NOVEL WEB Chapter 95: Chapter 95: You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
[Chapter 95: You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too]
The woman with golden short hair turned around when called out. She had an ordinary face, appearing somewhat older than her age. Sia Furler, an Australian singer-songwriter born in the late '70s, had debuted in the '90s and made her way through Australia, the UK, and the US, releasing five solo albums. In 2005, her song Breathe Me featured in the final scene of the TV show Six Feet Under, but it didn't gain much fame. She was now considered a lukewarm B-list artist, nowhere near the success of Ryan, who had just hit the Billboard charts.
However, Sia didn't show any signs of awe when Ryan approached her. When she spoke with him, her tone remained level, suggesting that she viewed his music as merely commercial and lacking personal depth.
"But I really liked Unstoppable. You wrote it beautifully. The song had a unique sense of strength, but Leona didn't capture that strength entirely, though she certainly has her personal style," Sia said.
Of course, you had to like that song -- it was yours.
Ryan then asked her about her recent work.
"Day Too Soon, it's a jazz piece," Sia replied, indicating her dedication to pop jazz at that time, a style that would later evolve significantly.
"Which record label are you signed with?" Ryan inquired.
"Atlantic Records," Sia shrugged, her voice a bit somber.
Over the next few years, Sia gained recognition for her distinctive voice, featuring as a guest artist on numerous songs. Her collaborations with David Guetta and Flo Rida drew significant attention. They were all under Atlantic Records.
What Sia didn't realize at that moment was that besides her voice, her greatest asset was her remarkable songwriting ability; she had written for several top female artists. Not to mention, she would eventually rank among the leading female singers herself. At this point in her career, however, she was clearly facing a low point.
"Don't want to stay with your label?" Ryan picked up on her melancholic tone.
"It's not that. Atlantic Records! It's a historic label... It's just that, you know, each label has its positioning, and they have specific expectations for every artist that often clash with the artist's own vision," Sia said very subtly.
Ryan sensed that Atlantic Records was interfering with her career, and it was evident Sia had her own ideas.
Taylor faced a similar conflict; she had pushed back against her initial contract, which led to her signing with Big Machine Records.
All artists experienced this kind of inner turmoil, to varying degrees.
"If a singer can't even control their own work, they will definitely lose their soul," Ryan responded.
"Exactly, that's just what I wanted to say," Sia nodded.
"What if there's a record label that lets you do what you want and has the backing of a large record group -- wouldn't that be a better fit for you?"
Sia nodded again. "You're absolutely right, but the two points you mentioned are inherently contradictory."
Large companies have extensive promotional channels, which inevitably creates revenue pressure. Smaller companies won't interfere, but they can't help much either.
You can't have it both ways.
Unless the company has already predicted your potential, similar to what happened with Taylor; but in Atlantic's eyes, Sia was seen as lacking that potential.
However, Ryan disagreed with that notion.
He had tapped into Sia's song and knew she was the primary songwriter behind it.
"I'd be willing to provide you with that kind of environment," Ryan said slowly.
"What do you mean?"
"How long do you have left on your contract with Atlantic Records?"
"A total of five years, with two years remaining."
"Have you ever considered moving to another company, or even switching labels altogether?"
Sia shook her head. "Not at all. I'm planning to end my music career; I want to retire to the background and write songs for others."
At that moment, she was genuinely tired of performing on stage.
Years later, she would make a comeback -- not for herself, but to reclaim songs she had written for Rihanna, taking great satisfaction in making the song a hit herself.
"Okay, if you ever change your mind, feel free to reach out to me. I'll do my best to support you," Ryan said, sensing she was determined to leave and realizing he would be unable to persuade her otherwise.
As she was about to leave, Ryan signaled to Daddario to catch up with Sia and give her his contact information.
...
"Ryan? Did I just see you? I didn't expect you to be here!"
"Ryan, you took electronic music to a whole new level! You totally brought it into the mainstream!"
A man and woman approached Ryan at a party, eager to say hello.
They weren't a couple but part of a band, and their London accents revealed they were definitely from the UK.
The Ting Tings, an indie pop band, had exploded onto the scene after their performance at the Glastonbury Festival last year, and their single That's Not My Name had topped the UK charts almost instantly.
If Sia was the epitome of late-blooming talent, the Ting Tings seemed like a flash-in-the-pan, peaking at the start without making much of a splash after.
"Ryan, we have a track on our album called Great DJ -- it perfectly captures who you are," said the band's lead singer and guitarist, Katie White, who had messy blonde hair and an unconventional look. While not stunning, she could certainly hold her own against Sia. Ryan enjoyed her playful voice, noting it had a youthful quality. In contrast, Taylor's voice had an additional clarity and sweetness, showcasing a slightly different style.
"If I have the right song, I'll definitely reach out for collaboration, okay?" She kept insisting on that as her bandmates pulled her away.
The Ting Tings were what one might call independent artists. Broadly speaking, anyone not signed with the major four record labels was an independent artist. They had the freedom to explore whatever musical styles they desired.
"If we were to collaborate, would you be willing to join my label?" Ryan asked in response.
Katie paused, caught off guard as she considered.
...
As they continued, Ryan saw many familiar faces, especially several packed groups: Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, and Coldplay, who were all quite popular at that time. They all approached him with a generally friendly attitude.
During the interactions, Ryan also noticed an event for raising funds for Somali refugees, featuring a Somali-born rapper named K'naan as a representative, standing on stage...
"Ryan, you finally made it; everyone has been waiting for you," he heard a familiar voice call out.
Turning around, it was the A&R manager from Spinnin' Records who had visited him at Taylor's house during his signing.
Spinnin' had initially helped elevate Ryan's career, and although he later got sidelined by Scooter, the label had supported him well in protecting his rights.
Earlier, he had called Ryan to request a minor favor, which Ryan was already happy to assist with, leading him back to the post-party gathering.
"Follow me; everyone else is already here," the A&R manager led the way.
Ryan entered a small VIP lounge area, waiting at the door for Daddario.
...
Inside the lounge, sat the festival organizer from AEG, whom Ryan had met previously, alongside a few colleagues. On the other side, there were some unfamiliar faces.
The A&R manager introduced Ryan, explaining that Spinnin' was negotiating with AEG to form a joint venture production company that would handle European DJs' shows in the US. Spinnin' would provide the DJs, and AEG would create the performance plans locally.
This collaboration came about as a result of Spinnin' reaching out, though AEG, as an industry leader, was somewhat cautious about partnering with a less-established company like Spinnin', given there were better options.
They requested Ryan's support to lend credibility to the deal.
"Spinnin' isn't a major label, but precisely because of that, they are more agile and open-minded, having unearthed many talented newcomers. In the future, as these artists develop, Spinnin' will stand out. For my European events, I'll prioritize Spinnin'," Ryan confidently stated to the festival organizer, ensuring that Spinnin' received due acknowledgment.
"It's not that we don't trust Spinnin', but this deal is significant. Ryan, would you be interested in joining the production company as well?" said the main organizer promptly.
It seemed they were impressed by Ryan's influence in the electronic music scene and wanted to leverage his clout for the new venture. If they could secure Ryan's performances, they would hit the ground running and compete effectively with others.
In exchange, Ryan could benefit from the company's growth, which would operate with separate finances, and they needed an acceptable choice for all three parties.
Ryan had mostly only considered founding his own record label and had never thought about delving into the industry chain like this.
"Exclusive performance collaboration?" Ryan inquired tentatively.
"Of course, you'd be a shareholder," the organizer replied.
"Sorry, my performances are booked through the end of this year," Ryan reminded him.
"Even a non-exclusive deal can work; Ryan's situation is quite complex. Rather than just being a DJ, he's more akin to a traditional music industry star who leans toward electronic styles," the Spinnin' representative elaborated.
Negotiations became a back-and-forth, and Ryan ultimately took a step back, stating that from next year onwards, all his US club tour arrangements would go through this new company. In return, he would become the company's third-largest shareholder and hold the title of "Chief Director," mainly for promotional purposes.
This was only the letter of intent; detailed negotiations would follow.
...
"Oh, will Jay-Z be attending tonight's after-party?" Ryan asked then.
"Of course not; he's heading out immediately after his performance to Ohio, where he'll be joining Bruce Springsteen for a campaign event tomorrow morning," the organizer answered.
Ryan nodded; the main reason American celebrities supported figures like Jay-Z was simple -- they wanted to showcase their powerful networks.
As for why celebrities often aligned more closely with the Democratic Party, it was due to practical reasons. Hollywood had established the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which not only managed ratings but also lobbied Congress to exert influence. This involved adding trade protection clauses for the Hollywood film industry in multiple trade agreements.
By contrast, the music industry had formed the RIAA, which also lobbied beyond just certifications. The introduction of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act was significantly attributed to the RIAA.
Of course, compared to traditional industries like firearms, healthcare, or energy, the lobbying power of cultural industries was relatively minor.
And when it came to politicians like young prospects, the reasoning for choosing stars was even more straightforward -- they were closer to the public.
...
At that moment, standing outside the lounge, Daddario felt a bit bored, eyeing the pile of snacks nearby with temptation.
Just then, she spotted someone familiar -- the "tall girl" from earlier who had greeted Ryan. Ryan referred to her as such because of her extraordinary height, making her stand out wherever she went.
The girl noticed Daddario as well, making her way over.
"Is Ryan inside?" she asked.
*****
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