In the year since her debut, Utoku Keiko has had a steady flow, releasing records steadily, touring in small venues seriously, and singing in TV shows during the promotion period. Occasionally, she also made a small guest role in a TV series.
The Star Agency where she worked did not give her a good TIE-UP. The three singles she released one year after her debut were used as radio theme songs, morning show theme songs, and air freshener advertising songs. But no matter
After all, there is still basic publicity.
On the contrary, her next single is scheduled to be used as an episode of the TV series "Lovely Season", and she will also make a guest appearance in the TV series, playing the original role of a "guitar girl".
It often happens that the singer himself plays himself in a TV series. The TV series can increase the topic of the episode, and the singer himself can also appear for publicity, which is beneficial to both parties. Speaking of which, Japanese dramas are filmed and broadcast simultaneously.
, in order to increase the topic, inviting popular actors to be guests of the episode is also a commonly used method.
At the beginning of her debut, the songs released by Keiko Utoku were co-written with other composers. But this year, she has begun to write more songs independently. Both of the new singles to be released will use her original songs.
.
Keiko Utoku and Moki Daikoku, the two girls even sang harmony together in the recording studio before their debut. Their route planning and trends after their debut were completely different. However, Moki Daikoku suddenly emerged and became popular in one fell swoop.
Keiko Utoku has also accumulated a group of quite loyal supporters during this year, and her image as a solo guitar girl with short hair has become her characteristic.
Utoku Keiko is the first singer under the label jointly established by GENZO and Star Office. Last year, when the label held an audition, her debut single included a promotional advertisement for the audition. Naturally, this year she will also
No exception.
The three newcomers recruited through the selection meeting last year are still undergoing training. It will be held again this year. When this year's selection meeting begins, last year's newcomers will be arranged to debut one after another. However, if the newcomers who pass the selection meeting make their debut,
If someone can come forward, then when there is another audition in the future, it will not just be a promotional advertisement included in Keiko Utoku's single.
The selection meeting for the new label was co-organized with Xingchen Office. Xingchen Office even had a higher say than Iwahashi Shinichi. The newcomers chosen by Xingchen, even if Iwahashi Shinichi was not satisfied,
I will nod in agreement.
Of course, Xingchen Agency will also do a lot of work in promoting and publicizing the debut.
This selection meeting was organized by Shinichi Iwahashi and Star Office together, and Watanabe Manyumi did not participate. When he mentioned it, Watanabe Manyumi just listened.
But Iwahashi Shinichi changed the topic and discussed with her, "I also want to hold a new selection meeting."
Watanabe Wan Yumi's expression became more serious, waiting for his next words.
Shinichi Iwahashi plans to have another selection meeting hosted by GENZO headquarters. However, instead of selecting talents within GENZO, several well-known producers or composers will be invited to select new talents based on their vision.
Watanabe Manyumi couldn't help laughing after hearing the general idea, "Isn't this "Band Paradise"?"
It sounds like this. Iwahashi Shinichi said calmly, "With our eyes alone, there are bound to be things we don't see."
To discover a variety of newcomers, it is a convenient method to use several different pairs of eyes. The people behind the scenes who are willing to participate in the selection meeting will select the candidates, and let these producers serve as the producers of the newcomers they have selected.
, introducing a variety of new people with different styles, this is also a way to strengthen contact with the people behind the scenes.
In addition, there is the most important point.
Iwahashi Shinichi explained, "Invite the people behind the scenes to participate in the selection, and we will promote the selected newcomers to the firms that want to cooperate."
This is the biggest difference from Band Paradise. In the talent show, agencies roll up their sleeves and compete to grab people, but the cards they get at the audition are firmly in GENZO’s own hands, and it’s up to them to decide whether
How to divide the cards.
"Of course," Shinichi Iwahashi added, "We also ask Wanyumi-san's office to participate."
He may not be saying something witty. However, even if he does not need to specifically explain it, it is still an attitude when he says it.
After hearing this, Watanabe Manyumi reminded him in a witty tone, "Before you decide whether my office will participate or not, it depends on whether your plan can be approved by the record company."
"That's right." Iwahashi Shinichi nodded seriously and looked at her, "Then please take care of me."
The two people came and went here, and in the end they couldn't help but look at each other and smile.
Having said that, let the people in black behind the scenes come forward to select newcomers. What if we set up a camera to film the show, arrange a few large swivel chairs, and let the people in black chase the contestants and ask them what their dreams are...
This approach seems quite familiar. Of course, I will definitely not turn the selection meeting into a dream program and broadcast it in cooperation with the TV station.
What Iwahashi Shinichi wants is a blank sheet of newcomers. He selects them from the vast crowd, discovers their strengths, carefully crafts and packages them, and launches them in front of the public. And a blank sheet of paper cannot help but be shown to the public in advance.
Viewed by the audience.
Today’s audiences like the delicacies packaged by record companies and put directly in front of them, rather than watching the Toyotomi Hideyoshi-style story of a commoner child who soared into the sky after getting an opportunity.
The talent show routine has been played by the Japanese for decades, and the public has long been tired of it. Band Tianguo became popular because it took advantage of old wine in a new bottle. Now that even the band talent show has been cancelled, there is no talent show that can
Bright purple and red soil.
At this moment, various TV stations are not without talent shows that continue to broadcast and produce, but these types of programs are often either used by local TV stations to entertain themselves, or used to fill the afternoon schedule. They are just used to pass the time and are not the same as "stars".
Connected.
Of course, it is too early to say that talent shows have come to an end in Japan.
From Shinichi Iwahashi's point of view, if you want to create another phenomenal talent show, you have to wait until a new talent show becomes available.
For example: when mobile phones become popular, a talent show with universal participation will be conducted through text message voting. The power to decide who should debut will be put into the hands of the audience.
...Hmm, it looks familiar again.
Therefore, although Iwahashi Shinichi will not put his mind to the talent show again for a long time, he will still take this step as soon as he notices that the time is about.
We have to wait until we are tired of the universal participation method of audience voting before we can conclude that the talent show has reached its end.
"By the way." Watanabe Mayumi was curious, "Which producers do you plan to invite?"
Iwahashi Shinichi thought for a while, and the first name that came out was "Akimoto Yasushi". He saw Watanabe Mayumi's slightly subtle expression in his eyes and smiled, "Akimoto-san has too many unique ideas. Even so.
Nine out of ten will not work, but it is only used as a reference and can also inject special vitality into our selection meeting."
"It's true that it's original." This is the only thing Watanabe Manyumi agrees with.
However, Yasushi Akimoto is not a music producer. Even if Shinichi Iwahashi hired him, he would use his vision to select newcomers and refer to his ideas. The specific music production and singer debut still have to be checked professionally. That fat young man
, doesn’t have that much power yet.
"So, the focus of this selection meeting is actually freshness?" Shinichi Iwahashi gave Akimoto Yasu as an example, and Watanabe Manyumi understood.
Shinichi Iwahashi nodded, "That's right." Therefore, compared to those veteran producers with mature styles and disciples all over the world, Shinichi Iwahashi wanted to cooperate with producers who had just emerged and were full of ideas.
Fat young man Yasushi Akimoto is one of them.
There is also Takeshi Kobayashi, the newly appointed producer of Nanten Stars. In the first month of the year, when Iwahashi Shinichi went to attend AMU's reception, he heard Yokichi Ohato say that Kaisuke Kuwata, the lead singer of Nantian Stars, admired Takeshi Kobayashi's talent very much.
, regardless of the fact that he was still an unknown producer, they boldly appointed him as the band’s producer.
This approach became a hot topic. But for a band that has achieved such achievements as the Southern Stars, when hiring a producer, there is no need to consider his origin and reputation. As long as the band feels it is suitable, they can make the decision.
As a result, the effect of hiring Kobayashi Takeshi was amazing. It not only fulfilled Kuwada Kaiyu's reputation for open-mindedness in using talents in an eclectic way, but also created a rising star producer.
With his resume as a producer for Nantian Qunxing, Kobayashi Takeshi has attracted much attention in the industry recently. As a record company with half of the country being a band, GENZO will certainly not ignore this famous producer.
Now that he understood the focus of Iwahashi Shinichi's audition, Watanabe Manyumi also accompanied him and thought about a few producers who have received attention recently. Iwahashi Shinichi listened and unknowingly showed a thoughtful expression.
expression.
Watanabe Wan Yumi saw this and asked him, "Is there any problem?"
Iwahashi Shinichi answered her, "I remembered a producer." He replied, "Ver is a fan of LLION Records' president Nagato."
Watanabe Manyumi raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Of course, we are competitors with VER fans LLION Records."
Iwahashi Shinichi seemed to be talking nonsense. The more he acted like this, Watanabe Manyumi knew that he must have ulterior motives. As expected, he slowly moved the topic forward, "VER fan Oda, the chief composer of LLION records
Zhelang-san..."
"Could it be that you are planning to invite Oda-san?" Watanabe Manyumi asked.
Iwahashi Shinichi's tone was vague, "Although we are competitors with LLION, a VER fan, aren't we going to collaborate soon? Since it's a collaboration period now, I invite Oda-san, so it's not like I'm out of nowhere."
Watanabe Manyumi disagreed, "If you do this, you will cause more trouble for yourself."
Iwahashi Shinichi replied, "Since dealing with BURNING is unavoidable, why not just take a bigger step. Now is the best time for Zhou Fang-san to talk."
There is something in his words.
Watanabe Manyumi looked at Iwahashi Shinichi's face, suddenly thought of something, and said: "President Nagato, who is a fan of LLION, has always had a delicate relationship with you."
Iwahashi Shinichi answered quickly, "I have always respected President Nagato."
"All right."
Watanabe Mayumi smiled. Anyway, she was confused as to why Nagato Daiyuki couldn't stand Iwahashi Shinichi. She even felt that the two people might not be compatible.
However, Shinichi Iwahashi wanted to invite Tetsuro Oda to participate, but he also had other ideas in mind.
Daikuro Moki always poured beans into him. After her cooperation with Oda Tetsuro was successful, she told Iwahashi Shinichi that she met with Oda Tetsuro and drank together to celebrate. From her words, Iwahashi Shinichi confirmed
Got some information. Tetsuro Oda has never contributed music to LLION Records, a VER fan.
I don’t know what kind of conflict there is between the chief composer and VER fan LLION. However, the conflict between Oda Tetsuro and the record company is where Shinichi Iwahashi saw the opportunity.
Even if there seems to be no chance, try to find an opportunity to take action.
At this moment, the GENZO department is on good terms, and while Ikuo Suho intends to repair the relationship with the GENZO department, he will do whatever is convenient for him. Although Ikuo Suho took the initiative to show his goodwill, and the two parties began to cooperate, but
Shinichi Iwahashi has not forgotten his goal.
Watanabe Manyumi noticed his fighting spirit and said nothing.
…
After a very busy lunch, Watanabe Wan Yumi joked with him when he came out of the restaurant, "I feel relieved now."
Shinichi Iwahashi greatly appreciated her joke, "To each other."
The sunshine was just right at noon and the temperature was comfortable. Perhaps what made people feel relieved was the good weather outside. The two of them walked leisurely towards the building where Watanabe Mayumi's office is located.
Watanabe Manyumi was a little behind him, looking at Shinichi Iwahashi's shoulders rising and falling as he moved. The sunlight was so strong that she couldn't help but squint her eyes slightly. She said casually, "The weather is really nice."
Shinichi Iwahashi, who was walking in front, said "Ah" and responded, "Indeed."
Watanabe Manyumi couldn't help laughing at this conversation.
Shinichi Iwahashi turned his back to her and could not see the smile on her face.
The distance from the restaurant to the office is not far. When he walked downstairs of the office, Shinichi Iwahashi was about to say goodbye to Watanabe Manyumi. He remembered something and casually mentioned, "There is a new guy I care about."
Watanabe Manyumi teased him, "Did it start again?"
Shinichi Iwahashi spread out his hands, looking like he didn't know how to respond. Watanabe Mayumi stopped when she saw that it was good, and she didn't say anything else. Shinichi Iwahashi took it into consideration and continued to talk about his own affairs, "Before, I went to "Lovely Season"
's set."
Watanabe Manyumi asked, "Are you going to visit Banzhong Mori-san?"
Iwahashi Shin nodded, "Yes." Watanabe Wanyumi was unforgiving, jokingly mocking him, "I can even do two things when I go to visit the class."
"Spare me." Iwahashi Shinichi begged for mercy.
With a little effort, he won this time. Watanabe Wan Yumi was too lazy to pay attention to his plea for mercy and changed the topic back, "So, did you discover some new person on the set?"
"However," she reminded, "those who can participate in the filming of TV series already have offices."
