Jerry Wexler walked with utmost passivity through the corridors of Atntic Records, leaning on his e. The ravages of age prevented him from walking smoothly, and the most striking problem was the sharp pain in his knee on s. But that didn't stop him from going for a walk occasionally. He climbed the old stairs with luxurious slowness, hoping that Atntic Records would have the ce to give young Carson a ce.

  One of the secrets of music is specution, akin to a betting tract. Music relies on scouting talents that may not necessarily succeed. In a statistic where a thousand people attempt to thrive in the music world, only a hundred make it to music bels, and only ten pass the filter to release an album, which might end up in chaos. Only two out of hundreds of artists may get published and supported by the bel. Out of the numerous artists, only a few succeed, and o of fifty artists may achieve success. One of the most intriguing perspectives of the se is that to succeed, a delightful bination of strength, talent, and publicity is his bination may or may not be multiplied by the factor of luck, a factor present in all things that could be sidered the st breath of hope when there isn't enough strength, talent, or publicity.

  The high steps were a torment, but he preferred them to the slow pace of the elevator, imagining a long, profound life of work that was so long and ambiguous that he fot the years he spent w and grinding all the time like a day borer, from the incredible Blues to the personifications of Jazz, the king of rock, the masters of rock, the roots of try, and the emerging personalities of stimuting bands.

  Now he had a e-blooming prospect who could have lived in the 80s and been a great rocker, but it's known that rock is a quick transition of events, and among those events, the most important is how the future unfolds. Rock is dying, but many people said it would stay alive. But now, personalities are gravitating towards pop, rap, and somewhat rock, but balds never cease to be famardless of the era, and singers with certain characteristics are a high point among people, like a distinctive vocal cood lyri their songs, and charisma.

  He firmly believed that his new guy had all the wonders of being one of the greatest artists of the time. He had it all: strength, talent, and luck. Why luck? It was simple. His flight was deyed, ainy led him to follow Peter Wolf to the uy to talk with a friend about past times; this friend asked them if they wao create a musisation, which they relutly accepted. It was destiny! At least there are ten ces that if they only happened correctly, wouldn't be present in this problem.

  How he didn't return his rented car and waited to be taken to his lodging, how they were deyed for an hour more due to the act, which led to many other annoyi perfect ces, the boy was the opportunity the agents were looking fents with a keen eye, of course.

  He opehe door; the illumimosphere always bothered him, but in old age, even more so. He used his hand to support himself, distentedly.

  -Good m, sir, how I assist you? - the young man asked.

  He hated being treated like an old man, but that's what he was; his hair was woolly, and he only had a few left on his head. Foolishly, he thought he was twenty-five again; he couldn't find old age, but he couldn't do what he used to do when he was young.

  -I have an appoi with someone named Ahmet Ertegun, - Jerry said.

  -Um... the president is not here, - the boy said.

  -I'm sure he's in. Just ask, - Jerry said.

  -I will, - the boy said.

  -I hope so, young man, - the old man said, settling carefully on the front sofa. It had been a long time since he had been here; it had been a long time since his time lost its enthusiasm fetting up early and enduring the pains that music produ entails. Artists tear themselves apart with their certs, with their ption, but beyond that, those around them also share in that burden.

  -How harmful, - the old man murmured with his e.

  -Excuse me, Mr. Jerry, you go in; the president is waiting for you, - the young man said.

  He walked slowly through the familiar byrinth, calmly, without disturbing the slow pace that characterized his journey. He passed some small offices and saw the produ studios in the distance. He stopped; he wouldn't like to be uhis bel, too inated, he thought. He walked without giving himself much time; he had a, and this was the mai, navigating through familiar waters.

  He opehe door, paying no mind to who might be inside; after all, old age spares one from certain things that a younger person would pay attention to, like the time of day, or avoiding misuandings sihey are unnecessary.

  -You're so old, it surprises me, - said Ahmet Ertegun, maintaining a strength that only deepened with age, very different from his youth. When you run, you either damage yourself or feed yourself. Lose yourself, or renew yor. Ahmet had a vigor in his demeanor that was unon in men his age.

  -We are, my dear friend, it's something I still don't uand. Why do you keep w? - said Jerry.

  -Habit. If I retire, the day they'll bury me, - Ahmet joked. - W is good for me, and if I keep w, I just o make an effort to carry on with the day's duties, rinse, a, a quick process that works to avoid the dee of old age. You roam around, - Ahmet ented.

  -Well, not long ago, my heart started beating again. I didn't retire because of fatigue; I retired because of heartache, a heartache that kept me from beiween the walls; I came to hate it, - Ahmet said, tapping his e with evident weariness and annoyan his heart.

  -I uand. Josh Robert has an appoi with you ihan 20 minutes, something I still doubt why a music producer would schedule a business meeting, - Ahmet expined.

  -It's an old man's trickery. But it's just testing the business waters again. The hatred faded in the following years, and now only a new spark remains, ohat I'd like to nurture. I think that if he is educated and allowed to grow, it will be different, a well... one of the best, - Jerry said.

  -I always thought that for a reporter, you weren't very talkative. Age made you more talkative; it's a group, - questiohe president of Atntic Records.

  -A soloist, but a group of his own is ing. He's been singing and pying for three months. The story alone would make us millions of dolrs, but it's not worth it. At my age, money no longer seems important, - Jerry said, nodding, settling into his chair, trary to the rge armchair his panion had.

  -How's the family been? - Ahmet asked.

  -Living their lives. Everyone lives their life. Time doesn't stop for anyone, - Jerry said.

  -Why not leave them awo million dolrs in the bank, - Ahmet interjected, adjusting his frame gsses.

  -They don't . You used to say, teach a man to fish, and he'll stop asking for fish, - Jerry said.

  -So, do you want a tract for your new promise? We will never reject the shelter of our dear Jerry Wrexler at our doors. Although I must say that for such a gamble, we need a 360 tract for 15 years, - Ahmet said calmly.

  Jerry sighed; at other times, he would have sig the first opportunity. Now he hoped that Peter Wolf's ued visit could help him in the iation field. Sinking a 14-year-old, poor, uneducated young man was not something he wao do at his age.

  Jerry adjusted his gsses, just as he did when he was about to use his wit. - My old friend, this one is special. Another tract with fewer restris would be ideal, although I don't dismiss that the 360 is a standard tract, you know it's a robbery. Something more reasonable, one of those you give to jewels fought for by other bels, - Jerry said.

  Previously, artists before releasing a record toured all the bars, cafes, and pces where they were allowed to perform music. There, they pursued indepe stages. The good singers even toured, with the weight of the flesh, and tried their luck. Popurity came or didn't e, and that's when the record bels appeared. All tracts signed with petition had better bes, except for some that were persuaded with empty promises.

  -Now you intrigue me even more, - said Ahmet, knowing that Atntic Records wasn't his friend's only option, and now he was depriving himself of taking a big k, a big k of revenue.

  Peter Wolf smiled, knowing that Ahmet had beeiating sihe moment he arrived at the office, pure and simple. Everything was in favor of iatioested the waters in the greeting and tinued with i questions that gave him iation aspects.

  -I'm not very poetic with words, - said Jerry.

  -I haven't cared for poetry since I married my wife, - Ahmet smiled.

  Both sighed, oh the intrigue of making money, but for Jerry, it was a game. How much could he steal from Atntic Records, he would look for some other iihat he knew would give his kid a boost.

  -He has it all, sings, poses, pys instruments, has charisma, and luck. He's a lucky boy, I don't deny it, he's got spark, - Jerry said.

  -Jerry makes it sound like he's a choirboy. He's a damn musi from head to toe. When you see the kid sing, you'll say, we're fag the music legend. He es with such force that you'd be an idiot to let him go. I'll dan the grave of anyone who rejects him, - Peter Wolf said.

  -What are you talking about? - Ahmet asked, feigning offense by the words, a basic tactie of those tactics he only used with people who were open and strong with their words.

  -Haha, if you don't sign, the kid will make his way. He doesn't need a record; let him sing in front of a thousand people. Men will cry, and women will scream. This kid create a fever, a fever that will take a few more or less years. He's really good, - Peter Wolf said. There was no doubt he had fallen under Billy's musical spell; the superstar system has the power to touch the emotions of those who hear him sing live.

  -But we're a pany, we 't lose money, - Ahmet said.

  -Then sign it, - Peter Wolf said aggressively, his words ing fast. - You'll only lose money if you don't sign. The kid is a troublemaker, sure to be well-received by the public. But if we guide him well, he won't be a fallen promise. What would have happened if you had given such love to Kurt Cobain? His songs were sensational to all the kids who listeo him. This kid has a charisma simir to Kurt's, - Peter Wolf said.

  -You guys are real bastards. You've ered me into a deal entirely in your favor, - Ahmet said, raising his hands.

  -You have the scoop. Do you doubt our musical judgment? - Jerry ented as if both had rehearsed the versation before stepping into the office.

  -Alright, we'll make the best tract. A 360 for 5 years, with the right to extend on a basitract. The phonographic rights belong to Atntic Records and are joined uhe Warner bel exclusively, - Ahmet said.

  -360 for 8 years, transfer of phonographic rights fht years, union uhe Warner bel exclusively, and creative freedom is allowed. Don't worry; I'll be behind the entire music process and a specialized advisor, - Jerry said.

  -10 years, with the right to extend, - Ahmet tered.

  -Only for musical matters. If the kid has sponsorships from other brands, you won't meddle. The tract will be reviewed by my wyer, - Jerry said.

  -Three national tours and three iional tours, all untic Records, - Ahmet said.

  -10% of ticket sales and 5% royalty, - Jerry said.

  -8%. -

  -10%, and no ventions, - Jerry said.

  -10% on national tours, 8% on iional tours, artist pays for expenses, - Ahmet said.

  -Extra-curricur expenses; he'll be guaranteed hotel, lodging, and security. He'll be a star, - Jerry said indignantly.

  -Interference cuse, - Ahmet said.

  -Only if he its a first-degree felony, and from the moment he its the crime, you 't touch the already received ine, - Jerry said, knowing all the cuses of a tract; he had proposed some himself.

  -You make me unfortable, Jerry. You make me very unfortable, - Ahmet said, shaking his head over the tract.

  -The difference lies between an artist who es with a music mogul at his bad another old dog who es to defend. The rec property is untic Records. We'll use the services; I propose payment for advertising, - Ahmet said.

  -There's payment, but only for the rec; you keep the master, - Jerry tered.

  -Alright, let the wyers hahe rest, - Ahmet said, jotting down all the details in the tract draft. The problem is the produ costs and the early termination cuses of the tract.

  -Now I'd like to discuss what genre, rec promises, and artistic matters, - Ahmet said.

  -Well, I'll be the producer; the genre is Rock, but it has artistic veins in other dires, like rap, pop, and indie, and you see it doesn't lose a rock essence even when rapping. We'll only talk about album songs; royalties shouldn't go below 18%. You have distribution, marketing, and administrative duties; they shouldn't go below 28%, - Jerry said.

  -15%, Jerry, - Ahmet said.

  -24%. -

  Ahmet paused to think about the value. -22%. -

  -I agree. Knowing how the business works, the artist needs an advance, but once I hear the song, I'll give a price, - Ahmet said.

  The three old men rose calmly. A 360 tract, without absolute rights assig, only fht years, however, ohe tract is signed, even Billy's image will be part of the Warner group.

  The 28% is the music business; on the expense dist, the hts like image, brand sponsorships, TV hosting, and movies, will be under agent assumption, and he won't lose much money, something Jerry knows is one of the things that bothers restless young people.

  -You'll listen; now, hands with Robert, - Jerry said.

  Elsewhere in the try, Billy was sent to Arizona. Who would believe that a on boy would now have the opportunity to sign a multimillion-dolr tract, which would give him, above all, the freedom he so desired?

  ...