On January $1,2024,$ Hugh Morris Comedy Club $($HMCC$)$ granted $1\mathrm{.}5$ million stock options to key executives exercisable for $1\mathrm{.}5$ million shares of the company$$s common stock at $$24$ per share. The stock options are intended as compensation for the next three years. The options are exercisable within a four$-$year period beginning January $1,2027,$ by the executives still in the employ of the company. No options were terminated during $2024.$ The market price of the common stock was $$28$ per share at the date of the grant. HMCC estimated the fair value of the options at $$12$ each. One percent of the options are forfeited during $2025$ due to executive turnover.

What amount should HMCC record as compensation expense for the year ended December $31,2025,$ assuming HMCC chooses the option to record forfeitures as they actually occur?