I became a music industry godfather by writing confidantes.

Chapter 016 Celebrating Victory

Tuesday, May 19th, 10:00 AM.

The list of winners has been updated.

As expected, Tao Cheng won the number one single with "Flammable and Explosive".

This is also Tao Cheng's third chart-topping single in her career.

For the music industry, especially the most competitive pop music scene, the charts are the best, but also the most brutal, battlefield.

Reaching the top of the charts signifies a single's absolute dominance and popularity over a period of time.

With three crowns in hand, Tao Cheng's position in the industry is becoming increasingly secure.

The media sprang into action, issuing a flurry of announcements with eye-catching and exaggerated headlines.

Tao Orange Makes a Explosive Comeback After a Year's Hit

Tao Cheng's new song sweeps the charts, proving with her talent who is the leading figure of the new generation in the Chinese entertainment industry.

"Tao Orange: Flammable and Explosive Top Pick"

In this circle, it's always the case that everyone carries the brilliance of a sedan chair.

However, the law of the Internet is that where there is red, there must be black.

Just as fans were cheering for Tao Cheng's successful win of her third number one single, several marketing accounts with millions of followers on Weibo, which usually like to stir up trouble to gain attention, suddenly seemed to have reached a consensus and began to collectively sing a different tune.

Among them, a prominent blogger known as "Old Poisoner in the Circle" was the most vocal, posting a blog entry:

"Everyone's praising Tao Cheng?"

Are they all celebrating their third championship single?

I'm sorry, but all I see is the stench of capitalism.

From the accidental like incident to trending on the internet, and then the sudden appearance of "Flammable and Explosive" as a rescue mission.

Ladies and gentlemen, can't you really see the strong scripted feel to this?

This was clearly a well-planned, textbook-perfect marketing campaign!

Otherwise, how do you explain completing the recording and post-production of a song in 72 hours?

Stop kidding me!

Recording, sound editing, mixing to mastering—do you think it's as simple as tightening a screw on an assembly line?

I do not deny the success of "Flammable and Explosive".

However, anyone with a basic understanding of music theory can see the flaws in it; "Flammable and Explosive" is definitely a premeditated work prepared several days in advance.

……

Therefore, the winner this time was not Tao Cheng, nor the producer behind the scenes who handled the lyrics, composition, arrangement, and production, but rather the music company behind her, Jinshi Music.

This isn't a victory for music; it's a victory for marketing, a victory for capital!

As soon as the blog post was published, it immediately attracted a group of self-righteous, rational people who thought they were the only ones who were sober while everyone else was drunk.

"The PR department is already handling it; it seems to be Century Music's doing," Tao Cheng sighed on the other end of the phone, summarizing, "That's how the entertainment industry is. You throw dirty water on me, I'll post dirt on you; nobody can clear their name."

While on the phone, Yang Du scrolled through Weibo on his laptop: "You know what, their criticisms are actually quite logical. It seems that your third championship singles win has made some people uneasy."

"You're still in the mood for jokes?"

On the other end of the phone, Tao Cheng sounded a little annoyed, but seeing Yang Du's relaxed tone, she actually felt a sense of relief as well.

"The main problem is that you got dragged into the criticism too. That old poisoner in the industry is really annoying."

"It's not a big problem," Yang Du said casually.

"You bastard..."

Suddenly remembering that this junior was the one who could write "I am for love...", Tao Cheng was speechless for a moment.

Perhaps you really don't mind?

This might be what makes Yang Du's brain circuitry different from others?

So he changed the subject and stopped dwelling on it.

"Let's get down to business. There's a small internal celebration party tonight. Sister Hong should have mentioned it to you before, right?"

Yang Du stroked his chin: "It seems there is such a thing."

"Then on behalf of the whole team, I'd like to formally invite you again," Tao Cheng said with a smile. "You're the biggest contributor to this year's gold medal ranking. If you don't attend tonight, this celebration banquet can't go on."

"No problem, don't worry, senior, I'll be there on time tonight."

"It's settled then, see you tonight."

……

7 p.m., Hesheng Hotel, top floor banquet hall.

Yang Du had just stepped out of the elevator when he saw Sister Hong.

"Oh, you've finally arrived." Sister Hong smiled and led Yang Du into the banquet hall.

Because it was an internal celebration banquet, the attendees were all from the cast and crew of "Flammable and Explosive," as well as some company staff, and it was a buffet style.

Just as some unavoidable social activities had begun, a commotion was heard at the entrance of the banquet hall.

A vice president from Kingstone Music arrived.

As a powerful figure in the industry, the atmosphere in the room immediately became slightly subdued when Mr. Liu, who is nearly sixty years old, appeared.

"Come on, junior, let me introduce you to someone."

Tao Cheng pulled Yang Du over.

"Mr. Liu, this is Yang Du, the lyricist, composer, arranger, and producer of 'Flammable and Explosive,' who is also my junior from school."

"Heroes emerge from among the young!" President Liu extended his hand, smiling kindly. "Producer Yang, I've heard about it. You've won a brilliant battle."

Yang Du shook hands with him and smiled, "President Liu, you're too kind. It's all thanks to everyone's good cooperation. Without Senior Sister's performance, it would all be a castle in the air."

"No matter how much mudslinging your competitors throw online, Jinshi only recognizes merit. If Producer Yang ever produces any good works in the future, Jinshi's doors will always be open to you with top-tier resources."

This is a real promise, even if it's just verbal for now.

……

A corner of the banquet hall.

Guitarist Lao Bai held a glass of red wine in his hand, looking at Yang Du, who was surrounded by a crowd not far away, with a very complicated expression.

In fact, his gaze never left Yang Du from the moment he entered the room.

Bass came over with a plate of lobsters and bumped him with her shoulder.

"Alright, Lao Bai, stop thinking about all that nonsense."

He stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and mumbled, "They're blessed by God; they're destined to soar to great heights."

Old Bai sighed: "I'm not stupid. Back in the recording studio, when he pointed out my little scheme, I was already convinced."

I just didn't want to lose face back then.

"Now that the single has been released and these results are in, I'm completely convinced."

A dozen minutes later, Lao Bai walked up to Yang Du, who was eating lobster, with a full glass of wine in his hand.

"Produced by Yang".

Old Bai took a deep breath: "Back in the shed, I was short-sighted and did some reckless things, which offended many people."

He raised his glass with both hands without hesitation: "I'll drink this in one gulp as an apology. I hope Producer Yang will be magnanimous and not hold a grudge."

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

"Brother Bai, you flatter me."

"If someone treats me with respect, I will treat them with even greater respect." Yang Du picked up the juice next to him, smiled, and took a sip.

"It's just a minor friction at work, a disagreement, nothing to grudge. Besides, Brother Bai's guitar skills are part of the song's success."

Upon hearing this, Lao Bai's tense nerves completely relaxed, and he nodded repeatedly as if he had been granted a pardon before leaving.

"What are you talking about?" Tao Cheng asked, strolling over to Yang Du with a glass of juice in hand.

"It's nothing."

Tao Cheng wasn't particularly curious about the two men's conversation: "With 'Flammable and Explosive' receiving such a good response, you've really made a name for yourself in the industry, junior. Any plans for the future?"

According to industry practice, after a producer makes a name for themselves, they usually strike while the iron is hot and launch new projects and works.

who knew...

Yang Du thought for a couple of seconds and said in an extremely calm tone, "I'm going to go see Teacher Wang."

"..."

Tao Cheng was stunned for a long time before she realized that the Teacher Wang Yang Du mentioned was Wang Shihui, a senior producer at Jinshi Music.

She couldn't help but laugh and pat Yang Du's arm.

She had heard that Wang Shihui was recently overwhelmed by that big order and was almost driven crazy.

"You lousy guy." Tao Cheng quickly looked around and lowered her voice, "You can't let Director Fang hear this, or he'll be furious with you."

Not far behind the two, Fang Lei, who happened to be walking over, paused slightly.

He heard it.

Not a single word was missed.

He turned away nonchalantly, as if he hadn't heard anything.