboard Holdings
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A knock sounded at the door of the CEO’s office, where Park Jae-yong and Lee Sun were, and Manager Ji and Team Leader Lee walked in.
“What’s with you two?”
“Well… it’s about Yoo-ah.”
“Didn’t we talk about that this morning?”
“It’s not that… we received a promotion offer for Yoo-ah from an American agency.”
“Huh?”
“For real?”
“What!”
The CEO, the director, and the team leader were all startled, each with a different reaction.
“Hah, don’t even bother if it’s some shoddy agency. They’re just trying to scam us. I’ve been through it, you know. I told you I have to handle it myself, right?”
“…It’s Billboard Holdings.”
“Whoa…”
Everyone’s eyes widened and their jaws dropped. It was one of the top agencies in the world, one that would be offended to be called second best.
“The Billboard Holdings that works with three of the Billboard Top 10 artists? You’re lying, right? Is this a joke?”
“Do I look like someone who would joke around in here?”
“No, you don’t… Have you verified it? It could be an impersonator.”
“I have to report it first, then verify. We need to check it together for it to be a proper cross-verification.”
“Right.”
Even while trusting Min-jun, they had inwardly scoffed when he mentioned a local promoter, thinking it was absurd.
But what had seemed like Min-jun’s wishful thinking was now approaching as the colossal reality of the world’s top agency, and it was hard to keep their composure.
Park Jae-yong, who had been checking his social media DMs, slowly lifted his face.
“This is insane. It’s really Billboard Holdings.”
“Is it the official account?”
“Yeah.”
Amazement spread across everyone’s faces once more. It was true that one of the world’s largest agencies had contacted them, a company that wasn’t even in the top ten in Korea.
Team Leader Lee, who had been pondering something, stood up from his seat.
“Should I go get Producer Min-jun?”
Everyone looked at Team Leader Lee as if his suggestion was unexpected.
“Producer Min-jun was heavily involved in Lee Yoo-ah’s project, after all. He’d be disappointed to be left out of such an important meeting, and also… it’s true that he has good instincts.”
“……”
Everyone looked surprised again at Team Leader Lee’s statement. It was because, until just recently, he was the one who would nitpick and sneer at everything Min-jun said.
“…Hey… Why call him…? The director and the CEO can just decide…”
“Go get him.”
“Yes.”
Manager Ji spoke with an embarrassed expression, then stuck out his tongue at the director’s words.
“How embarrassing.”
“I was against it too, you know,”
Director Lee Sun responded to Manager Ji’s sheepish laugh with a complicated smile.
* * *
Team Leader Lee approached me with a slightly tense smile.
“Producer Min-jun, you’re wanted in the meeting too.”
If it had been the director’s or the CEO’s idea, they would have called me. They weren’t the type to make Team Leader Lee, who was already in the meeting, get up to fetch me. That meant it was highly likely that Team Leader Lee himself had suggested calling me.
“Is this about Ms. Yoo-ah?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“Just the atmosphere.”
For a brief moment, he looked at me as if he were seeing a ghost.
“Anyway… how are you so quick on the uptake? You’re like a psychic.”
In the eyes of Team Leader Lee, who once looked at me like I was a bug, I could now see a hint of reverence.
“Just a moment. A contract just came in.”
I printed out the theme park contract terms for Answer and headed to the CEO’s office.
The total amount was 60 million. For a contract secured so quickly, it was quite respectable, and my mood lifted once again. Today was a day full of pleasant events.
Did I appear too composed in the face of a situation that could turn the industry upside down? Team Leader Lee’s eyes showed not just admiration but even a hint of awkwardness as he looked at me.
“Let’s go.”
I headed to the CEO’s office with the stack of papers.
Knock, knock, knock.
Manager Ji, whose eyes met mine, opened his mouth with an awkward expression.
“Producer Min-jun, looks like you’ll have to get ahead of yourself a lot more in the future.”
“See? I told you to trust Min-jun. He hasn’t been wrong once so far.”
“…You were different, CEO. You insisted on handling it yourself.”
“Who knew Billboard Holdings would come in as a promoter? I thought some other small-timers would just swarm in to suck up the profits.”
Manager Ji and the CEO engaged in a small squabble.
“More importantly, let’s get on with it. You said you needed to give them an answer quickly.”
At the director’s urging, Manager Ji nodded.
“Yes. We’ll have to see after the meeting, but they hinted that the terms might be 15% for a three-month allocation per quarter. Of course, that includes arranging for a management team.”
The terms meant that for one month out of a four-month quarter, we, JD Enter, would manage her, while for the other three months, the local promoter and management team would handle her schedule. In return, they would give us 15% of the remaining profits after Lee Yoo-ah’s share.
“I believe Fire Emblem has similar terms.”
I vaguely remembered hearing it from Tae-in of Fire Emblem once.
“…Even if it’s Billboard Holdings, it’s a bit disappointing. They’re only doing this because they see a huge hit on their hands, right?”
“Please let go of that obsession with overseas expansion.”
It seemed they had been arguing about direct overseas expansion again before I came in.
For CEO Park Jae-yong, overseas expansion seemed to be a long-cherished dream. But you have to admit when you’re wrong.
“Min-jun. You know how I feel, right? The reason I suggested using a local promoter was because it would be a hassle, right?”
The CEO asked as if seeking an answer. I should respond seriously.
“It would be anything but easy for a foreigner to pioneer an infrastructure without a local promoter.”
“……”
Was it because my remark was a bit off-topic and unexpected? Everyone stared at me, at a loss for words.
Let me be more clear.
“With the money it would take to build a new infrastructure, it would be far cheaper, financially speaking, to just buy a local company that already has one.”
“……”
I spoke with sincerity, and whether it worked or not, the CEO didn’t insist any further.
The meeting naturally began to revolve around my opinion, and it was decided that the CEO and I would attend the meeting with the local promoter.
Manager Ji and Team Leader Lee showed no signs of complaint or disagreement. No, if anything, they looked relieved to be able to avoid an unfamiliar meeting.
“Alright then. Manager Ji, you coordinate the meeting date.”
“Understood.”
“And what’s that in your hand, Min-jun?”
“I came to get confirmation for Answer’s schedule for next Thursday.”
“Looks like it went well, thankfully?”
The director said with a proud look on her face.
“It might seem slightly below Answer’s bottom line right now, but it’s a three-month seasonal contract by default, and on a sandwich day when it’s usually hard to book events, so I think it’s a pretty good deal.”
The CEO and the director pulled the paper I was holding toward them.
“30 million for the broadcast ad video, 10 million for a 5-cut insert in ‘Exciting Eye’ magazine, one life-sized cutout of five people including Seol-ah’s younger brother Ye-jun, and 20 million for individual member cutouts. It’s a total of 60 million for three months.”
“Wow. What do you mean, bottom line? This seems great.”
Manager Ji said with wide eyes, and Team Leader Lee nodded.
“I know, right? Min-jun’s even being humble. It’s an ad that helps with their image.”
“Indeed. Producer Min-jun negotiated very well.”
The director added to the CEO’s praise. Well, I just engaged in a little push-and-pull that bruised the producer’s pride. I didn’t really put in much effort.
The emergency meeting about Lee Yoo-ah ended, and the CEO had me stay behind alone.
“Tell me honestly. You heard about the offer beforehand, didn’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t the head of the investment group give you a heads-up? How else could you be so unfazed? Billboard Holdings is backing Yoo-ah.”
“It’s because I tailored the arrangement and lyrics for a foreign audience from the start. I was confident it would work.”
“…Is that something that just happens because you want it to? It actually works?”
“Yes.”
What was the CEO thinking in response to my simple answer?
* * *
I returned home and watched TV while doing pull-ups.
It was the debut stage of Nine One, the boy group from a small agency for whom I had written a song.
To fulfill my contract with President Gu, Nine One’s success was extremely important to me. It meant I could secure pre-contracts and attract big money even for songs I hadn’t written yet.
The nine male idols on stage exuded coolness. Damp hair, artfully disheveled suits, and intense gazes. They had adopted the exact concept I had specified when I gave them the song.
The music video had already been released, and for a rookie group from a small agency, it had unusually recorded millions of views in just two days. The speed at which the view count was increasing was getting faster, and I had high hopes.
…The royalties are going to be sweet.
“Kyaaaaak!”
It seemed they already had avid fans, as the sound from the venue was crystal clear. It wasn't uncommon for handsome idols to gather fans through social media even before their debut, and I suspected that was the case here.
An 808 bassline layered over a gentle piano melody. Slowly, Nine One’s faces turned towards the audience, their intense, yearning gazes shooting out.
♪♬
You are the one and only sun in the world
My heart’s flower has bloomed for you
The dark night approaches, I can’t bear it
This burning thirst, I can’t live without you
I reach out my hand and shout, don’t go, don’t go
♪♬
A performance that ran as if their chests would burst. The 133 bpm dance track, filled with musical elements from each artist’s expressions and gestures, felt like it was in sync with the beat of a heart.
I wrote it, but it really is a good song.
♪♬
But the night I can’t stop, night, night, night
Even if I run till my heart bursts, it’s still night, night, night
At your fingertips, at the tips of your toes
My steps forward to reach you
Your figure blurs in the fog
Following your fading traces
Show me the way, let me breathe
Again, Run Run, as if my heart will burst
To you, Run Run, on the trace of your scent
I have no choice but to follow you
This is all I can do
♪♬
The choreography, where they seemed to run while tearing off the top buttons of their shirts to cool their overheated bodies, was perfectly synchronized. It was clear how much effort Nine One had put in.
♪♬
Again, Run Run, towards your voice
To you, Run Run, it’s okay if my heart bursts
Even if it’s a cursed fate, I can’t help it
Love is a trick of fate, I can’t help it
(Run)
I follow the beautiful scent
(Run)
My heart is about to explode
(Run)
I'll show you my love
You just have to stay still
Because I can approach you
♪♬
Watching their performance, which they executed perfectly like a musical stage as I had intended, I stopped my pull-ups and clapped by myself.
I felt the urge to tell Nine One they did a great job. I’ll have to tell them in person someday, when I can reveal my identity without hiding it. That they did well, and I’m grateful.
I texted the chief of Nine One’s agency, with whom I had traded the song, on my second phone.
-I just watched Nine One’s stage. It was great. Looks like a huge hit.
-It’s all thanks to you, composer. The song was so good the boys worked even harder.
-Please be sure to tell the members of Nine One that I enjoyed their performance.
-Of course, I will. I hope we get the chance to work with you again.
The text that came back, as if he had been waiting, was satisfying. Raising the 700 million won needed for the deal with President Gu might not be so difficult after all.
I would gather as much of JD Enter’s stock as possible, just as Gyeon Sang-jin had taught me, then increase its value and take the company public.
Even if I wasn’t that greedy for money, the experience of becoming a man of hundreds of billions was something I wanted to try at least once.
I called the Korean branch manager of Metaverse, who had been pestering me for a contract for an additional Rhythm Saber DLC.
-Oh my! Maker-nim. What can I do for you at this hour?
“I’m calling to hear about those contract terms you said were so good.”
-Hahaha. An excellent decision. This time, we’d like to propose original songs for the new mode, as well as the best-of songs DLC we mentioned before.
“I think it would be even cooler if it wasn’t just instrumental music like before, but if an actual singer recorded vocals too.”
Just like last time, I started to lay out the ideas I had been thinking about.
-Huh! That proposal sounds excellent as well. I will suggest this to the head office separately.
After the huge success of the new mode that was my idea last time, he seemed to be listening more attentively.
“I’m aware that the original songs from old rhythm dance games like DDR and Pump It Up were very popular, and later even had official albums released.”
-Ah… this is something I didn’t know. How do you know about something from so long ago?
“I studied the history of rhythm games while making the Rhythm Saber mode.”
-That’s amazing.
“Rather than just making songs for Rhythm Saber, if we create original songs that could also work in the real pop market, I believe they could be utilized in various ways within Metaverse, not just for Rhythm Saber.”
-I think I kind of get what you’re saying, but it sounds good. Anyway, as for the contract terms, we’ll stick with the RS…”
“No. I need cash upfront this time. 500 million for making a 7-song original DLC album, with no RS. On the condition that the copyright for use outside of Rhythm Saber is negotiated separately. Is that possible by next week?”