RBCT Chapter 40: Clashing with the Student Council
Chapter 40: Clashing with the Student Council
In the ringback tone business, the distribution channels take the lion's share of the profits, while the content creators who generate core value only get scraps. This is a product of a particular era, and it's not Zhang's fault personally. But Lin Feng is clearly unwilling to be at their mercy.
"Manager Zhang, I respect industry practices, but I believe even more in value parity. What we offer is a future hit song with high emotional resonance, along with campus promotion channels. This can greatly reduce your promotion costs and may even create additional buzz value."
Lin Feng stated his conditions with neither humility nor arrogance: "Based on this, we believe that the revenue share that the content provider should receive should not be less than 30%. Furthermore, at the start of the collaboration, a guaranteed prepayment for authorization is required to support the construction of our music festival's on-site experience area and initial promotional investments."
"30%? And there's an upfront payment?" The seriousness on Manager Zhang's face quickly vanished, replaced by a faint, mocking smile.
"Mr. Lin, you're really fearless, aren't you? 30%? Do you know that even top-tier singers rarely get that much in their ringtone revenue? Forget about advance payments; we only consider advance payments for works that have already proven their market appeal."
He said dismissively, "I understand that you have passion and expectations for your work. But business is business, and you can't rely on passion alone."
"12%-15% is the most realistic offer we can make based on your current situation. This is the highest we can give you, considering your plans for campus promotion. Many individual creators don't even get this percentage."
The negotiations have reached a stalemate.
One side controls the distribution channels and sees the other as a newcomer they can manipulate at will; the other side firmly believes in value and is unwilling to be bound by extremely unfair conditions.
Lin Feng knew that it was impossible to reach an agreement today. The other party's mindset and contempt couldn't be changed by words alone. He stopped arguing and his tone returned to calm.
"Okay, we can discuss the specific cooperation ratio and method further. I sincerely invite Manager Zhang to take some time next week, Christmas, to attend our digital music festival at Mingde Square of Xichuan University of Technology. Perhaps then, you will have a more intuitive assessment of the song's value."
Manager Zhang looked at Lin Feng. The young man in front of him was clearly at a disadvantage, yet he still had great confidence in the value of the song.
"Haha, Mr. Lin seems very confident in this song. Okay, if I'm free during Christmas, I'll go see it live."
"See you next week!" Lin Feng stood up and shook hands with the other person.
After returning from "Swift Music", Shen Jingyi called Lin Feng to report that some bands had withdrawn from the music festival registration and went to participate in the Christmas party because the digital music festival and the school student union's "Christmas party" were scheduled to clash.
Lin Feng realized that the problems caused by competing with the student union were probably not isolated. So that evening, he convened a meeting with the core members.
"Tell me about the problems you're encountering in each sector."
Xu Qiang, who was in charge of external liaison, spoke first: "President, we're facing too much resistance on the sponsorship side. The people in the student union's external liaison department are simply shameless. They not only try to get sponsorships themselves, but they also sabotage us. All the sponsors I had already negotiated with have withdrawn their sponsorships."
Later, I went to inquire about the reason. It turned out that the student council told the businesses that our Digital Music Club was a "student-organized group" without official school approval, and it was uncertain whether the Digital Music Festival could even be held. They also demanded that businesses cooperating with the student council not sponsor from both sides.
Su Wan, who was in charge of publicity, said, "Publicity is the same. On the forum, as soon as our pre-launch post gets a little bit popular, a bunch of alt accounts will immediately start making sarcastic remarks, saying that we are a 'makeshift team' or an 'MP3 dealer turned professional'."
When I argued with these trolls, the administrator actually deleted our pre-event post. I also heard that the student union mobilized counselors from various colleges, student union members from different colleges, and class leaders to cooperate in promoting the "Christmas Party."
"We're a bit outnumbered and outmatched!" Su Wan said worriedly.
Shen Jingyi also whispered, "The two campus singers who originally agreed to open the show both politely declined today, saying it was a time conflict. I made some inquiries, and it seems the student council also invited them."
Xu Qiang said angrily, "This is a full-scale encirclement! From resources to public opinion, they're leaving us no room at all!"
The student union's "official" advantage was on full display at this moment. They controlled official channels and the banner of "school recognition," and if they seriously suppressed such grassroots groups as the Digital Music Club, they would find it extremely difficult to operate.
After hearing everyone's reactions, Lin Feng felt a surge of anger. His first thought was to complain to Teacher Zheng from the school's Youth League Committee, but upon calming down, he realized that complaining to a teacher would be a sign of incompetence.
He has to find a way to solve these problems himself.
Gao Yu... It seems this student council president is determined to make things difficult for me.
"President, what do we do now?" Shen Jingyi asked anxiously.
Lin Feng encouraged the team, saying, "Each group is facing difficulties, but it's precisely at times like these that we need to stay focused! The student council's tactics of spreading rumors and poaching members are already a bad strategy. The more they do this, the less confident they are, and the more they resort to these underhanded tactics."
"We can't compete with the student union in terms of traditional resources, so we must defeat them with value innovation!"
"Su Wan, proceed with the publicity work as planned, don't mess things up. If you encounter trolls on the forum, don't argue with them. Organize our people to post more high-quality content and suspenseful posts to push down the boring negative posts."
"Jingyi, it's okay that the singer was poached. We'll find talented people within our club to step up and make the band competition a highlight. Remember, increasing audience participation and interaction is our competitive advantage."
"As for sponsorship..." Lin Feng's eyes gleamed, "Actually, it doesn't matter whether there are more or fewer small businesses around the school sponsoring it. The key is to find a major sponsor."
"Bring in big sponsors? President, our...student activity, do you think those big brands and companies would even consider it?" Xu Qiang was clearly unsure, and the others also had some doubts on their faces.
These days, big brands usually sponsor celebrity concerts and major sporting events. Asking them to sponsor student activities, especially those organized by "unofficial" clubs, sounds like a pipe dream.
"It's all about human effort," Lin Feng explained. "They might look down on 'student activities,' but they definitely value 'college student consumers.' Xu Qiang, let's work together to figure out the sponsorship."
At the same time, in the student council office.
Student Union President Gao Yu sat in the middle, with External Relations Minister Xu Xin, Arts and Literature Minister Chen Tao, Publicity Minister Liu Shuai, and Club Minister Wu Feng all present.
Xu Xin reported on the sponsorship achievements of the External Relations Department one by one: "Sichuan University of Technology's first rafting trip, 1,500 yuan; Shitou Internet Cafe, 1,000 yuan; Xu's Milk Tea, 800 yuan... a total of 9300 yuan."
Wu Feng gave a thumbs up from the side: "The External Relations Department did a great job! With the funding allocated by the school, we have enough for our activities."
Xu Xin proudly stated, "Our student union has a lot of influence. As soon as those businesses heard that we were organizing the event, they were all very enthusiastic. As for the Digital Music Club, that makeshift operation, what can they possibly get? A few hundred yuan at most."
Wu Feng laughed and said, "I just gave a quick nod to those few swaying campus singers, and they knew exactly how to choose."
Chen Tao felt a little awkward. He and Lin Feng were good friends. But for this Christmas party, as the Minister of Arts and Culture, he had to listen to the Student Union President.
Gao Yu leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Don't underestimate him, everyone. Lin Feng is quite clever. However, cleverness is useless against absolute strength. Does he think he can succeed just because he has Teacher Zheng's support from the Youth League Committee?"
This Christmas party, we're going to put on a spectacular show, so the whole school can see the difference between a professional team and a makeshift operation!