After identifying Jackson and Madonna, the two most important judges, the preparations for American Idol can officially begin, because as Bessman said, there are too many choices and replacements for other professionals, whether they are songwriters or university music professors, which is not a difficult problem for a once-glorious producer like Bessman.

Immediately afterwards, at Besman's suggestion, Zhou Ming went to the Copyright Office to submit a copyright application.

This surprised Zhou Ming, because Zhou Ming originally planned to use American idols to promote Amazon, and it doesn't matter if the copyright is left to Columbus TV, but Bessman told Zhou Ming that the copyright is more initiative in his own hands.

Zhou Ming thought about it and felt that what Besman said made sense, and the most important thing was to strengthen Besman's status. You should know that Besman was the first person to be conquered in the media. The more stable his position, the more beneficial it will be to his future layout. So Zhou Ming decided to follow his advice and apply for copyright, which later proved to be correct.

Because later when Bessman submitted a formal program application to Essek, after Essex watched the program planning plan, he immediately decided that this was very potential, so he hoped to hand it over to the more experienced team in the station. Bessman told him that he had suggested that Zhou Ming apply for copyright.

Shet!

Essec cursed in his heart. He knew that he could not pick peaches directly, but he did not give up. He also said that Bessman's team was too small and that the station could draw people to help him at any time.

This was also rejected by Besman, who told him that this show does not require too many people, and even during the audition stage, even the TV studios are not needed.

Besman is undoubtedly very tough, but he also has his own tough capital. First of all, Columbus is at an absolute disadvantage in the competition between the two TV stations of Fox, North America, and he needs a program to re-start the brand. Now American Idol is such a program, not to mention Besman also said that he would invite top stars like Jackson and Madonna to be judges, which will further enhance the influence of the TV station.

Therefore, for the sake of the development of the TV station, even if Bessman is a little too much, Essek can only endure it.

Of course it is right for Besman to think so, but there is another thing he doesn't know. It is because of this program that Piero had already given Zhou Ming a green light. If Essec didn't want to cause trouble, he would have to let the show go on TV.

Of course, Besman's toughness also has a limit rather than an uncontrollable expansion. Besman is essentially just to protect himself and the show. If he loses the support of the TV station, the show will not be able to be done, so he stopped when he sees it is better and did not continue to stimulate his "former boss".

After obtaining the support of the TV station, Bessman contacted Jackson and Madonna non-stop.

Besman met Madonna and Jackson in New York and Los Angeles respectively. Of course, Zhou Ming also went with him here. This is not that Zhou Ming believed in Besman, but Zhou Ming’s own little thoughts. Zhou Ming does not pursue stars, but also wants to meet the world’s top king queen in this era.

The whole process is nothing special. Once Jackson and Madonna, the two king queens, lose their star aura, they will be two ordinary middle-aged people in their forties.

Zhou Ming and their agents

When people come into contact, Besman's friends have already talked about it. This time, Besman will mainly talk about some questions about the show itself and what performances their artists need to prepare.

Besman told them that this was a talent show, and they participated mainly as judges, and before the finals, they did not need to participate in every episode, and they only had to be present in the first audition.

This process arrangement made the agent very satisfied. Of course, Jackson and Madonna's agents also proposed the idea of ​​arranging their other artists to participate in the program. Bessman's answer was very straightforward: "I fully welcome it because this is a competition that does not limit the color, race and gender!"

Finally, under the supervision of lawyers of both parties, Besman and their agents signed a contract, and Zhou Ming paid half of his salary on the spot, and agreed to settle it all after the program was recorded.

After two heavyweight judges were finalized, the next step was the venue and equipment.

The equipment is relatively simple. After all, Bessman was also a top producer in the United States a few years ago. Even though he has been in decline in the past two years, as long as he sends out a message and says he wants to do a show, there are still many companies rushing to cooperate.

Compared with equipment, the venue is a more cautious thing, and it is also the one that Zhou Ming and Bessman discuss the most.

Because it was an audition at the beginning, there must be many people who signed up, so it was not suitable to put it directly on the TV station. Originally, Bessman's choice was Broadway, because there were many theaters here and the venue was very good, but Zhou Ming thought it would be better to find a university to cooperate.

Zhou Ming explained to this: "Students are the most passionate and dreamy. Doing auditions in school can better set off the effect. At the same time, young people have a youthful and beautiful appearance, which is more in line with their idol characteristics."

Of course, there is another point, that is, holding such an event in schools is more cost-effective in terms of budget than Broadway.

So the final location was Broadway Academy of Arts, and this choice was also of particular importance. It is not an advanced institution like Berkeley and Curtis, but a vocational skills college. It is a place where some children with star dreams learn professional skills in music. There are also many record companies that will also send the newcomers they discover here for professional training.

In other words, the students here basically have aspirations for the celebrity path. If you hold the first audition here, you can get the best results.

Of course, while choosing the venue, Jackson and Madonna on the other side had already taken their promotional videos and posters. The last judge, after repeated consideration by Zhou Ming and Besman, finally chose a professor at the Manhattan Conservatory of Music. He is also a very authoritative musician in New York and has very deep theoretical experience in the field of music.

Finally, it is the personnel arrangement. Although the talent show does not require many professional staff, because two top superstars, Jackson and Madonna, they always have to ensure that they are safe as the organizers, so it is very necessary to hire a special security company.

Everything is ready, and Bessman finalized the registration and audition time, but in terms of publicity, there was a little problem: Essexy wants to collect money!

Bessman was shocked at the time because according to his idea, American idol was a Columbus TV program. It was reasonable for the TV station to promote its own program, so why did he still have to charge money?

But Essek's explanation also makes sense: "If the copyright of American Idol is

Columbus, if the advertising revenue of American idols is also in Columbus, then Columbus should of course help the program promote it vigorously for free, and even in prime time. But the problem is that there is nothing!"

There is no doubt that Essek is treating American Idol as an external TV show broadcast in Columbus.

When Bessman talked about this, he was full of complaints: "Essec, a short-sighted idiot, no wonder Columbus has been going downhill in his hands, all because of this idiot! Such a good show, wouldn't he think about what hidden benefits this will bring to the TV station?"

Zhou Ming saw it very clearly: "He just wanted to disgust us. Who told us not to give them copyright and advertising revenue? Now that he wants money so much, let's give it to you."

Then Zhou Ming came to Essek's office in person to talk to him.

When Essek saw Zhou Ming coming and opened his mouth, he cried to Zhou Ming about how bad the situation on Columbus TV is now. The finances have been underpaid for years, so he barely made a living by relying on some prime time advertisements.

Faced with Essek's poor performance, Zhou Ming directly retorted: "Since Columbus TV's situation is so bad, has Mr. Essek considered selling? I don't have anything else, and I still have a lot of money. I should be able to buy it at the current market value of Columbus."

Essek was stunned at the time. He originally wanted to cry with Zhou Ming so that he could take the lead in the next negotiation on advertising fees, but who knew that Zhou Ming opened his mouth and said, "You should sell the TV station," which would make him lose his temper."

Yes, since your TV station is so bad, you are selling it, I bought it.

Is this the negotiation method of the rich? I can’t afford to offend you.

Essek then said that Columbus was the foundation passed down by his father and could not be destroyed in his own hands and would not be sold in any case. Those who were born and died were Columbus' ghosts.

Zhou Ming really thought Essek's artificial acting skills were so irritating.

Without time to go around with him, Zhou Ming directly stated that he was here to negotiate the cost of American idol promotion and asked Essek to offer a price directly.

Essek thought about it and gave his own answer: "One million ten seconds, this is the best price I can give."

Zhou Ming shook his head: "Ten seconds are too short, I want at least fifteen seconds."

"One and a half million." Essek quoted again.

"No problem, the deal is completed." Zhou Ming immediately agreed and joked that Jackson and Madonna would give out all 15 million. The advertising fee of 1.5 million is simply splashing water.

Of course, Zhou Ming later realized that he was still cheated, because Besman told Zhou Ming that unless there were some particularly popular competition periods, the advertising fee for even fifteen seconds of prime time would be only about one million. Moreover, the American Idol program is still named Columbus, and the advertising fee should be reduced to 500,000 or 600,000.

Zhou Ming said it was nothing: "What I want now is to make this show as soon as possible, rather than quarrel on these irrelevant issues. I also have some advertising investment plans, so it is not difficult to make the money back."

Zhou Ming also explained to Besman: "After spending so much money, you must do your best!"

Besman replied very seriously and solemnly: "I will do this even if you don't say it sir."
Chapter completed!