Perfect Superstar.

"Tell me more about your thoughts."

Lin Zhijie turned to Lu Chen and asked, "What are your ideas regarding the release of this album?"

After listening to the seven songs from Lu Chen's first album in the recording studio, Lin Zhijie had offered plenty of advice to Wang Jing and Wang Hui. Still, he had more to discuss, so he pulled Lu Chen into the reception room to talk about distribution.

Initially, Lin Zhijie's meeting with Lu Chen was meant to persuade him to join Flying Stone Record, but he hadn't achieved that goal.

Driven by a desire to mentor newcomers, he was more than willing to lend Lu Chen a helping hand.

It was somewhat spontaneous that Lin Zhijie became interested in the album Lu Chen was producing. Once he started listening, he found himself captivated!

As the music director of Flying Stone Record and a veteran in the industry, Lin Zhijie quickly noticed that, aside from the quality of the songs, Lu Chen's album had a unified and distinctive style, steeped in nostalgia.

This was a stark contrast to the fast-paced, trendy songs that dominated the charts today. Lu Chen's target audience was clearly not the typical teenage crowd but rather pop music enthusiasts born in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s.

This demographic is substantial!

The domestic pop music scene experienced immense glory in the 80s and 90s, but as the new century arrived, it was heavily influenced by pop trends from Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea, leading to the current landscape.

What's popular now? New idols, fresh faces, upbeat dance tracks, rap, and catchy tunes. The younger generation chases fashion, idolizes stars, and embraces a rebellious spirit, often dismissing the traditional music of the past.

The parents of these teenagers form the backbone of society, many with solid economic means, willing to spend money on star-related products and concerts without hesitation.

As a result, domestic entertainment companies are scrambling to cater to these tastes, introducing and localizing styles from abroad, profiting handsomely from the fan economy.

The competition among entertainment companies is fierce, with artists being churned out like products on an assembly line, exhausting the vast market created by young fans.

But what about those born in the 70s and 80s?

They may passively accept new music and even enjoy new idols, but many still hold a deep appreciation for the classics.

A prime example is Tan Hong, who is nearly retired. Last year, he held a concert at the Capital City National Stadium, and tens of thousands of tickets sold out in just three days!

Why? Because Tan Hong still has millions of devoted fans. They may not be young anymore, but their loyalty remains strong, even if they're less inclined to spend money on idols compared to the younger generation.

Lu Chen's album, featuring seven completed songs rich in folk elements and nostalgia, truly resonated with Lin Zhijie!

This is why Lin Zhijie wanted to assist Lu Chen with sales and distribution, ensuring that this album received the recognition it deserved.

Lu Chen and Lu Xi exchanged glances, and Lu Xi gestured for him to respond to Lin Zhijie's question.

After a moment of thought, Lu Chen said, "Teacher Lin, here's my idea..."

Lu Chen proposed that Flying Stone Record produce his first album, which would include CDs and USB drives in three versions: standard, collector's, and deluxe. He suggested using a fan pre-order method to determine the quantity.

In other words, they would produce as many copies as fans ordered, minimizing risk.

In addition to manufacturing, Flying Stone Record would also handle distribution through their channels.

One of those channels is Xinhua Bookstore, which has branches all over the country!

Xinhua Bookstore is a large state-owned book distribution enterprise, established 70 years ago, affiliated with the National Propaganda Department and the China Publishing Group. It boasts around 15,000 sales outlets, with its headquarters in the Capital City.

In the past, when people bought books, Xinhua Bookstore was the go-to place, especially for textbooks. The state also distributed materials through Xinhua, leading to impressive annual sales.

However, as the new century unfolded, the bookstore's dominant position was significantly challenged by the liberalization of publishing restrictions and the rise of online shopping, resulting in declining profit margins year after year.

Many remote branches now rely on renting out storefronts to stay afloat, as selling books has become less profitable.

The challenges faced by Xinhua Bookstore mirror those of Flying Stone Record. In recent years, the bookstore's leadership has sought innovation and change, diversifying into various businesses to leverage their strengths.

For instance, while Xinhua Bookstore once sold tapes and CDs, these products have either become obsolete or are in decline, yielding little profit. The bookstore has deepened its cooperation with entertainment agencies, selling various star-related products and even concert tickets.

Thanks to Xinhua Bookstore's influence and its commitment to authenticity, entertainment agencies are eager to use this channel to expand their fan base, creating a well-established operational process.

Flying Stone Record is one of Xinhua Bookstore's partners.

Lin Zhijie nodded in understanding. "So you want to do a pre-sale online first and then distribute through Xinhua Bookstore, right?"

This sales method has been around for a while. Fans order star-related products on the official website, receive a verification code, and then scan it at local Xinhua Bookstore outlets to pick up their items.

For entertainment agencies, this approach significantly reduces pressure. They only need to deliver the produced items to Xinhua Bookstore, utilizing its robust logistics system and extensive sales network for distribution.

Combined with direct sales on the website, it creates a complete sales system, keeping costs at a reasonable level.

Lu Chen smiled and replied, "Yes!"

He actually had a different sales plan inspired by his dreams, but he felt it wasn't the right time to share it with Lin Zhijie.

Lin Zhijie nodded in agreement.

Lu Chen had clearly done his homework and had a solid understanding of the distribution process. Choosing to collaborate with Flying Stone Record was not a hasty decision but a well-thought-out one.

However, that didn't mean Lin Zhijie was overly optimistic about the album's sales prospects.

After all, Lu Chen was still a newcomer who had just debuted. Although he had gained considerable popularity by winning "Singing China," turning that popularity into tangible benefits was no easy feat.

Lu Chen's biggest challenge was the lack of a complete and experienced team behind him, along with limited connections and resources. Relying solely on the impulsive spending of a few fans would not sustain him for long.

Lin Zhijie didn't want to dampen Lu Chen's spirits, and he understood that facing some setbacks could be beneficial for young artists.

So he chose not to elaborate further.

"Then hurry up and finish this album. I should be able to help a bit with Flying Stone Record when the time comes."

Lu Chen expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Teacher Lin!"

With the support of this music director from Flying Stone Record, distributing his album would be much more manageable!

Lin Zhijie added seriously, "Remember to focus on quality. Don't overlook the details, and also..."

He inquired, "Did you have Wang Jing handle the composing?"

Lu Chen confirmed, "Yes."

Lin Zhijie thought for a moment and advised, "You need to strengthen this aspect. With your talent, participating in the composition yourself will allow you to fully express the essence of your work."

Truly exceptional singers often write and compose their own songs. While being able to compose doesn't necessarily mean one must be an expert, having both skills undoubtedly enhances the final product.

After all, others may not fully grasp the creator's intentions, leading to communication barriers.

Lu Chen hadn't studied music professionally, so it was understandable that he felt less confident in composing.

Lin Zhijie hoped he could address this shortcoming.

Lu Chen admitted sheepishly, "I've thought about it. I want to take classes at Jingyin or Beiyin Music Universities, but I heard that auditing certificates are hard to come by."

He had contemplated this for a while, but after speaking with Wang Jing, he learned that both Jingyin and Beiyin strictly control auditing certificates, issuing only a limited number each year.

As for other private institutions that allow you to pay for attendance... well, that was a different story.

Lin Zhijie smiled and said, "It's great to have a learning spirit. I know two professors at Jingyin; perhaps I can help you secure an auditing certificate, though I can't guarantee it 100%."

Even without a guarantee, that was already a pleasant surprise!

Lu Chen quickly replied, "Thank you, Teacher Lin!"

"You've thanked me many times today..."

Lin Zhijie waved his hand and said, "Since you call me teacher, it's also our fate. I'm happy to help where I can."

"But the key is still your own efforts!"

As long as it doesn't conflict with his own interests or those of the company, Lin Zhijie is more than willing to support this promising young man. He sees something special in Lu Chen.

Why not help out and build a good relationship?

Lu Chen nodded vigorously.

He knew he owed this favor and would repay it when the opportunity arose.

Lu Chen was undoubtedly fortunate. On his journey to stardom, he faced challenges from people like Zhao Deping, Jin Hongwei, and Zhuang Hao, but he also encountered mentors like Chen Jianhao, Tan Hong, and Lin Zhijie!

Lu Chen and Lu Xi saw Lin Zhijie and his team off together.

Back at the workshop, Lu Xi opened her notebook and said to him, "At 2 PM this afternoon, you need to go to Baidai Cultural Agency. I've already spoken with Wen Zhiyuan, the head of their artist department, and he will arrange for artists to meet with you for a trial recording."

Lu Chen replied without hesitation, "Alright."

He needed to make money— lots of it!

(End of chapter)

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