Chapter 192: Plans of Sabotage

[Chapter 192: Plans of Sabotage]

Recording with Nicole went smoothly, and Ryan didn't have to wait long. Hymn for the Weekend was successfully released on that Thursday. Having released so many singles, Ryan was already accustomed to the process. But for Nicole, it was a different matter; she didn't miss any possible promotion opportunity, striving to showcase herself as much as possible.

...

Ryan found himself pretty busy and decided not to tag along with her. He was focused on the two new artists under his label, Ellie Goulding and Calvin Harris, who had just arrived in Florida.

Ryan had listened to their new songs, but they fell flat. In today's fiercely competitive pop music market, it was unrealistic to expect wide success with tracks of this caliber. This didn't surprise Ryan; if they truly had immense talent, he wouldn't have secured them for such a modest price.

"During this time, there will be some radio shows inviting you two. Don't mess it up," Ryan advised them as he looked at the pair.

Having previously appeared on several radio shows, Ryan had built up some connections, especially in electronic music. He mentioned that Calvin Harris would be featured on shows by famous DJs like Tiesto and David Guetta.

"Also, some of Taylor's concerts will invite you as guests. You should coordinate with her assistant about the timing," Ryan instructed further.

Calvin and Ellie exchanged glances, feeling reassured that Ryan's label was a sound choice. While they didn't receive much assistance in song production, there was no doubt that they had support in promotion.

"By the way, Ryan... I want to collaborate with you too. Calvin has already released several remixes of your songs," Ellie hesitantly spoke up.

"If the opportunity arises, we'll collaborate, but it has to be the right song for you," Ryan didn't outright refuse. However, he knew that songwriting collaboration and remixes were two different concepts -- one couldn't just assume they could collaborate on a whim.

"Speaking of which, how are things going with your boyfriend?" Ryan asked casually, genuinely concerned for his team.

"Don't mention it. We've broken up," Ellie shook her head.

Calvin turned to her in surprise, "What happened? You never mentioned it!"

"It's nothing," Ellie didn't want to delve into it.

"What's there to hold back?" Calvin smiled, feigning concern.

"There's really nothing. I need to go," Ellie said, turning to leave.

Calvin watched her go.

...

"Stop staring; you have no chance," Ryan remarked, noticing Calvin's expression.

"I'm not interested in her," Calvin quickly denied.

"Please, I can see right through that; your eyes could fall out," Ryan called him out.

"She doesn't have a boyfriend now, so anyone can pursue her," Calvin defended himself.

"Even if she had a boyfriend, you could still pursue her," Ryan chuckled.

In showbiz, relationships were often complicated. It was a realm where swapping partners was common, and all sorts of combinations were seen.

"Instead of figuring out how to win someone over, focus on making money and writing better songs. Once you become famous enough, women will come to you. To put it bluntly, if you were in my position, do you think Ellie would be out of your league?" Ryan reminded him to keep his priorities straight.

"Fair enough," Calvin had to concede.

"Alright, let's head back. Think about how to showcase your new song on the radio show tomorrow."

...

After Calvin left, Ryan opened his laptop. Recently, social media had been filled with several celebrities sporting pieces from the sTray clothing line.

The Hilton sisters attended a charity event wearing different styles. Karolína Kurková had switched outfits multiple times in just a few days, often caught on camera. Similarly, the models Ryan closely monitored were also getting attention for their fashion choices.

As for Daddario and Amber, it was clear they practically lived in their sTray outfits, almost like uniforms at this point. Taylor had been spotted in sTray clothing since its launch, consistently wearing it in public appearances, aside from performance times.

Ryan even noted Lady Gaga had been seen out and about sporting some pieces too. After the news surrounding Rihanna, her first public appearance also featured her in one of Ryan's designs.

The star-studded "influencer effect" was starting to take shape, with more and more online fashion bloggers joining the trend. This "trend" was driven by the social need to fit in.

It was similar to those smart watches -- what mattered wasn't the watch itself, but that you couldn't enter the social circle without it. The advent of social media made this trend spread even quicker, and the voice of fashion began shifting away from traditional magazines, which were no longer the sole trendsetters.

Ryan didn't even need to call the Olsen sisters to know sales were climbing.

...

At the same time, across the pond in Europe, an LVMH board meeting was underway.

"In the first quarter of this year, LV's bag line continued to grow significantly, but ready-to-wear sales experienced a slight decline. We've activated emergency plans; the James Bond flagship store will soon open in London. As for women's ready-to-wear, we've invited Madonna to be our new face for this spring/summer season. Additionally, we have the 'Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation' art exhibit along with collaborations with Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince," Antoine reported round the table.

"This year's MET Gala, Kate Moss and Madonna will both wear custom-made LV dresses. Kate Moss will also be the host this year..." Antoine reported to everyone at the round table.

These outcomes constituted his achievements in promotion for the first half of the year. Sitting at the center of the table, Bernard Arnault, the 60-year-old chairman of the LVMH group, listened silently to his eldest son's report.

Next, it was time for his daughter, Delphine, to present her findings on Dior's progress in the same quarter. Compared to LV, Dior had been busy as well, enlisting Sofia Coppola as the director for their perfume commercial and signing on Marion Cotillard as their spokesperson.

Delphine smoothly transitioned into a familiar subject for Antoine. "Additionally, we've observed the rise of the sTray fashion line, founded by a pop star with a radically different promotional strategy. Although it doesn't pose a threat to our group, this innovative celebrity-driven marketing method is worth studying. I've established a dedicated task force to explore the possibilities of this plan and will enhance our cooperation with first-tier female stars," Delphine stated.

Bernard then spoke, "Initially, we invested heavily in television advertising. As we entered the new century, our promotions shifted online, and over the past couple of years, social media has surged ahead. Delphine is right; we can't cling to traditional marketing methods; we need to evolve with the times."

"That's right; that is our next focus," Antoine quickly nodded in agreement.

How much can sales be increased by inviting a few celebrities and wearing a few clothes? It was merely performative.

And that Ryan? Didn't Delphine think he was doing things the right way? I'll make sure you see the results!

Almost without further thought, Antoine had already devised a plan to sabotage him...

*****

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