There is an organization like the Music Association between agencies that restrains artists, and there is a similar organization in the recording industry called the Recording Association, which also has agreements that prevent singers from becoming independent and do not accept singers whose contracts are not terminated satisfactorily.
However, compared to the Music Association's overbearing style of killing all singers, the Record Association's binding force is not strong. Very few singers will be banned by the record industry for changing jobs or becoming independent.
After all, a singer and an idol artist are not the same thing, and neither are an agency and a record company.
Minamino Yoko is not a singer but an idol artist. Whenever she releases a new album, she must arrange a large number of song promotions and invest a large amount of publicity funds. As a result, she must rely heavily on the power of TV stations and agencies.
One of the reasons why Mizukura Shunichi refused to terminate the contract peacefully with her was that he insisted that the publicity expenses spent on promoting Minamino Yoko have not been repaid yet, so it would be ungrateful for her to terminate the contract now.
Last year alone, Minamino Yoko's record sales amounted to more than 3 billion yen. As for advertising revenue and TV program revenue, it was a considerable amount.
An idol who made a billion yen for his agency in a year has yet to make back his money since his debut. Of course, no one would really believe this. But the "publicity cost" itself is rather ambiguous, and it all depends on the business.
No matter what he said, it didn't matter whether it was true or not, but it was the perfect reason to use it to block her way.
As long as the Music Association unites to put pressure on the TV station and there is no chance of exposure, that's the end of it.
Even if all the agencies and record companies refuse to accept her, Minamino Yoko can still release songs from underground labels. However, if the Music Association issues a banning order and prohibits her from appearing on TV, then for idols who need TV exposure, it will be very difficult to release songs.
Records don't make sense either.
In the current situation, it is obviously impossible to terminate the contract and become independent unscathed. What to do after the contract is terminated, whether to transform into a singer and hone his hard skills to return to the underground, or to give up singing and change his career to do something else. These are important but not urgent.
The top priority at the moment is to sort out the accounts of Junichi Mizukura's investments in her name.
Since the situation is already tense, it is not impossible to go to court if necessary. On the one hand, the accounts must be settled cleanly, and on the other hand, this account can be used to negotiate in turn.
Clarifying the accounts is one of them, as well as the record company.
If firms in the industry block Minamino Yoko because she joined the Music Association, then if you want to make a turn for the better, you may want to consider seeking help from record companies.
Sony chose the former between Seiko Matsuda and Yoko Minamino. It was true that they gave up Yoko Minamino, but when they gave up Yoko Minamino, it also meant that even if Yoko Minamino no longer
Sony will not embarrass her if she renews her contract with Sony. At least it will be generous when releasing her.
In that case, maybe you can also consider negotiating a peaceful termination of the contract with Sony, leaving Sony, and then work hard on choosing a new record company to find a new backer.
However, if you want to change to a new record company, you have to solve the copyright problem. After a full circle, you come back to the office. It seems that if you want to overcome the difficulty, you must first settle the accounts.
Iwahashi Shinichi had an idea, but he didn't understand it when it came to legal issues. Based on the principle of a layman not to act arbitrarily, he called his sister Asako and made an appointment with her to meet and chat.
…
The two siblings hadn't seen each other for a while, so Iwahashi Shinichi called and said that he wanted to treat Asako to dinner. On the other end of the phone, Asako agreed readily and confirmed the time and place of the meeting.
Let’s have lunch together at a restaurant across the street from where Chaozi works.
Both siblings are very busy people, especially Shinichi Iwahashi. Now he is so busy that he can only talk during lunch.
Previously, because of the relationship between Iwahashi Shinichi and Nakamori Akina, Narita Hiroyuki felt that his brother-in-law was not clear about it, and his impression of him was not as good as it was at first.
Despite this, the relationship between Iwahashi Shinichi and his sister and brother-in-law did not change much after that. Every one or two weeks, he would go to his sister's and brother-in-law's house to have a meal and chat, and he usually went about his own business.
Narita Hiroyuki looked down upon his brother-in-law's stupid move, but he did not stay away from him, and still maintained the same attitude as before. Iwahashi Shinichi knew it all, and pretended to be dumbfounded, and never mentioned it.
Get through this.
And looking at Chao Zi, it didn't look like she had heard her husband talk about it. But maybe, after hearing about it, she thought it had nothing to do with her, so she didn't have any unnecessary reaction.
"Do you have anything to say?" Chaozi asked him.
Both siblings are well aware of the principle of "seeing each other for everything".
Shinichi Iwahashi told Asako about the dispute between Yoko Minamino and the firm and Shunichi Mizukura's use of her name to invest, and he also told Asako his own plans.
Chaozi listened without changing his expression, picked up the water glass and took a sip.
"It's a level that would be considered a human rights violation by the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau." She commented. For some reason, when Asako said this with that expressionless face, there was a slight misconception that she was telling a joke.
"The agreement between music associations that prohibits artists from changing jobs is considered a violation of the Monopoly Prohibition Law (Anti-Monopoly Law), right?" Shinichi Iwahashi said as if he was telling a joke along with his sister.
Chao Zi smiled softly after hearing this. It seemed that this sentence made her laugh.
But on the other hand, if this sentence made her laugh, it means that when she said that sentence just now, she was somewhat joking in her heart.
"To a certain extent, the entertainment industry is fundamentally illegal." Chaozi returned to his calm look and said.
This has been the case since the birth of the entertainment industry and now. It has been treated as livestock for sale and exchange, treated as commodity packaging, squeezed all the time, interfered with the freedom of weddings and funerals, trampled on self-esteem, and was punished for daring to resist.
Join forces to block it. The entertainment industry is such a place.
No matter how humane or famous the company is, once the artist crosses the line, the warmth no longer exists.
However, in order to solve the problems we are facing, it is useless or even meaningless to sue companies for human rights violations.
"Do you want to help Nanye-san?" she asked in a confirming manner.
Iwahashi Shin nodded, "I want to see if there is any loophole. However, it is not to let the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau determine that her human rights have been violated." It is to help her resolve contract disputes and get rid of unclear debts.
clean.
In his opinion, rather than arranging a way out after the contract is terminated, the most important thing is not to incur unexplained debts. Once you feel refreshed, you can do whatever you want, even if you can no longer stay in the industry, you can retire and change careers.
However, if you get into a strange debt, you will fall into the swamp and be unable to get out, and will only be sucked blood.
"So, do you plan to accept Nanno-san?"
"My record company will not accept her," Shinichi Iwahashi said.
Asako looked at him and couldn't guess why he wanted to help Minamino Yoko. However, he still commented, "It would be better not to accept it, both for you and Minano-san's own development."
The two siblings exchanged glances and both understood what it meant.
Asako didn't know the reason why Shinichi Iwahashi was interested in Minamino Yoko, but she didn't ask, "If I want to know if there are any problems, I won't be able to just listen to what you said. However, this is a good way to start."
method."
"So, there's nothing wrong with my thinking?" Shinichi Iwahashi looked at her.
Chao Zi looked at his smiling eyes and felt that this younger brother seemed to have changed. However, she poured cold water on him first, "It sounds like you can give it a try, but it may not work. It's very difficult.
It’s not easy to handle.”
"I have to give it a try. I will discuss it with Minano-san later and tell her about this." Iwahashi Shinichi said, "Let Minano-san convey this idea to her family... and let them discuss it. Speaking of which,
Minamino-san was still underage when he signed the contract."
If this road doesn't work, then the next thing has to be considered. Iwahashi Shinichi actually doesn't know what to do.
After finishing talking about Minano Yoko, the meal was almost finished.
When the coffee was served, Chaozi looked at his younger brother and suddenly mentioned something, "I saw the news about the planned album you produced."
"ah."
Iwahashi Shinichi rarely talked about his work with his sister, "I have been busy with this album recently." He casually mentioned, "Minamino-san also participated in the planning of this album."
It seemed like he was explaining to Asako why he met Minamino Yoko and why he got involved in her termination of contract with the firm.
Asako was indifferent, but mentioned another name, "I also cooperated with Nakamori Akina-san."
Iwahashi Shinichi's heart moved, and he suddenly understood that Asako knew about his relationship with Nakamori Akina.
In fact, Asako only knew about it not long ago. After Hiroyuki Narita heard about it from his brother-in-law, he didn't tell Asako at the time. It wasn't until the news of the planned album was reported with great fanfare, and he saw that Akina Nakamori was involved in the project, that he couldn't help but
Told my wife.
Hiroyuki Narita felt that his brother-in-law was too courageous, so when he told Chaozi, he seemed to be complaining.
"I want to ask you a question." Chaozi said.
Iwahashi Shinichi said "hmm" and waited for his sister's next words.
"If one day you are discovered, do you have any countermeasures or plans?" Chaozi looked calm.
Her tone was far from gentle, and it didn't sound like she cared about him. But when Shinichi Iwahashi listened, a warm current flowed through his heart. He nodded without hesitation, "Yes, sister."
Iwahashi Shinichi had never been a hot-headed, ignorant person who decided to date Nakamori Akina based on impulse. When he held that hand, he began to think about what he would do if the relationship really came to light.
what to do.
Now that I have been dating Nakamori Akina, my feelings for her are getting deeper and deeper, and I am even more reluctant to let go of her hand.
"That's good." Chaozi said and stopped mentioning it again.
The look on her face showed that she had expected the answer.
Asako never seemed to think that her younger brother acted impulsively like Hiroyuki Narita did.
Narita Hiroyuki's idea is actually not wrong. To Narita Hiroyuki, Iwahashi Shinichi is a talented person who may have a great future. But for Asako, in her eyes, Iwahashi Shinichi is something else.
Look.
Iwahashi Shinichi was suddenly asked such a question by Asako, and his heart couldn't help but feel tenderness for this sister. It seemed that from Asako's question, he re-recognized another side of his sister. He had not understood it in the past, and Asako also easily kept it secret.
the other side.
At the same time, he also realized one thing, that is, this sister understood him beyond his expectation.
…
At the 43rd degree north latitude is Sapporo.
Thanks to Tomi and Kazu-chan's ridiculously long song title "Lat.43N-Forty-threeDegreesNorthLatitude-", the entire team is very familiar with this little bit of knowledge.
This time I went to Sapporo for a concert, and a new arranged version of this song was specially prepared - it was only revealed at the Sapporo venue.
In mid-August, a large group of people flew to Sapporo.
Throughout August, Iwahashi Shinichi was both busy and in the limelight.
At the beginning of the month, the planned album was officially announced, and with the help of half of the industry, he touted his talents as a producer. After that, he was busy working on the planned album. By the middle of the month, he will go on tour with DREAMSCOMETRUE in Sapporo.
While he was flying to Sapporo, he proposed that Watanabe Manyumi's firm participate in the investment, and the prank show written by the plump young man Yasushi Akimoto would also be piloted for a summer special episode on TV Asahi.
Shinichi Iwahashi gave me an idea and did not participate in the production of the program. Even so, during the pilot episode, it was still agreed that his name would be added to the cast and crew list.
For the general public, when they see "Shinichi Iwahashi", they will only think that it is a duplicate of the name. But for people in the industry, it is Shinichi Iwahashi who, besides making music, also put his foot on the TV station.
.
How much energy and ideas does Shinichi Iwahashi have?
For special pilot episodes, ratings are important, but feedback from the audience is even more important. The producers of the program do not have any exaggerated expectations regarding ratings.
In Shinichi Iwahashi's view, as long as the program does not fail, it is a success. He is so busy that he didn't pay much attention to the program before it was broadcast. Now that people come to Sapporo, they can't even watch it.
Sapporo has a comfortable climate in August, and the weather was also good on the day we arrived.
Coming to Miwa-chan's hometown and returning home in fine clothes, the treatment is naturally very different. What's more, Watanabe Mayumi previously cooperated with the Sapporo Shofu to advertise Sapporo's tourism industry through concerts.
No matter from which point of view, it is natural for the band to receive special treatment when they come to Sapporo.
On the day the band arrived, the local media in Hokkaido rushed to the airport and treated DREAMSCOMETRUE like a big star.
In addition to the media, there were also a large number of fans who came to pick him up at the airport.
Miwa-chan, who usually gets people going crazy, actually became shy when faced with the scene of welcoming a female celebrity. She was at a loss and clung to the staff, like a child being led away by an adult.
It can be said that he was nervous and shy, but halfway through, he still smiled and waved to the fans.
The more this happens, the more he looks like a child.
In order to prevent his identity from being guessed, Iwahashi Shinichi was not with her, but acted with the staff.
