"Sister Zhao, you didn't shed a tear during the first two songs. Why are you crying so bitterly during this one?"
"That line—'Only after being your friend for years did I realize my tears weren't just for you, but for others too'—it just stabs my heart."
In the studio, Zhao Xue was a tearful mess. Wu Zhoutong and Zhang Zhong fared better, their eyes red but their tears held back.
Wu Zhoutong comforted Zhao Xue, "Xiao Zhao, life must go on. We can't change fate's arrangements, but we can learn to release, to reconcile with our past selves, and smile as we move on to the next chapter. After all, life is just a journey of cultivation."
"Brother Wu, I understand," Zhao Xue said, sniffing. She turned to Shen Lang. "Xiao Shen, I can't imagine how many people your song will make cry tonight."
Zhang Zhong chimed in, "I can't even imagine how moving and tear-jerking the remaining six songs will be."
For an album to maintain strong sales over time, it needs more than just a hit single and chart-topping tracks. The other songs must also be at least moderately listenable. The overall quality can't be too disappointing if you want ordinary people to reach for their wallets and buy the cassette tape or CD.
In an era marked by an explosion of musical talent and a surge of album releases, coupled with such a rigorous selection process, the singers who ultimately break through the encirclement are either those with superb singing skills or those with a truly unique style.
In short, a singer and their songs can only be remembered through solid strength and quality.
Every song Shen Lang had chosen could have served as the lead single on an album. One can only imagine the overall strength and quality of the collection.
A sales volume of 100,000?
That might be an underestimate.
The next day was Monday, originally Shen Lang's day off.
But he arrived at the Broadcasting Building early.
Not for overtime, but to record songs in the station's recording studio. Jin Hai had already delivered the accompaniments for three tracks.
By chance, he ran into Director Yang Lin downstairs.
"Xiao Shen, the album's lead single is fantastic! It even made my daughter cry," Yang Lin praised with a smile.
"Director, you flatter me. It's all for the sake of our album," Shen Lang replied earnestly.
You're still smiling? he thought. If your daughter cried listening to "Ten Years," shouldn't you be reflecting...?
"By the way, how's the progress on your end?"
"We've finalized the factory arrangements. As soon as the master tape is ready, we'll send it over. We expect to start distribution by the end of the month."
"Good, good."
Yang Lin asked this partly to report to his superiors.
Shen Lang had negotiated with the factory to use their sales channels. While not as extensive as those of a publishing house or record company, they were sufficient, covering over twenty major cities nationwide.
As they chatted, they reached their floor.
The moment they stepped inside, a staff member called out, "Director, Shen Lang, you're just in time! Yesterday's listenership rates are in!"
"What's the situation?"
"The entire program's listenership has skyrocketed!"
"What about Midnight Melodies?"
"Take a guess."
"Over 20%?"
"More than that! The peak value reached 36%!"
"..."
Astonishing!
This not only revitalized Midnight Melodies but also secured the station's fourth-highest listenership rate.
While fourth place might not sound impressive, it was a remarkable achievement.
The top three spots were claimed during the annual Chinese Pop Chart rankings announcement, driven by countless fans relentlessly boosting listenership to support their favorite singers' songs.
Shen Lang, however, achieved this feat alone, with a single song on a late-night program, making his accomplishment even more extraordinary.
"All your brainstorming and your outstanding musical talent have finally paid off. Keep pushing forward and aim for even greater heights."
"Thank you, Director. I'll head to the recording studio now."
"Go ahead. I've already informed them you're coming."
After dropping off his bag at his workstation, Shen Lang made his way to the station's recording studio.
Recording songs is a crucial step in producing a master tape. Even with a great song and a talented singer, a poor recording can severely diminish the final product.
Therefore, a high-quality recording studio is essential.
First and foremost, hardware is crucial for recording quality, including the recording sound field environment and the recording equipment itself. A professional recording studio typically houses equipment worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. High-quality equipment enhances the quality and impact of recorded songs, resulting in a more polished final product.
At the same time, the technical skills of the sound engineer are equally vital. They must understand acoustics, audio signal flow, mixing techniques, and more. A skilled engineer can properly and clearly capture every sound within the studio, preserving its best state.
In his previous life, Shen Lang was a music teacher who had taken many students to recording studios. He possessed a solid understanding of both equipment and sound engineers.
The studio at the Radio station might not rival the world's top-tier facilities, but it certainly ranked among the first or second tier. It was more than adequate for professional singers to record their songs.
"Waiting for my beloved to return, tears sing for you..."
"Circles, round and round, day after day, year after year, me..."
"That girl told me, said I was a thief..."
Three songs, all recorded in a single day.
During the process, Shen Lang had a profound realization: his singing skill, like his memory, had been enhanced by his time travel.
Why?
For professional singers, official recording sessions typically involve more than just personal practice and contemplation. They also require extensive "studio practice."
This means that before the actual recording begins, singers spend hours rehearsing in the studio. The studio's equipment provides detailed feedback on vocal nuances, ensuring everything is perfect before the official recording starts.
Moreover, besides the singer and sound engineer, one or more music producers are usually present to monitor the recording. Their role is to identify any shortcomings in the performance and ensure the song's emotional core is properly conveyed.
Therefore, recording a single song normally takes at least six to eight hours.
Shen Lang recorded three songs in eight hours—fast, precise, and flawless.
"Thank you for handling the post-production."
"You're welcome. It's my job, and besides, I'm a fan of yours. It's an honor to produce your songs."
Shen Lang hadn't expected the sound engineer to be one of his fans.
This is great.
The post-production would undoubtedly receive extra care.
One-third of the album was complete.
What about a music video?
He'd have to skip it this time to save money. Releasing cassette tapes and CDs without a music video wouldn't matter much anyway, especially since VCDs and DVDs were so expensive.
He could always reshoot and reissue it later when he had more funds.
Meanwhile, at Yanjing Music Radio, the hotline was ringing off the hook again.
Every caller wanted to request Shen Lang's "Ten Years."
Last night's episode of Midnight Melodies had drawn tens of thousands of listeners.
This level of exposure far surpassed conventional methods like posters, flyers, and autograph sessions.