Chapter 17

The discussion extended for over half an hour, eventually solidifying the terms of their cooperation. The agreement was as follows:

1. Musika Inc. would sponsor Edward with free musical instruments, including but not limited to guitars and other instruments.

2. For each piece of content featuring Musika Inc.'s instruments, Edward would receive a ₱5,000 sponsorship fee (advertising fee).

3. In every content piece showcasing Musika Inc.'s instruments, the instrument should be clearly captured for a minimum of ten seconds in a close-up shot on screen.

4. In each content piece featuring Musika Inc.'s instruments, the Musika Inc. website name and link must be included in the content description box.

As Edward reviewed the terms of the cooperation, a contented smile spread across his face. While he had harbored doubts about whether the other party had taken advantage of him, he couldn't deny his satisfaction.

Getting access to high-quality musical instruments for free and earning money simultaneously was an opportunity that he couldn't pass up. After all, who wouldn't want such a deal?

Edward considered the rarity of such sponsorships among artists in the future, reflecting on a few key factors:

During that era, the internet was saturated with indie artists, leading to intense competition. Advertisers tended to favor those with the largest followings.

In hindsight, he couldn't help but feel fortunate. Being selected for sponsorship at that particular moment wasn't solely due to his exceptional talent but rather the result of perfect timing.

Edward contemplated his position as an artist, recognizing that he could, at most, be considered a song cover artist, though even that title seemed somewhat questionable given his relatively short time in the field.

In his analysis, the main factor behind securing this sponsorship was the scarcity of artists and song cover artists on the internet during this period.

With his thoughts organized, he proceeded with his inquiry.

Edward: "Is it necessary for us to sign a contract to formalize our agreement?"

Edward grew slightly anxious during the brief wait for a response.

Kath: "There's no need to sign a contract at this time."

Edward: "I understand. Here's to a fruitful cooperation!"

Kath: "Indeed, a prosperous cooperation ahead!"

...

Meanwhile, in Makati City, within the confines of a modest office space situated in a high-rise building, a young woman intently gazes at a computer monitor.

Her name is Katherine Mendoza, a distinguished graduate in Business Administration from Harvard University.

Three years have passed since her graduation, and over a year since her return from the United States.

Reflecting on the past, she recalls the boundless hope and aspirations she held just a few years ago. However, the harsh reality had proven far from her initial expectations. Despite her prestigious university degree, she began her journey at the company as an intern.

After three months of persistence, she had secured a position as an assistant in the marketing department. While her salary was meager, and her workload demanding, she had little choice but to persevere. This was her first job, and she carried a profound confidence in her abilities. Consequently, she toiled diligently day by day.

Three months later, her determination had paid off as she moved up to the sales department. Another year elapsed before she finally achieved her goal of joining the marketing team.

However, the professional landscape was far from straightforward. Intense competition prevailed, and in order to thrive in this competitive arena, one needed to exhibit unwavering ruthlessness.

Regrettably for her, her nature did not align with ruthlessness, which posed a significant challenge in this cutthroat environment.

Ultimately, the unrelenting pressure became too much for her, leading her to make the difficult decision to resign.

Unemployed for a month, she underwent a profound transformation. The girl she once was had evolved into someone different. She came to a stark realization that life bore little resemblance to the sweet and romantic tales depicted in movies. In the real world, one had to either adapt and persevere or face the consequences.

A week later, she embarked on the quest for a new job. Nevertheless, regardless of the company to which she applied, a sense of impending déjà vu loomed. She couldn't shake the feeling that history would repeat itself.

Ultimately, she was merely a Harvard University graduate, and thousands of individuals like her graduated from Harvard every year.

Furthermore, Harvard wasn't the sole prestigious university in the United States. There were institutions like Yale, Princeton, MIT, and others with equally formidable reputations.

Each year, droves of graduates emerged from these institutions, embarking on their job searches. This reality underscored the abundance of talent within the United States. In fact, the nation was teeming with talent, to the point of overflowing.

Faced with the challenge of competing in a talent-saturated environment, she grappled with the limitations of her average skills and qualifications.

And, It was in this moment of contemplation that an idea began to take shape.

Recognizing her modest talents and the daunting competition in the United States, she realized her odds of success were slim.

Yet, she understood that her potential might find more fertile ground elsewhere.

Without delay, she reached out to her relatives in her mother's side.

A month later, she finally arrived in the Philippines.

After a week of spending quality time with her family, she embarked on her professional journey once more.

This time, she was resolute in her decision not to subject herself to the role of a subordinate.

Instead, she harbored a grand ambition—to establish her very own company!

However, she was well aware that founding a company was far from a straightforward endeavor.

If it were, the world would likely be devoid of challenges and obstacles.

She recognized that launching a company necessitated access to both capital and influential connections.

Fortunately, her Harvard University degree held significant sway. While it might not carry exceptional weight in the United States, it possessed considerable prestige in the Philippines during this era.

At this time, the Philippines regarded America as the land of dreams and prosperity, amplifying the value of an American education.

As a Harvard University graduate, she enjoyed a lofty status that granted her top-tier treatment.

Her prestigious background became a beacon that effortlessly drew investors to her fledgling company.

With their financial support, extensive networks, and influential connections, she swiftly assembled a team of IT experts to construct websites.

Additionally, she successfully negotiated partnerships with local instrument and handicraft artisans, all while assembling a proficient logistics team.

Three months elapsed before the grand launch of Musika Inc., marking the initial triumph in her entrepreneurial journey.

Yet, the true challenges and trials lay ahead.

A year later, Musika Inc. had successfully established itself within the industry, generating revenue.

Nonetheless, when contrasted with the initial investment, the profits remained relatively modest.

Furthermore, the ongoing expenses included rent for office space and employee salaries, leaving the income just sufficient to sustain the company.

Contemplating this situation, Katherine couldn't help but experience a sense of chagrin. Originally intended as a manufacturing company, financial constraints had confined it to intermediation.

Time slipped away unnoticed, and six months had already elapsed.

Then, on an ordinary day during her break, Katherine stumbled upon an intriguing YouTube video. She clicked on it, and the initial frame showcased a teenage boy skillfully strumming a guitar.

Initially, she started watching out of sheer boredom, lacking any specific content to engage with. However, within moments, she found herself captivated by the performance.

The guitar skills, vocals, and editing techniques left her utterly astounded. Even during her time in the U.S., she hadn't encountered a video of this caliber. Now, a Filipino content creator was producing such exceptional content?

Motivated by curiosity, she delved into research, and the findings left her astounded.

Although he had only been uploading videos for a few months, each video had garnered well over a hundred thousand views, with more than ten thousand followers.

While these numbers may not have rivaled American YouTubers, they were undeniably impressive for the Philippines, given the limited number of internet users during this period.

This sparked another idea in her mind.

Isn't this how those manufacturing companies advertise their instruments in the U.S.?

Advertising their instruments to local artists in the name of sponsorships?

Maybe this could be the solution she's looking for to overcome the recent bottleneck her company is facing.

So, she sent him a private message, and after a few days, he replied just as she went online.

An hour later, she successfully finalized the deal, and at this moment, she was sitting in her office, gazing at the computer screen, unable to conceal her excitement.

How could she not be thrilled?

"It's too low!"

Indeed, ₱5,000 felt quite meager to her. Initially, she had hoped to secure a deal ranging from ₱10,000 to ₱15,000. The fact that the other party had settled for ₱5,000 left her astonished.

"It's just a shame I can't lock him into a contract," Katherine sighed.

In fact, when the other party inquired about signing a contract, she was tempted as well.

She understood that as his subscriber count and video views continued to rise, the future cost of advertising would only increase.

However, in the end, he opted not to go through with it.

After all, it was evident that the other party was unfamiliar with the business. Plus, she genuinely believed in his potential.

His ability to amass such a substantial number of views and subscribers in such a short period of time demonstrated that investing in him would be a worthwhile venture.

End.