Chapter 537

George strand was a little worried.

It's not because the recording results are bad, on the contrary, it's because the recording results are too good. In George's opinion, "Don Quixote" is likely to surpass Nora Jones's debut album "far away" and become the most outstanding album in the 21st century.

But such an album means no market.

At that time, after Nora Jones finished the recording of "far away", he was full of expectations, but few distribution companies were willing to take over the hot potato, and few people were optimistic about the sales prospects of the album. It took nearly a year for the two independent record companies to jointly release the music and get it listed.

However, the market sales of "go far and high" are extremely bad, only circulating among senior professional music lovers, which also meets the speculation of the industry before.

Later, Grammy not only awarded Nora eight trophies, which equaled Michael Jackson's single award winning record, but also won four comprehensive awards and swept the whole army.

Originally, "far away" was the lowest selling album among the four nominees of Grammy comprehensive awards; But after the awards ceremony, the Grammy effect came to power, doubling the cumulative sales of albums in just one week - in other words, the number of albums sold in one week is equal to the sales of the past ten months.

After that, through the precipitation of time, "far away" has gradually become one of the most outstanding albums in the United States since the 21st century, with a total sales volume of more than 8 million, and also one of the highest sales albums.

It was 2002, only a few years after the last boom of the music market in the 1990s. Even then, it was so difficult, let alone now in 2011. Not every album can copy the miracle of "flying away", nor can every excellent album be recognized by Grammy.

It is a big problem in any era, especially in the Internet age when fast food culture is popular“ The excellence of Don Quixote is just a fatal shackle.

Although cruel, ridiculous and absurd, this is the truth. Those who sell well are not necessarily the best; The best, however, do not sell well. The market is becoming more and more entertaining, popular and simple.

In the past, George has been actively contacting the major record companies, including the five major record companies and the independent record companies. He has contacted 17 record companies before and after, and has expanded his interpersonal network to the extreme, but has gained little.

Even the small record companies in the UK who dare to make pioneering and experimental music need to think about it again - after all, their distribution channels are effective, so cost recovery is more difficult. They are more willing to support the artists who come from underground music than the albums made in America.

"Speed and passion 5" box office fever, George was originally dismissive, but the brain is turning fast, hoping to seize this opportunity for "Don Quixote" to find a suitable partner. After all, the result is still not satisfactory. In the final analysis, the blue ceremony is still unstable.

Abraham grey was George's first contact and his last hope.

Abraham worked for Atlantic Records. He was born as an album producer, and then gradually transformed into a production director. Now he is in charge of the record department. He is the leader who controls the overall style trend and the keynote of Atlantic Records.

When it comes to Atlantic Records, I'm afraid everyone in the industry knows that it's this company that promotes the rise of rhythm and blues; The same company signed Aretha Franklin, which not only created the greatest soul queen in the American music market, but also brought soul music to the golden age; It's the same company that signed the led zeppelin, which is considered an important cornerstone of the rock age.

Although Atlantic Records was acquired by Warner records, Warner still maintained their independent creativity. Compared with other record companies, Atlantic Records, as a top record company, has always maintained a high degree of enthusiasm for independent music and artistic creation, which is really valuable. In the 21st century, Bruno Mars is an artist created by Atlantic Records, and of course, ed Sheeran, who was introduced by George before.

Before that, ED and Abraham signed the contract. Next week, Ed's first single will be released in the UK. Atlantic Records hopes to see the market reaction first, and then decide the release time of the album.

Ed's music style combines pop, folk songs, soul, hip-hop and other different styles, which is not the mainstream style of the current market, but it is more in line with the taste of contemporary young people, and the market prospect is relatively bright; However, lanli's album is unique. Its unique style almost perfectly avoids all the key factors of market popularity, and pursues the breakthrough in music and art wholeheartedly.

This is even more willful than "flying away". Nora only participated in the production of three of the 14 songs on the album. The artistic tone of the album was controlled by Jessie Harris and several other producers. But "Don Quixote" is almost completed by Langley in all aspects of art.

For such an album, anyone will sweat in their palms. In the current market environment, it is almost certain to smash the pot. Even a top star bonus like "Johnny Depp" doesn't work, let alone a small role like lenley hall?

Abraham was no exception, of course. He can sign ed Sheeran, but not Langley hall, even if it's just a Don Quixote.

Before George came to him, he mentioned Cleopatra and Ophelia, and then he mentioned this album. Abraham did some market research and research, and repeatedly listened to the three single songs that lenley has published, but he still lacks the courage to make a final sound.

Today, after listening in the recording room, on the one hand, he was even more exclamatory about lanli's understanding and interpretation of music, which is a kind of talent, a talent that others dream of; On the other hand, it's more strangling. Abraham knows better than anyone that this kind of album is bound to struggle in the market. Moreover, over the years, Grammy has gradually begun to compromise with the market. It's hard to find the courage to praise "go far" ten years ago, and this road has been blocked.

While sighing and sighing, Abraham said that he was a willful young man and could only bear to refuse. Deep down in his heart, he regretted more than anyone else. He also understood George's ambition and ideal. The more so, the more regretful he was, but the more firm he refused. Because this is a dream that is doomed to fail.

Although the reality is cruel, it cannot be denied.

"It's not difficult to make a commercial album; But it's not easy to make an art album. Everyone can do commercial albums, but not art albums. " There was a sound in their ears. Both Abraham and George looked up and looked at the sound. Then they exchanged views. Abraham noticed the confusion in George's eyes and obviously didn't understand what was going on.

Roy felt the sight of the two, stabilized himself a little, sorted out the thoughts in his mind, and then continued, "indeed, in the current market environment, making an art album is like making an art film, which is doomed to lose money. For businessmen, no one is willing to lose money, and no one will know how to do it; But for artists, they can't give up their pursuit of art. "

"The reason is very simple. If everyone doesn't do art, no one will continue to do it in the future; If there is no pursuit and persistence of art, then in the future, maybe all the films will become transformers and all the music will become electronic drums. " Roy's speech rhythm is very fast, but his thinking is very clear. It's like a machine gun. It's fast and accurate, and the amount of information is pouring out. "It's not that transformers are bad, nor that electronic dance music is bad. In fact, I like transformers very much. I'm still looking forward to next week's screening. But when the whole market is full of such works, it's a disaster. "

"What we need to encourage is not artistic creation that is becoming more and more biased and dangerous, nor art research that abandons commercial considerations, but a flourishing market. Well, everyone is making commercial albums. Who is going to make art albums? Those record labels that really have a long-term vision and a real artistic value. "

At this point, Roy didn't go on. His eyes fell on Abraham. The subtext was: Yes, it's you. It's your record company.

Abraham was stunned. Roy's crackling remarks didn't catch up for a moment. He finally got to the gap and his smile rose.

Everyone knows the truth, but reality doesn't work like this. Atlantic records can take risks, but not gamble. Ed Sheeran was an adventure, and Langley hall was a gamble. Everyone pursues the balance between art and business, but not everyone has the strength, capital, courage and ability to do it. Even Oscar and Grammy can't do it, let alone Atlantic Records?

Abraham opened his mouth, organized the language, and was ready to have a good discussion with Roy: he didn't want to, but couldn't.

But before he had time to speak, someone next to him interrupted again, "I think this is a very interesting album, but I don't know if Langley is interested in giving it to our studio to release?"

It's not Abraham, it's not George, it's the one sitting in the back of the sofa, the one who has not spoken from beginning to end and is almost ignored.