Chapter 137: “Even Infamy Is Fame”

Regardless of how skeptical the audience behind their screens might be, the show "Sound of Nature" had to go on. They chose to reserve their judgment on whether Zhou Ran had prepared his song in advance until after the broadcast concluded. After all, no concrete details about the song Zhou Ran wrote had been leaked, so any questions would have to wait until Zhang Yuan’s performance.

The production team of "Sound of Nature" never revealed the specifics of a singer's creative process. At most, they might release tiny fragments—a few seconds of piano playing or a fleeting glimpse—but these were negligible. Wang Chong implemented these strict security measures to ensure confidentiality; all filming personnel had signed non-disclosure agreements to prevent leaks. The consequences of such a leak would be unimaginable. Most programs require staff to sign these contracts, so any "insider info" or "leaks" that appear online are usually calculated moves by the production team to generate traffic. It is highly unlikely that staff members would risk their careers or even imprisonment just to spread rumors; the stakes are simply too high.

Initially, many viewers tuned in specifically to see the collaboration between Zhou Ran and Zhang Yuan. However, since Zhang Yuan was slated to appear late in the program, the audience found themselves captivated by other singers while waiting. To their surprise, they discovered several hidden gems among the performers.

Lou Yi was one such example. He had enjoyed a period of immense popularity in the past, but due to various reasons, he failed to maintain his momentum, eventually fading into the ranks of average first-tier singers. Even with his undeniable talent, he lacked the right stage to showcase it. Fortunately, Lou Yi made the right move by joining "Sound of Nature." His performance did not disappoint, successfully capturing the attention of a large audience. While it might not lead to an overnight explosion in fame, it served as a reminder to those watching that Lou Yi still existed.

The entertainment industry is a place of rapid turnover. Every year, countless newcomers debut, all fighting for the same spotlight. If one is not diligent, they are easily crushed. Many stars who rise to overnight fame eventually disappear back into the crowd once their peak period passes. There are simply too many people eyeing those limited positions, like hungry wolves waiting to snatch a piece of meat. The industry is finite; if you occupy a space, others cannot, leading to inevitable competition—a principle that applies to every field.

Fortunately, Lou Yi’s performance on "Sound of Nature" successfully piqued the audience's interest. They realized how good he sounded and remembered his name again. "Oh, there's a singer named Lou Yi; he sounds pretty good. I should check out his other songs sometime." Achieving this level of recognition is already a significant success.

"Sound of Nature" also featured another draw: the scathing commentary of the judges. While harsh critiques are common on other shows, Wang Chong took it a step further. He cast judges who were already somewhat famous on short-video platforms, maximizing the show's impact. Regardless of whether their critiques were objectively correct, they succeeded in driving the conversation. While the judges appeared vicious during the recording, these interactions were pre-arranged to lean into conflict, which was essential for generating buzz.

These arrangements were discussed between the production team, the guests, and the singers. For them, it was a win-win-win situation: the show gained viewership, the judges gained exposure and discussion, and the singers were brought back into the public eye. Whether the fame was positive or negative, it was still fame—and for these artists, fame meant relevance.

In the past, many singers had risen to become top-tier stars precisely through notoriety. Some netizens would start by criticizing a star, only to develop a strange attachment to them, eventually defending them against others. They could mock their own "idol," but no one else was allowed to. The memes had turned into genuine affection.

"Yes! Just keep this momentum going!"

Wang Chong monitored the show’s viewership and engagement metrics in real-time. This was of utmost importance to him. After so much preparation, he couldn't bear to see it fall short, given the immense investment of capital and effort from so many people.

Currently, the data showed the show leading in its time slot, leaving competitors in the dust. And the best was yet to come: Zhang Yuan’s performance had not even begun. Wang Chong viewed her performance as his trump card. He was certain that once Zhang Yuan took the stage, viewership would reach a new peak and shatter records.

Wang Chong had only one goal: to surpass "Who Is the King of Songs." If he was going to do it, he was going to do it right. Based on the current figures, while everything looked promising, surpassing the rival show was still a challenge. Thus, he pinned all his hopes on Zhang Yuan to secure a perfect, explosive start.