"Okay, then I'll talk about it. Sid raised the corners of his mouth helplessly.

Then the record bigwigs heard something that subverted their previous perceptions.

"Instead of charging per album, we will charge a flat rate of 99 cents per song!?" asked the current CEO of Universal Music in amazement.

"Not bad. Sid said lightly, and added a sentence at the end: "No two prices!"

Your sister!

Everyone is holding grass in their hearts.

This kind of simple and crude charging method has almost wiped out all kinds of money-making methods in the record industry in the past few decades, such as why do record companies have to put together a certain number of singles when they release albums?

Because then they can sell a few title songs mixed with more casual ordinary songs.

Who says water-filled pork is something that only black-hearted traders do? This "fine tradition" of the record industry has been marketed for decades.

So, immediately someone said dissatisfiedly: "Sid, Steve, you two can't do this! Selling according to the album is in everyone's interest." And how can a new single that has just been released be compared to an old song that has been released for decades!"

It was a member of the BMG team who spoke, and his words were immediately echoed by everyone, "That's it." "You fire lions and apples are too domineering. ”

A group of record bigwigs who are accustomed to "expropriation" and "exploitation and oppression" of their singers on weekdays have turned into Yang Bailao and blamed Sid and Jobs for their unfair behavior.

"Shut up ——!"

In the end, Sid couldn't help but interrupt them, he looked at the executives of the major companies who had passed middle age with a solemn face: "99 cents a song, free to choose by consumers, no distinction between new songs and old songs, all digital songs are sold in the iTunes digital music store." ”

At the same time, for every digital song sold, Apple will take 30% of the profits, and the remaining 70% will go to the record company, and the rest will go to the singer personally. ”

Sid's set of strict rules made a group of record bigwigs listen to no temper, well, the so-called no temper is just a one-sided thought of Sid and Jobs.

In fact, after listening to Sid's words, they immediately blew up.

"You're still going to take a 30%!?" "Why don't you go robbed!" "You're crazy about money!!" "Are you still selling albums in the future?"

Originally, I thought that Sid and they were just meddling in the pricing and sales of digital music singles, but I didn't expect the real trick to come later, a 30% commission for each song, which has to be implemented, and in the end only Apple will really make a big profit, while others will use their songs and singers to "feed" Apple.

Such a cheating operation model, the ghost only wants it!

In the face of the fierce opposition of the record bosses, both Sid and Jobs were expressionless, and it was not until everyone in the conference room finished foaming that Sid said with a faint smile: "You can accept it or not, but those who accept first have a discount, first come, first served, and no late." ”

In the face of Sid's insincere "advertising words", everyone couldn't help but secretly roll their eyes, but no matter what, they immediately pricked up their ears and listened to Sid's words with concern.

"The first is that we will use the Digital Rights Management (DRM) method in the next iTune digital music store. Sid cocked up his finger and said, "In other words, music purchased on iTunes will only be played on three authorized computers, whether it is a Mac or an indos computer." ”

"At the same time, the number of CDs burned in the music list will not exceed 5!"

This is a disguised technical means to crack down on piracy and collect genuine CDs, although Sid and they did not relax on the issue of fees, but this disguised copyright protection did ease the atmosphere of the scene.

Sid explained while the iron was hot: "At first, the film company also thought that the VCR and videotape would destroy Hollywood, but now the income of the video tape and DVD has become the most important profit channel for the film company, and there is no one. ”

"It's not funny whether to stick to the old physical record routine or embrace the new business model, and I hope you will think carefully before responding. ”

Unlike the fierce reaction just now, in the face of Sid and Jobs's aggressiveness, a group of record bigwigs calmed down, none of them became executives on the first day, and of course they know the truth that biting dogs don't bark.

Don't look at the fierce quarrel they are now, but in the face of the Fire Lion Records that have already eaten Warner Records, they have lost the opportunity, unless all of them are united to fight against Apple and Fire Lion, it is impossible to stop each other's layout.

"Also, don't say we don't give everyone ......a way to live," Sid said, looking at Jobs with a sly smile, and then continued: "It's not that we can't give preferential treatment to active collaborators." ”

Jobs immediately nodded, and then said: "Our most interactive and cooperative business partners will give a 'window period' discount on the digital music store." ”

"Window period?"

"Not bad. New songs that have been published for less than one year can be sold on the iTune digital music store one year after the release date. Jobs's words are similar to the current window period for movie releases, TV broadcasts, and DVD releases in the film industry.

It's still unprecedented to apply this approach to the record industry, not to mention the impact it will have on the already shrinking brick-and-mortar record industry, but no one knows for sure.

"In addition, this window will only work for four years, and four years later, in 2006, we will completely eliminate the 'window period', and only the top three record partners will be able to enjoy this policy. ”

Jobs's words made the bigwigs present jump in their eyelids, this is to sow discord.

"The top three, ...... now," the CEO of EMI couldn't sit still at first, and he raised his eyes and asked curiously.

"Fire Lion Records has already confirmed that it will join the digital music store, so now there are only two spots left. Jobs smiled faintly.

"I'll go—" Everyone sometimes had a groan in their hearts.

You've all divided the spoils, and the rest is just to trap us!

Although they thought so in their hearts, the remaining few were already wary of each other, and the few places and the limited preferential space let them know that this was a game with you and without me.

As for the next step, whether any of them succumb first, or wait until the second half of the year when the iTunes music store is launched, and then use digital music sales to leverage the record industry, the rest is a matter of course.