After ending the phone call with Minoru Endo, Yamamoto Tokuhara felt confident and restarted negotiations with Cao Zhiqiang.
This time, perhaps because he knew Cao Zhiqiang's true identity, Yamamoto Tokuyuan despised him much less and no longer regarded Cao Zhiqiang as a dispensable person.
"I'm sorry." Yamamoto Tokuyuan, who sat down on the sofa again, smiled at Cao Zhiqiang, "I didn't expect that Cao Sang is the president of a record company in China at such a young age. He is my colleague and the same level, haha Ha ha."
Cao Zhiqiang smiled slightly: "No, that's just a fluke. I just reaped the dividends of the times. It's still incomparable to you, an experienced senior."
】
Seeing what Cao Zhiqiang said, Yamamoto Tokuyuan nodded with satisfaction: "Cao Sang is too humble. No matter what, you must be unique in being the president.
So, although I trust Endo-kun's advancement, can you let me see your passport? "
"Of course." Cao Zhiqiang nodded.
Soon, Cao Zhiqiang took out his passport again and handed it over with both hands.
Yamamoto Tokuhara took Cao Zhiqiang's passport, and after looking at it in detail, he found that Cao Zhiqiang's workplace and position were indeed on it, exactly as Endo Minoru said.
It was impossible to deceive someone with a passport, and Yamamoto Tokuhara knew a little about the situation in China. He knew that the general manager of the company there was almost the same as the president here, so he quickly chose to believe it.
After returning the passport to Cao Zhiqiang, Yamamoto Tokuyuan did not continue to discuss cooperation. Instead, he first asked Cao Zhiqiang how he became the general manager of the "Huaxia Audio and Video Company".
Cao Zhiqiang felt that this was nothing, so he selectively told the story of how he became a member of Huaxia Audio and Video Company.
When Yamamoto Tokuyuan heard that Cao Zhiqiang first became famous and made money by writing poems, and then made the first pot of gold through writing poems, contracted a publishing house, and then published a best-selling book, made another sum of money, and continued With this money, I continued to invest in and contracted a state-owned audio and video company, and I was stunned.
Because this experience is so legendary, and what’s even more rare is that it took so short time, only half a year in total.
Within half a year, he jumped from an ordinary intern who just started working to the president of a publishing house and the general manager of an audio-visual company, and the business was going well. This is really scary.
Similar situations are not unknown in Japan, but they are definitely not climbing so fast.
"Actually, I have benefited from the glory of the times." Cao Zhiqiang said with a smile, "Our country is currently undergoing reforms, reforms in all aspects.
In the process of reform, a large number of opportunities will naturally arise.
It was only by seizing these opportunities that I achieved these achievements in such a short period of time.
So, it's just good luck. "
"Cao Sang is so humble!" Yamamoto Tokuyuan smiled and shook his head.
“Even if opportunities arise due to reforms, they will only be reserved for those who are talented and prepared.
For example, Cao Sang, if you didn't have a special talent in poetry, you wouldn't have made your first pot of gold so easily, let alone use this first pot of gold to contract the publishing house affiliated with your factory.
Even if you contract a publishing house, if you don't use your talent again and publish a best-selling book, you won't make a lot of money again, and then have enough capital to contract the next audio-visual company.
In the same way, if you contract the audio-visual company, if you don't write and sing your own songs, and the products sell well, you will not be able to turn losses into profits.
In short, your experience seems to be due to good luck, but it is not.
The key is yourself, you are so awesome.
If it had been anyone else, even if he had been given the opportunity to contract publishing houses and audio-visual companies, he would not have been able to do so well in a short period of time because he was not talented enough or capable. "
Speaking of this, Yamamoto Tokuhara sighed: "As a president, I am engaged in business management. I know all too well the bitterness and difficulties of management.
At such a young age, Cao Sang was able to single-handedly turn the tide and accomplish such a career in such a short period of time. I don't know how to describe this.
If I have to say it forcefully, I can only say that you are a miracle in your own right! "
Cao Zhiqiang chuckled: "No, no, it's all thanks to the good policies. If it weren't for the policies, I wouldn't be able to display my talents."
"No, no, no." Yamamoto Tokuhara waved his hand, "You are being too modest. There is a saying in your country that gold will always shine. If your talent is there, you will stand out sooner or later."
Cao Zhiqiang smiled slightly: "President Yamamoto, let's stop this kind of mutual praise in business. Everyone is very busy. Do you think we will still cooperate in the future?"
"Cooperation, of course we must cooperate!" Yamamoto Tokuhara said quickly, "I didn't know your specific situation before, and the conditions were a bit neglectful, but since you are already a famous singer in your country, and you also run a record company, company."
"It's an audio and video company." Cao Zhiqiang corrected, "Our Chinese company not only produces and distributes records, it can also produce and distribute video tapes."
"It's all the same." Yamamoto Tokuyuan said with a smile, "In that case, do you think this is a good idea? Before talking about cooperation with you, can you talk about other cooperation first, for example, let your Huaxia Audio and Video Company, will we, Warner Pioneer, engage in a Sino-Japanese friendly cooperation?"
Cao Zhiqiang raised his eyebrows: "What kind of friendly cooperation do you want between China and Japan?"
Yamamoto Tokuhara smiled: "That's right, your China Audio and Video Company can have a strategic cooperation with our Warner Pioneer.
As for this strategic cooperation, our artists can sign a contract with your Huaxia Audio and Video Company.
The content of the contract is probably that we give you an authorization to authorize our artists to record records in your country, and you will exclusively distribute them, and then we will formulate a share ratio based on the actual situation, based on the sales volume.
As a reciprocal, your artists from Huaxia Audio and Video Company can also authorize us to Warner Pioneer, and we will record and distribute records for your artists. We will also specify a share ratio based on the situation, and we will also share the share based on sales.
In this way, our artists can enter your domestic market with the help of your Huaxia Audio and Video, and your artists can also enter the Japanese market with the help of our Warner Pioneer. This is mutual benefit for both parties and everyone is happy. "
Cao Zhiqiang laughed as soon as he heard this, and immediately knew what his intention was.
"President Yamamoto, I personally agree with your proposal, but unfortunately, it seems difficult to implement it at the moment."
"Why?" Yamamoto Tokuhara asked.
Cao Zhiqiang said: "President Yamamoto, let's put it this way, although I control a domestic audio and video company, well, let's call it a record company.
My company does have the power to produce and distribute records in China, but these rights are limited. In theory, I can only produce and distribute records for domestic singers.
If it is a foreign singer, it is not our record company that has the final say whether it can be released in our country, but must be approved by the relevant departments.
For example, diplomacy, cultural departments, etc. need to go through a lot of procedures and processes.
In addition, even if the process is completed, it is hard to say whether Japanese singers sing Japanese songs and whether they will be popular in our country. "
"It doesn't matter." Yamamoto Tokugawa said with a smile, "China and Japan are now friendly. If we go under the banner of cultural exchanges, we must go through the process and things, so it won't be a big problem.
As for whether we Japanese singers can do well in your country.
Well, Japanese songs are a problem, but in this way, we can separately produce a batch of Chinese songs based on the Japanese songs, let our singers sing them, and then only release them in your mainland. This will be no problem, right? ? "
"Of course there is no problem." Cao Zhiqiang nodded, "But in this matter, it is best for Japan to apply first.
For example, you, Warner Pioneer Company, first made relevant applications for our embassy personnel here under the banner of friendly exchanges between China and Japan. In this way, your problem will not be big.
Then I will help you establish relationships and operations after returning to China, and generally there will be no big problems.
After the official connection between the two parties is completed, the remaining issues will be easy to deal with. Our Huaxia Audio and Video Company can help your artists promote and distribute domestically. When necessary, your artists will also need to come to our country in person to carry out some actual operations.
For example, there are song releases, fan meetings, concerts, etc.
In the same way, as equals, our artists also need your full cooperation, such as song launches, fan meetings, concerts, etc.
The specific publicity operations of artists on both sides should be based on the specific situations of both parties and try to reflect a fair and just principle. "
"Not bad, not bad!" Yamamoto Tokuhara touched his chin, "This idea is very good, very good."
Cao Zhiqiang smiled and said: "I am very happy to reach this consensus with you. However, the specific operation may be a bit cumbersome, but as long as we remain true to our original intentions, I believe there will be no big problem."
After a pause, Cao Zhiqiang emphasized: "President Yamamoto, I still say that although our country's current economy is not very good, the population is there, and the desire for high-level pop songs is very high. It is definitely a strange and vast market.
If nothing else, let’s talk about Japan’s record market. If you release a single record, it would be considered a high number if it sells more than 30,000 copies in a week. But with this number in our country, it is simply a failure.
Take me as an example. The album I released, sold over one million copies in one week, and it immediately sold out.
When my record was released, it was not the number of releases that restricted sales, but the number of productions.
Because our country is still dominated by cassette tapes and there are very few vinyl records.
As for cassette tapes, our country is still in short supply. Before I released the album "Blooming Life", I contacted several tape manufacturers and asked for a lot of quotas, and then they reluctantly gave me some quotas. .
Even so, I first stocked up half a million records before I dared to sell them to the public, instead of like you, who stocked up on 10,000 records before putting them on sale.
It can be said that if our tape production had not been a hindrance, when my album was released, it would not have been able to sell only one million copies within a week of its release. It would have at least doubled.
Even now, almost three months after my album was released, sales are still very good.
If there are no accidents, I am afraid that the sales volume of five million copies will be achieved soon. "
"Isn't it? Are there really so many sales?" Yamamoto Tokuyuan's eyes widened.
"Of course!" Cao Zhiqiang nodded, "Don't talk about me, just talk about Miss Deng Lijun. You should know her name, right?"
"I know, of course I know." Yamamoto Tokuyuan nodded.
Cao Zhiqiang said: "To be honest, Miss Teng Lijun's record sales in Xiangjiang alone have reached five million. As for the record sales in our country, they may have exceeded 10 million.
However, the records released by Miss Deng Lijun in our country are all pirated. No matter how many records are released, Miss Deng Lijun will not get a penny in remuneration.
By the way, it’s not just Miss Teresa Teng, Miss Momoe Yamaguchi, you know, right? "
"Of course I know." Yamamoto Tokuhara chuckled, "Miss Yamaguchi is also a well-known star here, how could I not know?"
Cao Zhiqiang nodded and said seriously: "Then do you know that since "Blood Doubt" starring Miss Yamaguchi Momoe was released in our country, Yamaguchi Momoe has become famous, and many of her songs have also appeared in our country. Of course, They are also pirated.
Although there are no specific statistics, according to preliminary statistics made by our company, so far, the sales volume of Miss Yamaguchi Momoe's pirated song tapes in our country has probably exceeded 5 million. "
"Five, five million?" Yamamoto Tokuyuan was directly shocked this time.
"That's right!" Cao Zhiqiang nodded seriously, "If you don't believe me, ask Mr. Zuotian. He has been to our place before. He should know the popularity of Miss Yamaguchi Momoe over there. He should also know the popularity of Miss Yamaguchi Momoe. Whether or not the record shows up on our end.”
Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Tokuhara immediately looked at Masashi Sabota, who had been silent since just now.
Realizing that he was suddenly mentioned, Masashi Zuoda was stunned, smiled bitterly and said, "Well, based on my personal experience, Miss Yamaguchi Momoe is indeed very popular in China, and it is not an exaggeration to say that she is a household name.
As for her records, I don’t know exactly how many there are, but there are indeed songs by Yamaguchi Momoe on the market. "
"Those are all pirated copies!" Cao Zhiqiang said, "As far as I know, some people imported Miss Yamaguchi's tapes from Japan or Hong Kong, and then secretly recorded them through tape recorders, and then sold them on the market.
Because too many people are doing it, the specific number is no longer available. Our figure of five million is an approximate figure based on interviews and surveys in several major cities. The actual number may be higher. "
Well, the five million copies sold by Momoe Yamaguchi that Cao Zhiqiang mentioned was of course just nonsense, just to shock Yamamoto Tokuhara.
Of course, there are not that many in reality, at least not that many at the moment. After all, it is still the same saying, the supply of tapes is insufficient.
In an era when tape recorders had to be purchased by reel, although audio tapes were not required by reel, they were still in short supply at the moment.
If the number of tapes increased, the album sales of Cao Zhiqiang's previous album "Blooming Life" could at least quadruple.
"I see." Yamamoto Tokuyuan took a deep breath, "Your country is really a big market!"
"President Yamamoto." Cao Zhiqiang smiled, "In our country, the current record industry is indeed a big market, and the income is also considerable. To a certain extent, it is not much smaller than your Japanese record market.
But if you want to make money in my country's recording industry, there are still many problems.
For example, foreign artists rarely gain recognition from the Chinese people, and it is difficult to release records in my country through normal channels, etc.
However, these problems are minor problems. The biggest problem is actually the insufficient number of records.
In other words, the production quantity of cassette tapes is far from keeping up with the relevant needs of our people.
Therefore, when I came to Japan this time, in addition to inspecting and negotiating cross-border cooperation with artists, I also had a very important purpose, which was to inspect the tape production line.
If possible, I hope to import several audio tape production lines from you and produce audio tapes in our country.
In this case, if we have our own production line and can produce tapes and record records by ourselves, the quantity will increase.
For a record, if the content is software, then the tape is hardware.
Only when software and hardware cooperate well and in sufficient quantities can we earn the maximum profit, don’t you think? "
