The band's tour was off to a strong start, and from there, Billy's voice tio captivate those who heard it. Now, as a key figure in one of the most important musical venues, Liverpool was just a few steps away.

  -We've got the recs of 'Feeling Good,' - Michael Ockrs said over the phoo Jerry, who nodded in agreement. A cover at just the right moment—he had heard Billy sing with his powerful voice, moving a demanding crowd in a way that was far from on. They were not an easy audiehe upper css in the Uates was notoriously one of the most critical crowds there was.

  -Has the kid been behaving? No women? He hasn't gotten tangled up with any of those hippies, has he? - Jerry asked.

  -I 't ahose questions. Maybe he's done something behind my back, but nothing has e up. The certs have been intehe press has even checked the rooms, and we've tightened security. But I doubt this will end as long as Billy is on tour. Now that he's involved in 'Harry Potter,' I think people will be even less ined to follow the rules... He's a global superstar with massive media appeal; any news about him sells, - Michael Ockrs murmured, clearly exhausted by the tour.

  -I'll talk to Waro help us with these issues, - Jerry replied.

  Billy Carson was Warner's golden goose. Retly, his lises have been in high demand among filmmakers, and his cultural impact revived the sales of music albums after the piracy problems hit the industry hard. The musid movie downloads had severely impacted panies, at least that's the sensus, with file-sharing (P2P) entities like Napster, Kazaa, and eMule allowing files to be downloaded without payment, creating disfort for the panies.

  This had a devastating effe the musidustry, leading to a signifit drop in record pany revenues, sequently affeg many artists, especially those who had been in the industry for a long time and were now dusting themselves off in search of cybernauts. Even with the DMCA (Digital Millennium Cht Act), people 't trol these downloads.

  However, Billy's singing was so powerful and popur that these losses didn't affect him as much. It's projected that without piracy, Billy would have doubled his sales. But even so, his total sales stand at 83 million, meaning that across his three albums, he has far exceeded the sales of many artists. Alongside him is Eminem with 'The Eminem Show' at 26 million, Britney Spears with 24 million, followed closely by Billy with 23 million. 'Fallness' and 'Adventito' both boast 27 million in sales. 'The Everflow,' his test album, hasn't yet been fully ted, but it’s likely to surpass 100 million sales.

  The only artists who have surpassed 20 million in sales include a distant Alicia Keys with 12 million in the 2000s—a hard hit for the musidustry—and Avril Lavigne, who hovers around 13 million in sales, followed by Usher with 10 million, and U2 with 11 million.

  -They'll agree, - Michael Ockrs ented. - Any news on Billy's test album? -

  -Nothing new, but the sales are solid, in lih his previous albums. This one might not exceed 20 million, but that doesn't mean it's a bad album. The single 'Snow' is, in my opinion, one of the best Billy has ever performed, - Jerry said.

  -Well, let's not fet that Billy's scheduled to release his 2004 album in June... They’ve been w on it for six months. 'The Everflow' was just a spur-of-the-moment inspiration, - Jerry added.

  -Everything’s set, but the issue is Billy’s involvement in the 'Harry Potter' movie. Some special ses have already been shot... They need special effects, - Michael Ockrs pointed out.

  -We'll get it done, - Billy said, entering Michael Ockrs' room while the band members were practig. They were likely preparing "Feeling Good" for the cert.

  -Good m, Robert. I didn't expect to see you in Liverpool, - Billy greeted the man.

  -Well, I live here. Liverpool is my city. Besides, it's not just me; I've got some friends who want to see you, - Robert Pnt replied.

  -Famous friends? Members of the musidustry? - Billy asked, surprised by the mystery Robert Pnt's demeanor veyed. Billy couldn't think of aed, perhaps John Paul Jones or maybe Jimmy Page, but he knew Jimmy and Robert had a cold retionship after Jimmy left the band. For some reason, there was a sehat Led Zeppelin's involvement had been too brief.

  -Well, I hope that’s true, - Billy remarked.

  -You'll be making an appearan 'The X Factor' soon. The recs have already started, and they want you to open the first se, - Michael Ockrs mentioned.

  -' The X Factor'? - Billy asked.

  -It’s a new music TV show. It’s a quick gig—20 minutes, you sing, they film, you say a few words, and then you’re done. -

  Robert Pnt shrugged, aowledging that Billy erhaps being the new fausic.

  Billy began to drift into his thoughts, but something sparked a new idea. He had fotten the importance of social media. In just 10 years, social media would hold so much power that some people would achieve fame simply by mastering its use. As a pioneer, he could shape a bold vision of how to use it and what to do with it. He o create a life of luxury, sports, beauty, and success, plemented by a few other elements.

  -Michael, talk to Jerry—I want to take a photography course. And if you , get me a camera as soon as possible. I have some ideas, - Billy said, turning his attention back to Robert Pnt.

  -So, who’s this person that wants to meet me? - Billy asked.

  -A legend! But you won’t get any more information from me! - Robert Pnt replied with a hint of pyful mischief. He was someone who enjoyed surprises, and his retionship with Billy was tentative, as they both admired each other.

  -We’ve got time, - Billy ehinking about the cert the day after tomorrow.

  ...