MP3 entered the mainland market at the turn of the millennium, but the total sales volume was only tens of thousands of units, which is insignificant.

According to data, in 2001, MP3 sales in China were about 20-300,000 units, which is not much. By 2002, the main brands of MP3 were still dominated by foreign imports, with total sales of about 528,000 units. The total sales price is 750 million yuan, with an average of 1480 yuan per unit.

It seems that this figure is still very ordinary, and the production is not particularly large. But in 2003, it was terrifying. Domestic MP3 officially rose, Lenovo, Founder, Huaqi, Patriot and other brands to join the market, in just one year, MP3 production and sales compared with last year, increased more than ten times, a year sales reached more than 6 million units, quite an astonishing number. The most important thing is that with the start of domestic MP3, the price of this small thing has fallen all the way, and the lowest time is 64MB memory MP3, as long as more than 400 yuan a piece, which is five or six times cheaper than foreign imported products. As a result, the market suddenly entered a stage of fierce competition, and the sales volume increased dramatically and the output also increased crazily.

To use an analogy.

In 2002, the market price of MP3 was around 1000-3000 for foreign imports. Like Apple's iPod launched in 2001, 2910 yuan. Samsung YP-55H, 1580 yuan. Hyundai HY-316, 1990 yuan. The price of these imported MP3 music players is so expensive, it is no wonder that the sales volume was so low back then.

But in 2003, domestic MP3 entered the market, and soon a price war began. This small and delicate walkman was more than 1,000 yuan at the time, all the way down, and by the end of 2003, the price had generally been reduced to 400-500 yuan. By 2004, almost every student had one.

In just two or three years, this music player will completely replace the role of the 20-year-old tape walkman and optical disc recorder. Lin Ming grew up in that era and had a clear understanding of the love of young people and market changes.

Hou Wenhui nodded and said, "Now wait for the news from Mr. Zhao, once it is confirmed, we will immediately change the company's strategy, and at the same time invest money in my friend's side to make this MP3." ”

"Hmm."

Lin Ming said: "I'll wait for Mr. Zhao's news first, I came here to ask about another matter." ”

"What's the matter, you say."

"That's the case, I want to know if our company has any contact with Hong Kong City, Baodao and some large domestic media companies, I want to get the copyright authorization of their artists' songs, I don't know what way to do it."

"Copyright?" Hou Wenhui said: "What do you want copyright authorization to do." ”

Lin Ming explained: "The music website I made needed to put songs on it, and Peng Chen suggested that I put pirated copies, but I felt that pirated copies would not last long, and sooner or later they would be punished by the law." What's more, even if they escape in the future, they will have their own stains, so I want to contact some large companies and ask them for copyrights. ”

Lin Ming does music websites, Hou Wenhui and Liang Xiaoyue both know, and he once asked the two of them to see if they are interested in investing. But at the time, they were not optimistic about the purpose of this website, and the reason was that it did not work until MP3 came out.

So Hou Wenhui and Liang Xiaoyue have no intention of doing it.

Now that Lin Ming has told them the news that MP3 is about to be released on a large scale, Hou Wenhui has a flexible brain and quickly reacts: "You are doing this to cater to the upcoming MP3 market?" ”

With an MP3 in hand, you'll have to find a place to play songs. In 2002, Qianqian Jingting was still under research and development, and could not provide download services. And in the final analysis, Qianqian Jingting also belongs to piracy and is in a gray area. It was only in that era that there were loopholes in online copyright, and it was exploited by legal loopholes, and it will be easy to be seized in the future.

Lin Ming's website is to fill this gap.

"Yes." "So I hope to contact those companies and cooperate with them to grant the copyright to our website to provide download services," Lin said. This service is charged, and if you think about it, if it costs 5 cents to download a song and a million downloads, how much revenue should it be? What's more, the copyrights of songs in the hands of those companies are not one or two, which is a win-win situation for both parties. Even if our website doesn't work, he has nothing to lose. Because the contract will definitely be signed at that time, this copyright authorization will only be used for the website listening and downloading functions, and will not be used for other commercial profits. Do you think this is possible? ”

"Feasible." Hou Wenhui nodded seriously and said: "Businessmen are unprofitable and can't afford to be early, let alone this kind of businessless business. ”

If this plan is placed in the future, those bigwigs in the entertainment industry who hold a lot of copyrights in their hands will definitely laugh.

In the future, the major music portals will compete fiercely, and they will buy copyrights everywhere to make genuine music portals. With a large number of genuine copyrights in his hands, he is not afraid that no one will buy them, and all kinds of bigwigs are waiting for the price to sell, just waiting for these music portals to send money to the door. Not only does a song have to spend money to buy the genuine version, but you also have to buy and download shares, and the way to make money is quite comfortable.

But what age is this?

It's a time when there aren't any music portals.

Holding the copyright in your hand is no different from holding a piece of waste paper.

Because as soon as the song is released and the album is sold out, the copyright basically disappears. Unless there are other singers who want to cover it, they will buy the license in their hands, and the price is not high, but if it is licensed, it is equivalent to the price of cabbage.

Even if it is one of those big-name singers, it is completely for him to sing, because this will increase the fame of the original work.

Therefore.

If Lin Ming uses a share and guarantees that it is only used for website download services and listening functions, and is not used for other commercial profits, those bigwigs in the entertainment industry will definitely agree to this plan.

This is the empty glove white wolf.

If you can earn the best, if you can't, you won't lose anything. After all, copyright is only a license, not a gift.

"But is it useful to find these music companies? I've heard that the copyright is generally in the hands of the creator. Lin Ming doesn't understand this, but he knows that a large part of the copyright of a song is in the hands of the creator, unless the copyright is sold to the company, otherwise, it seems useless to find those music companies.

Hou Wenhui shook his head and said: "How useless, more than 99% of the artists belong to the performing arts companies, these companies make songs for their artists, find some songwriters, and most of them will buy the copyright after creation, which is an industry practice, even if it is not purchased, because the treasure island and the port city are not big, everyone is an acquaintance, and it is very easy to discuss." And even if it is a song created by its own artists, the company has a lot of sovereignty and will basically sign it in the contract. Unless it's those top superstars who have their own studios. But these can also be discussed, anyway, no matter what, as long as you are not a fool, you should agree to this plan. ”

Lin Ming nodded in understanding.

The circle of Treasure Island and Port City is so big, and many future bigwigs in the entertainment industry are still working there as handymen. For example, JJ, who sings Jiangnan, is still working as a trainee in Haidie. The status is no different from the Youthboys before signing a new contract. He naturally listens to what the company arranges.

In addition, Andy, a superstar-level superstar, is currently also on TVB in Hong Kong City. Once Andy is disobedient, TVB said that the snow will also be hidden, and the same must be arranged by the company.

Not to mention Dong Chou, his current fame and status are not as good as Andy, and he is at most a popular first-line in the entertainment industry, not to mention the level of a superstar. At this time, it was affiliated with Alpha Music, which also did not have much autonomy.

So, whether it's in the future or now, unless you open your own studio. Otherwise, when an artist signs a contract with the company, he will still be greatly bound by the contract. Even if it is an original song created by itself, it is very simple for the company to get the copyright.

Of course.

Unless you become the boss of that company like Lin Ming, it will naturally be different.

"By the way, your Yuchen Technology currently has no funding gap, if you need capital operation, I can find Mr. Zhao and Mr. Liang to come over, let's talk about the matter of shares."

Hou Wenhui is now interested in Lin Ming's music website.

At this point in time, they didn't look at the project because they didn't think the site was useful. But once MP3 opens up the domestic market and spreads to every household, the profits that this website can give are quite terrifying.

Lin Ming smiled: "Not at the moment, but once there is a funding gap and the first round of financing is needed, I will definitely give priority to you." The importance of the original stake, you know. ”

Hou Wenhui sighed: "It's a pity. Lin Ming, you are really a natural businessman. Mahogany is really lucky to be able to pull you in. ”

Lin Ming smiled and said nothing.

"Let's talk about copyright."

After Hou Wenhui sighed, he talked about business: "If this thing is to be operated, you can still think of a way." Domestic network, you can find Mr. Liang. After returning to China, Mr. Liang taught in the music department of Capital Normal University for several years, and met many old media industry giants in the north, and he was able to contact the domestic door. And Mr. Liang's father is not simple, this old gentleman is a close disciple of the national anthem lyricist, an authority and leader in Western music, and currently serves as the honorary president of the Capital Conservatory of Music and the dean of the composition department. Many CEOs of famous entertainment companies in China, songwriters, and top stars are from his disciples, and he speaks very effectively. ”

"As for the treasure island and the port city, we have to see if Mr. Zhao has a way. Don't look at the peach wood investment is so big, but in fact it is only one of Mr. Zhao's industries, Mr. Zhao's family has big business in Guangdong Province and the capital, and his road is relatively wide, I suggest that you can contact him and ask about the situation. ”

Lin Ming said curiously: "I have been in the company for more than a month, and I have seen Mr. Zhao no more than three times. What the hell does Mr. Zhao's family do, it's so mysterious. ”

"It is said that it is doing real estate, jewelry and financial investment in the south, and the assets are not to mention tens of billions. Zhao is always the son of the Zhao family, and he has taken over a lot of the family's business, and often has to run around from the south to the north. Our Taomu is only one part of his investment, and his main industry is in Guangdong Province, and he has connections with the giants from all walks of life in the port city. There may be some relevant connections to help you, but it depends on whether Mr. Zhao is willing to help. Hou Wenhui said: "If Mr. Zhao is willing to make connections, the energy in China is still very large, after all, the assets of tens of billions of dollars are almost in a circle." Unlike us, we can only charge a big head in this province. ”