King of the Wilderness

Chapter 440: Chapter 244: The Superstar’s Terrifying Effect

When she saw the payment amount, her expression didn’t change, but the rhythmic tapping of her fingers on the table’s edge stopped.

Total cost: 4000 US Dollars.

The breakdown was clearly listed: Synchronization license fee (lyric and composition copyright, owned by Universal Music Publishing Group) and master recording license fee (recording copyright, owned by Def Jam Recordings), each accounting for 2000 US Dollars.

A one-time payment of four thousand US Dollars, buying out the permanent usage rights of an obscure old song in a video.

Alison’s mind rapidly evaluated the value; for Universal Music Group, the income itself is meaningless, but the ”attitude” it represents is priceless.

This means that a Chinese content creator willingly paid a fee out of pure love for the works of their idol’s youth.

And this investment might also bring him considerable returns; who can say the viral success of the video wasn’t boosted by the music?

This isn’t an income; it’s a perfect market research report, proving the extent of Justin Bieber’s brand value.

It’s even a piece of top-notch public relations material, worth far more than four thousand US Dollars! Alison’s lips slowly curved into a sharp smile.

She realized this wasn’t a copyright case needing legal department intervention, but a hype storm the marketing department had been dreaming of.

A video going viral globally, inherently positive, brimming with a sophisticated sense of escape from the mundane.

A mysterious Chinese creator who respects copyright, has unique taste, and superb skill.

An excellent opportunity to rekindle a forgotten classic and reinforce and elevate the artist’s ”artist” image.

A passionate core of fans eagerly spreading the word online.

All four elements are in place! This could leverage future commercial value worth millions of US Dollars and immeasurable reputation enhancement!

She quickly shut off the backend and drafted an email using the most precise and thrilling commercial language.

[Urgent Report: Regarding YouTube blogger ”Lin Yu’an in the Wilderness” and the positive public opinion and potential opportunity of the ”Journals” project triggered by his video]

In the email body, she included data curves, screenshots of fanatical tweets, and a screenshot of the backend displaying ”Authorized” and the payment amount of 4000 US Dollars.

Then, she directly sent the email to the private mailbox of the man known in the industry as the ”golden touch,” Justin Bieber’s ace manager—Scooter Braun.

Time: December 28, 11:45 AM, United States Pacific Standard Time

Location: United States, California, Beverly Hills, a private mansion

The holiday syndrome made the sunshine in Los Angeles seem somewhat lazy. Justin Bieber was enjoying a rare moment of calm by the pool with family and friends.

Scooter Braun crossed the lawn to reach the sunbed beside him, wearing a smile mixed with shrewdness and enthusiasm, holding a phone.

”Justin, sorry to interrupt your vacation, but you need to see this,” Scooter’s voice carried a hint of undisguisable excitement.

”It seems your fans discovered a Christmas gift in Alaska.” He handed over the phone.

”A guy building a house in the wilderness, he paid for the rights to ’Recovery’ from your ’Journals’ album.” Scooter paused, emphasizing, ”And then, he looped the song throughout his two-hour plus viral video.”

”Looped?” A hint of surprise flashed across Justin’s face.

With intense curiosity, he donned noise-canceling headphones and clicked the highlighted play button.

Instantly, the outside clamor was isolated, leaving only his own voice, the voice from over ten years ago, clear, with a touch of inevitable vulnerability and struggle, ringing in his ears.

He watched the man named Lin Yu’an, appearing in front of the camera.

The first play of the song ended, seamlessly transitioning into the second.

The tenth play ended, the eleventh started promptly.

...

At first, Bieber found it somewhat absurd, but watching that man diligently continue his labor in the music loop, he gradually sensed a distinct flavor.

He suddenly realized this loop is itself a metaphor.

Isn’t life a loop too? Waking up, working, eating, sleeping every day.

Isn’t constructing a loop too? Repeating the measurements, cuts, fixtures.

And isn’t he, after fame, living in a loop enveloped by spotlights, tours, and interviews?

But this man, he chose a song about ”recovery,” putting himself in its cycle.

Then, with the most arduous physical labor, trying to break a certain loop in his own life, constructing a new beginning.

This isn’t an auditory enjoyment; it’s a behavioral expression. The background music of this video is not for the audience’s pleasure but a sort of self-dialogue of the creator.

He understood this man’s extreme loneliness, extreme focus, and the nearly obsessive determination to sever with the past and rebuild himself.

He watched the man sit quietly on the porch in the video ending, gazing at the distant aurora, no ecstasy on his face, only a peace after enduring tribulations.

At that moment, he felt he was seeing himself in another space-time. This man surely has a story; he is waiting for a certain recovery.