The ripple effect

Amidst the iTunes real-time download charts, where "Cleopatra" claimed the forty-eighth position, Renly was genuinely taken aback. An obscure folk ballad combined with an unknown independent artist—such a track held no gimmicks to boost sales whatsoever. In the sea of countless digital singles, the likelihood of it being stumbled upon by listeners was virtually close to zero.

While it was true that iTunes provided recommendations based on user playlists and preferences, the recommended singles were carefully curated. Even when suggesting independent artists, they leaned towards those signed under their own contracts, a practice aligned with maximizing interests. Recommending an utterly unheard-of and insignificantly nameless figure? Apple wasn't in the charity business.

In other words, "Cleopatra" aspiring to grace the ranks of the download chart was nothing short of a pipe dream.

But now, the miracle was right before Renly's eyes, leaving him with a slightly agape mouth. He struggled momentarily to find the fitting words to encapsulate his current emotions. Yet, upon hearing Neil's excited words, Renly burst into laughter. "Billboard? I don't think so."

As the world's most emblematic, authoritative, and popular music chart, the Billboard might not represent every listener's taste, nor could it be deemed entirely professional. However, as a reflection of the music market's commercial and popular aspects, it stood peerless. Even Japan's Oricon and the UK's Pop Charts couldn't hold a candle to it.

The Billboard's lists could be subdivided into various music genres, but undoubtedly, the most crucial were the overall chart, the top 200 albums, and the top 100 singles. Any artist gracing the top spot on these lists, even for just a week, showcased the most direct reflection of popularity.

The Billboard rankings weren't solely calculated based on sales; the chart continually adjusted its ranking system to keep up with the times. Each issue factored in radio airplay, digital music downloads, physical sales, and even streaming platforms like YouTube, Vevo, and Spotify, all calculated according to an official formula. The final ranks were determined by points.

In essence, the iTunes instant download chart was just a fraction of the Billboard's weekly ranking calculation. Without data from radio and streaming platforms, even temporarily topping the iTunes download chart wouldn't secure a high position on the Billboard chart.

Thus, the media often remarked, "This single hasn't been promoted on radio yet, so its points are low," or "Without a music video, streaming data is insufficient, hindering its rank." Such comments were frequent.

For "Cleopatra", this single lacked radio promotion, a music video, and even a physical release. Solely relying on iTunes instant download data, its aspiration to rank within the top hundred singles on the Billboard chart was nothing short of impossible.

Moreover, the current download data for "Cleopatra" hadn't reached the jaw-dropping levels. It was merely placed at the forty-eighth spot, possibly accumulating a download count of around a thousand or two. Of course, for an entirely unadvertised single, this achievement was indeed bewildering, which was why Renly was amazed. Nonetheless, when it came to the Billboard, it seemed far-fetched.

"Why is it impossible?" Neil's excitement, on the contrary, was mounting. "Let me tell you, the bars around Greenwich Village absolutely adore this song. The download count is no joke. Last month, Stanley even went to a Manhattan radio station to endorse this song. We've heard it twice just last week."

The United States, a nation perpetually in motion, hadn't witnessed the decline of radio despite the rise of television and the internet. The radio waves remained vibrant, a constant presence throughout every state and city. In Manhattan alone, the number of radio stations reached several hundred.

Most commercial radio stations had agreements with the Big Five record companies, dictating the scope of their daily playlists. About ninety percent of the music played by radio hosts came from these predetermined lists. However, Village Vanguard, renowned far and wide as a music haven in Greenwich Village, had garnered even a recommendation in New York City Hall's official tourism handbook. Stanley had established connections within the local radio scene.

Renly couldn't help but display surprise once again. While he had initially gifted "Cleopatra" as a token to Stanley due to his persistence and passion, he never imagined Stanley would take it to heart to the point of actively promoting it everywhere.

Observing Renly's expression, Neil's satisfaction swelled, filling his chest to the brim. "This isn't the end yet." After tossing out another bombshell, Renly remained composed. This seemed to agitate Neil, prompting him to bring over his computer, urgently opening the YouTube page and casually clicking a couple of times. "Look, look, here's another accomplishment!"

After watching the video for a brief moment, Renly's brows slightly furrowed. "What is this?"

Neil's heart sank slightly as he realized his pride had led him to reveal something prematurely. This was evident from Renly's expression; it was his first time watching this video. "Hehe, just a little hobby. I recorded your performance at the bar last time. I felt a performance as excellent as that shouldn't be limited to our own enjoyment. It needs to be shared with everyone."

Playing on YouTube was the video of Renly singing "Cleopatra." He had no idea Neil had recorded it, let alone uploaded it to YouTube. Judging from the upload date, it was clearly from last summer. As the person in question, he only found out now, which was... absurd in a strange way.

Neil studied Renly carefully, uncertain of his emotions. He hastened to speak preemptively, "Look, everyone loves it, really! This video was officially recommended by YouTube just last Thursday. The view count has already exceeded two million, and the likes..." Under Renly's gaze, Neil's voice gradually faded, almost inaudible.

"My eyes still work." Renly spoke with a deep voice. The video's likes had surpassed fifty thousand, which was genuinely astounding.

While it was true that YouTube sensations were plentiful these days, any random individual would likely eclipse Renly's statistics. The issue lay in the fact that Renly hadn't undergone any promotion, nor did he frequently update videos. A video uploaded nearly nine months ago, under the radar, had remarkably accumulated to its current state. This was indeed startling.

Upon closer consideration, the reason was not hard to deduce: "The Pacific". The fervor stirred by this work online had thrust Renly into significant exposure. As the search interest increased, so did the views on the YouTube video, consequently explaining the reasonable surge in iTunes downloads.

This was the first time Renly tangibly felt his rising popularity. He was no longer an anonymous pawn. The name "Renly Hall" was becoming known to an increasing number of people. The substantial coverage in the news finally began to feel real. However, he never expected to experience this in such a manner. The 21st century's internet age was truly exceptional.

Suddenly, Renly pieced it together. Why did the truck driver react that way earlier? He hadn't watched "The Pacific"; he had seen the performance video on YouTube. This perplexed him; the reaction didn't align with "The Pacific"!

"Don't blame Neil. I share responsibility for this as well." The familiar voice of Stanley came from behind. Renly turned his head and saw Stanley approaching with an apologetic and guilty expression. "I just thought that beautiful music should be shared with everyone. Your performance shouldn't be limited to Village Vanguard's bunch of old timers. I hope you don't mind."

Renly had never been particularly interested in music. He realized that what they did behind his back—making his creations and performances public—was a form of disrespect towards him.

Initially surprised and somewhat angered upon learning this, those negative emotions vanished when he saw Stanley's sincere demeanor. Instead, Renly felt a faint pang in his chest. He could sense Stanley's passion and dedication, a purity that could move anyone.

Moreover, it was Renly himself who had recorded the single and uploaded it. No one had forced him to do so, right?

"Shouldn't I be thanking you instead?" Renly smiled. Neil, who had been feigning thoughtfulness while standing beside him, suddenly raised his head, his eyes lighting up with surprise. "This was my gift to you. How you use it is your choice. But it seems like this gift is returning something to me now. At the very least, I should receive some royalties. Someday, I can treat everyone to a meal."

Renly's jest sparked laughter among everyone. Neil, once again, started to boast, "I knew it, I knew countless people would love your music. Look, the streaming data keeps rising. Not just on YouTube and iTunes, but Spotify's streaming rate is also climbing steadily. Next, making it onto the Billboard's Top 100 is definitely more than just wishful thinking."

Seeing Neil's demeanor, Renly chuckled, "So, what's the next step? Shouldn't we start contemplating making it into the top ten or even clinching the crown?" A folk ballad entering the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100? This should be one of the most exceptional jokes in the music industry since the 21st century began.

"Why not!" Neil thumped his chest, brimming with confidence.

Renly nodded earnestly, a playful smile touching his lips. He spoke with a straight face, "Then I'll be waiting for that day to come! By then, I'll take you for a ride on the Hudson River."

Neil and the others instantly began to cheer collectively. Renly rose to his feet, walking up to Stanley and saying sincerely, "Stanley, thank you. I mean it." This elderly man who had loved music his entire life was achieving his dreams in his own way.