Reinventing the Millennium

A good hunter must possess extraordinary patience.

Yike encountered excessive bans, industry lawsuits, and copyright owners' disregard in the United States. Under such circumstances, it was natural to be regarded as prey when it came into contact with Sony Music.

Suppressing valuations, suppressing prices, and talking about intervention. Sony Music's toughness is not only reflected in its previous "stop here without talking about equity", but also in various conditions.

Sony Music, led by Stringer, is trying to seize this little white rabbit from the East through the encirclement and suppression of its peers, Yike's competitors, and Fang Zhuo's ambition to change the music industry.

Stringer is very patient and able to hold his breath.

He once caused President Yike to fall into self-doubt of poor judgment.

Is Sony Music really that calm?

Could Sony Music have seen through its own plans?

Is Sony Music as slow to respond to developments in digital music as its parent company?

Is a record giant like Sony Music really willing to give up its bargaining power to an industry interloper?

Fang Zhuo had various thoughts flashing through his mind while waiting.

This time taking advantage of Apple's restarted acquisition negotiations, it is a tug-of-war for him and Stringer, as well as for Sony Music and Yi Ke.

Both hunters were silently observing the performance of their prey and waited patiently until the last moment.

Then, only one hunter had the last laugh.

"Mr. Fang, I will go to HKUST when I return to China."

When Yi Ke and his team left Apple, Marketing Director Yu Hong and her boss were in the car together, and they sighed with emotion.

Fang Zhuo was surprised: "What do you mean?"

"Write your competitive methods into the case this time." Yu Hong said, "I thought it would be ineffective this time. But now it seems that Sony Music is really paying close attention to our movements and waited until this time to fight. Phone, Stringer is so patient, but he still can’t compare to you!”

Fang Zhuo smiled, this Xiao Yu, why does this Xiao Yu speak so beautifully?

"Xiao Yu, if you want to go back to HKUST to provide a case, you must remember to compare the other things together."

Yu Hong asked curiously: "Which one?"

"In October last year, 'Under the Banyan Tree' negotiated with Germany's Bertelsmann to acquire shares. The German company's initial asking price was 10 million." Fang Zhuo slowly recounted what happened last year, "However, when we were taking a break, Bertelsmann Someone from Tasman went downstairs and learned from the property management that 'Under the Banyan Tree' had been in arrears with utility bills for several months."

"Bertelsmann came back to the negotiation table and the offer changed from 10 million to 1 million. 'Under the Banyan Tree' had no choice but to accept it."

From 10 million to 1 million in an instant, business negotiations are so ruthless, poking at the weakest spot.

Fang Zhuo and Yu Hong both know that Yike will not sell to Apple, at least not while it currently occupies the advantage in the hardware market. Once Sony Music withstands this pressure today, I am afraid it will be able to get the desired price reduction. Yike.

In that case, Yike could only follow behind and drink some soup.

Now he immediately has greater initiative.

"Patience is really important." Yu Hong has been involved in this matter, and now the review feels like walking on a tightrope.

Fang Zhuo shook his head slightly and concluded: "It is not so much that Stringer is not as patient as I am, but that the responsibilities he bears cannot allow him to miss the opportunity of digital music."

In the current music player market, only Yike and Apple are popular in the United States, and these two companies have made forward-looking arrangements for the integration of software and hardware.

Sony Music can reject Apple, it can reject Yike, it can choose to wait for the transformation of its own players.

But when? Will it be too late by then?

If Sony Music sits back and watches Apple take over Yike, it will definitely lose its bargaining power in the foreseeable future and can only become an aggrieved concubine. Now that it backfires and sabotages Apple's acquisition, it still has a chance to compete for the big wife.

"No one knows Sony's situation better than Stringer. It is precisely because he knows Sony so well that he would rather look for help from outside rather than trying to promote Sony's strategic changes from within."

"Stringer's bottom line is too high, and my bottom line is too low. Without Sony Music, the worst I can do is go to Europe or go back to China, and he will lose unjustly."

Fang Zhuo gave a self-evaluation.

Immediately, he noticed that Xiao Yu's eyes turned into a smile and he realized that he was speechless. He added: "It's because he has too little leeway. I have more leeway than him."

Yu Hong just nodded deeply in agreement, the boss was right, the boss said it well.

As the business car stopped and went, the president and marketing director expressed a lot of emotion about the cooperation between Yike and Sony Music. This step of cooperation in music copyright is really not easy.

It is precisely because of this difficulty that it becomes more and more precious and delicious.

In fact, why did Yike suffer this crime?

Is it because it has an ideal of benefiting the American people?

When the product is dismantled, it is obvious that the parts are purchased from all over the world. Yike just wants the American people to buy cheap things. What is wrong with it!

"Xiao Yu, remember what happened during this time, remember the copyright owners' blockade of us, remember our lawsuits."

"We, Yike, run a business with no fault of our own, so why should we be like this?"

Fang Zhuo said seriously.

At this time, the mobile phone rang, and it was a call from fund manager Kong Yu.

"Hey, hey, Mr. Fang, I'll send you some of the stocks I've screened." Kong Yu's voice was loud and excited, "All the funding procedures have been completed! The gang members are really rich!"

Fang Zhuo said "Yeah" twice and hung up the phone.

He suddenly felt that the quietness of this commercial vehicle was a little too good.

Fang Zhuo put away his phone, looked into Yu Hong's eyes, and said firmly: "Yike is innocent."

"Well, when I sell my shares, I will definitely ask you for financial management." Yu Hong said a word that she has heard a lot recently.

Fang Zhuo laughed twice, changed the topic, and started talking about the next work.

Yike and Sony Music have reached a consensus at the highest level, and everything will go smoothly next.

Stringer probably wouldn't do that kind of thing.

Because the phone call he made before the battle today had completely exposed his intentions. The calmness in front of Sony Music was just an appearance. It was actually aiming at Yike with all its heart.

Once strategic intentions are exposed, going back on one's word is just a tactic and not a tactic.

In the second week of November, Yike, who had experienced bans, lawsuits, and frustrations, finally ushered in a happy period and quickly obtained the previously stuck conditions on the negotiation table.

Sony Music will obtain equity in the form of PreB round on the premise of Yike's valuation of US$300 million, and conduct in-depth cooperation on music copyright.

This involves the value conversion of three-year music copyright authorization, promotion of its artists, profit sharing and integration of record channels, etc.

Stringer is very courageous. Since he decided to cooperate, he will devote more resources to support the confrontation between Yike and Apple.

Soon, Yike and Sony Music reached an agreement on the main terms of cooperation, and the rest was detailed negotiation.

In the PreB round, Sony Music entered the stage and received a three-year music copyright license + US$5 million in cash in exchange for 10% of Yike’s shares.

As a result, Fang Zhuoyifang's shareholding was reduced to 44.1%, and IDG America, IDG China, Capital Today, Shenxin Science and Technology, and Xiangjiang Huanyu held 16.2%, 9.9%, 6.57%, 5.76%, and 4.77% respectively, and the option pool was 2.7 %.

Next, in addition to continuing negotiations, Yike also needs to complete the function development of iMusic, restrictions on music format transcription, and encryption of digital music copyrights.

Among them, the most important one is to realize music purchase on the software.

This work requires constant debugging to ensure user payment security. Considering various conditions, it is estimated that it will not be online until next spring.

Apple doesn’t know the progress yet, but judging from the news it has learned, even if it is fast, it will not be much faster.

On November 15th, the business negotiations between Sony Music and Yike came to an end. Both parties are looking forward to the upcoming changes in the industry ecology caused by digital music.

"Xiao Yu, I will return to Shanghai this weekend at the latest."

Fang Zhuo held consecutive meetings, interviewed several professional managers recommended by headhunters, and finally communicated with Yu Hong on the selection of candidates.

Professional managers in the United States must respect the opinions of the marketing director if they want to work with Yu Hong.

"Well, let's see you at the end of the month. I can't miss Zhou Xin's wedding." Yu Hong still felt a little hasty when she mentioned this.

"However, I have to do one thing before I go back." Fang Zhuo sighed, "Sometimes I really feel that things are too complicated."

"What's the matter?" Yu Hong asked, and then tried to guess, "Anliang meeting?"

Fang Zhuo glanced at the marketing director in surprise. He almost didn't talk to Xiao Yu about this matter.

"I don't think you have any good intentions towards them." Yu Hong raised the corner of her mouth.

Fang Zhuo rubbed his face, feeling that his image was a bit distorted, especially since he had just won a cooperation with Sony Music. Shouldn't he be a wise and powerful person?

"The Anliang Chamber of Commerce still has great financial potential. In the next few years, not only will we develop rapidly in China, but also in the United States. If MIGA Fund can use Anliang Chamber of Commerce as a benchmark for investment and financial management, there will definitely be a siphon effect."

"But we have to test whether these people realize who is making them money."

Fang Zhuo shrugged: "So, I want to do a little test."

Yu Hong waited patiently.

"I saw that the marketing department's report last week mentioned a small incident. An employee was beaten by a black store manager while working." Fang Zhuo said.

"Well, I was beaten inexplicably. Fortunately, it was a minor injury. We also called the police." Yu Hong explained seriously when she heard that her work was involved.

"The racial discrimination here is very serious. There is no need for any special reason at all. Black people are easy to stick together. Let's leave it to the financial management group. If it works this time, remember to greet them next time if you encounter something." Fang Zhuo said lightly.

"How will they deal with it?" Yu Hong asked.

Fang Zhuo spread his hands: "How would I know? I don't belong to a gang, so I'll just report my grievances directly."

Yu Hong stopped asking. What happened to the employees was really inexplicable. She didn't make too much noise before considering that she was in a foreign country. She was waiting for the police to reply, but she couldn't wait to hear more.

Soon, Fang Zhuo called Tong Wandou and told him extremely angrily what happened to his employees.

He originally wanted to talk about the interests of PL Fund, but Fan Xiong of Copper Pea took the initiative and took over the matter, saying that Mr. Fang’s employees were all his brothers and he could never let his brothers suffer.

Fang Zhuo did not show up, but directly let the client express his depression, and asked him to follow the financial management group to see how to deal with it.

The financial management team is very efficient, and the parties will be able to clear their minds every day.

Fang Zhuo was quite satisfied with this, and before leaving, he called Li Xinyue from Anliang to express his gratitude to the Chamber of Commerce and praised them for being "yellow-skinned helping yellow-skinned" and very responsible.

Li Xinyue had no idea what was going on and accepted the thanks in confusion.

When she went to understand the situation, she realized that the brothers from the Chamber of Commerce had engaged in a large-scale conflict, which was somewhat contrary to An Liang's current pursuit of a positive image.

The eldest lady of the Li family had some disputes with Shuanghua Honggun, and she was especially dissatisfied with him for taking people out without authorization.

Fang Zhuo didn't know how they resolved their differences internally. He only knew that Fan Xiong, a copper pea, was dissatisfied with his words when sending him to the airport.

The money was earned by the chamber of commerce, and the brothers didn't care much about their lives. The Li family enjoyed spicy food, so the brothers made some soup to quench their thirst.

If this continues, will Anliang still be the same Anliang?

Fang Zhuo couldn't figure out the answer. After all, he was not proficient in political affairs. He just smiled and said to the copper pea when he entered the airport: "Brother Fan, I don't understand what you are talking about either."

"Anyway, I think Brother Fan is very loyal. If you have any shareholders' meeting, I will definitely vote for you."

Fang Zhuo said kindly: "I've seen movies that talk about people talking, and this is the Li family. They get more shares from my fund due to their status."

"Is there such a thing? Their share ratio is higher?" Fan Xiong was surprised.

"After all, they represent the Anliang Society. I have to give them face." Fang Zhuo smiled slightly and patted Fan Xiong on the shoulder. "Let's go. I'll come back to New York next time. I hope Brother Fan can fulfill his duties as a landlord."

Fan Xiong silently watched the back of the CEO and his assistants leaving with an incomprehensible expression.

Let’s take a look at today’s chamber of commerce. Who is the safest one?

Transoceanic flights flew overhead, and President Yike came and went, but the impact he brought to the music industry and the financial management concepts he cultivated will produce more results.