[Chapter 10: Billboard No. 1]
On the morning of the 7th, after having breakfast, Linton and Cameron departed the neighborhood in their car. As expected, a couple of paparazzi were waiting for them, but this time, the questions weren't only about their relationship. Instead, most inquiries revolved around Linton's new single, Numb.
Following the media's promotional reports from the previous day, the song Numb had already made its way to radio stations across the nation overnight. No matter which station you turned on in your car, you could hear this song, and since it hadn't officially been released yet, fans were eager to hear it, calling in to request it.
Word circulated that a nearby record store had a long line outside before even opening, all there to buy Numb.
This time, Linton simply responded to a few questions. There were standard answers for all of them anyway, and it could also expand publicity, so why not do it? However, when it came to their relationship, both he and Cameron chose to remain tight-lipped.
...
After dropping Cameron off at her apartment, the familiar routine kicked in again. When Linton arrived at Universal, the promotional team was already assembled, waiting for him to start. This group comprised Mira, assistant Molly, and two bodyguards.
Compared to the first promotional circuit, they had made some adjustments. The previous approach had been to hit up cities in order based on purchasing power, a common marketing strategy. However, that would require a lot of backtracking, wasting valuable time.
Since last month's Baby promotion laid the groundwork, they still targeted those same 50 cities, but this time, they planned to advance city by city based on geography. The first stop was San Francisco, followed by a trip up north to Oregon.
...
Upon arriving in San Francisco, Linton participated in a live performance at the San Francisco Center Shopping Mall, singing and engaging with fans before offering autographs.
In the afternoon, he did interviews with two television stations and later appeared on a radio show where he discussed songwriting and engaged in light gossip with the host. The atmosphere was electric, with audience interactions culminating in a few questions from listeners. By the end of the show, the host mentioned that that episode had garnered a two-point increase in ratings, a clear indication of Linton's rising popularity.
...
After the broadcast, they headed straight to Portland, Oregon. It was one of those grueling schedules where meals and rest often happened in transit on planes or in cars.
This trip was even tighter than the last because Linton was set to return to the University of Southern California for graduation ceremonies on the 30th. He needed to complete visits to the 50 cities by the 29th. Just do the math -- no wonder the schedule was cramped!
Typically, they spent no more than a day in major cities, half a day in large cities, and just enough time to hold a single promotional event in medium-sized cities before moving on.
However, given Linton's rising star status, some promotional methods changed. Media interviews and audience interactions remained the same, but performances at public squares or parks turned into fan meet-and-greets, along with in-store signings at top 20 record stores.
Everywhere he went, he felt an overwhelming surge of enthusiasm. Linton noticed a shift in public attention; during the previous promotion, fans had focused more on the music itself, occasionally admiring his looks. This time, though, it was clear that more people were interested in him personally, even more than the songs.
Two consecutive hits -- his self-written and performed tracks -- had completely captivated audiences, especially knowing he was still in college just made him more appealing.
Of course, people couldn't help but inquire about his romantic life. Someone even asked why the female lead in the Numb music video wasn't Cameron Diaz, showing that gossip indeed had its allure -- after all, curiosity is part of human nature!
The media and fans were all over him, everywhere he went, fans packed the venues, their cheers echoing. This made Linton realize that the time was ripe to establish a fan club.
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Once his promotional tour ended, Linton planned to hire a professional to assist him in organizing the Linton fan club, enlisting Mira for guidance in managing and directing fans, with the goal of increasing their numbers.
Creating a dedicated fanbase was essential; loyal fans could potentially provide a hundredfold the support compared to casual ones, and these die-hard fans could also help expand his following, so it was worth investing in them, no matter the cost.
Unlike some celebrities who capitalize on their fans, Linton wanted to ensure that his fans could benefit while supporting him, so that they wouldn't just spend money on merchandise but would also promote his work.
He envisioned a fan club where members genuinely liked him and his music, discussing and sharing it extensively. He planned to cover operational costs, ensuring fans didn't feel pressured to buy unnecessary merchandise but rather focus on his albums and engage in discussions about him.
Initially, he thought about asking Mira to oversee the fan club, but then he reconsidered. This management needed direct accountability, without too many ties to the agency.
He resolved to hire a dedicated assistant for this role, with Mira in a support capacity, ensuring that the fan club's operation could continue unaffected even if he had to change management partnerships in the future.
---
On May 19th, the latest Billboard singles chart came out, shocking everyone.
Baby had claimed the top spot, while Numb debuted at number four. Baby sold over 600,000 copies that week, and Numb sold over 800,000 copies.
In just under two months since his debut and with only two songs released, he had already charted both of them high on Billboard.
This was an achievement usually reserved for established stars, yet here was a newcomer making waves -- it was unmistakable; he was a budding pop idol!
From this moment on, both media and the public began to genuinely acknowledge Linton's status as a rising pop star, not just considering it the fuss of some media hype or fan enthusiasm.
During this rapid rise, he felt a significant change while meditating. Within a single week of promotion and media buzz, his growth surpassed anything he had experienced before, doubling since May 6th.
He showed a clear spike in popularity, and at this rate, he thought he'd break through the mid-level tier, reaching level four very soon.
...
Linton received sweet calls from Cameron Diaz during this period, where she mentioned that her fame was also soaring, and her agent had increased her booking fees due to overwhelming demand.
He reminded her to take it easy and advised her to attend acting classes to hone her craft, encouraging her that she had what it took to become a film and television star.
With Linton's swift rise and the popularity of both Baby and Numb, MTV and local television stations repeatedly aired their music videos.
Cameron wasn't the only one benefiting from this newfound fame; Naomi Watts was also receiving a surge in attention. Her recognition was rapidly increasing, with her agent fielding many more offers and audition requests than before.
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Naomi called him one night to congratulate him on his success, praising the strong sales of both his singles, then shared a bit about her situation, thanking him for the boost from the music video, and finally couldn't resist asking about his relationship with Cameron Diaz.
Linton candidly explained that it was merely media hype intended to promote his new single, emphasizing it was a requirement from Universal.
Upon hearing this, Naomi felt a sense of relief; it implied she could still pursue things with him and replied, "When you get back, I'll take you out for dinner."
As he thought about it, he mused that dinner wouldn't be the only thing on the menu, but he also liked the idea, agreeing over the phone to meet back in Los Angeles.
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Aunt Kelly's family also called to share their well wishes, with Aunt Kelly cheerfully shouting, "Come on, Linton!"
Cousin Judy chimed in excitedly, "Cousin, you're awesome! A bunch of my classmates really like you. Next time, you have to give me tons of autographs!" Linton promised he would.
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Similarly, Logan, the VP from WMA, called with congratulations, although he didn't mention anything about the management team, likely because Mira had already conveyed his sentiments; WMA seemed to have reached a compromise, maintaining the status quo.
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Daniel from Universal called daily with exciting news, laughter apparent in every conversation.
He also received numerous congratulatory calls from familiar faces, and Mira reported that she had received many brand endorsement offers, which Linton insisted all be turned down as planned, with those deals to be reconsidered post-July.
*****
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