A celebration party was underway at Neverland Ranch.
Bang!
The champagne cork popped, propelled by bubbles. Eric sprayed the drink, and the foam landed on everyone.
Hahahahaha
Cheers!
Everyone burst into heartfelt laughter. After a tough battle, they had finally achieved victory.
Elizabeth Olsen giggled, looking at the news report, "How could you say those things in front of reporters? Aren't you ashamed?"
Michael shook his head and sighed, "That's why I let Lawyer Meserio do the talking. Saying those things is still too difficult for me."
Lawyer Meserio, usually very serious, also let out a rare hearty laugh, "I'm afraid Howard Stringer would love to eat our hearts out."
Hearing this, Elizabeth Olsen became a little worried.
"Michael, although you won this time, Sony will definitely retaliate against you. You must be careful."
Mesereau waved his hand, "No, they won't. Michael and Sony signed a new agreement, which includes a clause against retaliation."
"Besides, as long as he holds the copyright, Sony wouldn't dare to get serious. If they truly had the guts, why would they compromise this time?"
"What I'm more concerned about is MGM. This incident caused too much of a stir. Sony suffered such a huge loss and won't be able to spare any effort for a while, but they will definitely investigate afterward, and Eric won't be able to hide."
Thinking of this, Michael also stopped smiling, "Eric, you're the one who really needs to be careful. If Sony targets MGM, have you considered a countermeasure?"
Seeing their anxious expressions, Eric, however, didn't take it seriously.
He knew very well that once Lionheart Network went online, it would inevitably impact other film and television companies.
Streaming media and TV stations/cinemas are inherently in conflict; they divert audiences, which is like snatching food from someone else's plate. Who wouldn't hate you for that?
Anyway, Eric was already prepared for a joint siege by The Big Six companies, like the six major sects besieging Bright Summit.
He didn't expect other companies to grant MGM film copyrights then. Lionheart Network would likely only be able to use MGM's own film library.
Perhaps he could also acquire the film libraries of some small independent companies, and DreamWorks could be considered, but DreamWorks' foundation was too weak to be of much use.
All Eric could do was continuously release good dramas to attract traffic and retain users. This was the only way to break through the encirclement.
So, a person must rely on himself!
Well, since they would be opponents sooner or later, what was there to worry about? When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth!
Taking a sip of champagne, Eric said indifferently, "Countermeasures? What's there to consider! As long as it's not assassinations or terrorist attacks, bring on the commercial competition."
"Anyway, since Hollywood was established, the Big Eight companies have always been in a state of both cooperation and competition."
"Everyone makes movies, so what kind of competition can there be? It's just competing for box office at the same time. Am I afraid of Sony?"
"Although Sony also has some big IPs, such as spider-man, Men in Black, and Stuart Little, MGM also has transformers, 007, and the silence of the lambs."
"And the company's performance over the past year is clear to the market. There's too much capital waiting for MGM to relist. Who's afraid of whom is still uncertain!"
Seeing Eric's confident demeanor, even if everyone was worried, they didn't say anything more.
After a pleasant time of eating and drinking, Michael and Eric walked outside.
By the artificial lake, the evening breeze, having passed over the water, brought a refreshing coolness.
"Michael, now you are finally free. With this half-copyright in hand, you can do many things. Do you have any plans?"
Michael gazed at the lake and said softly, "Until this moment, I still feel like it's all a dream. Although I've had thoughts of leaving Sony, I always considered it an unrealistic fantasy."
"Eric, your appearance is like a gift from heaven, helping me embark on a new life. Thank you!"
Looking at Michael, who seemed calm but was actually very excited, Eric was also deeply moved. Compared to the shattered life in the original timeline, this was indeed a new life, full of light and hope.
Patting his shoulder, Eric's tone was complex, "You are my idol, like a light that has given joy and hope to many people. Perhaps I am the one sent by God to give you an award."
The two exchanged smiles. Although they had only known each other for half a year, the storms and hardships they had experienced together surpassed many people's entire lives, and their relationship was already stronger than that of old friends.
"Eric, the new agreement I signed with Sony has many restrictions on the use of this half-copyright, so the best solution is to open my own music company."
"Even if it means re-establishing a distribution channel, it's better than being controlled by others. I believe that with our resources and capabilities, we can certainly become a super music company comparable to Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. in the future."
"We?"
"Yes, we. Eric, I want to invite you to establish a new company together. I've already thought of the company name: Meiyi Records."
"It comes from the initial 'M' of my name and the initial 'E' of your name, Meiyi Records."
"You will own 49% of the company's shares. This is my way of repaying you."
"I hope you don't mind; this is already the most precious thing I can offer."
Eric was stunned, not because it was too little, but because it was too much. He knew very well what 49% of the shares meant.
That meant he would be able to enjoy the profits from Michael himself and from many artists signed to Sony.
For example, if Britney Spears earned 100 million US dollars through the company this year, she herself would take about 20% of the income.
This percentage is fluid; it varies by company, and each artist's contract is different.
If it's a new artist signed to a big company like Sony, the percentage might be pushed down to 15% or even lower.
Similarly, if a new artist signs with a small company or studio, the percentage will increase significantly, usually reaching over 30%.
However, the disadvantage of small companies and labels is weak promotion and distribution channels. Album sales might not even reach half of what a big company achieves, so the money ultimately received might be less than what one would get by signing with a big company.
After Britney takes her 20%, the company's operating expenses and taxes must also be deducted. After all these miscellaneous fees are deducted, Sony and Michael can split the remaining portion equally.
As for how much is left, it still varies from person to person. For example, if 40% is left, then Michael gets 20%, which is 20 million US dollars.
It means he can take 20 million US dollars in dividends just by sitting at home and doing nothing.
And Sony, which handles all the distribution and operations, also gets this money. You can imagine how envious it is.
But what good is envy? Who told you to be greedy for the music library in Michael's hands? Sony Music has grown from the 1990s to today, and Michael has made great contributions.
He himself and the music library he holds have earned billions of dollars for Sony; they were originally mutually beneficial.
And now that Michael has established a new company, it means that the 20% profit he would have originally received will be further divided, with Eric receiving 49% of that. This is roughly a 50/50 split between them, and its value is immeasurable.
However, now that Michael has become an independent musician, his copyright also has boundaries.
First, Sony Music in Japan is independent, and Michael does not enjoy those rights.
Then, from the moment he left Sony, he will also not be able to enjoy the rights to new albums released by Sony artists in the future.
His copyright interests only extend from the establishment of Sony Music until this moment.
As time goes on, the value of these songs will decrease, and some may even enter the public domain, but even so, it is still a very substantial fortune.
"Michael, I am very willing to establish a company with you, but 49% is too high; I cannot accept it."
Michael, however, said in an undeniable tone, "No, you must accept it. Besides you, I can't think of anyone more deserving."
"But 49% is really too much. I can accept it, but at most 20%. I will contribute a sum of money as the company's registered capital."
Michael turned to look at Eric, his eyes clear: "Eric, are you my friend?"
"Of course, I consider you my best friend."
"Then don't say no anymore. I also consider you my best friend. These shares are not as important as our friendship."
Looking at his sincere gaze, Eric slowly nodded, "Alright then, let's work together to build Meiyi into a new music giant. Not only will it rival Sony, but it will also surpass it. And in the future, we will acquire it and reclaim all the copyrights."
Eric accepted the shares, and Michael smiled. He bent down, picked up a pebble, and threw it, making several splashes on the lake's surface.
"Eric, I also have some ideas for the company, just like these gradually advancing splashes, to gradually operate and expand it."
"First, I plan to release a new album as soon as possible. The success of 'Rolling in the Deep' made me realize some things. I must adapt to the new market environment and make some changes in my music style."
"Then there's the concert matter. Without Sony's help, it would be difficult, or rather impossible, to hold a world tour. So next year, I plan to start with concerts domestically, at least to re-establish momentum."
"There's also a very important thing: to discover some good talents. Good artists are the company's true assets. Only by continuously injecting fresh blood can the company develop long-term."
"That's all I've considered for now. Do you have any thoughts?"
Eric's mind conjured up his pre-planned strategy, and then he meticulously explained the situation of Lionheart Network and YouTube to Michael.
He had been using Facebook quite frequently during this period, and his understanding of the internet had deepened considerably.
Especially through the war with Sony, he had gained a profound impression of the internet's power of dissemination.
"Eric, do you mean that once YouTube goes online, I should license my copyrights for YouTube to use?"
Eric nodded, "Exactly. This way, YouTube can leverage your copyrights for faster development, and Meiyi can collect fees."
"It feels no different from a typical music library license," Michael said, somewhat puzzled.
"For now, the difference is indeed not significant. I plan to buy one year of usage rights and provide it to users for free, as YouTube is still in its early stages."
"After YouTube develops in a year, it will adopt a new cooperation model. For example, Meiyi licenses to YouTube, but the earnings will be based on a percentage of views, ad promotions, and other factors."
"Oh, wow. That cooperation model sounds quite novel. It gives me a feeling of a new internet era."
"Yes, that's the first idea. Then there's Lionheart Network's music variety show. I intend to create an innovative program to compete with American Idol, tentatively named The Voice of America."
"A music talent show?" Michael asked.
"Something like that, but not an open audition. Instead, contestants will be pre-screened. We only want elites, to present high-quality competition where contestants can demonstrate singing skills not inferior to professional singers on stage."
"The selected singers will sign with Meiyi, which will serve to replenish fresh blood."
"That sounds very interesting. The model is completely opposite to American Idol. One is grassroots, the other is elite. I just don't know which type the audience will prefer."
"Don't worry about that, because even if the contestants can't compete with American Idol, The Voice has another big selling point: the mentors fighting over contestants."
"I plan to invite four music superstars to form the mentor panel. After a contestant sings, if more than one mentor is interested, then the mentors will engage in a battle to recruit them."
"When audiences discover these big stars joking around, telling witty remarks, and behaving very differently from their stage personas, they will find it very novel."
"So, on the surface, the protagonists of The Voice seem to be the contestants, but the real protagonists are actually the four mentors. I can assure you that after the show airs, it will greatly boost the mentors' popularity."
"Michael, you are the first mentor I'm inviting!"
Hearing this, Michael took a step back, trying to envision that scene in his mind, but he couldn't imagine it, so he could only shake his head helplessly.
"Eric, am I suitable? I rarely participate in variety shows and don't know if I can adapt."
Eric chuckled, "You just have to sit there, and even if you don't say a word, the effect will be enough."
"And to alleviate any potential awkwardness you might feel, I also plan to invite your sister to be a mentor."
"Are you talking about Janet?"
"Yes, she's the Queen of Rock, a top female singer. She's more than qualified to be a mentor, and with her there, you won't be alone."
Michael nodded slightly, "If Janet participates, I will indeed be more relaxed. What about the other two?"
"I haven't decided yet. I'm considering a combination of two men and two women, plus a rapper and a female singer, but I'm still undecided on what style of music the female singer should specialize in."
"My expectation is to choose one from Whitney Houston, Madonna, Celine Dion, and Shania Twain. Do you have any suggestions?"
Michael thought for a moment: "They are all too outstanding; I can't give an opinion. You can try inviting them, and choose whoever has a lower price and longer availability."
"Uh, pragmatic!"