Ok so... my game does not start after the lattest update. It just shows the cover art forever after I choose the MC's and group's name.
but other than that, here goes some suggestions I have after playing the game for months now:
ALBUMS and Music Videos (c'mon, everyone wants this simply because it can't be a music industry sim game without it, so I'm just going to lay down some must-have features for this)
The MC should be able to write all or just some of the songs for the album or hire a team of producers to do it partially or completely. The MC must be able to choose from unknown writers/producers to worldwide famous teams which would determine both the quality and budget of the project.
The MC should be able to decide how long the album takes to be finished and that will also affect its quality.
During the album production period, many random events should take place and they can also affect the album quality or even increase the amount of time the project takes to be finished resulting in the delay of the release.
Like, 'idol-A' fights with 'idol-B' over line distribution or 'idol showing late for recording' or 'idol is sick and can't record' or even songs leaking online.
Also, albums should have a cooldown period and the possibility to release Repackaged (re-release) albums with a new title track and a couple of new songs.
Fans should demand albums to be released if they feel like it has been too long since the groups latest comeback and if that happens, you would have to work a project with a deadline, suffering the loss of fans or sales impact if the album gets postponed by random events.
MC should be able to decide whether the project is a full-length album (10-15 tracks), a mini-album (4-6 tracks), a Remix album (10-15 tracks), or a Greatest Hits album (up to 25 tracks).
It should also be possible to use unreleased songs and singles that weren't on past albums on an album currently in development (that would help if you're short on money for the production or simply want to save some).
Once the album is ready, it should be possible to send it back to production if you don't like the end result (quality) at the cost of idols mental and physical stamina. This is also a cool feature because if the quality is low because of fights between the idols or idols being irresponsible during the production period, that could even generate more drama between the members and if it gets really bad, the quality may even be lower than the first time urging the player to solve the situation as fast as they can.
The player should be able to release up to 3 singles from each album and all 3 can have their own music video.
During album production, the MC should be able to buy songs from other artists/companies to complete the album faster.
The MC can also be approached by famous or washed up music producers claiming they have the next #1 smash hit and they want to sell it to the company on the condition that the song is released as one of the singles from the groups next album. Those would be contract singles that can randomly do well or not so much in the charts, they could generate random events both negative or positive such as plagiarism claims or subliminal messages in the lyrics or be deemed Genius Lyrics or Song of The Year. Nonetheless, the player can't proceed to another album or single production before releasing the contracted single as the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd single from the current album. These songs would also be sold for really cheap prices in comparison with the ones the player can buy ready but would have a much higher royalty % for the original producer.
Music Video production can be easy, you just have to pick the theme, the budget, director and production company and location for the shoot which can be in any country affecting the budget for the video. Random events should also be connected to the MVs production.
Companies and Brands should offer sponsor deals related to music videos so they can pay for half of the production budget in exchange for having their products promoted on the MV.
ABOUT RANDOM EVENTS:
Then again, not all random events in this should be negative. We can have some things like, 'idol-A' really improved her vocal skills and that showed in the latest recording session. Album gets x.x% bonus quality points.' or for MVs 'idol-B showed up for shooting with a very nice energy that affected all members and the crew. MV gets x.x% bonus quality points' or even 'idol-C showcased her dancing skills during the shooting resulting in amazing takes from the dance scene. x.x% bonus quality points'.
Even though that, more serious negative events not related to idols relationships could also take place like 'during the shoot of a stunt scene, idol-c injured her leg, shooting had to be postphoned. -x% quality for MV.
EXTRA FEATURE: (since I know this is based on the Japanese Idol Industry, I'm not sure if this one really applies but, anyway I just think it would be a nice feature)
Idols may develop artistic traits and work on original music, the player then would decide if they are using it or not. Maybe idols with artistic traits could have WISHES of having one or more self-composed songs on albums. The Idol's original songs could have their quality based on their abilities so if you think the songs isn't good enough, you can politely tell the idol she should work harder and that can have a negative or positive turn out in your relationship with the idol depending on the idol's personality traits.
If the idol's song is good but doesn't fit the concept you're going for or you just don't want to share royalties with them you can refuse to use the songs also at a risk of impacting the relationship with the idol or only inciting them to want to end their contracts earlier because of lack of creative freedom.