Liao Liao's recording suddenly became smooth.

  Before that, she had not been able to complete a recording of "Wildflower" for more than four days in a row. However, after a brief confrontation with Huang Yueqin, she suddenly seemed to have found her feeling. So, on the same day, she completed the recording of three songs: "Wildflower", "Persistence" and "Cheers Friends"!

  The next day, "My Hometown" and "Unfinished Love" completed their recording!

  On the third day in the afternoon, with Cao Tian's new song "Desert" recording completed, Liao Liao's first album recording stage was officially announced to be over!

  Now her album has a total of eleven new songs, plus the single previously released will also be included in the album, so this album will have twelve songs.

  A cassette tape has a recording time of approximately 45 to 60 minutes per side, and can be extended up to 75 minutes if necessary without affecting the reading speed or quality. The theoretical storage time for a CD is also between 60 to 75 minutes.

  So theoretically an album can contain at most 17 to 20 songs.

  But in reality, albums on sale rarely have more than 15 tracks.

  Firstly, in terms of cassette care, although CD sales have been increasing in recent years, cassettes are still the mainstream. However, once a cassette exceeds 60 minutes in length, it inevitably becomes overweight, which has a minimal impact on sound quality but still has some effect.

  Secondly, it is also due to the consideration of production costs. After all, adding one more song will increase a lot of expenses, from lyrics writing, composition, arrangement, accompaniment recording, studio occupation, and then to the increased cost caused by the audible length of the album in the production factory... All these are increasing costs.

  The third is to consider the market sales. Once the cost increases, the pricing will naturally follow suit. Although for favorite singers and songs, listeners may not be too concerned about the increased one or two dollars, but similarly, if you sell an album that is more expensive than other albums by even one dollar, it will affect the consumer's perception, thereby directly affecting sales volume.

  Because in the market sales, the sales figures of iron rods and powder have always been just the basis. For an album to sell well, a movie to sell well, a book to sell well, the most important thing is to find ways to influence the peripheral floating crowd outside of hardcore fans and professionals!

  So, by convention, the number of songs on an album is generally between eight and twelve, with ten songs being the most common.

  But after two days of careful consideration, Liu finally persuaded producer Zhao Mei Feng: her new album would have twelve songs.

  Because the five songs that had been recorded beforehand, as well as the previous single, were definitely going to be included, Li Qian's five songs each and every one was deeply loved by Liao Liao, naturally also being indispensable. As for Cao Yun's "Desert", although its quality did not reach Cao Yun's true height, after all it was a joint effort, let alone that he still wrote the song according to Liao Liao's vocal characteristics, so the song quality could only be said to be above average, yet very suitable for Liao Liao to perform.

  So... everything remains unchanged!

  However, keeping all 12 songs is not a problem, pricing them slightly higher is also not a big issue, but the main song is a big problem!

  According to Liao Liao's idea, it was natural to make "My Hometown" the first main hit and "Persistence" the second main hit, or even "Wildflower". But this idea didn't even get a chance to be presented to Zheng Zong, it was directly killed by Zhao Mei Feng!

  In her words: The second lead single can be "My Hometown in Summer", but the first lead single must be "That Year's Summer"!

  "That Summer", is a song that Liao Liao had recorded earlier, it's an urban love song, but not in the style of Zhou Xun's love songs. It tells a warm and fuzzy story about a relationship that Liao Liao really likes, and Zhao Mei Feng also loves it so much that she thinks this song can help increase Liao Liao's popularity and boost album sales!

  Objectively speaking, if it weren't for those few songs that came later from Jinan, using this song as the first main hit would have been no problem at all. At that time when there were only six songs, even Liao Liao himself thought so, but now with "Zhí Zhuó", "Wildflower" and also some "My Hometown in Love", it's not that she didn't know her goods, just that the goods are comparable, so of course she was a bit reluctant.

  But... after all, Zhao Meifeng was the producer of this album! So in the end, Liao Liao found that it wasn't easy to persuade her, and had no choice but to compromise and agree to follow the publicity plan set by the company earlier.

  Once the two lead songs are confirmed, a few hundred photos that have already been taken will be selected to create a cover and several inner color illustrations for the lyrics page. This part of the album belongs to the producer and the singer, and it's considered done.

  The subsequent pricing, production, packaging, are all things that the company needs to do. The promotion and charting before going public are mainly handled by the company's publicity department. Liao Liao only needs to cooperate with their work, attend some radio music programs and TV variety shows, and then constantly sing songs, give interviews, give interviews...

  Of course, before it is actually delivered to the production workshop, there is one more very important thing.

  That is, an internal audition meeting within the company.

  All singers, producers, high-level managers of Changsheng Records who are based in Beijing, as well as lyricists, composers, arrangers, producers and music critics who have a friendly relationship with the company, and other relevant personnel involved in album production will receive advance notice. If they have time and mood, they can come to the listening room of Changsheng Records to enjoy the new album played on top-notch audio equipment, which is a kind of fresh experience.

  Of course, if the singer is a big shot, no matter whether it's for the purpose of showing support or being genuinely curious and looking forward to the new album, there will be many people attending the listening party. But if it's a newcomer, then obviously, apart from company personnel, don't expect anyone unrelated to show up and offer support.

  Liao Liao is not a big name, although the single she released earlier had good word of mouth, but relying on just one single, it's hard to say that those music critics would be expecting to rush to Changsheng Records to listen.

  Adding those who were busy, adding those who were uninterested, adding those who weren't in Beijing, adding those who didn't bother to come listen... and so on. In the end, there were only about ten people who came to her album listening party.

  Three senior executives led by Zheng Zong, and the company's three artistic directors: Artistic Director Du Xiaoming, Deputy Artistic Director Zhao Meifeng, Deputy Artistic Director and Manager of the Recording Department Sima Jie, as well as two recording engineers, Propaganda and Distribution Department Manager and Deputy Manager, Production Department Deputy Manager Liao Liao, and Huang Wenjuan.

  A professional-grade listening room built with a budget of over one million, the effect is absolutely impressive. But just like how good-sounding music can easily expose its flaws once it's recorded in a studio, the more professional the audio equipment is, the stronger its amplification capability: the advantages are amplified, and the disadvantages are also amplified.

  Just from the sound alone, Liao Liao is very stable and almost flawless.

  But the content of the album, or rather the songs, made the manager and deputy manager of the publicity department whisper to each other.

  The album of over 40 minutes has finished playing. Zheng Zong stood up and said: "Next door meeting room, let's have a meeting."

  Arriving at the conference room, Director Zheng knocked on the table and said: "Everyone speak up, what are your opinions."

  The deputy manager of the production department is just here to make up the numbers, he only needs to take the production plan after the meeting back with him, so he doesn't need to speak. The two recording engineers and Huang Wenjuan are not qualified to attend, so in fact, there are eight people attending this meeting, excluding Liao Liao.

  The deputy manager of the release department spoke first, saying: "The style of this album is still quite uniform, but if I'm not mistaken, there are actually three light rock songs inside... I don't understand music, but I understand the market, so... I suggest that the company use a more conservative strategy to arrange promotion and release, try charting first."

  The manager of the release department nodded, "It's a bit dangerous. In the past, many light rock bands have been beaten to death. However, I think this album still has its highlights, Liao Liao's voice is one, and the two main songs are another. That song 'That Summer' as the first main hit, not bad! As for the release, my views are consistent with Old Zhang's, it's better to be conservative."

  This is the pre-listing meeting, and the issuance and publicity department has a very heavy say. After they finished speaking, an executive nodded directly, "I agree. Let's just follow the bottom line for now? 200,000 tapes, 20,000 CDs, and vinyl... I remember Liao Liao's last single sold well on vinyl, although vinyl won't be around for a few more years, it's almost obsolete, but there is a batch of audiophiles who like this, so I suggest releasing more vinyl... 3,000 copies? What do you think, Director Zheng?

  Zheng nodded and turned his head to look at Art Director Du Xiaoming, "Old Du, what's your take on this?"

  Du Xiaoming habitually touched the braid behind his back, and without caring about how many people were in the conference room, he directly pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. "It's okay! I estimate... getting a gold record shouldn't be a problem. If it gets any higher... when it comes to female singers, I still think Mei Feng is more capable than me! Liao Liao was brought by her, and this album was also produced by her, so let's focus on her ideas!"

  Hearing him say this, Zheng Changsheng's face suddenly looked a bit unsightly.

  He obviously doesn't think highly of this album!

  If it were another female singer under the same label, Zhao Mei Feng would have definitely retorted with a few words. However, at this moment, she felt that even if she did retaliate, she wouldn't be able to come up with any solid reasons - not even she herself thought this album was risk-free!

  Then, when Zheng Changsheng's gaze fell on her, she thought for a moment and said: "Let's mainly look at the two title tracks. I think this album has some standards, how it will be received in the market, I don't dare to say, but the quality of this album itself is definitely solid!"

  Zheng nodded and looked at Sima Jie.

  Simma Jie hesitated for a moment, then said: "Perhaps... the spring of light rock has arrived? Hehe, I think Liao Liao's few light rock songs are quite flavorful! We can't say whether the spring of light rock will come or not, but at least this album, I think it won't be too disappointing. Fifty thousand copies as a bottom line, striving to rush towards the platinum record, isn't entirely hopeless!"

  Zheng Changsheng nodded, then lowered his head to think for a moment before looking up at Liao Liao. "Liao Liao, you tell me, what do you estimate the sales of this album will be like?"

  From the moment she entered the listening room, Liao Liao's face had no expression at all. After entering the conference room, she kept her head down and didn't know what she was thinking about. When Zheng Changsheng called out to her, she raised her head and said stiffly: "I'll listen to the arrangements of the leaders, I'll listen to Director Zheng!"

  Zheng Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this, but he quickly smiled again. After some thought, he said: "Alright then, let's go with Old Zhang's suggestion and take a relatively conservative approach. As for production, we'll follow Liu's plan as mentioned earlier. We aim to release the album in early August. The specific promotional and distribution plans will be handled by the publicity department later on. Let's wish Liao Liao's debut album 'Liao Liao' all the best! Meeting adjourned!"