[Chapter 52: The Changing Status of the Big Three]
Many years later.
When the lionesses gathered privately with their cubs, reminiscing about the past or bragging about the only lion that doted on them, a lioness named Shania Twain, who had already given birth to eight cubs for the lion, spoke up.
She said, "The moment he saw me, he wrote sixteen songs for me! All tailor-made, many of them confessions of love, and that was within just an hour of meeting!"
This statement easily struck down the confidence of the group of lionesses.
Because they also knew that those sixteen songs formed the album titled Shania.
It was the best-selling single album in the history of country music.
It also held the record for the highest-selling single album by a female singer.
Writing songs or love songs was something many lionesses had experienced since that was the lion's specialty.
But these two records were almost impossible for anyone to break.
Of course.
This was something that happened decades later.
---
At this very moment, the singer named Shania Twain had just signed her first recording contract.
Nothing special so far.
She received the same treatment as most new artists signed by record companies.
Except her signing bonus was exceptionally high.
The reason was the boss had heard about her current financial struggles and decided to give her a signing bonus of one million dollars.
Normally, signing bonuses for new singers ranged from $5,000 to $300,000.
At the low end, $5,000 was typical for small record companies signing unremarkable new artists.
The top end, $300,000, was usually reserved for big companies backing a prodigious new talent.
When Orlando first signed with Warner Records, he received $300,000.
After all, he had already written quality songs like Old Town Road at that point.
Plus, Daisy Cuomo was his referral, and Frank and Seymour had fought for his deal.
Naturally, it capped at the top.
But the one million dollars Shania got now was unprecedented, maybe never to be repeated.
Among new artists who hadn't debuted, such a figure was unheard of.
Frank and Seymour naturally opposed this.
Orlando's reasoning was sound: "This is also a marketing strategy. Imagine a new artist getting a million-dollar signing bonus, combined with a perfect debut album. That million-dollar bonus works better than the same amount spent just on promotion!"
He added some other points, the gist was that this approach would attract talented newcomers to Orlando Records, reducing the cost of finding and discovering quality artists.
According to the agreement, with a one-million-dollar signing bonus, if Shania breached her contract, the penalty would be ridiculously high: fifty million dollars!
Again, an unheard-of number for new artists' contracts.
For comparison, Orlando's Warner Records contract had a breach penalty of just two million dollars.
Of course, his penalty was relatively low because of his referral's pull.
Though Shania never intended to breach the contract, whether out of Orlando's "love confession," the rare opportunity, or that million-dollar signing bonus that could support her entire family comfortably, she didn't care that the penalty was fifty million dollars.
Even if it was an even more outrageous amount, she'd still sign.
Just that it wouldn't be legal.
With the Big Three of the Orlando Records around, Shania signed her contract even faster than Orlando did.
She finished signing and got the check that very day.
---
After getting the money, excited Shania planned to return to Canada, hoping to wrap up family matters in a few days, then come back to New York to develop her career.
But Mary Bailey, who was like a mother to her, said, "You should stay, Shania. I'll handle things back in Canada."
"Mary, why?"
"In my hometown in Ontario, there's a saying: when the first flame lights the winter fireplace, you have to keep adding fuel to keep the fire burning, or it will go out and freeze you to death!"
"Mary, what do you mean?"
"It means you should stay and let Mr. Orlando's flame of love burn even brighter!"
"Ah, Mary, how can you say that, I..."
"Don't be silly, dear. We both know the truth."
Mary Bailey held her hand.
They were chatting privately in a small meeting room at Orlando Records.
"Don't you get it? Orlando likes you -- just look at those songs, read the lyrics! Look at your contract!"
"One million dollars -- that's more money than what the two of us together made all these years. He didn't even blink before signing it.
Do you think it's because you're that talented? Are you Madonna or Whitney? Even they only got signing bonuses like that after they were truly famous!
You need to know in this business, a new artist is lucky to release even one single in their first year." Mary Bailey said, "Even Michael and Orlando started by releasing singles."
Usually, the label watches how singles perform. If successful, they release more singles or an album. Then they check the album's song rankings, splitting out further singles.
Now, Shania didn't have any singles out; they went straight to giving her a whole album.
And the signing bonus was the unprecedented one million dollars.
"If it were me, or if I were in your shoes today," Mary Bailey said without hesitation, "Tonight, I'd find a way to get into his bedroom!"
---
"If you're only after that, it's easy, kid. But chasing a girl is not done that way..."
While Mary Bailey was advising Shania privately, Seymour and Frank were also advising Orlando to not be so impulsive.
Maybe pick one or two good songs from those sixteen and release a single first. If that didn't work, release a small EP.
No need to throw all the best songs into the market all at once.
Orlando shook his head. "I still think it's better to launch the album directly. If you're gonna play, then play to the max! BOOM! Make the loudest splash in the market."
His stubbornness left Frank and Seymour helpless.
Mainly because everything Orlando had done since debuting was a success.
No song he wrote was ever bad.
This led to the changing status of the Big Three -- from initially being a small-time newcomer with possible connections, a former music industry mogul, and an ex-star manager, to now a super future superstar who might surpass Jackson and The Beatles, a retired old-timer, and the incredibly lucky Frank.
This was part of a news release from Orlando Records published by the New York Post a week ago.
Unexpectedly, it resonated with almost everyone in the music industry and with most fans...
Making the two veterans less confident when facing Orlando now than when they first met him.
*****
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