Chapter 5: 005, How many steps does it take to release a record?

Nakai Genta was highly efficient; that very evening, he declared he was going to a cabaret club to scout for suitable talent.

However, in Nagayama Naoki’s eyes, it was likely just another night of debauchery.

Who would have thought that the next morning, while Naoki was still eating breakfast, Genta would show up at his door with a short young woman in tow.

"Naoki-san, this is Hoshino Suzumi, a good friend of mine and a top student at Toho Gakuen College of Music! She’s also a 'Seiko-ist'~"

Seeing the stylishly dressed beauty before him, Naoki couldn't help but want to ask, "Are you sure you didn't just pick her up at a nightclub?"

"Ohayou~ Nagayama-kun. I heard your story from Genta-san and couldn't help but get curious, so I came over~ Hahahaha." It turned out she was quite a cheerful girl.

"Ohayou~ Hoshino-san." Naoki hurriedly invited them inside, stuffing the rest of his rice ball into his mouth as he did so. "I didn't prepare, so the room is a bit messy. Please, make yourselves at home."

They were all young, so there wasn't much formality. The two sat casually around the low table. "It’s fine. Compared to Genta-san’s place, your room is much cleaner~"

"Why bring me into this, Suzumi~ My place is clean too, alright~" Genta protested. "I clean it properly every week~"

For a bachelor, it was indeed acceptable.

After a few pleasantries, they got down to business.

Hoshino Suzumi asked, "Naoki-san, could you tell me about the song you mentioned earlier?"

Naoki took out the lyrics he had written and hummed the melody once. "How is it? Can you compose the music for it?"

Hoshino Suzumi was truly a music major; after hearing it just once, she was able to sing it while looking at the lyrics.

As Naoki and Genta listened to her a cappella, they shared the same thought: "As expected, 'Cherry Blossom' sounds ten times better when sung by a sweet female voice!"

"If this song were sung by Seiko-denka, it would definitely become a hit all over Japan!" Hoshino Suzumi was indeed a die-hard Seiko-ist. "However, there are still a few details that need to be refined for the composition."

"Hai, I’m truly sorry to trouble you. I will do my best regarding the compensation for the composition..."

"Forget the compensation. Contributing to Seiko-denka is the wish of us Seiko-ists!"

I’ll say it again: she really is a die-hard Seiko-ist!

Composing music isn't something that happens overnight. Over the next two or three days, Hoshino Suzumi came to Naoki’s place every day to perfect the score, sometimes accompanied by Genta, and sometimes just the two of them.

Even the landlady, Mrs. Makino, asked quietly, "Is that pretty young lady Naoki-san’s girlfriend?"

"Hahaha~ No, she isn't. Hoshino Suzumi-san is a good friend of Genta-san’s. We’ve just been communicating about a song these past few days."

"Oh, are you two releasing a record?" Mrs. Makino was very curious.

"No, I wrote a song and wanted to see if I could offer it to Matsuda Seiko to sing." Naoki felt a bit embarrassed, but for the sake of his first pot of gold, he brazenly called it "composing."

"Really? That’s truly amazing." Although she was older, Mrs. Makino wasn't entirely ignorant of the rising stars in the entertainment industry.

Days passed, and the score for "Cherry Blossom" was completed. They also asked Hoshino Suzumi to record a demo tape, which was then sent to Sun Music, the agency representing Matsuda Seiko, along with a sincere letter.

At the time, Matsuda Seiko’s second single, "Kaze wa Aki-iro," was in its promotional period and had reached number one on the Oricon charts, destined to be a massive hit. Her previous song, "Aoi Sangosho," had cooled down slightly, but it had also reached number one on "The Best Ten."

After Yamaguchi Momoe’s retirement, the media had already begun calling Matsuda Seiko a phenomenal newcomer. At this moment, this song might just add more fuel to her popularity.

Meanwhile, at an internal meeting at Sun Music, President Aizawa Hideyoshi was listening to the demo tape. As the president, he was naturally very concerned about the agency’s rising star.

That morning, the head of the planning department had brought him this single, "Cherry Blossom," saying that a fan of Seiko’s had written a fantastic song for her.

Aizawa hadn't paid much attention at first, but after hearing the demo and considering Matsuda Seiko’s vocal range, he had to admit that this song was no less impressive than "Aoi Sangosho."

However, during this period, the agency was busy promoting "Kaze wa Aki-iro," and they were also hoping to give "Aoi Sangosho" one last push to win an award at the Japan Record Awards.

Releasing this single at the end of the year would be a waste of its potential; it seemed more appropriate as an opening single for next year.

"Regardless, we should secure this song first."

Aizawa instructed Miwa Taisei, the manager in charge of Matsuda Seiko, to contact the creator, Nagayama Naoki. Further production details would be discussed with Wakamatsu Muneo, but it would likely be slated for next year.

As a veteran in the industry, Miwa Taisei had worked with many composers and lyricists, but it was rare for a demo with both lyrics and music already completed to be sent in by a fan.

He obtained the contact information from the planning department and dialed the landline at the Makino residence.

"Moshi moshi, this is the Makino residence."

"Hello, this is Miwa Taisei from Sun Music. Is Nagayama Naoki-san there?"

"Hai, he is. Please wait a moment." Because he had already informed Mrs. Makino, Naoki had left the apartment’s landline as his contact number.

He had spent the last few days mostly in his apartment watching TV and listening to records, deepening his connection to the Showa era while resting his body. When he received the call, Naoki even felt like he had gained a bit of weight.

"Moshi moshi, this is Nagayama Naoki!"

"Hello, this is Miwa Taisei from Sun Music. We received the single 'Cherry Blossom' you sent. It is indeed an outstanding piece of work. I would like to discuss the next steps for cooperation. When would be convenient for you?"

"I see. I’ve been quite free lately—no, I’m available right now. You can set the time."

It was eventually decided that they would meet the next morning at the Sun Music office for a formal discussion.

Producing a record is usually led by a producer who plans the project, utilizing reserved songs or inviting composers and lyricists to create new ones. If it’s centered around a specific singer, a song can be custom-made. Generally, the agency and the record company take over 90% of the total revenue, as they bear the costs of distribution and promotion.

However, famous composers and popular stars have bargaining power. Of course, there is also the practice of a direct buyout, but no one would sell a song destined to be a hit for a flat fee.

The conversation between Naoki and Miwa Taisei went very smoothly. Once both sides agreed on the quality of the single, the copyright transfer fee and royalty split fell into place naturally. In addition to a 10 million yen buyout for the copyright, Naoki would also receive a 5% royalty split as the songwriter.

The entertainment industry really does make money fast!

After signing the contract, Miwa Taisei invited Naoki to a high-end restaurant near the office for a meal. This had almost become a tradition; regardless of the contract, once both parties agreed to cooperate, they had to build a relationship. The level of spending in the entertainment industry represented the agency’s face, and Sun Music’s hospitality standards were top-tier in the industry—that was one thing they couldn't skimp on.