Versatile Superstar: Rise In Hollywood

Worldwide fame — Being called as a Global superstar. 

How many people could be called a Global superstar in the whole world? Four? Maybe Five. The number was very low as it was not a feat anyone could touch and it was just getting lower in recent years. 

It was because getting such worldwide fame never had any formula attached to it. A lot of times, people were just lucky. Especially when it comes to actors. 

One movie of them would get Global fame and from there, a smart actor would try to only select scripts that could appeal to a lot of people. Scripts with universal themes. 

They would also try to visit the countries that their movie had gotten successful in to accumulate the fans that they have gathered. With that, the people there await the release of their next movie. 

With changing markets, many people think that it was way easier to be a Global superstar thanks to superhero movies as they are arguably the movies with the widest releases, aiming for the family audience. 

Thanks to that, a lot of actors would get exposure in the whole world and people everywhere would recognise them. But the reality was a bit different. 

People would be fans of the character in superhero movies more than the actor. It was something that even actors working in superhero movies have pointed out. 

The role could be done by anyone barring a few exceptions. 

When it comes to singers, it was a bit easier for them as music has a global appeal to it. You don't have to understand the lyrics or the language until you like the sound of it. 

It was something that connected the whole world and didn't have language barriers. 

That's why, a lot of people think that the only Global superstars could be musicians as they would fill a stadium anywhere in the world. 

It was a statement that even Aiden agreed with. 

"When you released your mini album, it made waves in a lot of European countries too. Although not all songs were popular, a few reached the Top 10 position in charts. You were also considered one of the rising singers in the world and there was a lot of hype around concerts."

"In the end, concerts didn't really materialise."

Aiden said and everyone in the room nodded their heads. A few people in the back leaked out a frown. 

There were plans for concerts after the mini album and an eventual tour to different countries but nothing happened. Aiden got too busy with his movies. 

"Well, it did help us as you got some of the best movies of your career but you have failed very harshly in the singer popularity chart. It has been two years since one of your songs has been in the Top 100 music charts."

"Yeah the only songs that made it there were from [Agnas] and I doubt we could count them as completely yours."

Saying that, Wade turned towards Tom who showed Aiden a few stats regarding singers these days. It included the list of most streamed artists and the popularity index in North America and other countries. 

"Well, in the last two years, you went from 9th most streamed artist of the year to the 27th. Your popularity as a singer has dropped significantly as other singers have come up and a lot of chartbusters albums have premiered."

Tom passed him his tab and kept talking. 

"We conducted a survey with your fans and more than 80 percent think of you as an actor rather than a singer."

"Isn't it due to the fact that I got a lot of my fans in the last two years?"

Aiden recalled that the number of followers had exploded after the release of [The Black Saint]. A lot of people have liked his acting and decided to be his fan. 

"Yes, it is. But it's a bad thing for your singing or writing career."

He nodded and looked at the tab in his hand. The list of the current most popular singers in the country and worldwide were displayed with streaming numbers and other things. 

He recognised the top few singers. They were the true singing superstars and were famous in tons of countries. One of them had recently sold out a concert in Korea and Japan which gave a statement of his popularity. 

As he scrolled down, two familiar names stuck out. 

'Cameron and Rachel.'

Both of them were doing pretty well in the last two years. Cameron had launched an album right after [Agnas] and it had been very successful. After that, he kept releasing his new songs every now and then. 

He was currently the 9th most streamed artist in America according to the chart, the place where Aiden was previously. 

As for Rachel, she was still with Cyco media and had become their top star, standing at the 7th position in the most streamed artists. Aiden had heard her songs and she had genuinely improved a lot. 

She had also gained composing skills and would often write the lyrics of her songs now. 

'It seems like they have really put me behind.'

Aiden sighed and thought that. 

He knew it was inevitable as in the end, he was working on a wider spectrum than just one field. But it still felt like he had lost. 

His competitive spirit was hurt but Aiden knew how to handle it. 

After he scrolled down a lot, he found himself at the 27th position and his position was just going down and down. It would be at 50 if there's no music out for the next year by estimates. 

New singers are coming out more and more these days thanks to online platforms. 

"It looks like the market is very competitive these days."

Aiden said after going through the charts and everything else. Pop songs and 80s inspired music seemed to be the trend these days. 

"Yeah, so if you really want to make an album, we need to make entire plans. Get some arrangers and other musicians to work on the song. Though, do you need songs or you would make most of your songs yourself?"

Wade asked and Aiden thought about it for a while. But his mind was already clear. He could sing other's songs but he never really felt like his own until he made it himself. 

So, he would rather work hard on making his own songs. Even improving his composing skills in the process. 

"I will make my own songs. It's better that way."

"Good. We could promote your songwriter image more then." Sasha said and Aiden nodded his head. 

"Do you have plans for your songs? Like ideas?" Tom looked at him and Aiden smiled promptly. 

"I actually do. I have been focused on acting for a long time but It don't mean I never got new ideas for songs and novels. I feel like this is the best time to do it."

Wade made a confused expression hearing that and picked up a word out of it. 

"Novels? You're gonna work on one?"

"No, not now. Like, I don't want to have a situation where focusing on two things ruins both of them. I just said I have ideas and it's no good to let them stay in my mind. So, after the album and 'Project Dream', I can work on a full fledged novel and like Sasha says, it adds to the image."

Everyone nodded and they soon started talking more about the album. Making a group to work on the project and other things. 

Aiden took it upon himself to work on the songs but even in it, they needed songs that could work in today's climate. Music industry changes a lot every year. 

"I feel like we should target European countries for the album and do tours there. After all, the whole purpose of the album is to increase Aiden's fame."

Tom said and a few people nodded. His idea of tours was a good one as they could finish a tour in a month. 

Though, that meant that the album needed to be released fast. Although there was a choice of just doing the tour after Aiden finished up his shooting. 

"If the purpose is Global fame or at least exposure in different markets, then shouldn't we target more of Korea and Japan. A lot of groups from there are trying for western popularity. A song together with a K-pop artist could work very well. Aiden could do a tour of Korea too."

"But people have no idea of him there. His movies never got a wide release in Korea. We at least need them to know him a bit before making a collaboration."

"Yeah but we can't wait for that. It's better to go ahead with it. Japan is actually a better option in this case."

Aiden listened to the conversations happening. Collaborations sounded good but in his head, he was thinking of the ideas for songs. 

There were a lot of songs to be made in his mind but they were the ones that Aiden had already done before. 

The ideas from his team were fine too but they were nothing new. 

It was tried and tested. 

He needed something else. At that moment, an idea struck him!