[Chapter 51: Stars and Charity, American Music Magazine, Mercedes-Benz Interview]
With the help of the hotel security, Danny and Mira loaded the four auction items that Linton had captured onto the Rolls-Royce. Reflecting on his earlier doubts, Linton invited Mira into the car.
"Why were the guests so unenthusiastic at the charity auction just now?"
"Didn't you notice? Typically, the items in charity auctions sell for at least 15% above market value, sometimes even 20%."
"I know, but isn't that tax-deductible? It's like using tax money to buy the items. Though it's more expensive, it's still better than giving it directly to the IRS. In a way, I'm making a profit."
"Linton, you need to understand everyone has a limited tax deduction. Most people don't even have enough deductions for their own charitable giving, let alone splurging at others' charity events."
"What's the difference between doing charity yourself and participating in these auctions?"
"There's a big difference. Oh, my bad for not telling you sooner. Remember what I said when we first met?"
"I'll never forget it."
"To succeed as a Hollywood star, besides producing good work, you also have to be good at packaging yourself, creating a persona that audiences adore. For you, we're presenting you as a youthful idol with remarkable singing talent, a creative genius, handsome and rugged, and a bit of a playboy. These traits resonate well with teenagers, helping you attract more fans.
Everyone knows stars make a lot of money. A movie, a TV show, an album or even a single song can bring earnings that ordinary people could never make in a lifetime. But people aren't resentful about stars making money; they pay attention to whether stars give back to society.
Simply put, the public wants stars to engage in charity. Doing charity well can hugely improve a star's image and class, increasing fan love and further boosting fame and commercial value.
If a star's charity efforts are poor or nonexistent, once competitors expose or slander them, sparking media storms, it can damage their reputation. At best, they lose fans and their commercial value declines; at worst, their career stalls and they fade into obscurity. For stars, charity is a critical task, linked to the success of their careers and commercial worth.
You developed too fast before; we didn't have time to plan your charity work. But for new stars like you, the public won't expect much. This year, though, you're already a top-tier star, even nearing superstar status. Your charity work must start now.
Every year at year-end, stars typically disclose their charity activities. You can choose not to reveal anything, but the public will assume you didn't contribute, which hurts your image.
The disclosed charity must be genuine work, like donating money or goods to those in need, repairing roads in impoverished areas, building schools to improve education, and so on. Charity can be local or global.
However, spending at charity dinners like today, while tax-deductible, doesn't count as your personal charity in the public's eyes. They only recognize the charity actions made by the venue or organization, like Vanity Fair, which benefits from today's funds. The event's media coverage can temporarily improve your image, though."
"I get it. The money I spent at today's event counts only for tax deduction, not building my own charity image, but it helps Vanity Fair's charity image. To boost my own reputation, I must personally do real charity work, right?" Linton recalled the points Daniel had mentioned.
"Exactly. But there's more tonight. We've been trying to arrange a Vanity Fair exclusive interview with you but hadn't succeeded before. Tina just invited you for an interview, which is a big win," Mira reassured him.
"So, looking at it this way, I actually gained today. I used tax deductions to buy things, got media promotion to lift my image, and landed a Vanity Fair interview," Linton comforted himself.
"Still, I recommend not using all your tax deductions like this. It's best to do some actual charity."
"Sure. I have $2 million in tax deductions left. Help me plan how to use it most effectively."
Thinking ahead, Linton realized as his income grows and the importance of charity becomes clearer, it's necessary to systematically arrange his charitable work. He remembered stories from later times about many billionaires and stars donating their entire wealth to their charity foundations, sparking his curiosity to understand the intricacies.
Before leaving, Mira reminded Linton not to forget the Vanity Fair magazine interview on the 27th and the promotional department executive meeting at Mercedes-Benz headquarters on the 28th.
...
Back at the estate, Linton handed over the oil painting to the housekeeper, Amy, instructing her to have them framed and displayed in the reception room. The other antiques and jewelry were locked safely in the vault.
---
The next day, Linton attended an interview with American Music Magazine at Universal's office. The entire interview was very smooth. Editor-in-Chief Singer highly praised Linton's achievements within a year, calling him the new force in American music.
Linton followed the prepared script to review his work over the past year and modestly mentioned his youth and the need to learn more from music veterans. He also complimented American Music Magazine for its contribution to American music. All of it was strategic PR for the Grammys, with Linton flattering the magazine excessively.
After the morning interview, the magazine's photographer took him to the studio for a photo shoot. However, Linton noticed the photographer's skills were mediocre. The lighting was no different from natural light, and after a tiring afternoon, they finally got satisfactory photos. Internally, Linton thought about the magazine's poor sales -- the editor asked standard questions with no breakthroughs, and the photography was so poor it was no wonder they struggled to attract readers.
---
On January 28th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, two executives from the Mercedes-Benz promotional department -- Will and Jack -- sat in the conference room to evaluate if Linton was a suitable spokesperson for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Mercedes-Benz originally preferred German stars as brand ambassadors, but within film and TV, no suitable German candidate was found. The G-Class targeted middle-class consumers worldwide, so they needed personalities with international fame and influence.
The new spokesperson was to be under 35 years old. Previously considered candidates included Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, known for their tough-guy roles that perfectly matched the G-Class rugged image. But both were 45 and 48, beyond the age limit.
When Linton promoted his album in Germany, the team noticed his image fit well and nominated him as a candidate.
...
A knock came. The assistant opened the door and said, "Linton Anderson and his agent have arrived."
Will nodded lightly, "Please bring them in."
Soon, the assistant led two people inside. First was a blonde woman dressed sharply in professional attire, followed by a tall, strong man who looked about twenty but exuded maturity. He appeared handsome and cool, obviously muscular and rugged, portraying a tough and resilient aura.
He also radiated a wild energy beneath his civilized appearance. His irresistible charm was both beastly yet approachable, full of masculine hormones.
Their first impression was that this man truly fit the Mercedes G-Class rugged SUV image.
After a brief discussion, they found that Linton and Mira had done detailed homework on the G-Class and were increasingly satisfied.
The meeting ended quickly, and Linton and Mira left.
...
Once they were gone, Will asked, "What do you think?"
Jack thought for a moment, "I feel he's the better choice for the G-Class spokesperson."
Will nodded, "I agree with you. From charisma to image, Linton aligns perfectly with the G-Class."
Will decided, "Let's begin the full evaluation for Linton's endorsement and aim for results by February."
...
Linton and Mira got into the Rolls-Royce.
"How do you think it went?" he asked Mira.
Mira pondered, "I think they were quite satisfied with you."
"I feel the same. I estimate our chances of a deal are over 50%."
Actually, since reaching the Radiant Core stage, Linton usually kept a low profile with a gentle demeanor. But today, he emphasized a rugged, wild side and subtly showed some of his supernatural charisma, which seemed to have a good effect.
Mira reminded him, "They'll conduct strict assessments. No scandals during this time. Also, negotiations for Armani menswear and Timex watches are at a critical stage. The Grammy awards PR team is going all out."
"Don't worry. When have I ever had a scandal?" Linton mentally added that rumors didn't count as scandals.
"Also, I suggest you buy a Mercedes G-Class soon and use it regularly to show sincerity to Mercedes-Benz."
"Good idea. Let's head to the dealership now. The estate needs more vehicles anyway."
The three went to the dealership and spent $130,000 on a fully loaded black Mercedes G-Class.
*****
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