Chevrolet in front and Ford in the back drove south for half an hour down the road outside the school, stopping outside a single-family warehouse in a remote neighborhood far from downtown.

"Dangdang, dang! Let me solemnly introduce you to the secret base of the band Good Morning..."

Noah completely changed his face, enthusiastically and diligently pleasing his new friend, he took out the key to open the iron gate, and a group of people strode in.

That's it?

Dean looked around.

The whole warehouse is very shabbyly decorated, the four walls are only painted with cheap putty powder, a blue tin chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and a narrow staircase leading to the second floor can be seen from the opposite corner.

The only decorations are the dozen or so posters of big stars on the walls, famous bands and singers from the 60s and 70s: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Queen, who are still active and just won the Billboard Hot 100 singles.

"This year is the world of Queen." Robert pointed to the poster of Uncle Bucktooth in the white jumpsuit showing his chest hair, "But I promise that with the support of your songs, the future Good Morning will surpass their brilliance and create new miracles." ”

Who wouldn't brag?

Di Anxin said,

Then I was attracted by the array of musical instruments in front of the hall: microphones with stands, drum kits, guitars, basses, electronic organs, stereos... There was even a violin and a saxophone that didn't quite fit the style of the band, and I don't know who was using it.

"The band has limited financial resources... It is not easy to rent such a warehouse for a long time in Las Vegas, where every inch of land is at a premium. Robert saw the surprise in Dean's eyes and emphasized, "Most underground bands train in rudimentary conditions like sewers. ”

"And how do you usually record songs?" Dean asked, "I don't see any recording equipment." ”

He had the impression that a decent music studio should at least have soundproof glass, a mixing console, monitors and headphones, and a bunch of professional equipment that he couldn't name.

"Of course, go to a professional recording studio to record songs!" Caroline looked helpless, "Our small band can't afford to buy and maintain equipment." ”

"The owners of the recording studios are a bunch of vampires." Carty's face ached.

"That's it! Liam, Carty, and Noah, take these two friends to play on the first floor, take good care of them, and give them a picture of their previous works. Robert's gaze swept over Rust and Britney,

"Rust, Britney, do you want to beat the drum kit?"

Liam was full of enthusiasm.

"Caroline, go upstairs and discuss cooperation with Dean."

……

The second floor is much better decorated, the environment is quiet, and the blue wallpaper is pasted.

Dean looked around, a bookcase, desk, leather sofa, water dispenser.

The two pots of pothos in the corner exude a light and fragrant fragrance.

"You sit down for a while, I'll find something." Robert walked over to the desk and opened the drawer and rummaged through it.

Dean sat on the leather couch and moved his ass uncomfortably.

Caroline sat very close to him, her head bowed as if she was struggling with some major problem, her white arms unintentionally pressed against Dean's sleeve, her body temperature and the scent of shampoo coming from her blonde hair made Dean slightly impetuous.

"You said before that you wrote a lot of works, is there one that suits me?"

Caroline looked at him suddenly, her big moist eyes full of anticipation, and her pursed red lips were as soft as flowers.

Dean's eyes rolled, the girl's skin was white and shiny, very delicate, her face was small, her facial lines were softer than most white girls, and her facial features were very delicate. But he is in good shape, sitting on the sofa, he can also see the undulating curves under the black vest on his chest, and a snow-white waist.

Dean couldn't help but think of his girlfriend in his previous life, who was not as good as Caroline in appearance.

"Well, there are a few songs with female lead singers, but they still need polish."

Dean replied casually,

"Found it! Caroline, don't sit silly and make two cups of coffee. Robert put a pile of papers on the table and called Dean, "Man, you're eighteen, aren't you?" ”

"I know what you're worried about, I'm legal old enough to sign a contract on my own."

Dean flipped through the information and found that it was a sample of the song transfer contract, and the dense clauses dazzled him and couldn't grasp the point.

After a few glances, he closed the data again.

"Have you ever been a composer or a radio music association?"

"Nope." Dean answered truthfully, where did he know what association.

“good！”

Robert shook his fist excitedly,

"What's wrong, if I didn't join the association, I'm so fooled?" Dean asked with a smile,

"NO, how is that possible? I'm just glad that I can be your guide to bring a new talent like you into the Vegas music scene and help you grow into a well-known composer. It's a piece of capital to show off. ”

Robert took the steaming coffee from Caroline and took a sip,

"Do you know how hard it is for a layman to get in? Countless young boys and girls dream of being singers, and in order to enter the circle and become their own people, they are willing to pay any high price, money, body, everything! But 99 percent of them are just daydreaming, they have a mediocre singing voice, they have no talent or creative talent, and they end up being deceived by some impudent bastards in this circle. ”

"But I'm different, I'm a principled professional. And you, Amazing day is your best stepping stone, made of pure gold... You give it to Good Morning, and when it is successfully published, professional music associations will naturally throw an olive branch to you as an author. In the future, you continue to write songs for Good Morning, which is as convenient as drinking water and eating from a legal perspective! ”

With her chin in her right hand, Caroline's gaze moves intently back and forth between her familiar bandmates and new friends.

"It's okay to sing good morning." Dean nodded,

"Then let's talk about the transfer of the copyright of the song and the share of rights and interests of the single released in the future."

Chubby agent said.

Dean picked up his coffee cup, looked at Robert's impatient face, and smiled.

A lawyer negotiates the right to a song with an outsider who has just turned eighteen? Treat him like a fat sheep?

But he didn't care.

"I have a few conditions, after the song is published, it must be signed by my name. Of course, the names of the rest of the people in the Good Morning Band can be added as well, I don't mind. ”

Dean didn't want to become fat in one go, he wasn't afraid of losing money, but at least he had to take a step forward, as Robert said, to brush up on his fame in this circle and leave a business card, so that he could continue to sell songs later.

He dropped a bomb.

"I won't take a penny of the relevant copyright income after the song is published."

"Dude, you're not kidding, are you?" Robert looked at the look of a fool, he had never seen a newcomer who took the initiative to give up his rights, most of the newcomers were arrogant, eager to take 100% of the song's profits.

Every point missing is cutting their flesh and can babble for days.

Professional sensibilities made Robert suspicious, this song can't be a problem, right?

"Dean, there's no need to do this." Caroline hurriedly shook her head, "We never want to take advantage of you, we prefer to maintain a long-term friendly relationship!" ”

"I'm serious. And you can rest assured, this song has just been written for two days, it is cleaner than a mirror, there are no copyright issues, and you can take it to register at any time. But I demand—" Dean paused, staring straight into Robert's eyes, and said word for word, "you must pay me a one-time buyout of Amazing day." ”

Dean wasn't interested in spending a lot of time wrestling with what copyrights.

In addition, he doesn't want to be a big singer, and it's not more cool to get money behind the scenes.

The one-time buyout score is much faster to get the money, and he desperately needs the first money.

"A one-time buyout fee?"

Robert couldn't help but nodded, this kind of result was completely acceptable, and when the time came, the names of the Good Morning members were added to the song.

Amazing day is the equivalent of their original tracks.

Shouldn't the band just sing its own songs? This is a huge plus for the audience.

But things are going too smoothly, and Robert observes his words, this Chinese has cunning eyes, and he is by no means the kind of big fool.

Robert tapped his inverted index finger on the table and said tentatively,

"How much do you want?"

Dean grinned,

"Ten thousand dollars, yes, after taxes."

Dig the hair!

The calmness on Robert's face was like a levee that had been washed away by a flood, and it collapsed in an instant.

And Caroline grew her mouth and dared to open her mouth like this.

"Man, do you know the market? Do you know what the price of a song written by a newcomer without any historical achievements is usually there? ”

"I don't know... But I'm sure that the value created after Amazing Day will be far more than $10,000, ten, hundred. ”

"On the other hand, if I'm not a newcomer, do you think you can get this song for this price?"

Dean blew in a determined tone.

"Buying it for $10,000 is definitely a lucrative business, you... Earn over. ”

"The price you ask for is outrageous. Let's be realistic, newcomer...," Robert added two spoonfuls of sugar to his coffee, "and the most expensive of the seven songs we've bought before is only two thousand dollars, and it doesn't include tax. ”

"Did that song help you get out on an album?" Dean turned to look at Caroline, "Helped you win any of the Vegas singing competitions in the past?" ”

The girl pursed her lips and looked lonely.

"Can those songs compare to the quality of Amazing day?" Dean asked rhetorically,

"I'm still saying that, you're asking too much!" Robert shook his head, "If you don't believe it, you can hand this song to other bands and see if any wronged bosses are willing to spend more than 10,000 yuan to buy it." ”

"Why not? That's all for today. I tried it with other bands and then a professional lawyer. ”

Dean Huo Ran got up and strode to the staircase in a dashing manner, silently counting in his heart.

3。

2。

1。

"Wait, Dean, I have to warn you that you haven't registered the copyright to this song, and the other bands aren't as principled as I am, they're a bunch of cunning old foxes... Do you understand? You are a lamb to the slaughter in their eyes. Robert couldn't help but open his mouth,

"You mean they're going to copy my song directly?" Dean turned suddenly, with an indescribable meaning, as if to seduce, "What about you guys?" Will the band Good Morning copy it? ”

An unspeakable expectation swelled up in Di An's head, if the other party really plagiarized his songs and deprived him of the fruits of his labor, he would not have a righteous and bright reason to make a move and ask for a greater reward.

That's not a bad thing, is it?

Robert kept his face calm and did not speak, his eyes rolling slightly, as if to ponder this possibility.

"Dean, can it be cheaper?"

Caroline trotted over and grabbed Dean's hand, looked up at his face, and pleaded softly,

"It's hard for us to come up with such a large sum of money in a short period of time. But Good Morning needs this song to open the picture... For Rust and Britney's sake, okay? ”

There was a stalemate for a while.

At the bottom of the stairs, a pleasant melody sounded.

Drums, guitars, electronic organs, and complex accompaniment, someone sang Amazing day...

But listening to the voice, it was the Rust guy.

Dean pondered that his performance was almost over.

After all, a newcomer, it doesn't matter if he is not famous, if he finds a big company or other band to contribute, there is a high probability that he will sink to the bottom of the sea, and he may cause a bunch of troublesome bad things.

The most important point is that only God knows whether the song will be popular in 20 years' time.

"Well, it seems that for Rust's sake... So how much are you willing to pay? Dean was back on the couch of the negotiations.

"Three thousand dollars." Robert lit a Marlboro and handed it to Dean, "We'll take care of all the copyright issues for you and keep your authorship." ”

"You're sending the homeless, how can three thousand knives be worthy of my hard work?" Dean politely refused the cigarette handed over, and said in a deep voice, "One price, five thousand dollars." ”

This was Dean's psychological expectation.

"You win, man, five thousand dollars, a one-time buyout of Amazing day." Robert took a hard bite of his cigarette and reached out to shake Dean's hand.

Caroline next to her held her chest and breathed a long sigh of relief, she couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it would be to let this good song go away from her.

"You have to be glad that you met me Robert, and I changed to another agent, and I took advantage of the law to eat you alive." The agent's eyes shrunk into a slit, "Aren't the people of the Celestial Empire paying attention to courtesy?" I'm so honest, shouldn't you say something? How about handing over the songwriter agency to me? ”

"I'll wait until Good Morning wins the Vegas Singing Contest with this song." Dean decisively refused, and instead said, "Sign up and pay now?" ”

"Not so fast, first you have to register the copyright of this song!" Robert shook his head, "Write good morning and your name." ”

"How long?"

"Your full cooperation, plus industry insiders like me, at least ten days and half a month."

Dean's expression changed, and he had a summer vacation in half a month.

"But I need money urgently, so you'd better give me cash."

"Young man, people have come to advise you, don't ask for cash when you sign a contract with someone, that is a practice used by blacks to evade taxes. You don't want to be approached by the IRS, just give me a bank account or I'll write you a check. ”

Robert explained intimately, seeing Dean's ugly face, his heart moved,

"In this way, on behalf of the band, I will lend you 1,200 dollars first, which can be regarded as consolidating our friendship."

"I don't have a bank account," Dean smiled innocently, "you'll have to get everything done for me." ”

……