Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Deal and the Dogfight
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The CEO avoided my gaze and looked at the director.
“Th-that’s something Director Lee Sun will explain according to the company’s salary table. And since your song is going to be the title track, we’ll need to draw up a purchase contract, right?”
As if realizing he’d let his surprise show, CEO Park Jae-yong quickly changed his expression and spoke.
The nuance was something like, ‘Even though we’re family, we intend to pay a fair price.’ It seemed the conversation I’d had with the director had been relayed to him.
“In the case of a rookie, they sometimes get less than a million won…”
Most young, novice composers have a beautiful, idealized view of the industry.
But the reality is that this industry is crawling with scumbags looking to rip you off.
I felt a small flicker of concern that the CEO’s words might disappoint me, who had cautiously done my research based on experiences from before my regression.
“You know this, Min-jun, but I’m not the kind of person to cheat others, right? The company will naturally cover the session and mastering costs, but the estimated budget for this project is…”
“I won’t accept a song fee.”
“Hmm?”
At my words, both the CEO and the director looked at me with puzzled expressions.
The reality was that even if a rookie sold a title-track-level song, it was hard to get even a few million won, let alone ten million.
Of course, JD would evaluate me higher than a typical rookie, but I was confident in this project’s success.
“Instead, I’ll invest in the production.”
“Production?”
“Yes. Give me 5% of the operating profit generated after reaching the break-even point.”
“What?”
The director and the CEO were surprised in unison.
“Min-jun. Do you have any idea how big 5% is?”
I knew exactly how reckless a 21-year-old must seem from the perspective of a CEO in his mid-40s.
“That’s why I specified profits after the break-even point. I’ll be handling the composition, lyrics, arrangement, and the actual producing. If the album doesn’t break even, I won’t get a single penny, will I?”
“Min-jun… Just because a song is good doesn’t mean it will be a success.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m saying I’ll take on all that risk and invest. I’m not trying to take away from Answer’s or the staff’s profits. I believe 5% of the remaining profit after all distributions is feasible. Even the quite popular ‘Jewelry Nine’ and ‘Rainbow Girls’ ended up disbanding with nothing but debt, didn’t they?”
Contrary to the public’s assumption of ‘they must have earned a lot with that much popularity,’ it’s not uncommon for groups with a well-known name that everyone has heard of to disband without ever receiving a proper settlement.
No matter how packed their schedule is, if there aren’t many profitable events, the production costs, including marketing and fixed overhead, can be beyond imagination.
To give a simple example, a meal for nine artists costing 8,000 won comes to 216,000 won a day. In a year, that’s 78,840,000 won, approaching nearly 100 million won. If you add the fixed costs for employees, anyone would shake their head.
“…And if I can’t accept it?”
The CEO’s serious expression made me flinch.
The atmosphere was such that if I pushed this wrong, I could become distant not only from the CEO but from the director as well.
Should I push harder?
Or should I back down before it’s too late?
“In return, I’ll also plan the rest of the B-side tracks for the album. And I will do my best to ensure JD Enter surpasses SJ Enter.”
The director and the CEO looked at each other’s troubled faces.
“I think it’s fine.”
“Director Sun, you too? Hey, me too.”
*These guys.*
When they both chuckled, a small laugh escaped my lips as well.
“Thank you.”
“Alright. But while filling out the album with B-sides is good, let’s do it with my confirmation.”
“Understood.”
In fact, I had a rather special method in mind for filling the album, so the CEO’s confirmation was crucial.
“Director Sun, please revise the contract.”
The CEO ripped the A4 paper on his desk to shreds.
“You could have used the other side. What a waste to tear it up.”
“……”
The CEO shot the director a look that seemed to say, ‘Sun, why do you always embarrass me in front of Min-jun?’ but she ignored him and left the room.
“Seriously, why is she so harsh on me only when you’re around? What’s her deal?”
“……”
***
Inside the practice room.
Trainee Lee Seung-hoon, his face full of discontent, was bad-mouthing the company.
“Especially that rookie manager, he’s so fucking annoying, acting all high and mighty. What the hell does he even know?”
Hearing Lee Seung-hoon’s words to another trainee, Choi Yoo-jun, who was feeling offended, approached them.
“He’s not acting high and mighty. The way he pinpoints the key areas and gives lessons is totally professional.”
“What’s this… You fell for him after just one lesson?”
Lee Seung-hoon snorted at Choi Yoo-jun’s reaction.
“You’re the abnormal one, hyung, looking down on him just because he’s new and young. Einstein published his theory of special relativity when he was 25, you know?”
“…What is this kid talking about now?”
Just then, the sound of Seol-ah’s laughter was heard, and Lee Seung-hoon, who had been sitting on the floor, shot up and looked down the hallway.
Seol-ah playfully patted Ro-si on the hip, causing her to bend over slightly and her tight miniskirt to ride up a little.
“…Wow, fuck, that’s so hot.”
As Lee Seung-hoon licked his lips, Choi Yoo-jun shoved his face next to his.
Seeing the backs of the Answer members, Choi Yoo-jun felt a surge of anger.
“Still, they’re our seniors. Isn’t that going too far? It’s not the first or second time either.”
“So what? This bastard’s acting all high and mighty righteous.”
“I warned you last time. I told you to stop.”
“This is fucking ridiculous. Is it a crime to say she’s pretty? Are you trying to start a fight right now?”
Lee Seung-hoon had always looked down on the cute, puppy-faced Choi Yoo-jun, and reading the dismissive look on his face, Choi Yoo-jun snapped.
“Then you should just say she’s pretty. Why are you talking like such a pervert?”
His temper flaring, Lee Seung-hoon grabbed Choi Yoo-jun by the collar.
“You wanna die?”
“Let go.”
“You little brat, picking a fight over every little thing. This company is so shit I can’t even debut. Should we have a go and leave together?”
Other trainees rushed over to break them up, but Choi Yoo-jun’s fist was already flying towards Lee Seung-hoon.
***
In the room after the director had left, I began listening to the CEO’s life story, most of which I already knew. But it wasn’t grating on my ears.
It reminded me of watching the CEO on TV as a little kid, looking on with curious eyes.
“This design is killer, right? In 2008… Hey, why do you suddenly look so happy?”
Seeing my expression, the CEO asked with a grin.
“It just hit me again what an honor it is to be working with you, sir.”
The corners of the CEO’s mouth stretched nearly to his ears.
“For real?”
“I’m serious.”
The director returned with a new contract.
“Do you want to use your thumbprint or sign it? Or bring your seal tomorrow?”
“I’ll sign.”
I went over the contract meticulously.
“…So thorough, as always.”
“Doesn’t that make you trust him more?”
The CEO and the director conversed as if I wasn’t there. I finally found the clause I was looking for.
-After release, the copyright shall belong to the original author, Min-jun (Beat Room)……
A smile of relief spread across my face.
Many producers want to work with rookie composers who are new to the industry.
Their youthful sensibility, overflowing passion, and unconditional optimism about the industry make them easy to exploit.
Among the various issues, copyright problems are especially common. A composer might find their name missing from the credits when the track is released.
‘Why is someone else’s name there instead of mine?’
‘What are you talking about? You already got paid for the song.’
‘The song fee and the copyright are separate, aren’t they?’
‘What nonsense is this? You even signed the contract!’
This is a common example of someone who didn’t check the contract properly and signed away their copyright for a pittance.
Unfortunately, there’s no way for the original author to get help. The one who backstabbed them is a scumbag, but the one who got stabbed is a fool.
*Just like my old self.*
But not anymore.
My heart began to pound as I held the first contract I had ever received as a composer.
Every time I signed, the folded parts of the paper catching the pen tip was incredibly annoying. I decided I would definitely bring a seal from now on.
“Okay! Composer Min, no, our Producer Min-jun, let’s do great things together.”
I took CEO Park Jae-yong’s outstretched hand and shook it firmly. A wave of emotion washed over me as I took my first official step as a producer.
As I was leaving the room with the director, the CEO spoke up.
“Team Leader Lee is at Grade 3 salary level, right?”
“Yes.”
“Put Min-jun at Grade 2. That’s possible, isn’t it?”
“…It’s possible, but. Team Leader Lee has seven years of experience.”
“His official title in the company is Assistant Manager, isn’t it? Let’s just keep this between us!”
“Yes, sir.”
The director replied, sounding surprised.
I didn’t have high expectations, even for a seven-year veteran’s salary. Everyone except agency presidents knows that managers are poorly paid.
We went to the director’s desk.
The computer turned on, and the payslip for the team leader in charge of Kim Sung-hoon appeared on the screen. Even with recognized overtime, his net pay after deducting the four major insurances barely scraped past 2.5 million won.
“Our industry is more precarious than you’d think. Still, our company has a pretty good incentive system. We pay 15% for any schedule a manager books directly.”
“15% of the profit, right?”
“Yes. So there’s no incentive for schedules that don’t even cover transportation costs.”
The base salary itself was low.
But if I could make good use of the higher-than-average incentive system, I could earn much more.
Answer succeeds, investments come in, I reinvest. If everything goes according to plan, I might not have to wait that long for my revenge on Gyeon Sang-jin.
*Thud, thud, thud.* The sound of someone’s hurried footsteps approached the office.
“Director! There’s a fight!”
Before the trainee could finish his sentence, I was already running. As I headed down the stairs to the practice room, I heard a scream.
“Aah!”
“Aaaargh! Let go! You crazy bastard, let go!”
I pushed through the female trainees crowded at the entrance and went inside.
The scene was unbelievable for a fight between men.
Two male trainees were tangled up on the floor. Lee Seung-hoon, whose arm was being bitten, was screaming in pain while punching the side of Choi Yoo-jun, who was biting him.
Despite what must have been immense pain, the trainee refused to let go of the arm he was biting. He was the same talented kid I had noticed during Ro-si’s audition, thanks to my A&R-specialized ability.
“That’s enough.”
“Ah!”
Choi Yoo-jun, who looked like he would never let go, scrambled to his feet the moment our eyes met.
“Hello, Manager Min-jun!”
The sight of Choi Yoo-jun, with his disheveled hair and split lip, greeting me so politely was simply absurd. His face even seemed to hold a hint of a smile, as if he was happy to see me.
It was like watching a vicious fighting dog suddenly start panting cutely upon seeing its owner.
“What the hell. What kind of crazy bastard is this!”
Lee Seung-hoon, who got up clutching his bruised and teeth-marked arm, was just as dumbfounded.
“Aren’t you all supposed to be practicing?”
The trainees scattered in a flash at the words of the director, who had just arrived.
“Don’t you two know that if you fight, you’ll be kicked out regardless of who started it?”
When the director raised her voice, Lee Seung-hoon tilted his head defiantly.
“Fuck it, I’ll just leave then. It’s not like I’ll ever debut in this shitty place anyway.”
Was it a deep sense of betrayal? The director’s pupils and eyelids twitched. I stepped halfway between the director and Lee Seung-hoon.
“Even if you’re leaving, show some manners. It’s not like you’ve only been here a day or two.”
“…Acting all high and mighty for a manager.”
Just as Lee Seung-hoon turned to leave, Choi Yoo-jun stuck his foot out.
“Whoa!”
Lee Seung-hoon flailed to keep his balance before tumbling comically to the floor.
“You son of a bitch! Do you really want to die!”
“Choi Yoo-jun! What do you think you’re doing!”
Lee Seung-hoon and the director shouted at the same time.
“I’m sorry, Director! I’m so sorry.”
Despite having just tripped him, Choi Yoo-jun’s polite bowing was both baffling and, admittedly, satisfying to watch.
“Just you wait, Choi Yoo-jun. I won’t settle.”
Lee Seung-hoon stormed out.
“What happened? What on earth were you fighting about to this extent?”
“……”
At the director’s question, Choi Yoo-jun looked like he was about to say something, but then he teared up and glanced at me. Like a dog with its tail between its legs, cautiously watching its angry owner.
*What is with this kid?*
[Name: Choi Yoo-jun (Age 20)]
Status: Depressed, Angry
Vocal: 69/73
Dance: 71/72
Composition: 35/81
Musicality: 82/93
Piano: 77/84
[Job Aptitude]
Idol: 67/73
A&R: 78/92
Choi Yoo-jun was highly likely to be kicked out. And yet, his outstanding A&R stats and peculiar behavior kept drawing my attention.
He felt like a capable psycho who would follow my orders well… I feel like I have to get him.
Sure enough, a system window popped up.
[Sudden Quest: Nurture Talent]
Here is another talent on the verge of being wasted. Recruit Choi Yoo-jun to JD Enter.
Reward: ‘Trustworthy Puppy’