Chapter 738: World Reaction

The news had spread quickly after JD Records confirmed the first-month figures for Genesis. Entertainment platforms, music journalists and news organizations had begun reporting the results, and within hours, the album was being discussed across different parts of the world.

It felt like that night no one was bound to sleep as the news was too explosive to believe or comprehend.

Thirty billion, seven hundred million streams in one month, alongside twenty million physical copies sold. Those were the figures attracting attention, and people were finding different ways to describe what JD had achieved. Some focused on the streaming numbers, others discussed the physical sales, while several commentators were already comparing the album’s performance with records set by some of the biggest names in music history.

In London, a presenter on a popular entertainment programme brought up the report during a live discussion. Two guests sat across from him, both of whom had followed JD’s career for years, and the figures displayed behind them showed the streaming and physical sales totals.

"I’ve been covering music for a long time, and I don’t think I’ve ever had to discuss a first-month result quite like this," the presenter began. "Thirty point seven billion streams and twenty million physical copies sold. We’re talking about one album, released just a month ago, and those are the numbers already attached to it."

One of the guests, a music journalist, looked at the figures on the screen before responding. "What makes it difficult to discuss is that we’re not looking at one platform or one particular market. The album has performed across different services and different countries. You can look at the streaming figures, then look at the physical sales, and you’re still dealing with an enormous result."

"Some people will say the streaming numbers are the main story," the presenter replied, "but twenty million physical copies in a month is not something we should overlook. People are still buying the album, even when they can listen to it online."

The second guest, who worked as a music analyst, agreed. "Exactly. The physical figures tell us that people want to own the album as well. They aren’t simply listening to a song when it appears in their recommendations and moving on. A significant number of listeners have decided to purchase a physical copy I even heard someone say that purchasing a copies is like purchasing a part of Dayo dur to the emotion poured in that album."

The presenter returned his attention to the camera. "And this is happening after JD already had an extraordinary run with his previous releases. At some point, you have to stop treating every new achievement as a surprise and accept that we’re dealing with an artist whose audience is operating on a very different scale. And i agree to the fact that purchasing the album is like a part of Dayo after all we know Dayo is a private person and this is the most personal anyone apart from his inner circle had seen."

Similar discussions were taking place in other countries. In the United States, music channels were examining the album’s performance alongside previous global releases, while radio presenters invited guests to discuss how JD had maintained such a large audience. Some commentators focused on the size of his fanbase, while others pointed to the number of people who listened to his music without necessarily considering themselves fans.

That distinction became part of the discussion. JD had reached a stage where his name was familiar to people who followed music closely, casual listeners who occasionally played his songs and even people who rarely paid attention to the music industry. His popularity was no longer limited to those who actively searched for his releases.

A short report from an international entertainment research group also began circulating online. It examined public recognition of major contemporary music artists across several countries, using responses from people who were not selected solely from music fan communities. JD ranked at the top of its recognition results, with a larger share of respondents identifying him than any other current recording artist included in the survey.

The report did not claim that every person in the world knew JD, nor did it attempt to measure the entire history of music. Its findings concerned recognition among the people surveyed, but the result still attracted attention because it suggested that his name had reached far beyond his regular listeners.

A presenter discussing the report explained that the distinction mattered. "There are artists with very dedicated fanbases, and there are artists whose names have become familiar to people who don’t even follow their careers. JD is now in that second category. You can walk into a conversation with people who have completely different musical interests, and there’s a good chance they’ll know who you’re talking about."

Another commentator added that the report should not be used to dismiss the achievements of artists from previous generations. "Recognition changes with time, technology and the way people consume music. Michael Jackson had a level of worldwide fame that was extraordinary for the period in which he lived and worked. JD is operating in a different era, with a different kind of access to audiences. What we can say is that his name has become extremely familiar across the current generation."

That point led to another discussion which had been growing for weeks. The comparisons between JD and Michael Jackson were becoming more frequent, especially after the results of Genesis. For years, people had compared their performances, commercial achievements, influence and ability to attract audiences. Some fans welcomed the comparisons, while others believed that Michael’s place in music history should remain separate from discussions about contemporary artists.

On a music discussion programme in New York, the subject came up after one of the presenters asked whether JD had already surpassed the expectations people had for him.

"Let me say something before anyone misunderstands me," one guest began. "Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson. His achievements are part of music history, and I don’t think anyone should pretend otherwise. The influence he had on music, dance, performance and popular culture is still there. But we’re talking about JD now, and I think people need to recognise what he’s doing in his own time."

The presenter leaned towards him. "Are you saying JD is better?"

"I’m saying that if we’re discussing the current generation, I don’t see how you can leave JD out of the conversation. Look at his numbers, look at his audience, look at the records he’s breaking. We’re talking about someone whose music reaches people across the world, and he’s still very young."

A second guest joined the discussion. "I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. I know what he achieved, and I still listen to his music. But I can’t keep using that as a reason to dismiss everything JD has done. At some point, you have to look at the present. Michael had his generation, and JD is defining his."

The presenter asked whether the comparisons were becoming unfair to both artists, since they had built their careers in different periods.

"That depends on how people make the comparison," the second guest replied. "If someone says JD has copied Michael or that their careers are exactly the same, then I would disagree. They are different artists. But if we’re discussing worldwide influence, popularity and the level of attention they command, then I understand why people keep bringing them together."

Clips from the discussion circulated online, and people began sharing their own opinions. Some Michael Jackson fans were quick to defend their favourite artist, arguing that his achievements could not be measured against modern streaming records alone. Others admitted that they had initially resisted the comparisons but were finding it increasingly difficult to ignore JD’s accomplishments.

One comment that gained considerable attention came from a fan who had followed Michael Jackson since childhood. He explained that he had spent years arguing against anyone who compared a contemporary singer with Michael, but JD’s continued achievements had forced him to reconsider his position.

"I still believe Michael Jackson is one of the greatest entertainers in history," he wrote. "That isn’t changing for me. But I have to be honest about what JD has achieved. I’ve watched this young man break record after record, and every time I think we’ve reached the limit, something else happens. I can’t keep pretending that his influence isn’t extraordinary. If Michael were here today, I honestly don’t know whether even he would have this much influence over the current generation. JD has reached a level that deserves respect."

The comment received thousands of responses. Some agreed with him, while others argued that Michael’s legacy should not be reduced to a competition. A few people pointed out that JD had never needed to be presented as a replacement for Michael, because his achievements were already enough to establish his own place in music.

In Nigeria, the reaction was even more personal. Entertainment programmes were discussing the album’s performance, radio stations were playing songs from Genesis, and people were sharing photographs of their physical copies. Some fans had purchased the standard edition, while others showed off their deluxe and collector’s editions. Music stores and online sellers were also discussing the demand for the album, particularly from buyers who wanted to own a physical copy rather than rely entirely on streaming services.

A presenter on a Nigerian radio station brought up the figures during an afternoon programme. "Twenty million physical copies sold in one month. People need to understand that this is not a small achievement. You can talk about streaming all you want, but there are people who have gone out to buy this album. They want to keep it, they want to own it, and some of them are buying more than one edition."

His co-presenter laughed. "I’ve seen people posting pictures of their copies. Some are even arguing about which edition is better. The funny thing is that you can ask someone who doesn’t follow JD closely, and they still know the album has been released. His name is everywhere."

"That’s what I’m saying," the first presenter continued. "It’s reached a point where you don’t have to be a fan to know about him. People know JD. They know his songs, they know his records, and they know when something happens in his career. You can’t discuss the current music industry and act as if he isn’t one of the biggest names in it or the biggest name."

The same kind of conversations were taking place in Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and other African countries. Some people discussed the album’s emotional content, while others were more interested in the numbers. Fans who had followed JD from his earlier releases talked about how much his career had changed, and newer listeners shared their experiences of discovering his music through Genesis.

Across South Korea and Japan, the album’s performance also attracted attention. Music commentators discussed its position on the charts, while online communities compared the results with previous international releases. Some listeners were particularly interested in the fact that the album had attracted strong activity across both markets without relying entirely on one song.

In France and Germany, music publications discussed the album’s international reach, while British and American commentators continued debating JD’s place among the most successful contemporary artists. The same questions appeared repeatedly across different platforms: how had he built such a large audience, how did his music continue reaching people who were not already fans, and how many more records could he break?

Not everyone was pleased with the attention. Some listeners admitted that they were tired of seeing JD mentioned in almost every major music discussion. A few complained that other artists deserved more attention, while others said they had grown used to hearing his name even when the conversation had nothing to do with him.

One user wrote that they had opened a music discussion hoping to read about several new releases but found the entire conversation centred on JD. Another replied that this was exactly why the industry could not ignore him. Whether people loved his music or were tired of hearing about him, his achievements had become a regular subject of discussion.

Artists also joined the conversation. Some congratulated him publicly, while others shared photographs of themselves listening to Genesis. Producers and songwriters discussed the album’s musical direction, and several young musicians spoke about the influence JD had on their decision to pursue music.

A few established performers admitted that his success had changed the way they looked at the industry. They spoke about the importance of building an international audience and the difficulty of maintaining attention across several markets. Others were more interested in the opportunities created by his success, particularly the possibility of working with JD Records.

For the label, the attention was another sign of how far the company had come, but the reactions were no longer limited to business discussions. JD himself had become a familiar name in conversations that extended beyond music. His performances, albums, records and public appearances were discussed by people with different backgrounds and interests, and even those who did not follow his career closely often knew something about him.

While the world continued discussing Genesis, Dayo was spending a quieter evening at home with his family. The television in the sitting room was playing at a low volume, and one of the entertainment channels was showing a segment about the album. A presenter was discussing the one-month figures before moving to the growing debate about JD’s place among the greatest artists of his generation.

Dayo sat on the sofa with Jennifer beside him. She was occupied with a small toy, occasionally making sounds as she tried to fit one of its pieces into the right place. Luna was in another part of the house, and the room remained peaceful despite the noise coming from the television.

The presenter mentioned the international recognition survey, explaining that JD had ranked ahead of other contemporary artists in the countries included in the research. Dayo watched for a little while before lowering the volume. He wasn’t particularly interested in hearing another discussion about himself, especially when the same comparisons had been repeated so many times.

Jennifer reached towards him with her toy, and he helped her place one of the pieces into its opening. She looked at it for a moment before taking it out again, apparently more interested in repeating the action than completing the toy. Dayo stayed beside her, allowing her to play while his attention moved away from the television.

He had spent much of the day thinking about the company’s next steps. The success of Genesis had given JD Records another strong result, and the discussions taking place around the world made him aware of how far his music had reached. Yet there was something else he had been considering, something that had nothing to do with another album or another streaming record.

Dayo had been thinking about a world tour.

He had performed in different countries before, but he wanted to approach this one differently. He wanted to take his music to more places, visit markets where his audience had continued growing and give people the opportunity to see him perform in person. The tour would cover his catalogue, not only the songs from Genesis. He wanted to perform the music that had brought him to this point, beginning with his earlier releases and moving through the albums that followed.

This would also allow people to connect to him as he was too private and he knew it so this tour was a way to appease the fans that say he was too private and needed at least a bit of access to his life.

There were many things to consider. A tour of that size would require careful planning, and he knew Valerie, Ulrich and the rest of the management team would need to be involved. The schedule, venues, production, travel arrangements and security would all have to be discussed. He also wanted to think about the countries he would visit and how much time he could spend in each place.

The idea had been on his mind for some time, but he hadn’t discussed it with anyone yet. He wanted to consider it properly before bringing it to the team.

Luna entered the sitting room a little later and found him seated beside Jennifer, with the television still playing quietly in the background. She noticed that he seemed occupied with his thoughts and walked over to the sofa.

"You’ve been sitting here for a while," she said, taking a seat beside him. "What are you thinking about?"

Dayo looked towards her and smiled. "Nothing bad. I’ve just been thinking about work."

"Work again?" Luna asked, looking briefly at the television. "I thought you had finished all the meetings for today."

"I have. It’s just something I’ve been considering."

She adjusted the cushion behind her and looked at him. "What is it?"

Dayo took Jennifer’s toy from the edge of the sofa and handed it back to her after she reached for it. "I’ve been thinking about going on a tour. A proper world tour, taking the music to different countries and performing the songs I’ve released over the years."

Luna looked at him with interest. "A world tour? You’ve been thinking about that?"

"Yes. I haven’t discussed it with the team yet, but I think it’s something I should consider. I’ve released quite a lot of music, and there are people in different countries who have followed my career from the beginning. I’d like to visit those places and perform for them."

"That sounds like a big plan," she said. "Have you thought about how long it would take?"

"Not yet. I haven’t started working on the schedule. I just know that if I decide to do it, I want to make sure we plan it properly. I don’t want to rush through different countries without giving people enough time to enjoy the shows."

Luna looked towards Jennifer, who was now holding the toy with both hands. "Well, I think people would be happy to see you. You’ve spent so much time releasing music, and a lot of them have probably been waiting for the chance to watch you perform."

"That’s what I’m thinking about," Dayo replied. "There are countries I haven’t visited in a long time, and there are others I’ve never had the chance to explore properly. I’d like to go beyond the usual places and reach more of the people who listen to my music."

"Then you’ll have to talk to Valerie and the others," Luna said. "They’ll need to know what you’re planning, especially if you’re thinking about visiting so many countries."

"I know. I’ll bring it up with them soon. I just wanted to think about it first."

Luna settled back against the cushion, watching Jennifer play with her toy. "You should take your time and decide what you want. You’ve been busy for a long time, so if you’re going to do this, make sure you plan it in a way that works for you too."

Dayo smiled at her. "I will."

The television continued playing in the background, but neither of them paid much attention to it. Jennifer eventually moved closer to Dayo, holding her toy up as if she wanted him to see what she had done. He took it from her, helped her fit the piece into place and returned it to her.

For the rest of the evening, Dayo remained with his family, although the idea of the tour stayed in his mind. He had not made a formal decision, and no arrangements had been started, but he was beginning to see it as the next thing he wanted to pursue.

The world was still talking about Genesis, its thirty billion, seven hundred million streams and twenty million physical copies sold. People were debating his achievements, comparing his influence with artists from previous generations and discussing what he might accomplish next.

Dayo, however, was already thinking about taking his music to the people who had supported him across the world. The idea was beginning to take shape, and he knew that once he was ready, the next conversation would be with the people at JD Records.