Hearing his secretary's words on the phone, Ji Cheng's expression turned grim.
"Kid, I've given you two chances. This is you forcing my hand. If you insist on opposing Qian Yin, then you can forget about a career in the music industry!"
Ji Cheng gazed out the window, speaking to himself.
"Come back. I'll handle the rest personally!"
Ji Cheng said into the phone.
"Yes, President Ji, I'll return right away."
Upon receiving Ji Cheng's reply, Lin Qian booked a flight back to Modu.
...
In the afternoon, high-level executives from major music platforms and television stations began receiving an email.
The content requested their cooperation in removing all works and performances related to Wang Shu, and to prohibit any commercial collaborations.
The sender of this email was Ji Cheng, the Executive Deputy General Manager of Qian Yin Group.
Suddenly, major music platforms and television stations across Long Country were all receiving this email.
Jiangnan Television showed the strongest reaction, as Wang Shu was currently participating in a program recording there.
Other television stations had no particular cooperative relationship with Wang Shu, and were thus inclined to watch the unfolding events.
Under normal circumstances, television stations and Qian Yin Group were merely in a cooperative relationship, and television stations would not feel intimidated by Qian Yin Group.
However, now, the television stations had to carefully consider Qian Yin Group's demands.
This was because Qian Yin Group, as one of Long Country's three major music copyright holders, controlled one-third of Long Country's music copyrights. Naturally, most singers of any renown in Long Country were also affiliated with Qian Yin Group.
If the television stations were to defy Qian Yin Group, many variety shows and music talent competitions would face the risk of being taken down, or would require exorbitant copyright fees even if not taken down.
Furthermore, for a period of time afterward, the television stations might find themselves in the awkward situation of having no artists willing to participate in their programs.
Therefore, most television stations and music platforms complied with Qian Yin's requests.
Jiangnan Television hastily convened a high-level meeting.
They deliberated on Qian Yin Group's email.
The old station director, several seasoned station executives, and veteran directors were all present.
Gong Tao was also invited as a special guest to this meeting.
"The station has many cooperative projects with Qian Yin Group. We cannot let all these projects fall through because of one Wang Shu!"
"I agree. Exchanging one Wang Shu for the smooth operation of our station's other programs seems acceptable to me."
At the beginning of the meeting, two executives with graying hair, slightly younger than the old station director, voiced their opinions.
In their view, the stable development of the television station was far more important than the fate of an insignificant singer.
As veterans of the station, they naturally prioritized the station's interests.
"The station isn't funded by Qian Yin Group, so why should we obey them?
Before, these entertainment companies used to beg us to let their artists appear on television. Why are we so subservient now?"
At this moment, another elder stood up, speaking indignantly.
He had long been fed up with these arrogant and overbearing entertainment companies, who, leveraging their monopoly on resources, dictated terms to the television stations.
"Exactly, they can blacklist an artist just like that? Does that make our television station a subordinate of Qian Yin? We take money from the people, from advertisers, not from Qian Yin!"
"Yes, we should resist. We cannot continue to be accomplices to these entertainment giants!"
"Director, please say something. Are we to be controlled by an entertainment company forever?"
Following the elder's speech, several slightly younger middle-aged men beside him also stood up and spoke.
As a television station, they were naturally unwilling to be bossed around by an entertainment company. This was a disgrace to the station.
"You people are so shallow. Do you think we willingly let ourselves be used as pawns by an entertainment company? They control all the resources now, and we are on the defensive!
Exactly. After being at the station for so long, you haven't improved at all. We can refuse Qian Yin's demands today, but tomorrow they will terminate cooperation with all their artists, withdraw all copyrights. At that point, will we all be begging for scraps?
Ignorant, truly ignorant and unreasonable. Why should one Wang Shu gamble with our entire station's livelihood? Besides, he's just a collaborator with the station, not one of our own!"
Instantly, the two factions in the meeting room were in a heated dispute.
"Everyone, quiet down!"
The old station director's brow furrowed, and he slammed the table, saying.
Seeing the director speak, everyone promptly fell silent.
"Director Gong Tao, what do you think?"
The old station director then turned his gaze to the silent Gong Tao and asked.
"I'm not sure. I just feel that if our station continues to bow down to these entertainment companies, they will become increasingly reckless."
Gong Tao offered his opinion, but he knew that his words carried the least weight in this room.
Everyone here was more qualified to speak for Jiangnan Television than he was. He had only been here for a few weeks since coming from Xiangnan, and was insignificant compared to those who had been at Jiangnan Television for decades.
"Since everyone has expressed their opinions, let me also share my thoughts!"
The old station director then directly stated:
"Ten years ago, our television station was the client of these entertainment companies. Their artists needed our station's approval to have the chance to perform on stage.
But now, times have changed. Our stage has nurtured countless superstars, countless fresh idols, but what about it? These entertainment companies are now using them to hold our station hostage? Doesn't that sound ridiculous?
The old station director looked at everyone in the meeting room with a faint smile.
"However, I think this is not ridiculous, but rather a disgrace! A disgrace to our television industry! A disgrace to every television practitioner!
We, as a platform, are being held hostage by content providers! By these entertainment companies! And now we must meekly cooperate with them to blacklist an artist!
This is truly an absurd spectacle!!!"
The old station director was agitated, but his smile had vanished, replaced by pure anger.
"Today they ask us to blacklist one Wang Shu, tomorrow they will ask us to blacklist countless artists with whom they have conflicts. Is it truly Qian Yin that dictates the music scene of Long Country?"
The old station director gritted his teeth as he looked at those who had attempted to blacklist Wang Shu.
"Therefore, today, we at Jiangnan Television will not give Qian Yin face. We will continue our cooperation with Wang Shu. If they wish to terminate all artist collaborations, we welcome it. But then, we will meet in court!"
The old station director said with firm conviction.
He had long been utterly disgusted with these entertainment companies, these mere jesters who now dared to overstep their bounds.
"Director, but..."
"No 'buts.' Send the reply email now, and make the content public on Weibo! Tag their Qian Yin account!"
As an elder was about to persuade the director, he was directly interrupted.
"Meeting adjourned! Director Gong, come to my office!"
The old station director glanced at everyone once more before standing up and saying.
Gong Tao then followed him to the director's office.
"Do you think my actions today are problematic?"
In the office, the old station director asked Gong Tao.
"I think what you said is very correct, but if only Jiangnan Television resists, it will essentially be meaningless."
Gong Tao couldn't help but sigh.
There were hundreds of television stations in Long Country alone. If only Jiangnan Television resisted Qian Yin, it would be meaningless, and Jiangnan Television would find itself in a position of having no artists to work with.
After all, one-third of the singers in Long Country were affiliated with Qian Yin Group. If they lost the artists from Qian Yin, Jiangnan Television could lose a large portion of its audience at any time.
"I've thought about it for a long time. But if we don't make a decisive move, Jiangnan Television will forever be at their mercy. My decision today is merely to temporarily sever an arm."
The old station director leaned back on the sofa, his face filled with worry.
He had originally thought he could smoothly retire, but today he decided to do one big thing for Jiangnan Television before his retirement.
"You called me here not just to ask me this question, did you?"
Gong Tao looked at the old station director and asked directly.
"Clever. Although you haven't been at Jiangnan for long, I feel you are the one who best understands my intentions in the entire station. I asked you to come up with another idea: to have you find Wang Shu and start an entertainment company to supply fresh talent to our Jiangnan Station!"
The old station director looked at Gong Tao with a serious expression.
"Director, you mean for us to cultivate our own artists?"
At this moment, Gong Tao looked at the old station director in disbelief.
He hadn't expected the old director to have such a plan.
"Our current weakness is that we don't have our own artists. Since that's the case, with our own platform, why shouldn't we cultivate our own artists?"
The old director said directly. He had long considered the idea of the television station cultivating its own artists.
However, without any particular reason, the station didn't have enough resources to establish an artist cultivation company, so it had been shelved.
Now, with this incident, he deeply realized that this matter could not be delayed any longer.
The television station could not continue to be led around by the nose by entertainment companies!
This was why he had so firmly rejected Qian Yin's demands in the meeting earlier, and he was confident that Gong Tao and Wang Shu could cultivate qualified artists for the station.