PD Lee Hyo-young (2)
"Back when MBS was right next to our office building, it was wonderful. Every once in a while I'd get to spot a celebrity or two. But since they moved over to Sangam-dong, I rarely get the chance anymore — I feel like a little slice of joy has gone out of my life."
"Oh — you're working an office job? That's the last thing I expected. The song was so emotionally rich, I assumed you were a professional musician. Haha, well… you certainly keep surprising me, Mr. Young-hoon. So you're based over in Yeouido, then?"
"Yes, I work at LK Electronics."
"Wow, that's a fine company. If you don't mind my asking… how many years into your career are you?"
"Two more months and it'll be six years. Still a rookie, really."
"Is that so? I certainly don't see it that way. But tell me… do you plan on staying at the company? With just the two songs you've written, I'd think you'll be sitting on a pile of money before long…"
"I intend to stay until something forces me to leave. I appreciate the compliment, but my songs could just as easily flop."
"Oh please, there's not even a 0.000001% chance of that, so you can put that worry to rest. Although… the way I see it, that unavoidable moment is probably coming sooner rather than later, so it wouldn't hurt to start preparing now."
"I take it this isn't why you asked to meet today, though…"
"See, this is exactly why I like you, Mr. Young-hoon — you get straight to the point. The first reason I wanted to meet was simply to talk with you and get a better sense of who you are. No matter how promising a junior may be, it would be unforgivable to introduce someone with a difficult personality. Not that I have the slightest concern on that front, in your case."
PD Lee Hyo-young rattled off remarks that could easily have come across as presumptuous, all while wearing a warm, affable smile. The man's skill at handling people was truly remarkable. Young-hoon resolved to learn that much from him, whatever else, and leaned in to catch what came next.
"The second reason — your composing is outstanding, but frankly, it's your lyrics that captivate me even more. With talent like that, you'd obviously write excellent drama scripts or film screenplays as well. So let's call it an investment in a future master storyteller. My honest guess is you already have a few drama scripts or movie screenplays stashed away somewhere."
The escalating praise left Young-hoon flustered. To think so highly of him after hearing only two songs — he hardly knew where to put himself. Meanwhile, PD Lee Hyo-young pressed on without pause.
"And finally… now that you've set foot in this world, I'd like to offer a few pointers from the standpoint of a senior who's been swimming in these waters a little longer than you have."
"Thank you for thinking so kindly of me. To share my own thinking, I'd like to keep my current job as long as circumstances allow. I know it won't be easy, but there's still plenty I can learn at the company. Songwriting and composing can be done under a pen name, after all. Ah, and one more thing — when you introduce me to your junior PD at the radio station, would it be all right for President Lee Jae-man to come along as well? He's the real expert when it comes to this business, not me."
Young-hoon watched carefully to see whether the remark might have offended PD Lee Hyo-young. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any real displeasure in his face, so he continued.
"Also, I haven't written any drama scripts or film screenplays. As you suggested, I have some ideas mapped out in my head, but since I'm no professional, I'd need to study a while longer. I was interested in literature back in my university days, but I never formally studied it. And of course I have zero experience in broadcasting or the cultural industry — so if you're willing to help me, I truly won't forget the debt."
PD Lee Hyo-young was deeply taken with Young-hoon's manner — humble, yet not the least bit servile. It was a shame he meant to keep his day job, but the PD came away convinced that this was a relationship worth cultivating for the long haul.
"Debt, nothing — like I said, this is all an investment in a future master writer. If anything, I'm the grateful one. Now then, shall I go ahead and call up my junior? He runs 'Pleasant 2 PM.' He's someone of a name in the radio department. Let me just make a quick call — one moment."
PD Lee Hyo-young stepped away to make the call, spoke briefly, and returned with a smile directed at Young-hoon.
"He says he can be here in about an hour, so feel free to contact President Lee Jae-man now."
Young-hoon rang President Lee Jae-man, who, as it happened, had been waiting somewhere nearby and said he could come over right away.
"In that case, let's pick up our conversation while we wait for the two of them. Ideally you'd learn the craft of writing drama scripts and screenplays properly, but I don't believe formal training is strictly necessary. These days, most star writers don't write one hundred percent of a script on their own."
"I'm sorry — then how do they film anything? It'd be hard to act without a script."
"The writers lay down the skeleton, and their assistant writers flesh it out into a finished script — that's the typical arrangement. So if you're interested in writing drama scripts or film screenplays, I'm willing to attach some capable assistant writers to you. When you feel ready, just say the word. If I'm hard to reach, you're welcome to discuss it with PD Shin Hye-yoon instead. I expect she'd be delighted, too."
"Understood. I'll give it careful thought and give you my answer."
"Thank you. Just don't keep me waiting too long — three months or so should do it. By then, the songs you've made will be sweeping the country. Whatever writing you do after that, you certainly won't have to worry about putting food on the table."
PD Lee Hyo-young took a sip of wine and paused for breath. Then he launched into a proper explanation of the money.
"Do you know how much in copyright royalties your songs actually earn?"
"I've never really thought about it. A download runs about 600 won a track, so maybe 100 won to me?"
"Let me lay it out from your position — that is, the lyricist's and composer's. The 600-won download price is right. Of that, 5% for lyrics — 30 won — and 5% for composition — another 30 won — go to you. In other words, every time a consumer downloads one of your songs, you earn 60 won."
"Hmm, not as much as I expected."
"The producer's share is naturally the largest. President Lee Jae-man's cut comes to 44% — 264 won. And a stream counts for 7 won, divided along the same ratios."
Presuming this arithmetic might not land, PD Lee Hyo-young switched tack.
"Let me put it simply. Suppose your songs hit one million downloads and thirty million streams. That's 60 million won and 21 million won respectively — a grand total of just 81 million won."
"Wow! That's nearly a hundred million!"
"Mr. Young-hoon… that is not cause for celebration. In President Lee Jae-man's case, the money flowing into his agency from those same numbers would come to a staggering 356.4 million won. And of course, those figures aren't the ceiling. Your songs are bound to be loved far more than that."
"Well, I can only hope you're right."
"I guarantee it — several times over. And a truly great song keeps earning for decades. But even so, the plain fact is you'd be taking home far less than President Lee Jae-man. To put it bluntly, the bear performs the tricks and some other fellow pockets the money. That's precisely the problem I wanted to help you solve — hence my asking to meet you first."
"Thank you, truly, PD-nim. I knew nothing about any of this, and only now does it start to make sense. But President Lee Jae-man did say he'd pass most of the music revenue on to me."
"If President Lee Jae-man told you that — and if he actually keeps his word — then he is a genuinely scrupulous man. Still, people change in ways no one can predict, so put it in writing and have the contract notarized, without fail. If you need a lawyer, I know a good one. I'll introduce you."
"I'd be deeply grateful if you'd go that far. Then how should I split the revenue with President Lee Jae-man?"
"Most people split it fifty-fifty, but in your case I'd push for 70:30, or even 80:20, in your favor."
"Hmm, that suits me fine, but would there be anything left over for the producer?"
"What are you talking about! The moment one song takes off, your artists will be invited to event after event. And the advertising revenue will be no joke — I'd wager it'll dwarf the music income entirely. Don't give that a moment's worry. So — demand 200 won per download for your share, and 2.5 won per stream, and put it in the contract. Get it drawn up and notarized as quickly as you can, before the songs are registered on the music platforms."
"Understood. Thank you so much for all your help."
Believing they'd wrapped up the bulk of the conversation, PD Lee Hyo-young excused himself to the restroom. Left alone, Young-hoon was still reeling, trying to sort through the flood of information that had crashed over him all at once. If PD Lee Hyo-young was to be believed, then sitting on a mountain of money was simply a matter of time. His heart lifted — and a sudden thirst came over him.
Without thinking, he picked up the wine glass sitting before him and took a swallow—
Huh? Why does this wine taste like this? And this was supposed to be the expensive stuff… it doesn't suit me at all. Is fine liquor just like this across the board? Honestly, a little something added to it would taste far better. That's Hains' influence too, isn't it?
In that very instant, the recipe for wine additives began to surface in Young-hoon's mind. It struck him that the great Archmage Hains must have enjoyed his wine dressed exactly so.
Hmm. Maybe I'll try making a wine additive myself. The ingredients — carrots, shiitake mushrooms — nothing I couldn't find close at hand. The blending ratio seems to be the key. I'll have to experiment sometime when I have a spare hour.
While Young-hoon sat lost in his own thoughts, he caught sight of President Lee Jae-man walking in.
"President Lee, over here!"
Spotting Young-hoon, Lee Jae-man broke into a bright smile and came over.
"Just you here, Young-hoon? Where's PD Lee?"
"He stepped out to the restroom. He'll be back any minute."
No sooner had he finished speaking than PD Lee Hyo-young returned and greeted Lee Jae-man.
"Welcome, President Lee. My junior should arrive in about ten minutes."
Ever the master of social graces, PD Lee Hyo-young had apparently used the trip to the restroom to check when his junior would turn up. His consideration for the people sharing the table was on full display, and Young-hoon couldn't help admiring it all over again.
"Shall we have a quick drink before my junior gets here?"
President Lee Jae-man slipped into the gathering as smoothly as if he'd been part of it all along. Every gesture quietly said, I won't let our host's guest grow bored while we wait. And so, with another bottle of wine and fresh side dishes on order, a weary-looking man in his mid-thirties pushed open the door of the wine bar and came inside.
"There you are, PD Jang!" PD Jang Won-seok had apparently recognized his senior, and he walked over beaming.
"You calling me to a gathering like this — it's an honor to our family name, truly."
"Spare me the flattery and say hello. This is President Lee Jae-man. And this is Kim Young-hoon — the man who'll be leading the future of Korean broadcasting."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lee Jae-man, and I run a small agency called Girin Entertainment."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Young-hoon."
"A pleasure to meet you both. I'm PD Jang Won-seok — PD Lee Hyo-young's most beloved junior, and the man behind 'Pleasant 2 PM.'"
The pleasantries exchanged, the real conversation began.
"So — forgive me for asking, but… which artists do you have at Girin Entertainment?"
"Well. It's a little embarrassing to say, but our company is very small. Our only artists are Five Girls, who debuted seven years ago."
"Five Girls? Seven years since their debut — they should be fairly well known by now, yet with my limited knowledge this is the first I've heard of them. Do they have any songs I might actually know?"
"We've released three albums. The title track from the second one, 'Leap,' has a bit of name recognition. The rest are largely unknown."
At that moment, PD Lee Hyo-young, sensing the conversation drifting somewhere strange, began to flush a deep, rising red.
Like a volcano on the verge of eruption.