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Chapter 1158 Is there a chance?
Chapter 1158 Is there a chance?
For a K-pop group to fully focus on Japanese activities for the first time, it is already very good to have achieved this result in the second album. Even for EXO, it is impossible to break the cultural barriers and break the circle directly. Currently, EXO is still in the stage of integration, and no matter what, it still needs to proceed step by step.
At least this time the popularity has really increased a lot.
Both Avex and SM expressed satisfaction with the results of today's interaction.
Especially Avex, the frequency of several senior executives visiting has increased recently, and their attitude is very good...Comparing this album and the song "Electric Kiss", as an insider who is well versed in Japanese culture, Avex is more optimistic about Chi Jingyuan's song "Fireworks"
They conducted multiple rounds of evaluation internally, and most musicians and marketers believed that this song was EXO's secret weapon to break through the barriers of Japanese culture and significantly expand its fan base.
Soon, more than a week had passed since the album was released, and EXO, who had been busy with activities for more than half a month, also felt the excitement and nervousness they had when they first debuted.
The members who had been busy for many days finally got a chance to take a break today. They were sitting in the company's conference room, listening to the agent's recent summary and the upcoming schedule of activities:
“…The compilation album Electric Kiss/ACT sold 40 copies in the first week. Sales have leveled off, but it has broken our sales record in the Neon region and is ranked second on the Oricon chart, second only to Hey!Say!JUMP… The other party held a number of handshake events in the past three days, which played a huge role in promoting the album’s sales.
At the same time, the MV was played 802 million times on the first day, setting a record for overseas artists in the Japanese market. The total number of related videos exceeded 14 million. The keyword #EXO_JAPAN was on the hot search 38 times in a week, with the highest daily discussion volume of 40. The Japanese official account @EXO_jp gained followers in a week. "
A week after the album was released, all the data and results have been counted by Avex and are being read out by the agent, Misaki Sato. From her tone, it can be heard that she and the company are quite satisfied with it.
"The album is doing well. Thanks to everyone's efforts, the popularity is still increasing. Let's keep working hard."
After summarizing and saying some encouraging words, Sato Misaki picked up another document. As she picked it up, she remembered something and said:
"By the way, after discussing with SM, due to business model and safety considerations, it was decided that EXO would not hold handshake sessions during the Neon event, and would instead hold high-five sessions and more fan meet-ups."
Hearing his agent's words, Chi Jingyuan breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little more relaxed.
The handshake event is a unique idol activity in Japan, where a lot of handshake tickets will be distributed to promote sales... but this kind of large-scale handshake event is still a bit uncomfortable for SM idol EXO, who are forbidden from shaking hands with fans at autograph sessions.
Chi Jingyuan thought it would be fine not to hold the event.
Then, Sato Misaki flipped through the information: "…Because the results and discussion of the event exceeded the company's expectations, the company has made some adjustments to the activities in the next period of time based on the current popularity…"
"Accepting endorsements from well-known brands is an excellent shortcut to enter the Japanese market and expand your popularity. Through recent activities, our business capabilities have been recognized by some brands. Under the operation and communication of the company, we have already obtained several important endorsements for you:
The advertising agency asked me to show healthy muscles and free temperament to express the image of the wine as "strong but refreshing".
"We are shooting a Calbee potato chips commercial. Calbee is the number one potato chips brand in Japan. Its people-friendly brand culture is very popular among the Japanese people. Its commercials are very helpful for us to integrate into the Japanese market... However, it is only a cooperation in advertising and promotion. The other party has not yet agreed to let us become the exclusive spokesperson, but said that they will wait and see the market reaction after the cooperation."
"Then there's Shiseido..."
At this point, Misaki Sato paused for a moment and glanced at the group of very attractive boys from the Peninsula in front of her: "This is the company that took the initiative to contact them and invited EXO to be the spokesperson for their cosmetics and skincare series."
"We, makeup?"
Park Chanyeol was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and looked over as if he had heard it wrongly. The other members also had strange expressions.
"The biggest focus of EXO's activities in Japan this time was the contrast between K-pop style and Japanese local style, which caused quite a lot of discussion... Don't you know that you have become the spokesperson for 'male makeup tutorial' in Japan? Some people even call you the boys of the 'male makeup revolution'..."
"Even for women's makeup, we can provide textbook teaching of 'makeup teaching from a male perspective'... So Shiseido is still very visionary and courageous."
Misaki Sato shrugged and said in a somewhat admiring tone, "This time we will cooperate with Shiseido's original makeup spokesperson. The brand has already mentioned her 'mixed-blood high-end feel' and EXO's 'internationality'. We will create an advertising work that is both artistic and popular... It's very ambitious."
"..."
After hearing what their agent said, several members of EXO looked at each other with strange expressions.
After hearing what she said, it seems that they are really the chosen spokespeople for cosmetics.
"These are all commercials that will be filmed soon... We need you to finish them all before you go to A-Mei to attend the Billboard Awards."
Sato Misaki gave instructions, then took a sip of water, picked up another plan, glanced at everyone, and said in a more relaxed tone, "Then there's good news... The company is giving you the opportunity to communicate and compete for the anime OP singing position."
"Ok?"
Others didn't react, but Chi Jingyuan raised his eyebrows when he heard it.
The other members may not know much, but Chi Jingyuan, who has always paid attention to this aspect, knows something. Singing anime OPs is not a resource that popular idols don't care about like Peninsula.
In Japan, singing anime OP (opening theme) is a top scarce resource in the industry. Its value far exceeds that of ordinary commercial songs, and it is even more popular than film and television OSTs.
In Neon, a place where anime and manga are extremely developed and the two-dimensional culture is extremely strong, anime is a kind of entertainment content that is popular among the whole people. The ratings and popularity of many popular anime are much higher than those of live-action dramas. For example, prime-time animations like "One Piece" and "Detective Conan" have an average rating of 8-12%, which is more than twice that of Japanese dramas in the same period.
Being able to get the opportunity to sing in an anime OP proves that you have been recognized and are already a very popular singer in Japan...but correspondingly, it is also very difficult and the competition is very fierce.
Over the years, I remember that Chi Jingyuan only got two or three singing opportunities as a singer of Peninsula. The most famous one was the OP of the well-known anime "Inuyasha" sung by the company's senior sister BOA in 2002... He can still sing it.
Then there is the ED of "Seven Deadly Sins" sung by FTIsland in 2015
The company's senior band TVXQ also covered the OP of "One Piece" and sang the special promotional song for the animation's 09th anniversary in 10... So far, I heard that these two songs are the songs that the senior band must perform at their concerts in Japan, and they always cause a chorus every time.
Therefore, it can be said that the Japanese anime OP is not only a song, but also a bit like a pass to the cultural industry chain - getting it means truly entering the mainstream entertainment power structure in Japan.
As soon as the agent mentioned this, Chi Jingyuan immediately became interested... Not because the resources were rare, but because he had actually been interested in anime OPs for a long time.
"Which anime is it?" Chi Jingyuan, who had been silent nearby, asked.
"We are still trying to find out the details. As EXO is a boy group from the Korean Peninsula, it will be difficult to get the right position. Therefore, the company cannot be completely confident about one thing. We need to communicate with many parties..."
“Based on the company’s network resources, competition barriers, and the popularity of anime, we have selected several planned goals:
First is the new anime "Katsuki/Touken Ranbu" in July, which is a historical battle theme for females. The production company is ufotable, and the music style is required to be Japanese electronic style.
Then there is "The Eagle Star", which is also a new anime in July. It is an epic war drama. The music director is Hiroyuki Sawano, but the singers are open to overseas artists and the show requires a passionate symphony.
Chi Jingyuan felt a little regretful when he heard this... He had never heard much about these two anime.
"But these are second choices..."
After a short pause, Misaki Sato continued, "BORUTO, which will be aired in April this year, has confirmed that it will replace OP2 in the next few months. The company actually hopes to get this the most at the moment, and is currently in active communication... As a sequel to a national-level anime, if we can participate in the OP singing, it will greatly promote the development of EXO."
“But BORUTO isn’t good…”
Hearing this, everyone else was confused, only Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but mutter something in a low voice.
Finally, he heard an anime that he had heard of and was very famous... What a pity. If he had the opportunity to sing the OP of "NARUTO", the predecessor of "BORUTO", Chi Jingyuan would be so excited.
Unfortunately, it’s just BORUTO
Of course he had heard of this anime due to the huge popularity and heat of its predecessor, so he took the time to watch it when it was aired in April... but he was really disappointed.
As an old fan, what he wanted to watch was the 'Dark Ninja World', but what has been shown so far is all 'lighthearted daily life'.
"!"
Sato Misaki heard Chi Jingyuan's muttering and couldn't help but glare at him...
Do you know how popular this show is and how fierce the competition is? ... Are you still here complaining about it being ugly?
Feeling his agent's gaze, Chi Jingyuan shrank his head with a bit of shame for the first time in a long time.
...That's true. Although it's not good-looking, it's indeed famous.
"We are currently focusing on these three. When the time comes, we will need you to join us..."
At this point, Sato Misaki sighed: "It's a pity that Attack on Titan Season 4 has already aired on April 1st. There is no plan to change the OP at the moment. The company took the initiative to contact us before the broadcast, but was rejected... It's really a phenomenal show."
"That……"
At this time, Chi Jingyuan hesitated for a moment, and then asked quietly: "What about "Pokemon"? Is there a chance?"
"..."
The agent looked at him speechlessly, and after a twitch of his lips, he patiently explained: "The "Pokémon Sun & Moon" currently being broadcast is the sixth animation in the series. It started broadcasting in November last year. The OP singer is Matsumoto Rika. There is no news about changing the OP at the moment."
"and."
She paused, then continued, "Even if the OP is changed, the singer will definitely still be Matsumoto Rika. As Satoshi's voice actor, she is difficult to replace... and the Pokémon TV animation OP has always been monopolized by animation voice actors or national singers such as B'z, and has never used overseas idol groups."
The agent looked at Chi Jingyuan and shrugged regretfully: "So it's basically impossible... But you can try to compete for other cooperation, such as theatrical versions or games. The next theatrical version of "Pokémon: I Choose You!" is said to be released in the summer. You can strive for the opportunity to dub it, or the Korean theme song."
"but……"
As if she had thought of something, Sato Misaki hesitated for a moment, thought about it, and suddenly looked at Chi Jingyuan with some expectation: "Jingyuan-kun, I heard from SM that... the high-end brand GUCCI that you endorse has reached an agreement on a joint cooperation with the copyright holder of "Pokemon" and will be launched this year, right?"
"Yes." Chi Jingyuan nodded, his eyes lit up and he seemed to have thought of what the agent wanted to say.
"So they actually think highly of you... Then you have a certain foundation, you can try to strive for it, whether it is a guest voiceover in the anime "Sun & Moon", or a theatrical version, or even offline cooperation, there is room for discussion."
"Can I play a foreign student trainer in an anime, with Gengar as my trump card... I have absolutely no problem dubbing."
Chi Jingyuan made suggestions excitedly.
"Can try."
Sato Misaki became more and more excited as she spoke, and it was obvious that she also understood the power of the "Pokemon" IP very well: "I will report it to the company."
The two of them actually started a heated discussion. The other EXO members looked at the extremely excited Ji Jingyuan in silence... They rarely saw the youngest member so motivated.
"Finally, it's the song 'Fireworks'."
After discussing for a while, the matter of EXO group was finished, and the other members left first, leaving only Chi Jingyuan.
The agent finally got to the point. She looked at Chi Jingyuan and asked seriously, "Jingyuan-kun, after discussion between the company's internal marketing department and the musicians, they all felt that the song "Fireworks" is very suitable for a male and female chorus, and that collaborating with a well-known female artist would also help open up the market. Are you sure you still want to sing it solo and not change it?"
"This is the last inquiry."
"..."
Hearing his agent's question again, Chi Jingyuan sighed inwardly. This was the third time that Avex had asked him the same question.
He joked before that if he wanted to collaborate, he would look for Ayumi Hamasaki, the top star of Avex...
Of course, he was just joking. Not to mention whether the elder sister was willing or not, even if she was really willing... Chi Jingyuan would not change his mind. After all, she was of that status. If they really wanted to cooperate, who would be the protagonist and who would be the supporting role?
...But he himself has thought about this issue. If they really sing a duet, he actually prefers aimer. He is actually a fan of this sister.
Unfortunately, this song is not just an ordinary commercial song.
If Ming Jingnan couldn't sing this song with special meaning, Chi Jingyuan didn't plan to sing it for others.
"Well, I won't change it."
Chi Jingyuan didn't think about it and quickly nodded to confirm.
"OK."
Seeing that Chi Jingyuan had made up his mind, Sato Misaki didn't say anything more... But it was Chi Jingyuan who had great say and autonomy within the group. If it were any other member, it would be impossible for her and Avex to talk so easily.
"But there is something I need to tell you. The company has a new plan for the song "Fireworks"."
The agent opened a new business plan and handed one to Chi Jingyuan, saying, "After discussion, the company decided to abandon the previous promotional strategy of 'releasing singles' and 'seeking animation/movie insert songs'..."
"Huh?" Chi Jingyuan was stunned for a moment when he heard that, and quickly opened the plan and started reading.
If it was just a single, given Chi Jingyuan's popularity and his status as a foreign singer, it would be difficult to unleash the potential of the song, so he had previously held a meeting with Avex to discuss the promotion plan for the song. Because they attached great importance to this song, Avex also proposed several plans, and finally decided with Chi Jingyuan that they wanted to get involved in animation and see if they could use this song as the theme song for an animation or a movie to promote it.
But now, it seems that Avex has a new idea?
"The company is actively seeking cooperation to have EXO become the spokesperson for the summer festival tourism promotion in a single city in Neon Kansai."
Misaki Sato explained: "This is a new project that the company has been discussing recently due to the high popularity of EXO... There is no precedent for idols and cities to cooperate. In 2016, AKB48 cooperated with the Akita Kanto Festival as a promotional ambassador, which promoted the development of local tourism and increased the hotel's occupancy rate by 18%."
"During the summer festival, various events are traditionally held in various parts of Japan, and it is also a hot period for the travel market."
"According to the survey, during the summer festival last year, the number of tourists in Kansai and Osaka was about 260 million, of which 15% were international tourists and 35% were peninsula tourists... In other words, peninsula tourists are extremely important to the local government."
"EXO's popularity in the peninsula is unmatched, and its popularity in East Asia is unquestionable, so the innate conditions for reaching a cooperation with the city are very good. Their popularity will boost the city's summer tourism economy and strengthen the group's fan base in the Kansai region."
"And your song 'Fireworks' is just the most standard song for summer festivals and fireworks. It is very suitable for promoting summer festivals and fireworks tourism... Once the cooperation is reached, the company will prepare two promotional songs, one sung by EXO, and 'Fireworks' is the other."
"It is also, in fact, the main song."
Sato Misaki looked at Chi Jingyuan seriously, her tone somewhat excited: "As a promotional song in cooperation with the local city, it is inherently legitimate, and it will also erase the cultural barriers of your overseas artists to a certain extent, making it easier for more people to accept it... and it can also absorb the national attention during the summer festival/fireworks display. The company believes that it is much better than the previous plan."
"Well……"
After listening to his agent's explanation and taking a rough look at the business plan, Chi Jingyuan couldn't help feeling a sense of surprise.
The new promotional and song-releasing plan proposed by Avex is indeed much better than the "anime songs" they had previously imagined, or just releasing singles.
Chi Jingyuan nodded, and then asked with a little concern: "I have no problem, it's a wonderful plan...but do you agree to discuss the cooperation with the city?"
"Don't worry, you don't know that the tourism bureaus of many cities have been coveting overseas tourists for a long time, and EXO's popularity is obvious to all..."
Speaking of this, the agent smiled and waved his hand casually: "At present, the company is communicating with the Osaka Tourism Bureau and the organizer of the Yodogawa Fireworks Festival. The other party is very enthusiastic, and I believe that the negotiation will be completed soon...
"..."
However, Chi Jingyuan, who had just looked earnest and expectant, was suddenly stunned when he heard the words in Sato Misaki's words, and his past memories appeared before his eyes in a trance.
Yodogawa... Fireworks Festival?