"But some companies love the real artists as the famous ones tend to generate a lot of credits, thanks to live shows and concerts. The publication companies get a big chunk of credits from these," Apis said.
"So there are publication companies which are more centered around AI songs and those who are more centered towards real artists," Aric got the gist of it and asked.
"Yes," Apis replied.
"Show me a list of companies who are more centered towards AI songs."
"Here is the list:
Melodious Muse Publishing - sold 10^20 copies and counting
Harmonic Haven Records - sold 10^18 copies and counting
Lyric Lane Productions - sold 10^17 copies and counting
Serenade Studios - sold 10^17 copies and counting
Crescendo Creations - sold 10^15 copies and counting
...."
Aric, seeing the number of copies, felt a bit numb, but then again, it was the universe, and there were more than trillions of humans and other species residing.
"Do you have any idea of the revenue one earns in AI-produced songs?" Aric asked.
"You will not earn any revenue if the total complete hits don't cross the 100 million mark, and only after that are your songs allowed to monetize," Apis said. This made Aric's jaw drop wide open. 100 million hits? Are they serious?
In his Earth, YouTube would soon take its leap and become a dragon, and there, 1 million views on an 11-minute video was a huge deal, at least for his country. And here the first monetization was possible only where there were more than 100 million hits?
Jesus Christ on a motorbike!
But he also had to take into account the number of people living in this universe who had access to high-speed Internet.
"Apis, can you make a deal with Melodious Muse Publishing after copyrighting the songs?" Aric asked.
"Of course. I would be needing 5000 sora credits to copyright and also make a deal with the company. Would you allow me to do so?" Apis asked. Aric didn't expect copyrighting to be so costly, and at the moment, after buying things around, he was only left with 6000 credits. So 5000 was almost leaving him broke.
After some deliberation, he gritted his teeth and prayed to the gods above that the songs would be a banger. It was, at least, a banger for years in his world, and people of his times loved it. Though Aric's taste had changed in music, he would, at times, listen to these songs with nostalgia, remembering the good times, especially when he was in his deathbed.
It only took a few seconds to finish the copyright, which was universally accepted, and that was the reason for the price. And next was the deal with Melodious Muse Publishing. The deal was made by the AI of the company, and thus the whole process was very fast.
Aric got to see the wonders of fast processing too. Such a deal was done in a very simple and fast way.
"So what are the chances that my songs will be great?" Aric asked Apis.
"Realistically speaking? 0.0001%," Apis replied.
"I expected it to be less, but damn," Aric grumbled as he had a general idea of what it would take for a song to transcend and be something that would allow him to make money out of it. The only reason he had hopes for the song was that humanity had already tried its hands on the songs and it came out victorious.
There was nothing more to do except for this, and thus he returned back to his home. He only needed to go and check the business in Distant Wind city and also check out Echorysia from time to time, and keep an eye on the songs.
Aric actually thought of introducing many things to the magical world, but he would let his sugary drink ferment and make a name for itself. Then he could take that name and climb the ladder. He already had a general idea of what he needed to do.
One month later.
Today was the birthday of Aric. If it was the previous Aric, he would have loved to invite his friends over to his home and have a small feast, where his mother would bake a cake or make some fancy food for the rest. But when his mother asked for the alleged party this time, all he said was,
"Naa.. I am fine. You can make my favorite food, and I will be happy," Aric said. After he got the mobile from his grandparents, he did get himself a connection, for which, of course, his parents were paying.
But he didn't bother to share his number with friends. He did with his grandparents and his parents, that was it. There was no reason for doing so, and he also didn't have the numbers of his classmates, and some of them didn't even have a mobile.
Aric was too busy doing his homework, visiting and helping with the stocks at Albert's bakery, and looking at the songs at Echorysia.Fiwas also the day when Aric would be paid, and he was actually looking forward to the payday more than his birthday. Though he was happy about the food that his mother would be making.
He was back at Distant Wind city and reached the bakery in the afternoon, during the lunch break.
"Aric... You are here... Come in," Albert said as he wiped away the sweat from his forehead with the help of a small towel which he always carried on his shoulder. He was sweaty, but he also had a wide grin on his face.
"I should be the one with a grinning face, not you," Aric said. This made Albert red-faced and reiterated.
"What do you know about money? With the coke that I have sold, I will be able to slowly renovate my bakery and even hire one worker more in my shop."
"Then the money must have been quite a large amount," Aric replied.
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Read 6 more chapters on my p@treon.com/thelightedghost