Just Pretend a Dog Bit You

After the group is formed, Johnny & Associates's and Type-Moon will take turns producing the songs, and the productions they appear in will also be jointly handled by the two companies.

Then the group will debut at the Tokyo Dome and begin a nationwide tour, aiming to establish itself as a national male idol group.

My first reaction upon seeing this project was that Johnny & Associates's was playing an April Fool's joke on me.

Apart from Type-Moon being responsible for composing songs and Shinji making movies for the idols, the entire project utilized Johnny & Associates' resources.

In that case, wouldn't it be better for Johnny & Associates's to train its own artists and make money on its own? The fact that it would voluntarily share a portion of its profits with Type-Moon is completely different from Johnny & Associates's usual stingy approach.

However, upon closer reflection, Shinji could guess why Johnny & Associates's would proactively seek cooperation with him.

Johnny & Associates's Entertainment hasn't had many promising talents in recent years. While some groups have become popular, none have shown the potential to become a national-level boy band like SMAP.

Currently, looking at the whole of Japan, Diarmuid from Shinji has the potential to become a national-level male idol in Japan, or even a world-class male idol.

Given the idea that if you can't beat them, join them, it's not so hard to understand why Johnny & Associates's actively recruited Dimeru.

Shinji believed that, given Johnny & Associates's style, they must have already contacted Diarmuid privately, but had not succeeded.

They couldn't possibly succeed.

The relationship between Diarmuid and Shinji is not just that of boss and employee, but more like that of master and servant (humorous).

Of course, Diarmuid one Johnny & Associates's has his eye on; Gilgamesh, Lancelot, and even Cú Chulainn might be on Johnny & Associates's radar.

As for another reason why Johnny & Associates's wanted to recruit Shinji, it's probably because they were eyeing his influence in the Western entertainment industry.

This is a common problem with Japan companies: once they achieve industry leadership in their home country, they like to expand their overseas business and influence.

Furthermore, whether it's a matter of feng shui or a racial characteristic, Japan companies tend to dislike adapting to local conditions when expanding overseas, instead pushing their domestic models.

Shinji wasn't interested in Johnny & Associates's idea of expanding its overseas business; what he cared more about was the influence that the other party actually wanted to gain for free.

[Are they treating me like a free labor NPC, or are they trying to suck me up?]

Shinji Matou picked up his glass and took a sip, his eyes sparkling like starlight.

Chapter 118 Just consider it a dog bite.

Johnny & Associates's proposed plan would naturally benefit them the most.

Even trainees don't need training to acquire a large number of high-quality male stars from Type-Moon.

Shinji had great confidence in his Heroic Spirit Actor; with just a little nurturing from Johnny & Associates's, they would undoubtedly become the brightest stars in the world's entertainment industry.

Compared to Johnny & Associates's Entertainment, which earns a lot of money, Shinji, while not entirely without profit, doesn't generate much at all.

Once "Fuyuki Hollywood" is completed, Second Master really won't care about the little money male idols earn.

While Heroic Spirit idols trained by Johnny & Associates & Associates can more easily act cool and stylish, it doesn't help their Acting Skills at all.

For Shinji, this project was essentially about renting out his own actors to Johnny & Associates and then receiving a sum of money.

Shinji tapped his fingers on the table, a habitual gesture he made while thinking.

The people from Johnny & Associates's remained silent, all waiting quietly for Shinji to make a decision.

It seems some of my actions have caused them to misunderstand.

Shinji a self-deprecating laugh.

He guessed that it was probably because he sold photos of Gilgamesh and Diarmuid that Johnny & Associates's mistakenly thought he had ideas about entering the idol industry.

However, it would be a lie to say that Shinji has absolutely no interest in idols, but he values the publicity that idols can bring more than the profits that the idol industry can generate.

Actually, if it had been two years earlier, Shinji definitely wouldn't have rejected Johnny & Associates's proposal; he might even have offered to make concessions.

At that time, neither he nor the Heroic Spirit Actor were very famous, so it was perfect for Johnny & Associates's to help them gain exposure.

Although the Heroic Spirit cannot leave Fuyuki City, there are plenty of ways to promote them these days, such as online and television broadcasts.

But now...

The film set in Fuyuki City has been completed, Shinji, as the Director, has even achieved the highest box office record in film history (though Second Master himself doesn't think this record is meaningful). The Heroic Spirit Actor have also gained fame through Fate.

In this way, Johnny & Associates's project proposal is really too useless.

Most importantly, Shinji's family's Heroic Spirit are unable to leave Fuyuki City.

While it's possible that in the future, the Heroic Spirit might leave Fuyuki City, they can't right now, can they?

Isn't it ridiculous that an idol group that's going on a nationwide tour can't have its core members leave Fuyuki City?

Surely we can't turn a concert into a 3D Projection like a Hatsune Miku concert, can we?

"This combination actually has many viable aspects. However, there are also many aspects that need to be overcome and discussed."

After pondering for a long time with his head down, Shinji slowly spoke, "I wonder how much Johnny & Associates's is invested in this project?"

Even though he knew in his heart that the project wouldn't work out, Shinji didn't rush to refuse.

It's easier to set a price when the other party seems to need your help.

Shinji then gave the two old men a wicked smile, "Since you've brought out this proposal so carefully, Grandpa Kitagawa, you must have some reason for it, right?"

"Sister, you should talk to Matou-kun." Johnny Kitagawa nodded.

Fujishima Taiko took a sip of tea and slowly said, "It's like this, Matou-kun. As you know, Johnny & Associates's wants to expand its influence..."

"Any Japan company would attach great importance to projects that expand their overseas business and influence," Shinji and deliberately.

Of course, Shinji himself is very skeptical of this practice of Japan companies forcefully promoting their own business models.

KFC and McDonald's adjust their menus according to the tastes of each country. What makes you Japanese companies think your approach will work worldwide?

Fujishima Taiko chuckled and flattered Shinji: "Matou-kun is the world's highest-grossing Director, having already penetrated the global market. He has no idea how difficult it is for other Japan entertainment companies like ours to gain recognition in the Western market."

Sorry, I don't want to know at all.

In Shinji's view, these Japan companies are simply crazy. Instead of wasting effort developing the European and American markets, why don't they go and expand into the Chinese market?

It's important to understand that as fellow East Asian countries, China has a smaller generation gap with Japan and is more adaptable to Japan business models.

Moreover, the rabbit market was experiencing rapid growth at this time, presenting Japan companies with the best opportunity to expand and seize market share.

However, piracy alone caused most Japan cultural companies to abandon the rabbit market.

Shinji certainly wouldn't advocate for the idea that piracy is beneficial; he has always believed that only a legitimate copyright environment can promote market development.

However, he cannot deny that the standardization of copyright in a market needs to be cultivated and is a gradual process.

Before the 1950s, the world's largest piracy market was the United States, which is now the largest copyright market.

The Japan companies' approach of not cultivating the market because of piracy is undoubtedly throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Thinking of this, Shinji shook his head slightly.

Johnny & Associates, which values the image rights of its artists more than their own lives, would never enter the current rabbit market.

Seeing Shinji shake his head, Fujishima Taiko assumed he was dissatisfied with her plan.

She quickly said, "Matou-kun, Johnny & Associates's is great at male idol affairs, but in some areas, we're not as good as you."

Shinji Matou nodded.

That's true. As the mastermind behind the Type-Moon group, Shinji's influence in the international entertainment market is significantly greater than that of Johnny & Associates.

Putting everything else aside, his influence on the Britain media alone is enough to make most Japan companies bow down.

If Shinji his approval, a significant number of Britain media outlets will lavish praise on Johnny & Associates within a week.

Even if this publicity helps Western audiences remember Johnny & Associates's, just the fact that Johnny & Associates's uses these reports to promote itself in Japan can significantly boost Johnny & Associates revenue and influence.

Of course, this is the lowest level of cooperation. High-end cooperation, like Shinji and Bandai, involves connecting them with distribution channels so they can directly establish themselves in the European and American markets.

This is why Johnny & Associates's values Shinji, even though he repeatedly offends them, they still suppress their anger.

After all, in Japan, it's becoming increasingly difficult for any company or individual to bring Johnny & Associates more benefits and influence.

However, there are very few forces in Japan that can truly help them enter the European and American markets.

Especially in the entertainment industry, there are even fewer.

It's important to understand that entertainment industries in all countries and around the world have their own local protectionist tendencies, making it difficult for outsiders to intervene.

The only exception is Rabbit, a place that welcomes people from all over the world to make money.

Moreover, even China has its own domestic release window protection month, let alone other countries and regions.

Well, North America is another exception in this world.

However, even in North America, a thriving field of opportunities, outsiders need the consent of the farmers (North American companies) to harvest the crops.

It's fair to say that, looking at the entire Japan entertainment industry, Second Master is truly one of a kind—a scorpion's excrement, utterly unique.

Both Johnny Kitagawa and Fujishima Taiko knew that they needed the support of this young man in front of them for their next plan.

Shinji, however, had no faith in this project.

Even if their own Heroic Spirit are not restricted by activity venues, this idol group project itself is riddled with problems.

How should the operations team be set up? Which company should be used as a benchmark?

When group members have conflicting schedules, which group's activities should take priority?

Which company owns the record rights to this group's albums? If they are jointly owned, how should the copyrights be distributed?

How should the costs be allocated, and is external financing necessary?

How should the revenue sharing from concerts be distributed? Should the revenue sharing ratios for members of Type-Moon and Johnny & Associates's be the same?

Should we even set up a separate company for easier management?

And, since this involves global promotion, should the Japan government be involved?

In just a few minutes, Second Master had thought of countless things that would lead to future disputes.

Therefore, the possibility of artists from different agencies joining forces to form an idol group is very small.

The reason why members of different groups within the 48 Group were able to transfer to other groups in the future was because the 48 Group had a core producer, Yasushi Akimoto.

But on this side, Johnny & Associates's and Shinji incredibly assertive; they won't relinquish the initiative.

Shinji Matou ultimately concluded that Johnny & Associates's proposal did more harm than good.

In any case Shinji has his own ambitions and goals, and he will never allow Johnny & Associates's to touch his things.

But...

Shinji put the proposal aside and tapped it lightly with his finger.

"This project is very interesting, and as a member of the Japan entertainment industry, I feel it is my responsibility to promote this great project."

Shinji had long since mastered the skill of speaking to people in a human language and to ghosts in a ghost language.

Although Shinji never considered himself a member of the Japan entertainment industry, that didn't stop him from using that identity to get close to everyone in the industry.

"However... this proposal involves far too much content, and I feel it might be impossible to reach a conclusion in the short term. So..."

Shinji glanced at Hiroshi Nagano, his intentions clear.

"Of course, this proposal will definitely need to be discussed gradually."

Johnny Kitagawa smiled and nodded, as if they shared the same view, but his next words revealed his true attitude.

"However... while future collaborations are fine, Matou-kun, you need to make sure the salary you give Hiro is commensurate with his worth, okay?"

Shinji smiled outwardly upon hearing this, but inwardly he was cursing.

What constitutes a salary commensurate with his market value?

It's common knowledge in the industry that Johnny & Associates likes to charge inflated salaries!

"A 45 million yen salary, the movie's theme song performed by V6, and all song copyrights belonging to Johnny & Associates."

After much deliberation, Shinji presented his offer.

After a moment's thought, Johnny Kitagawa gave his request. "This agreement is acceptable, but the salary must be increased to 80 million yen, how about that?"

[This is seriously black!]

Shinji cursed under his breath, stood up, and raised his glass to the old man. "Well then, it's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Despite the criticism, Shinji understood that this was probably Johnny & Associates's final offer.

Arguing further might lower the price a bit, but it would also leave people with the impression of being petty.