New York 2006

Chapter 18 The Broker

"Is this Logic? I just got your phone number through YouTube." The voice on the other end was high, and he sounded like a very powerful person.

Luo Ji held the phone: "I know, I know. YouTube officials just informed me that you are the manager they mentioned, right?"

"Yeah, this is Scooter Braun, I'm the agent!"

Luo Ji spoke in a casual tone, pretending not to care: "Hmm, my agent has been looking for me in the past two days. Are you looking for something from me? Do you want to sign me?".

The person on the other side paused for a moment, then lowered his tone slightly and said in a much gentler tone: "I watched the singing videos of Youtube and Little Cat. It was very interesting, and the songs you sang were also very nice, so I want to sign your contract! Can you come to Atlanta for an interview?”

Luo Ji was surprised: "WHAT? Signing a contract? Aren't you an agent?"

The voice on the other end of the phone returned to his strong tone: "I am an agent, but I also have my record company Schoolboy Entertainment. If you sign with my record company, I will train you in all aspects. Help you find a producer to produce songs and help you release a record.”

"I don't want to be signed to someone else's record label, I just want to make independent music."

Braun said sternly: "I haven't finished all my conditions yet. I will also give you a signing fee of [-] yuan."

"Stop!" Luo Ji interrupted him directly, speaking a bit forcefully, as if he was sure he would sign the contract.But he didn’t want to sign with someone else’s record company at all, and he had never heard of this label. It was like a leather company. He asked his main concern: “Does your record company have the distribution capabilities?”

The person on the other side was not angry: "No, but I know people from Universal Music and they can help with distribution."

Now Luo Ji became interested. His songs lacked distribution channels: "You must have only seen my YouTube videos, right?"

"Yes," said Braun, the agent on the other end of the phone.

Luo Ji began to brag: "I have my own record company. I don't care about fifty thousand dollars. I have plenty of money. I just want to make my own music and don't want to sign with other people's record companies! I also have creative ability. You You can search Logic on Myspace, and there is a song called Viva la Vida. You can listen to it first, and we’ll talk after that!”

"Fine!"

……

Ten minutes later, the other party called me with a much more sincere attitude: "Logic, your music is very good."

"I know this."

On the other end of the phone, Braun seemed to be choked. He coughed to cover it up, and his tone became more sincere. He no longer mentioned signing a contract with his record company: "I would like to be your agent, okay?"

Luo Ji's face was not red, and he lied to give himself a negotiating advantage: "I don't have an agent yet, but I can put you on the candidate list. Can you briefly introduce yourself?"

"Um, are there many agents looking for you?"

“After my video went viral recently, many people contacted me to become my agent (actually, none of them).”

Braun said more solemnly: "Then let me briefly introduce myself..."

After some communication, Luo Ji got a general understanding of agent Scooter Braun.

He was born in 1981. In 2000, he studied at Emory University in Atlanta. In his spare time, he held campus parties as a party promoter. With the success of the party, he was able to attract hundreds of people to attend.He then contacted different club owners and promoted his parties to them to make money.

He was considered a success, having arranged parties for Superboy, Eminem, Britney Spears and Kevin Fedelin, Ludacris and Shaquille O'Neal while in college.Braun dropped out of college after he met So So Def Records executive Jermaine Dupree at a party and was later asked to serve as the record's marketing executive.Luo Ji knew So So Def Records, a very famous music label in Atlanta that focused on Southern hip-hop, R&B and bass music.The singers he manages include Bow Wow, Kris Kross, TLC and Usher, etc., and has cultivated several very popular singers.

Braun continued: "Just a while ago, I decided that I wanted to start my own business, so I quit my job."

"Well, then what?"

When Luo Ji searched Google, a piece of news appeared. Scooter Braun, the marketing director of So So Def, failed to manage Bama Boyz and OD Singers.Then, after a dispute with the director over the marketing direction, Braun was fired from So So Def.

Luo Ji couldn't help but laugh. These agents were so bragging that they were kicked out and accused of quitting their jobs to start a business!

"After I resigned, I helped Ludacris and Pontiac secure multi-million dollar endorsement deals. If you choose to have me be your agent, I will help you secure endorsement deals with major brands . Let you make a lot of money."

"Really?" Luo Ji expressed doubt.

"Yes, if you don't believe it, you can search it. There is news about the signing of Ludacris and Pontiac on the Internet. In the photo, I was standing behind it and was photographed."

Luo Ji searched and found the news about Ludacris from the past few days. The manager Braun was in the photo: "I saw it. Is Ludacris your client?"

"No, I just helped him contact the endorsement and got a commission!"

Braun is quite honest about this, but it is good for the agent to brag to a certain extent: "I have initially recognized your ability, so if I let you become my agent, what plans do you have for me?"

Braun has obviously thought about this issue seriously before: "Many traditional music labels now have not considered the rise of new media. You are doing very well on YouTube. If you let me be your manager, we will continue Make videos to keep YouTube videos popular. Your video’s most views have exceeded 600 million, and only a few programs in the United States can reach this rating. On the other hand, you have to launch your single on YouTube as soon as possible. Keep people thinking you're a cover singer."

"I already have plans for this! I will release a single as soon as possible."

Braun continued: "When your single is released, I will help you contact the record company for distribution through my contacts. I used to be a marketing executive, and I often have knowledge about song marketing. I know many people at the radio station. They all sell me face, you should know that B-list radio stations have a lot of weight, I will also help you introduce music critics and let them say good things for you."

“How much do you charge?”

"10% commission! I will take a commission from the endorsements, commercial performances, and your income as a singer that I contact for you!"

"This is a new date! The video I posted has millions of views. My new song is also in production. You have also listened to the quality of the song. As a musician, you should make your own judgment. You are now Give me the lowest offer and I will tell you the answer in a week after negotiating with other agents."

Braun was silent for a while, and then said decisively: "8%, no less!"

Luo Ji answered simply and without any counter-offer: "Okay, whether I sign a contract with you next week or not, I will call you to tell you the answer!"

"Bye-Bye!"

"goodbye!"

There was no other agent at all, Luo Ji just gave himself more negotiating leverage.

Braun Rodger is actually quite satisfied with him. He was once the marketing director of So So Def. His experience is also legendary. When he was in school in his 20s, he held parties for so many celebrities. Most people at this age may be normal. So chic and indulgent!

Moreover, he has a very keen sense of smell and has already noticed the impact that the emergence of the Internet will have on the recording industry.He is a rare elite talent!

However, Luo Ji is not in a hurry just yet. He will wait for a while to see if he can get better contract terms!
(End of this chapter)