If great efforts and money were not spent on promoting a new album, the sales volume was often very meager. Modern show business was deeply intertwined with the Internet.
I made an announcement on my blog, and my numerous subscribers, already numbering 6.6 million, enthusiastically supported me.
Heather had previously entrusted the promotion of the album to a young and promising company, McClellan & Johnson from Metropolis. However, I had wanted to continue working with the advertising company Ad Star from Star City.
After successfully promoting the game Subway Surfers, I expressed a desire to acquire their enterprise but was refused.
They stood their ground, making no concessions. Then, my sweet assistant suggested refusing their services altogether and giving a chance to a new, promising company. If their work satisfied us, we could discuss further cooperation.
Since they were a start-up organization, future negotiations would likely go more smoothly. I decided to allocate $10 million to promote the album.
This was my first music publication, and I intended to use it as a springboard to enter show business. Vivian, the director of the studio, had already agreed on the presentation and sales rights for my album with the management of "Saxophone Music."
Saxophone Music was the largest music site in the country and abroad, widely used by countless people. However, like any major platform, they required 50% of the profits.
Recording and advertising an album costs a significant amount of money, so without impressive sales numbers, the artist cannot even cover the costs.
"Mister Alex, what should we do about CD sales?" asked Vivian, wanting to know what to focus on. Despite living in the digital age, many people still preferred physical copies.
Initially, I wanted to release the album on both CDs and USB sticks, with the number of copies determined by fan preferences.
"Does our studio have the capacity to produce CDs?"
"I'm afraid we don't have enough resources," Vivian admitted in a slightly tense voice. "We'll also need more people."
"Explain in more detail."
"The studio requires at least $2 million for operating expenses and about ten additional specialists."
"Okay, here's the plan. Find the right people and send me their resumes. Oh, by the way, how's our website doing?"
The recording studio, Alritex Records, had officially launched its website, where fans could order the physical album.
"Everything is going smoothly! Despite no official announcements yet, people have already started subscribing. I believe they are loyal fans of your work."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Today, my album "Mariage d'amour" was presented on Saxophone Music and officially went on sale.
The work on this album lasted more than three weeks. It was undoubtedly a significant project, not just for me but for Alritex Entertainment's recording studio.
The success of the sales would greatly influence my standing in pop music circles. After all, I was still an unknown pianist who recently gained popularity through stunning self-composed pieces.
My talents were undeniable. By the time the album launched, my video for the musical composition "River Flows in You" had already amassed 737.5 million views and 7 million likes. The video where I performed five compositions at once was watched by 560 million people and received 9 million likes.
[A/N: Based on YouTube trends, these numbers are fairly normal. Given that the population is double here, this is even more realistic.]
Thus, many people in the entertainment industry, both openly and secretly, were watching the online sales of "Mariage d'amour." They wanted to see the outcome.
Having debuted recently and only on YouTube, I had not participated in events, starred in advertisements, or held fan meetings. I remained quiet and unremarkable.
By celebrity standards, I was a wallflower. Could one rely solely on talent and still achieve fame under these circumstances?
We'd find out soon. According to the agreement between Alritex Records and Saxophone Music, the album would only be sold as a complete package, not as individual songs. While the average price of a 10-song album was $10, my piano-based edition was priced at just $5.
Additionally, the American Recording Industry Association assigns different statuses—gold, platinum, and diamond—based on album sales.
A gold disc is awarded when sales exceed 1.5 million in the States. Platinum discs, a symbol of recognition and success, require 3 million sales. The most coveted prize, the Diamond Disc, is reserved for 30 million albums sold.
At the studio, everyone held their breath as they monitored sales.
In online sales, it is often said that the first three days—or 72 hours—are the most critical. These initial hours generally determine whether an album's sales will be low, medium, or high.
Of course, this isn't always reliable. People are unpredictable. Strong advertising may boost initial sales, but if the album fails to meet expectations, negative reviews can destroy its future.
Conversely, music that inspires love can thrive through word-of-mouth marketing.
When I arrived at the studio the next day, I was greeted by the entire team.
Even Sir Maxwell, Madame Alexandra, Vicky, Barbara, and Heather were present.
"Did I miss something?" I asked, confused.
The next moment, everyone erupted into joyous applause.
"Alex, it's a victory!" Alexandra exclaimed enthusiastically. "Your album has achieved record-breaking sales!"
Mrs. Harris was so delighted, it was as though she had released the album herself.
When I looked at the elderly woman, whose eyes sparkled with genuine happiness, I felt an odd sense of parental warmth—a feeling I had long forgotten.
It's truly sad not to know your own family, or even who you were. Yet, when surrounded by such unwavering support, it's difficult to feel indifferent.
I hadn't monitored sales progress, deliberately choosing not to stress over it. But now, sitting at the computer, I opened Saxophone Music's weekly top-sellers list.
To my amazement, my album ranked first!
And this was despite it containing only piano melodies—no lyrics, just music.
Within 24 hours of its release, 803,232 copies had already been sold. This exceeded even the highest expectations.
Seeing these numbers, I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.
Even though I had been confident of success, I couldn't help but feel immense joy. After all, who wouldn't be thrilled with such results?
"Everyone's been waiting for you," Sir Maxwell said with a hearty laugh. "We're here to congratulate you on your first major success in the music industry."
"Thank you, I'm deeply honored," I replied with a genuine smile.
Over 800,000 purchases on the first day!
This result was nothing short of incredible.
If North American sales alone exceeded 20 million, global numbers would be even higher.
Typically, final sales results for albums are assessed after a year. I couldn't wait to see the eventual outcome.
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