RAAS ### Chapter 29: Top Eight on the Song Request Chart
### Chapter 29: Top Eight on the Song Request Chart
"Music Star" premiered last night with a viewership rating of 17.6%, rising steadily to 25.1% by the end of the broadcast, almost rivaling Hunan Satellite TV!
"Pop Diva Leng Ling's surprise appearance on 'Music Star' was the biggest highlight of the night!"
"Breaking news! Beijing Satellite TV's viewership broke the 25% barrier, with nationwide ratings exceeding 1.5%, setting a new record and becoming a new favorite in viewership!"
"A massive online boycott is brewing, with over 70% of netizens declaring a boycott of Beijing Satellite TV. Who is to blame for the online mob?"
"Fly Higher vs. Dream Song, Li Qing vs. Xie Sixie. Who do you think is better?"
"Was Li Qing suppressed by the show's producers? A detailed look at the backgrounds of previous contestants..."
Beijing TV Station.
Bang!
"This is all your doing!"
Director Zheng threw a stack of newspapers on the tea table, glaring at Mu Guiying, who was calmly seated across from him. "All the media are reporting the scandal in your company. Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
"Explanation for what?"
Mu Guiying, who exuded an air of authority even while seated, smiled faintly and sipped her tea. "The viewership has reached 25.1%. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Can't you see the massive online boycott? Do I need to lay out all the newspapers for you?" Director Zheng snorted coldly. "I never imagined that a vice president of Yuan Zheng Company could be so shortsighted!"
Mu Guiying showed no sign of anger. She smiled and said, "These netizens are just keyboard warriors. They only talk and never act, and they have never been the main force driving viewership. Director Zheng, there's no need to worry. As long as we maintain the quality of 'Music Star', I guarantee the ratings won't drop."
"I hope your guarantee is effective; otherwise, your company's artists can forget about appearing on my channel!"
Although Director Zheng was furious, there was nothing he could do about the situation now that it had happened. He could only throw out a few harsh words.
In fact, last night's "Music Star" achieving a 25.1% viewership rating had a lot to do with Yuan Zheng Company. After all, whether it was judge Zhao Wendi, pop diva Leng Ling, contestant Xie Sixie, or the eliminated Li Qing, they were all artists from Yuan Zheng Company.
Considering this, it was no surprise that Mu Guiying, the beautiful vice president, had come personally and arranged for Leng Ling to appear on the show. He had thought she was just being kind, but it turned out to be a well-calculated move...
It seemed Li Qing had a serious grudge against Yuan Zheng Media.
A small singer, is it really worth it?
Director Zheng frowned slightly.
What Director Zheng found even more unbearable was that after Yuan Zheng Media's scandals were exposed, netizens didn't blame them but instead targeted "Music Star" and even cursed him, the director, alongside the show.
This was something Director Zheng couldn't understand. Why would the netizens blame the show and him rather than Yuan Zheng Media?
However, both Director Zheng and Mu Guiying, and everyone else involved, held a common belief that kept them from panicking.
That belief was the potential of "Music Star".
Industry insiders could see that "Music Star" was on the rise. Even if the ratings didn't stay at 25%, they wouldn't drop below 20%.
And viewers were always forgetful. In no time, Li Qing would likely be forgotten.
Hu Die Studio.
Bang!
Once again, a stack of newspapers was slammed on the table, this time by the exuberant Bao Yunyun.
"Qingzi, you've made it big! You're really famous now!"
Bao Yunyun exclaimed excitedly, "Do you know how popular your song from last night has become?"
Li Qing, who was fiddling with his guitar, looked up and asked in confusion, "Am I famous, or is my song famous?"
Bao Yunyun's smile froze momentarily, then she pouted and said, "Does it matter? You're famous!"
Sitting nearby, Ma Xujing, who seemed already aware of the situation, unfolded a newspaper with a smile. "Both, it seems. I listened to your song last night too. It's excellent. You've finally shown your understanding of rock. And your performance on stage was commendable; you didn't show any negative emotions."
Li Qing shrugged, showing little reaction. He continued to fiddle with his guitar. Since leaving "Music Star," he had completely forgotten about the competition.
He had also seen the discussions about him in the newspapers this morning, but Li Qing didn't think the internet had enough power to change the results of a show already aired. After all, Beijing TV Station wouldn't want to lose face.
Suddenly, Ma Xujing exclaimed in surprise, bringing the newspaper closer to his eyes. "Eighth place?"
Bao Yunyun clapped her hands in excitement. "You noticed, right? Eighth place! Your song is ranked eighth on the national radio song request chart! And not just that, with the sudden surge in popularity, your song 'Angel's Wings' has also climbed a spot to ninth place!"
Ma Xujing didn't say anything. He continued to scan the newspapers with a look of joy. When he confirmed that all the newspapers reported "Fly Higher" as ranking eighth on the national radio song request chart, his breath quickened, and he burst into laughter.
Li Qing once again proved his strength with an original song. Ma Xujing was delighted because it meant the other seven songs he had bought from Li Qing had similar potential!
"Qingzi, you've really made it! Two songs in the top ten within a month—that's the level of a top-tier artist's new album! And your songs didn't even go through the usual promotional channels... Well, 'Music Star' with a nationwide rating of over 1.5% is a top-tier promotional channel, but even so, the quality of your songs has stood the test of the market. Otherwise, they wouldn't have debuted at eighth place on the charts."
"There's probably a boost from the media's continuous coverage, but their joint promotion is also for sales and clicks. You benefit from that, as having two songs in the top ten is a fact."
Ma Xujing looked pleased. "Your songs are among the most popular this year. If things go well, your advertising contracts and commercial performance deals might not match those of a top-tier artist, but you'll have as many as a second-tier artist..."
At this point, Ma Xujing and Bao Yunyun both looked at Li Qing sympathetically. As close friends, they knew Li Qing's situation well.
No advertising or performance deals were coming his way.
Li Qing didn't mind. No matter how high his songs ranked on the charts, he wouldn't earn a cent from them.
His focus was entirely on Bao Yunyun's new album. He had received the 470,000 yuan for the song buyout yesterday, after deducting taxes. This sum had significantly bolstered his finances, giving him confidence. But this small amount didn't satisfy him; his eyes were on the 3% album sales commission.
If Ma Xujing's production skills were as accurate as before, a platinum album could net Li Qing over a million yuan.
With 1.5 million yuan, he could buy a mansion... Li Qing had long envied the small villa where Han Han lived. As a former small citizen, Li Qing's ambition was to buy a luxury home in the capital before the impending property boom. In a few years, its value could increase tenfold.
While Li Qing didn't care much, the advertisers and commercial performance deal makers did.
That night, "Fly Higher" climbed another spot on the charts, ranking seventh.
As for "Dream Song," which had defeated "Fly Higher," it didn't even make the top twenty. After 24 hours, a netizen posted the radio song request chart, revealing "Dream Song" ranked 77th.
This was a slap in the face. Did the pop diva and judges have a taste in music that differed so greatly from the public?
As netizens discussed how high "Fly Higher" could climb on the national song request chart, a contrary voice began to emerge amid the boycott of "Music Star."