After being acquired by Universal Music in 2011, there are only three large-scale music record companies left, accounting for about 80% of the global music market.

After Zhang Yi arrived in New York, he and his father were separated. He went to negotiate with the big three record companies, while his father and Pate Holdings executives went to Eli Lilly Animal Protection in Indiana, USA.

At the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on the top floor of Time Warner Center, Zhang Yida met with the CEOs of the three major record companies.

The three old men are Lucien Grange, CEO of Universal Music Group, Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO of Sony, and Stephen Cooper, CEO of Warner Music Group.

These three companies, in addition to the music business, are also one of the six major Hollywood film companies behind the parent company.

Unlike Sony, Universal and Warner's music businesses are split and operated independently.

However, Sony did not set up a music group, and the recording music business, lyrics and music copyright business, and Dongying Sony Music under its jurisdiction were separated, and the management was somewhat chaotic.

Therefore, Kazuo Hirai, CEO of Sony's parent group, came out in person, which still surprised Zhang Yida.

After shaking hands with the three of them one by one, Zhang Yida and his subordinates took their seats in the conference room.

After a while, Grange Grange, CEO of Universal Music, said: "Mr. Zhang, the music licensing agreements signed by Zhonghe Group's Douyin, Kuaishou and our three major record companies are about to expire.

Therefore, I asked you to come to the United States, and I also hope that the four of us can negotiate the renewal of the contract. ”

Before Doushi and did not become popular, he signed a short-term music licensing agreement with the three major records.

It's not that Zhang Yida doesn't want to sign a long-term contract, but the three major record companies are too chicken thieves and don't agree to sign a long-term contract.

After all, it is the new century, and the value of Internet music copyright has long been proven.

If you want to pit the three major record companies, you will never be able to do it.

Employees at the U.S. branch have been in talks with the big three record companies about contract renewals.

But the appetite of the three major record companies is too big, and the opening mouth is $500 million, and it is also the authorization of one company, and the three are $1.5 billion.

The negotiations have been deadlocked, and seeing that this is about to be 2018, the copyright authorization is about to expire, and Zhang Yida is also very anxious.

In order to expand around the world, the issue of copyright is a top priority.

The vast majority of the background music selected by users from the music library belongs to the three major record companies.

Take Chinese musicians, for example.

Universal Music has Alan Tam, Jacky Cheung, Hacken Lee, Zhang Huimei, Lin Yilian, Eason Chan......

Sony Records has Jay Chou, Huang Bo, Rainie Yang, Xiao Yaxuan, Luo Zhixiang......

Warner Music has Li Ronghao, Yuan Weiya, Lou Yixiao, Lin Junjie, Jolin Tsai, Xiao Jingteng, and Wilber Pan......

Basically, it was wiped out, and even some young singers who were not in the stream were signed under the three major record companies.

When it comes to music, you can't avoid these three major record companies.

Zhang Yida once asked employees to calculate the annual copyright fees paid by Penguin Music, and the figure was more than 3 billion yuan.

Of course, Penguin is more ruthless, and many of the agreements signed are exclusive copyrights in Greater China or mainland China.

The reason why NetEase Cloud Music is so passive is this.

The moat that Penguin has built in music copyright is unmatched in China.

Zhang Yida sorted out the language and replied: "On the issue of copyright renewal, we are also willing to talk to the three major records.

But the offer you made is too insincere.

Short video platforms are not like music playback platforms, and users use music as background music for videos.

We can't do it like a music streaming platform.

In addition, for short video platforms, video content is the most important. ”

Sony's chairman, Kazuo Hirai, smiled and shook his head, "Mr. Zhang, you're wrong.

We have specially analyzed the reasons for the popularity and found that a big success factor is the brainwashing music.

Without music, the short videos will have no soul. ”

Cooper, CEO of Warner Music, echoed: "That's right, you can hear the name of this software, and the importance of music is irreplaceable." ”

He looked at Zhang Yida and spread his hands, "That's the truth, we need our help very much." ”

"Mr. Zhang, I believe that as long as the copyright issue is solved, nothing can stop the pace of the rise.

Zhonghe Group will also become a top technology company, comparable to FAANG. ”

Grange smiled, "But before we can do that, we have to settle our worries first." ”

Zhang Yida looked at this posture, and the three of them were determined to eat themselves.

But without copyright, it really can't survive.

Zhang Yida shrugged his shoulders and said with an indifferent face: "Zhonghe Group has been in a state of serious losses, and it is too unrealistic to spend a lot of money on copyright!"

"So, Mr. Zhang is going to reject the friendship of the three major record companies?"

Cooper said this with a smile on his face, but the words were full of threat.

"Zhonghe Group can't survive, what friendship do you need?"

Kazuo Hirai is very dissatisfied with Zhang Yida's frivolous attitude, and he does not look like the fifth richest man in the world at all.

He said with a straight face: "A company with a valuation of $63.3 billion, is it so worthless to Mr. Zhang?"

"The collapse of Zhonghe Group will not benefit the big four record companies. ”

Zhang Yida continued: "The above short videos will be accompanied by a song, which is actually to promote the music.

This benefit is first transmitted to the music playback platform, and then from the music playback platform to the record company.

Whether it is copyright income or revenue sharing, for the companies behind the three companies, it can be greatly improved.

In addition, short videos are also a completely new field.

In the past, the income of music copyright in the Internet field mainly came from video platforms, music playback platforms, music sharing platforms, etc.

Now that there is a whole new field, we should cultivate it together, not destroy it. ”

The CEOs of the three major records didn't speak, and they all seriously thought about the content of Zhang Yida's words.

The reason why the three of them offered such a high price, and they were still holding together, was because they took a fancy to Zhang Yida's wealth.

If you are so rich, who will you slaughter if you don't kill you?

Zhang Yida told the three of them the story of fishing in the dry water, "In the past, in China, there were two brothers, and my father gave them two fish ponds before he died.

The elder brother is very industrious and intelligent, storing water in the fish pond little by little, and also scattering fish fry......

My younger brother is lazy to eat, so he catches fish from the fish pond every day and eats them, all year round, big and small fish......

Later, the elder brother worked hard for a while, and there was fish to eat every day, and the younger brother starved to death. ”

"That's an interesting story, is Mr. Zhang saying that we're like brothers?" Cooper asked.

"That's right, you guys look like your brother now!"

Kazuo Hirai and the other two looked at each other, and he spoke: "Since Mr. Zhang is unwilling to pay the copyright fee, I have another plan here." ”

"What's the plan?"

"Our three major record companies have invested in Zhonghe Group with copyright authorization!"

Zhang Yida looked at Kazuo Hirai, this little devil has a lot of eyes!

Cooper also helped: "This plan is beneficial to both of us, and we will be partners in the future."

Only with common interests can we maintain long-term friendship!"

It's naked!

Zhang Yida sighed, this is very American!