Chapter 425: Corporate Conglomeration

Chapter 425: Chapter 425: Corporate Conglomeration

She pondered for a moment before quickly adjusting the plan.

"In that case, we will change the structure."

"Echo Pictures will hold the company on our behalf, but the actual equity, core decision-making power, and final earnings will still be distributed according to our shareholding ratios."

"Echo Pictures will be responsible for all publicly disclosed capital operations, business registrations, and legal disputes, with me shielding everything from the front."

"With my name and the Coppola Family’s reputation behind it, your family will not dare to overstep, nor will they have the standing to interfere in company affairs."

"This will completely isolate us from all personal interference."

Hearing this plan, the weight finally lifted from Britney’s heart.

Warmth welled up in her eyes as she nodded gently.

"I can finally rest easy. Thank you, Irene."

After finalising the equity structure and operational plan, the four of them refined the details regarding the company’s initial startup capital, the assembly of the production team, music copyright reserves, artist incubation plans, and the collaboration model with "The Voice."

Once all processes were confirmed to be error-free, the startup meeting for the record company officially concluded.

Robert and Britney were the first to leave, setting off to handle the subsequent registration and preparatory work, leaving only Irene and financial advisor Jean Williams in the conference room.

In the spacious, quiet conference room, Jean looked at Irene—young, yet with a far-reaching strategic layout already in place.

After a moment of contemplation, she took the initiative to propose a highly ambitious, bombshell suggestion capable of overturning the existing landscape.

"Irene, after tracking all your assets and industrial layout, and reviewing all the sectors, I have found that the scale of your current portfolio is more than enough to support the formation of a comprehensive media conglomerate."

Jean’s tone was serious and firm as she clearly listed the assets one by one.

"You currently possess the independent film production company Echo Pictures, the film distribution-focused Future World Pictures, the local cable station you just acquired in full, and the new independent record company about to launch."

"You have all four core sectors covered: film production, theatrical distribution, television media, and music star-making."

"The industrial chain is complete and the closed-loop is mature."

"As long as the variety show ’The Voice’ launches and the record company gets on the right track, your industrial scale, profitability, and industry influence will be on par with small to medium-sized established media groups, sufficient to rival the early prototypes of the Big Six, like Warner Bros. and Disney."

"Forming a group, integrating all subsidiaries, and unifying the brand, capital, and strategy will allow your business to become fully standardised and scaled."

"It will help you shed the label of an up-and-coming small company and truly ascend to the top tier of the industry."

Jean suggested sincerely.

"This is the perfect moment for you to advance from an independent director and project investor to a media capital titan."

Upon hearing this, Irene’s fingertips gently brushed against the tabletop.

A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes, and waves surged in her heart.

It had to be said that Jean’s suggestion precisely struck her original ultimate goal.

Ascending to the Hollywood Big Six, building her own media empire, and transforming from a player into a rule-maker had been her ultimate ambition ever since her rebirth, the goal behind every step of her layout.

Over the years, she had steadily built her foundation, working low-key and deep.

From scriptwriting, project filming, and company structuring to channel layout and sector expansion, every step had been steadily advancing toward the goal of forming a media conglomerate and rivaling the Big Six.

Now that the four major industries were in place, the scale was indeed sufficient to meet the basic conditions for conglomeration.

However, after the brief moment of excitement, years of deep industry cultivation, a top-level perspective, and a clear understanding of the future allowed Irene to quickly calm down.

The ambition in her eyes slowly receded, replaced by extreme caution and clarity.

She shook her head gently, her tone steady and firm.

"Now is not the time. The proposal for conglomeration is shelved for now."

Jean was slightly surprised.

"Why? Our current industrial structure is already complete enough; we possess the qualifications and scale for conglomeration."

Irene responded thoughtfully.

"The reason our company has been able to rise rapidly and blossom everywhere in just a few short years, sailing smoothly without facing any suppression, encirclement, or targeting from the giants, might look like it is because we have sufficient strength and good luck, but in reality, there are three core reasons."

"First, we have yet to independently shoulder the master control of a top-tier commercial blockbuster."

"With the ’Pirates of the Caribbean’ series and the ’Transformers’ series, while it might seem to the outside world that I orchestrated their massive success, in essence, Echo Pictures was merely a high-quality participant and creative partner in these projects."

"The true master control, copyright core, and distribution dominance remained with old giants like Paramount and Universal."

"We have been living in the cracks of the Big Six, not touching their core interests."

"In their eyes, we are just an up-and-coming small company that is good at content and helps them make money; we do not pose a threat, so they let us develop freely."

"Second, for these past years, all the firepower, vigilant scrutiny, and resource encirclement from the Hollywood giants have been concentrated on DreamWorks."

"Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks has been high-profile and ostentatious since its inception, with its ambition fully on display."

"It made its stance clear—to challenge the ruling position of the Big Six—which attracted all the attention and suppression within the industry."

"DreamWorks blocked all the open and secret attacks for us, absorbing all the targeting firepower from the giants, allowing us to develop steadily and grow quietly in the shadows."

"Third, I have deliberately kept a low profile, never revealing my ambition to control the industry or build an empire to the outside world."

"I have consistently maintained the persona of a director who is ’focused on creation and uninterested in capital games,’ leading all the giants to assume that I only love making movies, not seizing power, and that I pose no threat."

Irene’s tone was solemn as she pointed out the cruelest industry rule.

"But once we officially announce the integration and formation of a media conglomerate now, everything will be completely exposed."

"Conglomeration means scaling up, capitalisation, and ambition."

"It is equivalent to telling all the Big Six that I want to jump out of the cracks, fight for influence, build my own media empire, and become a new industry rival."

"At that point, all the tolerance will disappear, and all the restraint will end."

"First is the authority over film ratings."

"The Hollywood rating system is firmly held in the hands of the old giants."

"As long as they want to, any subtle adjustment to the rating can hinder our film’s release, cause damage through cuts, or collapse our reputation, which is enough to make it impossible for us to move forward."

"What is even more fatal is the overseas market."

"The local Hollywood market has limited profits; the true blockbuster profits all come from global overseas distribution."

"The reason DreamWorks has stagnated these years and has been unable to break through the shackles of the Big Six is that its biggest bottleneck is overseas channels."

"Without a mature overseas distribution network and without the endorsement of the Big Six’s global channels, even if we produce the highest quality films, we cannot successfully release them overseas."

"Once a top-tier commercial film lacks overseas box office, the direct loss is tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in profit."

"If we want to use the Big Six’s overseas channels for distribution, the channel commission and cooperation fees we would have to pay would also be in the tens of millions."

"To put it bluntly, without channel influence, we will always be at someone else’s mercy."

Irene concluded firmly.

"Conglomerating now means actively standing in the spotlight and becoming a target for all the giants to encircle and suppress."

"Without fully developed wings, insufficient channels, and lacking influence, exposing our ambition too early will only invite comprehensive suppression."

"I do not want a hastily formed, empty shell of a group."

"I want a media empire that can truly stand firm in the future, rival the Big Six, and be unshakable."