Rebirth of America, this is my time

When Philips was cursed by Ethan Jones's sudden attack.

The mood in the Columbia Records conference room was also gloomy.

President and CEO Walter Yetnikov leaned back on his seat with a decadent look on his face, looked at his subordinates at the same table with blank eyes, and said in a faint tone: "The parent company requires us to immediately self-examine and correct ourselves and write a Report, they want to know why Michael Jackson was sold to us."

"so……"

"Can anyone tell me how to write this report?"

"Who is willing to take responsibility for this?"

Yetnikov's words made everyone present look tense.

Everyone smelled the murderous smell in the air.

Because they know that the workplace is so cruel. When a leader does something wrong and may be punished by the boss, in order to protect themselves, those people will definitely push out their subordinates and let them take the blame.

Normally, they should choose an unlucky guy at this time, but this time...

They are not convinced!

“Walter, this matter has nothing to do with us, right?”

A bespectacled Columbia Records executive said: "Initially, when we received the offer from Destiny Games, we had no intention of selling Michael Jackson. It was the major Hollywood giants who came forward to sell our parent company CBS got dragged into the deal, so we sold Michael Jackson to Destiny Games."

“Who does CBS hold us accountable in this case?”

"Why should we pay for their mistakes?"

"Just because it is our parent company." Walter Yetnikov smiled helplessly and said: "If we don't take responsibility, then they will have to admit their mistakes."

"And this kind of thing..."

"Will you do it?"

The light rhetorical question left the bespectacled executive speechless and choked.

He sighed forcefully and slumped down helplessly.

Yetnikov shrugged.

Just when he thought that his subordinates had reached a consensus and were ready to find someone to take the blame, another person said: "Walter, does Mr. John Buck really want us to take responsibility?"

John Buck is the CEO of CBS.

The immediate boss of their parent company.

When the name appeared, Yetnikov instantly twisted his neck, shifted his gaze, and looked at the serious-faced old white man, "Yes, these are his exact words."

The affirmative words made the old white man purse his lips and said, "But all of us know that the order to sell Michael Jackson was given by him personally."

"Or maybe it was Mr. Paley's idea, instigated by Steve Ross."

"In this case, they still want us to be held responsible?"

"Isn't this just telling us in disguise that you can get out?"

"Because from a factual perspective, no one can hold us accountable."

Although the old man's tone was very calm, everyone present looked tense.

Almost at the same time, everyone present cast a surprised look at the old man.

They didn't expect the old man to be so brave! It opened things up completely!

And as everyone watched, Yetnikov also nodded, looked around with a complicated expression, and said in a light tone: "I know that you are dissatisfied, in fact, I am the same."

"But so what?"

"We are just part-time workers."

"And Steve Ross and Mr. Paley are both capitalists."

"Even if they are the masterminds behind the whole incident, who can hold them accountable?"

"No one can do this."

"So now we are the sacrifices."

"It is a sacrifice that allows them to escape completely and satisfy other shareholders..."

Letting a company with independent operating rights sell its assets has never been something that can be achieved by just a few words from peers, nor by everyone's collective compensation.

Previously, Steve Ballmer said that in order for Columbia Records to sell MJ, major companies in Hollywood offered a lot of profits, but this was actually an excuse to fool the public.

What really made Columbia Records agree to the deal was that Warner's boss had a good eye and found the actual controller of CBS, William Paley.

William Paley is a second-generation rich man.

By 1920, his father was already a millionaire.

Because his family had money, William Paley could do what he liked after graduating from college. When he started his own business, he discovered that radio might have strong business prospects, so he and his friends founded it in Philadelphia. A radio company consisting of sixteen stations.

At that time, he named the company Columbia Broadcasting Corporation.

This is the predecessor of the current CBS Television Network.

That’s right!

William Paley is the founder of the CBS Television Network!

Has been firmly in control of the CBS Television Network for more than fifty years!

As for how Steve Ross found him...

Outsiders may not know it, but people within the Columbia system know very well that Mr. William Paley’s late wife, Barbara Cushing, is the biological child of Steve Ross’s current lover, Amanda Cushing. Mother, because of this, William Paley became Steve Ross’s father-in-law.

If this is all it is, it is not enough to show how strong the relationship between the two parties is.

After all, Amanda Cushing was just William Paley's stepdaughter.

Not biological.

On weekdays, Amanda Cushing gets closer to her biological father.

But when the Columbia Broadcasting and Television Network built a new building ten years ago, William Paley handed over the design of the building to Amanda Cushing and asked her to use it as her master's thesis, and then actually followed Amanda Cushing's design. When Cushing meant the building was put up...

It only takes one person to understand the place Amanda Cushing held in William Paley's heart!

After this relationship existed, a few months ago, Columbia Records executives suddenly learned that the parent company, CBS Network, had begun to interfere with Michael Jackson's transactions. They all knew that Michael Jackson, that person, It must be sold for sure.

Because the big boss of the parent company has already interfered with family affairs in the company!

Rejection is a sign that your brain is broken!

Since the current son-in-law of the big boss needs this deal, Columbia Records didn't bother to review Michael Jackson's new album and directly submitted the previous report. Moreover, in order to please the boss, they also specially strengthened it. Epic Records is not optimistic about Michael Jackson.

They thought that their sensibleness would be appreciated by their biggest boss.

But unexpectedly, everything was messed up.

And when things are irreversible, it is inevitable to consider yourself unlucky.

After all, no matter which company it is, the biggest boss will not pay for his own mistakes.

"So... let's discuss a solution..." Columbia Records CEO Walter Yetnikov sighed and said, "Should we resign collectively, or should we wait to be laid off?"

"If we resign, we may be able to continue to develop in the industry."

"If we are laid off, we may have to change industries..."

The cruel facts made everyone present feel depressed.

And when they expressed pain and didn't want to make a choice, Dai Ying also started having fun.

When ACC heard the news from North America, the company's chairman immediately held an emergency meeting.

“Has Ethan Jones’s Destiny Music been quoted to us before?”

"He wants to buy ATV?"

"I can't agree to this!"

"From today on, all matters related to ATV need to be reported to me!"

"Since Ethan Jones is very optimistic about it, it means that the value of this company far exceeds their quotation, so we must hold it to the end!"

"I don't want to be treated as a laughing stock by my peers, and I don't want to be treated as an idiot, Okay?"

"Also, the most important thing now is to find out why Ethan Jones bought it."

"Is it really the Beatles' music rights that he's interested in?"

"Will there be any major breakthroughs in the music industry?"

"Why else would he suddenly reach out to us in Europe?"

"Um?"

To be honest, when the senior management of ACC suddenly received the ban-sale order from their boss, they were a little confused. But soon, they felt that there was no problem with the boss's arrangement.

After all, the deal Ethan Jones made was outrageous!

The right calculation made them a little scared.

And Ethan Jones's past record makes them afraid to gamble.

In this case, being on guard is a must!

And when the ACC, which was far back in time, was nervous about Ethan Jones's layout ability and came up with a fireproof, anti-theft and anti-Ethan deployment, Xerox in America became even more worried.

Although the transaction related to the graphical user interface was reviewed and decided by all senior executives, they all agreed at the time that the selling price of tens of millions was very fair, but now...

After seeing the tragedy that happened to Columbia Records, they suddenly felt that they seemed to have suffered a loss?

You know, when Ethan Jones purchased Michael Jackson a few months ago, he spent $10 million! Exactly the same as the GUI transaction volume!

The only difference is that when buying Michael Jackson, Ethan Jones used cash, and when buying the GUI, Ethan Jones used Apple stock!

And everyone knows that Apple stock is worth more than cash!

In this case, when the Michael Jackson that Ethan Jones bought for 10 million has shown the king's posture, what kind of energy will the graphical user interface that costs more than 10 million burst out?

Xerox simply couldn’t imagine it!

But they know that even if they regret it now, it is already too late!

At this point, they can only hope that the graphical user interface will be successful, but not too successful.

Because once they are too successful, they will inevitably become the next laughing stock.

As for failure?

That's not OK!

After all, they own Apple stock!

They also expect Apple to go public and make money!

"hiss……"

"Ethan Jones has made us so conflicted!"

"This guy is such a pain in the ass!"

Ethan is actually not aware of the disturbances from the outside world.

Because when Steve Ballmer told him that Michael Jackson's new album attracted countless people's attention as soon as it was released, he, who had been happy to get a graphical user interface, reacted belatedly. Come on, GUI didn't seem to be his counterattack, Michael Jackson was.

This fact made him a little embarrassed. After all, it was he who asked Destiny Music to scout Michael Jackson, but he himself didn't care about the other person's release time?

No matter how you hear this, it’s a bit outrageous!

However, he soon adjusted. As the boss of a group company, he had to be busy with many things every day. It is normal to not be able to cover everything. The one who does everything is a superman.

When this idea appeared, Ethan felt much more comfortable.

Looking at the bald man in front of him with a smile, he said, "Is Michael Jackson very popular now?"

"Yes."

"How hot is it?"

"The Billboard has reached the top, and Top R\u0026B/Hip-Hop Albums is ranked third." While telling the story, the big bald man also opened the briefcase he was carrying and pulled out a vinyl record from it.

This cleverness made Ethan laugh.

He flicked his finger, indicating to Ballmer that he was free.

Soon, MJ's singing sounded in Ethan's office.

To be honest, Ethan in his previous life was not actually a big fan of MJ. He just listened to his songs and would add songs like "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" to his playlist. But even if he doesn't have much obsession with MJ, at this moment, he still feels that "Off the Wall" is a special project. As for the reason...

That might be because the copyright of this album belongs to you?

"Ha ha ha ha--"

The unpretentious thought made Ethan laugh instinctively.

But even if his joy came very suddenly, Steve Ballmer who was standing by was not surprised, because he knew what the success of "Off the Wall" meant.

This meant that their Destiny Game was an instant hit in the music industry.

It means more...

His boss, Ethan Jones, is right again.

And just when Steve Ballmer lamented that his boss was like the chosen one, he would succeed no matter what he did, Ethan, who was enjoying the beautiful song with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke.

“If I remember correctly, Off the Wall was distributed by Columbia?”

"Yes."

"Is there any abnormal behavior on their side?"

"Not yet, David Geffen keeps an eye on it."

"Is he staring?"

"Yeah~" Ballmer nodded: "Although "Off the Wall" is not the album we launched, Michael Jackson is the first artist of our Destiny Music after all."

"So, we have the right to protect his personal interests."

"Again, this is protecting our own interests."

These words made Ethan open his eyes and tilt his head.

"Is this what he said?"

"He said it himself," Ballmer said: "He also said that he would let Columbia Records release the album in accordance with the process and settle the royalties to Michael Jackson in accordance with the time stipulated in the contract."

"If there was a problem, he would report it immediately."

"At that time, he hopes you can give him a certain amount of time."

"Very good, well done."

With a casual compliment, Ethan put the matter behind him.

A few months ago, when Ethan learned that Columbia Records was willing to sell Michael Jackson and the rights to his songs but wanted to retain the distribution rights to "Off the Wall," he knew that the Michael Jackson deal was not going to be clean. The money and goods are both worth the money.

Although Columbia Records at that time felt that Michael Jackson had little potential, once MJ's new album is released, Columbia Records, which holds the distribution rights, will definitely have some fun.

At that time, Ethan's idea was to sign people over first, and then send company executives to keep an eye on Columbia after the album was released. If there were any problems, he would immediately counterattack. But now, since David Geffen is doing this very wisely, he doesn't need to worry about it anymore.

Again, his energy alone is limited.

When a company gets bigger, it must appropriately delegate power and let the people who know how to do it do the right things.

"Is there anything else?"

"there is none left."

"Then leave me alone for a while?"

"Okay boss."

With Ballmer's departure, only MJ's singing remained in the huge office.

The brisk music made Ethan shake his head involuntarily.

"There's steam beat~"

"And it's comin' after you~"

"You can take it~"

"If you only let your feelings through~"

Although MJ's new album has nothing to do with winning, when Ethan swings...

He always had a feeling.

At this moment, there may be people jumping on the bandwagon.

But what does that have to do with him?

Just let him be happy! Right?

"Hehe~"

Note: ① As written before, Steve Ross’s second wife Amanda Cushing is from an oil family, but her mother divorced her biological father when he was two years old, and she Married William Paley when he was four years old.

PS, regarding MJ’s question, I looked through the information again and checked the official website of the Jackson Brothers’ historical information.

The Jackson Brothers were really popular in the early 1970s, touring Europe and even breaking records, but they went downhill after 1974, especially when MJ had already negotiated a contract with Epic Records before his contract with Motown Records expired. , he also got into a lawsuit, which resulted in five concerts held in the Philippines in 1976, which was incomparable to the more than 40 concerts held in the previous year.

Even though their group albums sold well in 1978, MJ canceled many concert arrangements due to personal issues. At that time, the media broke the news that because of his unauthorized termination of the contract, Motown filed a lawsuit to interrupt his concert plans. , at the same time, the disastrous failure of the movie and his singing style also caused him to be criticized by industry insiders, who felt that he had no future if he wanted to leave the group.

These are the summaries that CNN published in the year or five after his death. At that time, the industry and outside the industry were indeed not optimistic about him. Yetnikov, the president of Columbia Records who witnessed all this, also said in an interview in 2009 that Epic Records did not want MJ to go solo and were not optimistic about his solo career. Even if MJ released "Off the Wall", they and many When the radio station discussed cooperation, the other party was still scornful and felt that MJ would not become the king.