Chapter 452: The Coming of Summer

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A musician?

Mike caught onto the keyword, his face full of surprise as he looked at Dustin.

Just one talk show and two original songs, and Anson had already earned such high praise from Dustin.

As expected!

Dustin was a madman, wholly devoted to music, completely oblivious to anything outside that world. His entire existence revolved around music.

Noticing Mike's smile, Dustin asked, "What?"

Mike didn't hold back. "A musician?"

Initially, Mike thought Dustin might be embarrassed, but he wasn't.

Instead, Dustin confidently glared back. "Yes, you heard me right. Although I don't know what kind of actor he is, I'm very sure he's an outstanding musician."

"The arrangement of the cello and bass? The gradual layering of instruments? Conveying the emotion of a melody through the texture of a cello?"

"These are all talents."

"Before this, I couldn't imagine the combination of a cello and a band, but now I'm willing to anticipate the different answers Anson will give."

Certain. Persistent.

Mike could sense the glimmer in Dustin's eyes. "So, you're saying that no matter the cost, we should sign them?"

"Yes."

"Even if it's 20% royalties?"

"Yes."

"Even if it's just for one album?"

"Yes."

"Dustin, you really don't consider the business perspective at all."

"That's for you to worry about. Do you need me to fret over it too?"

Mike was momentarily stunned, unable to refute.

Dustin's face was full of confidence, but then he shifted the topic back. "We really shouldn't miss this opportunity. We'll regret it, 100%."

He then added, "We shouldn't let Universal take them."

Mike chuckled, "Who said you don't understand the business perspective?"

Warner Records was trying to reshape the music market, and without a doubt, Universal Music was their biggest competitor. If Universal was also vying for Anson and his group, then from a strategic standpoint, Warner needed to be more proactive—

Every inch counts.

This time, Dustin looked slightly embarrassed because he wasn't sure if what he said was true, but he didn't back down, "I'm just stating the facts."

Mike nodded lightly, "You're right."

Dustin was puzzled, "What?"

Mike repeated, "You're right. I also think we shouldn't miss out on them."

Happiness suddenly surged, leaving Dustin momentarily stunned.

Mike watched Anson's figure fade into the distance and had a bold idea: maybe because of Anson's identity as an actor, they should sign the deal—

Not because of the possibility of an EGOT, nor because of what Dustin said about being a musician, but because of Anson's personal charm.

Actor. Musician.

Different identities, different colors. Anson indeed showed different possibilities. If you think back to his wit on "The Tonight Show" and his fashion at Paris Fashion Week, even though Anson wasn't yet twenty, he was already showing his diversity and potential to the public.

So, does this mean there's even more to discover about Anson?

Perhaps the name "Anson Wood" holds more possibilities, not just as an actor or musician but as someone who could stand out uniquely.

If that's the case, Warner Records might have to rethink their entire strategy. Different expectations would naturally require different plans.

Most importantly, Warner Records could distinguish itself from Universal Music by building an entire strategy around Anson. Who knows, this could be the key to changing the game.

Of course, this was just a spark of inspiration, an idea that took root during the conversation with Anson and was rapidly growing. There still needed to be meetings and discussions with the company, but even in its early stages, Mike couldn't contain his excitement.

Mike thought that the upcoming "Spider-Man" could be an important reference—

As an actor, what side would Anson show? After all, the spotlight in previous works like "Friends" and "The Princess Diaries" hadn't been on him.

So.

Things were slowly getting interesting.

On one hand, Warner Records' focus quietly shifted towards "Spider-Man," and beyond the film industry, other attention began to gather around the summer box office.

On the other hand, the growing buzz around Anson, with Sony-Columbia's strategic guidance, was also heading towards the summer season.

Finally—

Summer arrived.

This was the first summer season after 9/11. Not just Hollywood, but the entire North American market in all industries was closely watching.

The sluggish economy, the stifling atmosphere, the oppressive environment—all were waiting for the day the gloom would lift, but no one knew when that day would come.

Before the summer officially arrived, Hollywood had been testing, brewing, and laying the groundwork.

David Fincher's **Panic Room**, starring Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart, **Ice Age**, **Blade II**—a series of mid-sized but somewhat promising films were gradually being released.

Finally, **The Scorpion King** served as the grand finale to the spring season, a spinoff of the highly successful **Mummy** series with an $80 million investment, led by Dwayne Johnson. It wouldn't have seemed out of place even in the summer season.

Step by step, Hollywood tried to revive the market.

However.

The situation wasn't optimistic.

Among these releases, some performed well, some not so much. **Ice Age** and **Panic Room** had small but notable successes, with their controlled production costs making the profits stand out.

But other films fell short. From reviews to box office numbers to audience reactions, they all fell below expectations, dragging the already sluggish spring season further into a slump.

Particularly disappointing were **Blade II** and **The Scorpion King**. Despite high expectations, neither managed to ignite the market—

They didn't flop, exactly.

**Blade II** brought in $80 million domestically, and **The Scorpion King** grossed $60 million in its first two weeks. These results were neither good nor bad, but with overwhelming negative reviews and lukewarm audience responses, there was no sign of market recovery, leaving the industry anxious and uneasy.

It felt like when a warm-up act finishes at a concert, and the venue remains eerily quiet, making the headliner nervous as well. Everything suggested:

The show might flop.

Recently, the buzz around **The Tonight Show** and Anson felt like a small circle within Hollywood entertaining itself, disconnected from the daily lives of ordinary people. The gloom still hung over the sky; there was no vitality, and the sunlight couldn't break through the clouds.

Now, all hopes rested on **Spider-Man**.

A film based on a comic book, rooted in niche geek culture, featuring a scrawny high school kid as a superhero—was it really reliable to rely on such a film to revive the entire movie market?

But now, it was too late to have second thoughts. Whether they liked it or not, whether the outcome would be good or bad, they had no choice but to follow through—

The summer season had officially begun.