Chapter 166 - Counterattacking To The Top

Usually, September was a quite month for pop music, with no big names releasing new albums or singles this month. Therefore, the four major music websites have become the stage for the new generation of singers and idols.

Since the beginning of this month, QQ Music, NetEase Music, Pop Radio and Voice of China have all released the debut albums of singers and artists, but the most eye-catching one was undoubtedly the competition between the four emerging artists on QQ Music website!

Cui Zhengzhi, Lu Chen, Zou Bei and Ling Xiaoxiao are all outstanding artists of the new generation in China.

Everyone thought that Cui Zhengzhi, who occupied the advantage of time, place, and people, would inevitably become the final winner.

Cui Zhengzhi also thought so, so when he was interviewed by the media, he contemptuously disregarded Lu Chen.

However, the fact gave him a slap in the face!

At 7 pm on September 9, 24 hours after Cui Zhengzhi and Lu Chen’s debut album went on sale, “Provocation” sold 67,520 copies and “You Who Sat Next To Me” sold 65,117 copies. The gap between the two have narrowed down to just over 1,000.

In fact, both Cui Zhengzhi and Orange Field Entertainment, which he signed up to, knew very well that the actual sales of “Provocation” should be subtracted by 15,000. If Lu Chen didn’t buy sales, it meant he was behind 13,000+ sales instead!

For a whole day, Cui Zhengzhi didn’t update his blog and didn’t let Cui Xiuyin write on his behalf.

He even pushed off the afternoon notice. He just stood in front of the computer and stared at the sales data of QQ Music.

Like a person who is possessed!

Cui Xiuyin didn’t dare to persuade him. She could only explain and apologize to the company, with the reason that Cui Zhengzhi suddenly fell ill.

After all, temporarily canceling the scheduled notice was a very bad thing for new artists. Because even if Cui Zhengzhi was popular in Orange Field Entertainment because of his parents, he will still be questioned by the upper levels.

Cui Zhengzhi’s condition was really the same as being ill. He didn’t believe that he will lose to Lu Chen.

Although his heart was desperately saying that Lu Chen also bought sales, but intuition told this proud new idol that Lu Chen’s achievements were probably real.

But how was that possible?

The live version of Lu Chen’s songs, that was in his album, were already available early on, and can be easily found on the Internet. He also didn’t spend money on publicity, and only temporary hyped for a while. How could the result be so excellent?

How was that possible?

Cui Zhengzhi couldn’t figure it out. He wanted to smash the computer on the desk.

If the company hadn’t bought sales for him, he would have suffered the humiliation of being stepped on by Lu Chen!

Lu Chen couldn’t figure it out either.

He was also standing in front of the computer, watching the constantly jumping numbers on the weekly sales list of QQ Music, and Li Mubai, who was sitting next to him eating a fast food box lunch, couldn’t tear his sister apart, oh wrong, was puzzled! (TN: Author tried to make a joke here)

Lu Chen first set a sales target of 100,000+ to “You Who Sat Next To Me”. Later, when he took on Cui Zhengzhi, he increased the cost of publicity and hype, and raised the expected value to 150,000+ to ensure that he could still make a sum of money.

However, he didn’t expect that the sales volume of the first day would reach over 60,000. If there was no substantial drop, then the total sales can at least exceed over 300,000, reaching the standard of big sales.

Lu Chen felt a little baffled, feeling as if he had suddenly been hit by a pie falling from the sky.

His gaze couldn’t help but fall on Li Mubai, revealing a look of doubt.

Li Mubai swallowed the food in his mouth. He said, “You don’t have to look at me. I’m so poor now. I’ve been advertising for you in the QQ Group these two days. I don’t have the money to buy sales for you. I didn’t even know what buying list was before!”

“If I have this money, I can eat well. How can I eat this? But…”

The pitiful third young master of the Li Family was now reduced to a mixed lunch box situation.

Just like what Li Murong said, his pocket money was cut-off this month, and a master like him would not save at all. So, he became very poor all of a sudden.

His Porsche’s sports car has been given up to Li Mushi, who is still owes the blood spitting price with 60% discount. (TN: The price was so unfair that it would make people spit blood.)

So, Li Mubai can only watch the online crowdfunding come into operation as soon as possible.

If it was before, he would have never eaten a 15-yuan box lunch, but now he is eating it deliciously: “The steak is pretty good.” (TN: Like this: Here)

Lu Chen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But Li Mubai certainly didn’t buy sales for him.

So, this sales result is real!

But why?

Although he has several millions of fans in his live broadcast and blogs, most of them are passersby fans, and real die-hard fans were not many, even if it was an 8-yuan album, not many people will buy it.

This situation doesn’t only apply to him, but also for new artists like Cui Zhengzhi. Today’s fans are very astute. Moreover, it was easy for them to like the new and hate the old, often chasing more than one star idol.

Steady popularity and real fans require long-term accumulation and cultivation. Lu Chen’s rise was very fast, but his foundation was not solid. In addition, he was much more low-key than other artists, so both the public and himself were not very optimistic about the sales of “You Who Sat Next To Me”.

The result was so unexpected!

Lu Chen shook his head and said to Li Mubai, “Let’s see what happened. If the sales volume on QQ Music drops substantially, then we will officially launch the online crowdfunding, crowdfunding albums and commemorative sets.”

According to the plan, the crowdfunding network should have been launched yesterday. The website has already been completed, and there was only one project for the time being.

However, his album “You Who Sat Next To me” was selling so well on QQ Music that Lu Chen had to change his plan. After discussing with Li Mushi, he was going to postpone it for about 10 days, so as to avoid the situation of left hand hitting the right hand. (TN: Affecting each other’s result)

Li Mushi has no objection. The office of the new company was still under renovation. She has just returned to her homeland and she also have a lot of social activities.

The only one suffering was Li Mubai. He has no money and no car, and can only run to Lu Chen’s studio all day to get a meal.

Li Mubai was tackling the steak and nodded repeatedly: “mm-hmm!”

But the development of things is always so unexpected.

On September 10, Cui Zhengzhi’s “Provocation” sold a total of 82,584 copies, a significant drop.

What surprised many people was that the total sales of Lu Chen’s “You Who Sat Next To Me” has unexpectedly reached 102,560, counterattacking to the top of the weekly sales list of QQ Music, and was substantially ahead of its competitors.

Compared with the first day, the rise in his sales was so great that it made people feel that it was inconceivable!

Although many people in the circle, who were paying attention to this rookie showdown, were mentally prepared for Lu Chen to surpass Cui Zhengzhi, but seeing how fast the former counterattack to the top was really surprising to them.

If the sales in 48 hours was over 100,000, then it means that the total sale will not only reach 300,000, but it’s going to reach the 500,000 [Platinum Record]!

Lu Chen’s ambition was too big!

On blogs, forums, and post bars, the number of comments and discussions immediately increased.

Some people insisted that Lu Chen must have spent a lot of money to buy sales and didn’t believe that “You Who Sat Next To Me” can sell so well.

Some people also thought that the possibility of Lu Chen buying list was very unlikely, and that “You Who Sat Next To Me” have sold well because of its excellent quality.

Some people envied his success, while others laughed at Cui Zhengzhi’s failure.

Cui Zhengzhi’s interview video was even dug out.

But the place where there was the most discussion was in the member forum of QQ Music, which was already in an uproar!

As the largest music website in China, QQ Music Forum brings together a large number of pop music lovers, and the showdown between the four rookies this month has long been a hot topic.

By September 10, Ling Xiaoxiao’s solo album “True Love Invincible” had a total sale of only 60,000+, and the subsequent sales plummeted, making people wonder if the album could still meet the [Golden Record] standard.

And his album has received a low rating on the website, with a member rating of only 6.4, just barely passing.

Considering that he very likely spent money to buy sales, his actual score should be even lower!

Zou Bei’s “Blooming Flowers” was much better. The total sales of her album have broken 90,000, with an evaluation of 8.1 points. It should be said that her reputation was not bad, living up to the name of a talented woman.

Neither Ling Xiaoxiao nor Zou Bei has any hot topics worth talking about, so now the focus was mainly on the albums of Lu Chen and Cui Zhengzhi.

In the main comment area of the weekly sales list, various group of forces were battling it out, including Cui Zhengzhi’s fans, Lu Chen fans, passers-by fans from both sides and a large crowd of onlookers.

QQ tourist 00567: The sales volume of “You Who Sat Next To Me” is too fake. Whoever believes this is stupid!

Husky II: Upstairs is the stupidest!

Blue Sky: Laughing and touching at the dog’s head upstairs. I bought Lu Chen’s album and don’t like Cui Zhengzhi.

Mu’er: Cui Zhengzhi’s “Provocation” is not bad, but casually listening to the songs of this album is enough, it’s not worth buying.

Xiaozhi is the best: My Zhengzhi oppa is the best. Lu Chen’s water army, please leave, okay? Thank you!

Ak47: Hehe, how about you leave, you thick-face fan? Thank you!

The End of the World: I bought both albums. To be fair, Lu Chen is better than Cui Zhengzhi. You all can clearly see once you look at the album rating that “Provocation” bought the list, and “You Who Sat Next Too Me” didn’t!

Popeye: Really? “Provocation” bought the list, then wouldn’t that mean Cui Zhengzhi lose miserably?

Cheng Cheng Love: You’re talking nonsense!

End of the World: Am I talking nonsense? You can see it with you own eyes, just click on the ratings reviews.

…….

All albums or singles sold on QQ Music can be rated and evaluated by buying members. The ratings show how good its reputation.

So far, “You Who Sat Next To Me” has a rating of 9.2 and “Provocation” has 8.5.

The gap between the two seemed not very big, only 0.7.

But it should be known that due to the existence of the phenomenon of buying lists, it was normal to fabricate high scores, and the website will not care.

Because It’s those lords’ privilege to spend their money. (TN: meaning those people are free to spent their money to whatever they want.)

However, as long as one is willing to explore, one will find the problem in the ratings and evaluations of these members.

And also find out why the two albums sell differently.

When the tide recedes, it will be clear who is swimming naked!