"Let me think, Bro..." Mars fell into contemplation on the other end of the phone. No matter how short of money he was, he dared not be careless about copyright issues.
Atlantic Records owned all the master rights to his works. If he also handed over the songwriting copyrights, he would completely become a walking meat speaker.
"It doesn't matter; think about it carefully..." Leon continued to guide. "The mortgage is only temporary. As long as you can pay back the money, you can redeem these copyrights at any time."
"Okay..." Such conditions were hard not to move Mars; this was an interest-free loan.
Maybe he could get more loans by mortgaging the songwriting copyrights of his debut album to the bank.
But putting aside the interest, just the review process would take a lot of time.
Because of long-term loan applications to the bank and mortgaging most of the assets under his name, even as a first-line star, his credit rating at the bank would seriously decline.
Moreover, banks have a complex evaluation process for intangible assets like copyrights, which are difficult to value.
As short as a week, as long as... no one can say for sure.
By the time his debt with Las Vegas Sands Corp. is due, even if he is not buried alive, the scandal of gambling debts exposed would be a huge blow to his career.
After weighing repeatedly, Mars gritted his teeth and said: "Okay Bro, you mean mortgaging the songwriting copyrights of all works in the Doo-Wops & Hooligans album to you, right?"
"That's right."
"No problem Bro, I will ask my lawyer to contact you immediately!" Mars's blood rushed to his head, showing the style of a desperate gambler. "I will be able to pay back the money soon, maybe not even half a year!"
Half a year?
Leon shook his head. This was still too long for him. If Mars really quit gambling and got ashore in these six months, then he lent this money for nothing.
"Three months; I can only give you three months."
Mars was dumbfounded and stammered: "Bro, isn't three months a bit too short..."
Even if he went full throttle in these three months, running commercial performances day and night, not even letting go of fly legs in nightclubs.
It would be very difficult to raise 15 million dollars in three months.
Even staying away from the gambling table would be tough. It is always difficult for gamblers to get ashore. Besides the addiction being hard to remove, another important reason is that most of them carry multiple debts.
Falling into the vicious cycle of borrowing money - repaying money - borrowing money again, the chance of getting ashore is slim.
"Three months is not short; this is entirely out of our personal relationship." Leon said, "You know that although I have money, I have many places to spend money. I have a big production new movie about to be established. At that time, maybe I have to take a loan from the bank..."
Finally, Mars gritted his teeth and agreed, not entirely because he was moved by this sincere speech.
He had no way back, like a red-eyed beast groping for direction.
"Bro, thank you for everything you did for me... Tomorrow morning I will go to your place with my lawyer to reach a great deal witnessing our friendship."
"Tomorrow? You'd better be faster. I have to fly to Los Angeles tomorrow morning. I will be very busy throughout August and September; my new album is about to be released, you know."
Leon didn't give the other party a chance to breathe, afraid that some X factor would appear to ruin this deal.
If the executives of Atlantic Records knew that Mars mortgaged all his songwriting copyrights to another company, they might faint directly from anger.
"Tonight! No... at most three hours, I'll rush over from New Jersey now!"
"No problem. As long as you sign the agreement, 15 million dollars will be transferred to your account soon!"
After hanging up the phone, Leon went to the finance room to explain the matter to Aisha and called Luca.
Half an hour later, everyone in the company knew the boss's amazing decision: 15 million dollars for the songwriting copyrights of an album.
The production cost of the entire Doo-Wops & Hooligans album might not even reach 10 million dollars.
"I think you are either crazy or have too much money to spend..." Phil complained: "This money can allow you to buy a manor on the Gold Coast of Australia and recruit a group of btches dressed in bunny suits to kneel down and serve you."
"I'm not crazy; this money is well spent." Leon was most worried that the money couldn't be spent and Mars would redeem the copyrights.
"Do you know how long the payback period of this investment is? Even if that Hawaiian idiot can maintain his creative state, adding up record sales and streaming licensing income, it will take at least five years..." Phil poured himself a glass of wine. "Moreover, no one knows when that kid will suddenly disappear. Drugs and women can hardly destroy a singer's career, but gambling can easily do it."
"I can hardly evaluate Mars's private life, but his creative talent is unquestionable, just like having a cheat." Leon said.
Three songs in the album Doo-Wops & Hooligans achieved the accomplishment of topping the Billboard.
Among them, Grenade topped the Billboard in January this year, intermittently won four Billboard championships, and topped the music charts in more than ten countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the Netherlands.
Just the Way You Are also won four Billboard championships and won the "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" award at this year's Grammy Awards.
Leon believes that as long as Mars can maintain first-line influence and continuously launch champion-level works, it won't take five years to recover the 15 million cost relying on songwriting copyrights.
The development trend of streaming media is faster than anyone imagined. Spotify has increased the stakes on licensing fees layer by layer, gradually surpassing the greedy and conservative Apple Store.
Leon continued: "Universal Music is planning to acquire all of Bob Dylan's music copyrights, offering 300 million dollars."
"That's Dylan, a historical-level superstar; his name is placed together with The Beatles and Michael Jackson!" Phil snorted disdainfully. "Even if Mars releases one album a year, and every album reaches the level of Doo-Wops & Hooligans, he is not worthy of comparison with Dylan."
"How do you know so much?" Leon felt a little noisy and gave the old geezer an eye roll.
The noise disappeared immediately.
He had already calculated in his heart how much the music copyright of Mars's debut album was worth; 15 million was a price in line with psychological expectations.
Universal Music intends to acquire the songwriting copyrights of all Dylan's works, involving more than 600 songs.
Currently offering 300 million dollars, but Dylan seems uninterested in this staggering number, and negotiations continue.
Calculated according to the current bid, the average value of a song is $500,000.
For immortal masterpieces like Blowin' in the Wind and Knockin' on Heaven's Door, it is of course great value. These works have been repeatedly covered in the past few decades and frequently used as background songs for movies.
But the vast majority of them are unknown old songs with dim commercial prospects. Without the blessing of Bob's name, they are a pile of garbage that no one cares about.
In contrast, the ten songs in Mars's album have a good market response, and there are three champion singles.
An average of $1.5 million per song—no matter how calculated, it is more cost-effective than Universal Music's acquisition of Dylan's copyright.
According to data disclosed by Apple Music, the company's streaming service now has more than 100 million independent music works, although not all tracks are brand new songs because many classic works have complicated cover versions and remixes.
It is certain that the number of tracks on streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify reaches tens of millions, but the music copyright business is still monopolized by the three major record companies.
This illustrates a simple truth: no matter how large the number of flop works, they cannot suppress premium products.
Unless a "Black Swan event" erupts, there is no hope of the birth of a fourth major copyright management company in the entire industry.
At 7 pm, Mars arrived at Apocalypse Music as agreed, walking hurriedly, followed by a young white man in a black suit.
"Bro, I really don't know how to thank you! Jesus once showed miracles, feeding 5000 hungry people with five loaves and two fish, but the miracle shown by Street Jesus is even greater. I can't think of anyone who can take out 15 million dollars when a friend is in trouble!"
"I have drafted the agreement; if you think there is no problem, sign it." Leon quickly waved his hand to interrupt the other party; he had heard enough similar flattery.
The content of the agreement was very simple; Mars's lawyer read to the end in only about ten minutes.
"No problem."
"Then I'll sign now!"
Mars looked more anxious than Leon, grabbing the fountain pen and signing his name quickly.
"Very good, you will receive that money tomorrow morning." Leon handed the agreement to Bonnie.
"What? Why tomorrow morning?" Mars's eyes widened.
"You think signing is the end? This agreement must be filed with ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) to take effect."
Without the approval of the associations, the proceeds generated by the copyright would still flow into Mars's pocket, and this agreement would be no different from a piece of waste paper.
"Okay... but aren't you flying to Los Angeles tomorrow morning?"
"Our procedures are complete and will pass the review soon, right Luca?" Leon smiled at Luca, who nodded. "Finance will be responsible for the payment. Don't worry; maybe the bank will delay, but I won't."
"What else can I say? You are the most reliable friend in the world." Mars let out a long sigh of relief and praised.
At noon the next day, Leon was on a flight to Los Angeles.
Bonnie fiddled with the laptop. "Our filing application was all approved! Should I ask Aisha to make the payment now?"
"Yes."
The financial situation of Apocalypse Music is complicated. From buying props for MV shooting to copyright acquisitions of tens of millions of dollars like today, Leon cannot take everything on himself. Bonnie is still the most trusted person around him.
Most transactions are applied for by Bonnie, Aisha receives the information, and finally, he approves.
"The discussion of the program is still increasing..." Phil swiped his phone, his eyes shining.
The number of views of the first episode of The Rap of America exceeded 10 million. This is nothing compared to the tens of millions of viewers of traditional TV programs, but it is of great significance to the entire industry.
Online variety shows will overturn the inherent order of decades.
It is almost a certainty that the precious big ngga King Von will debut at the peak, and Leon is also completing the transformation from first-line to legendary.
As an agent, it is hard for him not to be excited; he is moving towards the pinnacle of life.
Leon's phone rang; it was a call from Taylor.
"Honey~ Congratulations on the huge success of your show. Let me think about how to celebrate for you?"
"I don't need anything; you are the best gift." Leon said.
It is normal for celebrity couples to gather less and leave more, especially for two top superstars.
Text messages passing from the West Coast to the East Coast is normal, sometimes spanning the northern and southern hemispheres.
A day later, Taylor will finish her tour in Canada and fly to Los Angeles to attend an endorsement event. The two finally have a gap for a date.
"Is anyone around you?"
Leon moved his body to the side. "No."
"I bought a very sexy lingerie set from Wicked Angel..." Taylor's volume got lower and lower.
"Really? I can't wait."
"You will definitely like it. Oh my God, how did you come up with such a style..." Taylor changed her usual big heroine posture, her tone shy. "I never thought pearls could be applied to lingerie..."
Leon felt a little strange. In his impression, since dating Taylor, the other party had never shown this shy little woman attitude, always an arrogant big heroine posture.
Such a change is not difficult to guess; it is all due to the official breakup announcement between him and Robbie on Saturday Night Live.
Now Taylor no longer needs to worry about bearing negative news such as being the other woman or backstabbing her best friend.
He hesitated for a few seconds and curved the corners of his mouth. "You will fall in love with it..."
After landing in Los Angeles, he first accepted an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Times.
He was already used to the rhythm of interviews in his base in New York, but here they didn't play by the rules at all.
"Mr. Leon, congratulations. The Rap of America triggered a hip-hop frenzy. Just like N.W.A. was born in the 90s, you brought hip-hop music back to the golden age." The reporter started normally, sparing no praise inside and outside the words.
"This is all thanks to the black communities across the United States. They are diligent, honest, creative, law-abiding, and created the prosperity of American art and culture..."
When mentioning the word "law-abiding," the host who was used to hypocritical scenes couldn't hold back.
After the routine flattery session ended, the reporter's topic became sharp. "Since Señorita, you have been breaking through the style of previous works. We Don't Talk Anymore was a huge success. Does this mean a transformation of your music style?"
This kind of question looks calm, but actually, there are mines everywhere.
If Leon gives an affirmative answer, he will lose part of the rock music base.
He pondered for a dozen seconds and said in a deep voice, "No, this album will still have rock elements, but the theme I explore is more about the future. In the future, maybe rock music and pop music will not be separated..."
These words confused the reporter. The implication is that electronic music is the future, and any music genre cannot be separated from electronic audio.
After chatting about routine topics, the reporter revealed his fangs. "You and Miss Robbie officially announced your breakup on Saturday Night Live, shocking everyone. Will you cooperate in the future?"
"Of course, we still maintain a good relationship."
"Then the rumors about you and Miss Taylor are also true?"
As soon as the question was finished, Leon froze instantly. Such unconfirmed scandals are a forbidden zone for every public figure during interviews.
Seeing his silence, the reporter pursued the victory and asked: "Forgive my rudeness, but there are rumors in the circle that you climbed up to Taylor after using up Miss Robbie's traffic. Everyone wants to know how you respond to this?"
Since the official breakup announcement, the public reaction was the same as Leon imagined before.
The combination of him and Taylor is not a golden boy and jade girl, but "adulterers." He just didn't expect the media to be so direct as to ask such a question to his face.
This made him inevitably suspect the motives behind the media.
"I don't think you understand what you are talking about."
The reporter was still relentless. "I don't want you to think; I want I think (meme reference). Everyone is very interested in this matter..."
The atmosphere of the interview cooled down instantly. Although the content of the Los Angeles Times is mainly published in text form, there were still many cameras recording the scene.
"Go Fxxk yourself!"
Under everyone's shocked gaze, Leon stood up immediately, not saving any face for the reporter.
"Wait, Mr. Leon, you can't leave like this; our interview is not over yet!" The female reporter hadn't realized the seriousness of the problem and got up to grab his arm.
But she was thrown off instantly.
"Get out!"
Leon leaned over close to the female reporter's face and said word by word, "Your question has crossed the line..."
After speaking, he turned and left, leaving the staff messy in the wind.
Not far away, a gray-haired white man leaned against the wall, observing everything happening with a smile—David Geffen.
Since failing to acquire The New York Times, he turned his attention to the Los Angeles Times.
Under the surging money offensive, he is currently infinitely close to owning this West Coast media mouthpiece.