The Label's plan

Lucas revved the engine of his car, speeding towards his apartment complex. His mind raced with anticipation as he parked on the topmost floor and hurriedly entered his modest abode. He dialed his manager Neil's number as he collapsed onto the plush sofa.

"Hey, Neil. I got your text about 'Big Machine Records' being interested in my viral videos. They want to record my songs?" Lucas asked.

"That's right. I'll be in New York tomorrow, and we'll meet with their team to discuss your compositions," Neil said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "They also proposed a collaboration with another artist from their label."

Lucas's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? Me, collaborating with another artist?"

"That's right. It's a rising artist from 'Big Machine Records'. Her name is… Taylor… Taylor… Cliff?" Neil trailed off, struggling to recall the name.

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle. "You mean Taylor Swift?"

"Yes, yes! Taylor Swift!" Neil exclaimed, sounding relieved. "The label wants to promote her by collaborating with you. You know, her songs are quite similar to yours, all about love and heartbreak."

Lucas's mind reeled at the thought of potentially working with such a famous and popular artist from his previous life.

"Well, get some rest. I'll be there tomorrow." Neil said to Lucas.

"Alright, alright." Lucas ended the call and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the dazzling cityscape below. His mind couldn't help but wander to his current standing in life. He'd reached a level of fame in Hollywood that his previous life could only have dreamed of.

The sun was setting over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city skyline. In that moment, Lucas couldn't help but smile.

---

Time flew by, and before he knew it, there was a knock on the door. Lucas opened it to find Neil, his manager, standing with a warm smile. They exchanged greeted each other and sat down on the plush sofa. Neil handed him a piece of paper with the café's address.

"We'll meet with the record label team here," Neil said, gesturing at the address. His eyes roamed around the spacious apartment, taking in the sleek décor and modern furnishings.

"This place is amazing, Lucas. It's about time you moved out of that old shoebox." Neil chuckled.

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle too. "Well, I didn't exactly have a choice. The landlady… well, let's just say she was eager to 'free up' my old unit."

---

At a quaint café in bustling Manhattan, New York, Lucas and Neil sat at a cozy booth, sipping their coffees as they waited for the 'Big Machine Records' team. The café buzzed with the chatter of patrons and the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Finally, two impeccably dressed individuals entered the establishment, their eyes locking onto Lucas and Neil. They approached their table, extending their hands for a firm handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Knight and Mr. Lamb," the younger of the two men said, flashing a polished smile. "I'm John McCain, A&R representative of 'Big Machine Records'."

The older, more seasoned-looking man followed suit. "Claude Wright, Marketing Director of 'Big Machine Records'. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Pleasure to meet you both," Neil responded, beaming. Lucas nodded in agreement, also shaking their hands.

John leaned back in his seat, steepling his fingers. "I've gotta say, Lucas, your songs on those videos really moved me. It's been a while since I've felt that way about new music."

Lucas smiled, "Thank you, Mr. McCain."

John smiled warmly, "Call me John, please."

"Alright, John it is. And you can call me Lucas."

John chuckled, "Deal, Lucas. Now, we know how busy you are with your acting career, so we understand if you can't commit to a full-length album just yet. Our plan is to have you record your most popular songs from the videos first, and then we'll see about releasing an EP."

Lucas chuckled, thinking back to his humble beginnings. "Well, to be honest, my first album wasn't even close to the length of a full-length record. It was practically an overgrown EP itself."

John laughed, "Semantics aside, we believe in your talent, Lucas. And I have a feeling the world will too."

"That's true, Lucas," Claude chuckled, "We got a lot of feedback about your first album's length. Some even argued it couldn't be called an album at all."

Neil, Lucas's manager, interjected, "I apologize for that. As you know, Lucas has been quite busy with his acting career."

Claude waved off the apology. "No worries, Mr. Lamb. It's not about the length, but the quality. This EP, around 15 to 30 minutes long, will be like a teaser for Lucas's music. We want him to record his most popular songs from the videos first, and then we'll see about releasing an EP. Once that takes off, we can talk about a full-length album."

"I see," Neil said, flipping through his notes. "And what about this collaboration you mentioned? The one with another artist from your label?"

John's smile widened. "Ah, yes. We have a rising star on our roster who we think would be an excellent fit with Lucas's style. Her name is Taylor Swift."

Lucas chuckled, "I've heard of her. Isn't she known for her songs about love and heartbreaks? She's quite popular with the heartbroken crowd, right?"

John and Claude shared a laugh. "That's her niche, and it's working well for her," John said.

Claude added, "And it's not like you're unfamiliar with heartbreak songs yourself, Lucas." He winked, "In fact, Taylor's a big fan of your work. Her manager mentioned she adores 'Someone You Loved'. Said it's one of her favorites."

Lucas chuckled, "Well, I guess we have that in common."

John nodded, "Exactly! That's why we think a collaboration between the two of you would be fantastic. Fans online are already buzzing about the idea since they know you're both under our label."

Claude leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he spoke. "Lucas, in our opinion, you should seriously consider the idea of collaboration. It's a win-win situation. You both get promoted, Taylor and you. Your careers will skyrocket. Imagine it, a duet between the two of you. Taylor and her manager are already on board with the idea."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips. "Well, it's definitely intriguing."

John placed a hand on Lucas's shoulder, "No pressure, man. Take your time to think about it. But, the label does want you to record your EP first, you know, capitalize on the buzz from your viral performance."

Claude nodded in agreement. "They've even lined up a recording studio and producer to help expedite the process once you're ready. All you need are the songs, melody, and lyrics."

Lucas tapped his backpack confidently. "Don't worry, I've got them all here."

Claude clapped his hands together, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Excellent. We'll have the recording studio and producer in touch with your manager, Neil here. And since your schedule isn't too packed, we can start as soon as possible."

Lucas nodded as he sighed, knowing he had little choice but to agree. After all, he had signed a contract with "Big Machine Records" and even though he wasn't obligated like other artists, he still needed to make profitable music for both himself and the label.

"Thank you, Lucas. Trust us, this will be a great decision for both your careers," John said, shaking hands with Lucas and Neil before they both stood up and left the café.

Neil turned to Lucas, "So, what do you think about collaborating with Taylor?"

Lucas took a moment to consider the offer, weighing the pros and cons in his head. "Well, it's not a bad idea..."

Neil patted him on the shoulder. "It's your call, man. You know I've got your back either way."

---

Neil, who was staying at Lucas's apartment temporarily, received a call from the producer of the recording studio that would be helping Lucas with his EP. The producer had already come to an agreement with "Big Machine Records," making things much more convenient for them.

Lucas and Neil arrived at the studio, both of them surprised to find out it was the very same one where Lucas had recorded his first album.

The producer greeted them with a warm smile, handing over a contract that was surprisingly fair for both Lucas and Neil. It seemed "Electric Lady Studios" had already ironed out the details with their label, speeding up the process significantly.

After an hour of signing paperwork, Lucas was ushered into a state-of-the-art recording booth. With the studio engineers and staff at the ready, they spent hours discussing the songs he wanted to record, fine-tuning every detail until they were all satisfied.

The first day flew by as Lucas and the talented sound engineers at "Electric Lady Studios" worked tirelessly on perfecting an incomplete track of "Viva La Vida." They wanted a polished final product, which would take more time than anticipated.

In the following days, Lucas found himself immersed in the creative process, recording two more songs with the help of the skilled sound engineers and staff. The label contacted Neil, asking if Lucas could shoot music videos for the completed tracks, and with his schedule free for weeks, they agreed.

Lucas enjoyed the break from acting, finding relaxation in music recording. It was therapeutic, a way to express himself that acting couldn't quite match.

After another two days of hard work, Lucas finished recording his third song. As soon as they wrapped up, Neil received a call from a talent coordinator of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," inviting Lucas to be a guest on the show.