<p>================================================================<br>
J@pan Inc Magazine Presents:<br>
M U S I C M E D I A W A T C H<br>
Commentary on Japan's music technology news<br>
================================================================</p>
<p> Issue No. 119</p>
<p> Tokyo</p>
<p> ----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>CONTENTS</p>
<p>++ FEATURE: Mixi's Music Features</p>
<p>++ NOTEWORTHY NEWS:<br>
** RIAJ releases sales figures for 2007<br>
** New version of music engine from intermorphic<br>
** Yamaha set to launch Tenori-on in Japan<br>
** Sony releases new Walkman models<br>
** Sony Music partners with Xing for lyric submission service</p>
<p>++ FEATURE: Mixi's Music Features</p>
<p>With over 10 million registered members and 1 million<br>
communities, Mixi has dominated Japan's SNS scene since shortly<br>
after its launch in 2004. The service is invitation-only, and<br>
keeps a record of visitor 'footprints' (page views), allowing<br>
members to see who else has viewed their own pages or journal<br>
entries. Like MySpace in the west, Mixi has proven to be an<br>
effective medium for music and live event promotion, and is now<br>
used regularly as a marketing tool by Japanese musicians, record<br>
labels and promoters.</p>
<p>Most music promotion is done through communities on Mixi devoted<br>
to particular artists, genres or even record labels. Although<br>
Mixi is fairly strict about prohibiting direct promotion within<br>
communities, several enterprising members have found ways to<br>
circumvent the restrictions. One independent promoter I spoke<br>
with says the site has been especially useful for drawing<br>
people's attention to lesser-known foreign artists. </p>
<p>This person frequently invites independent musicians from the<br>
US to play a series of shows in Japan. After setting up a<br>
community on Mixi for the artist, the promoter will post a<br>
message on the pages of larger communities devoted to more<br>
famous artists who share some similarities with the indie<br>
musician. This results in a heavy increase in traffic, and<br>
also - because of the footprint feature - allows the promoter<br>
to see the usernames of all members who visited directly after<br>
the post.</p>
<p>Recently, the major labels in Japan have also been getting in<br>
on the act. On February 20, Sony Music Japan International<br>
released a 16-song compilation CD of 80's music called 'MAX Mixi<br>
Selection', for which Mixi users contributed their ideas and<br>
opinions regarding song selection, jacket art and liner notes.<br>
Sony kicked off the project by setting up a Mixi community<br>
called 'Let's all make a CD!', and managed to attract 1,476<br>
members who contributed ideas for the compilation.</p>
<p>Mixi has also set up its own music service called Mixi Music,<br>
which encourages members to share their playlists and title/<br>
artist info for their recently played songs. Users download a<br>
free application called 'Mixi Station' that is used to upload<br>
the metadata for songs that the users playes in Windows Media<br>
Player or iTunes. The collected data appears on the user's<br>
profile page, and is also used to compile 'Top 10' charts for<br>
various genres.</p>
<p>The music service has come a long way since it was first<br>
introduced in June of 2006. Many users figured out early on<br>
that they could manipulate the rankings by changing the metadata<br>
for a short file and playing it repeatedly throughout the week.<br>
Using this technique, one group was able to get a thousand<br>
year-old Buddhist chant up to #3 on the pop/rock rankings. These<br>
types of problems were quickly fixed, though, and the current<br>
charts appear much more indicative of what members are actually<br>
playing on their PCs.</p>
<p>Mixi has continued to bolster its music service through tie-ups<br>
with a strong set of partners to provide song lyrics, sample<br>
listening and music information. The current offering is an<br>
interesting combination of music recommendation and artist<br>
information features. Competitors MySpace Japan and, more<br>
recently, Nifty Corp. (through its new 'Human Music Community'<br>
SNS) appear to be concentrating more on artist promotion,<br>
providing incentives for independent artists to register.<br>
However, the bigger challenge for these rival music SNS services<br>
will be to attract and retain a Japanese member base that is as<br>
large and loyal as that of Mixi.</p>
<p>-------- Job Fair for International Students & Careers ---------</p>
<p>The JOBFAIR will be held on March 8th in AKIHABARA.<br>
This JOBFAIR is the biggest event for international students<br>
and foreigners who are thinking about a career change in Japan:<br>
50+ companies will attend seeking internationally-minded people!</p>
<p>JOBFAIR participants will have an opportunity<br>
to visit company booths and ask HR about careers.</p>
<p>Some companies may have interviews on the day.<br>
The JOBFAIR provides a great chance to meet many companies and<br>
learn about them what they do and the people they need in a<br>
short period of time.</p>
<p>DATE: March 8th /11:00 - 18:00<br>
PLACE: at AKIHABARA<br>
<a href="http://www.jobfair.jp/jp/JB5001LG.php?j=12&banner_id=rfb00009" title="http://www.jobfair.jp/jp/JB5001LG.php?j=12&banner_id=rfb00009">http://www.jobfair.jp/jp/JB5001LG.php?j=12&banner_id=rfb00009</a><br>
----------------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>++ NOTEWORTHY NEWS</p>
<p>** RIAJ releases sales figures for 2007<br>
In brief: On February 21, the Recording Industry Association of<br>
Japan released its annual sales report for 2007. The sales data<br>
shows a 26% increase in digital downloads over 2006, with a<br>
total of 465 million units sold. Revenues from digital rose 41%<br>
to JPY 75.5 billion (US$700 million). Master ringtones accounted<br>
for nearly half of the total digital downloads, and mobile<br>
downloads comprised over 93% of the total.<br>
Source:<br>
<a href="http://www.riaj.or.jp/release/2008/pr080221.html" title="http://www.riaj.or.jp/release/2008/pr080221.html">http://www.riaj.or.jp/release/2008/pr080221.html</a></p>
<p>** New version of music engine from intermorphic<br>
In brief: On February 12, London-based intermorphic Ltd<br>
announced the release of v1.5 of the noatikl (pronounced 'noh<br>
tickle') generative music engine. The new version of the engine<br>
is able to harmonize and flux around an overall external musical<br>
structure, creating MIDI notes and events which can be used to<br>
drive samplers, synths and FX units.<br>
Source:<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs2">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xs2</a></p>
<p>** Yamaha set to launch Tenori-on in Japan<br>
In brief: Yamaha Corporation has opened a Japanese promotional<br>
website and scheduled a launch event in April for the Tenori-on,<br>
the company's new electronic instrument. The Tenori-on consists<br>
of a handheld screen with a 16x16 grid of LED switches that are<br>
activated by touch to create a musical soundscape. The product<br>
was first launched in London in September 2007 and has a<br>
suggested retail price of US$1,200.<br>
Source:<br>
<a href="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/tenori-on/index.html" title="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/tenori-on/index.html">http://www.yamaha.co.jp/tenori-on/index.html</a></p>
<p>** Sony Music partners with Xing for lyric submission service<br>
In brief: On February 25th, Sony Music began a new service in<br>
partnership with Xing in which users of Xing's Pokemero mobile<br>
music sites can submit their own lyrics. If the lyrics are<br>
selected for use in a song, the writer will receive a royalty<br>
from Sony. The first melody for which lyrics will be accepted is<br>
from a Sony Music J-Pop group called Limelight.<br>
Source:<a href="http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsr">http://winki.co.uk/~0Xsr</a></p>
<p>** Sony releases new Walkman models<br>
In brief: Sony announced last week the release of the NW-A230<br>
Walkman - a new addition to the company's Walkman-A series of<br>
players. The NW-A230 supports video playback and is equipped<br>
with Bluetooth functionality. It is available in 16GB and 8GB<br>
models which will sell for JPY 37,800 (US$350) and JPY 27,800<br>
(US$257) respectively.<br>
Source:<br>
<a href="http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20080220-00000018-rbb-sci" title="http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20080220-00000018-rbb-sci">http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20080220-00000018-rbb-sci</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
PBXL IS HOSTED IP TELEPHONY: TOTAL TELEPHONY SOLUTION</p>
<p>Hate paying for every little change and addition<br>
to your phone system?<br>
Tired of paying for support and costly on-site service?</p>
<p>Take advantage of our complete bundled service with PBXL's<br>
hosted telephony model.<br>
We handle your moves, adds, and changes off-site, and we're<br>
monitoring your system 24/7.</p>
<p>Call our support line or reach us by email any time.<br>
We at PBXL believe you should never be afraid to ask for help.<br>
Call us now: we're always working for you.</p>
<p>For more details / contact us:<br>
<a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/" title="www.pbxl.jp">www.pbxl.jp</a><br>
03-4550-2557<br>
<a href="mailto:info@pbxl.jp">info@pbxl.jp</a><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
------------ Translation/Marketing Service ----------------<br>
The J@pan Inc Translation/Marketing team now offers translation<br>
and marketing services for companies to help them enhance their<br>
performance internationally. Our services include:</p>
<p>- Professional translation<br>
- Catchy copy writing<br>
- Strategic design<br>
- Effective PR<br>
- Direct marketing</p>
<p>Our achievement includes:<br>
- Corporate report translation and desktop publishing<br>
- In-house magazine translation and desktop publishing<br>
- Annual report translation<br>
- Company legal document translation<br>
- Government PR brochure copy writing and design<br>
- DM service targeting senior executives</p>
<p>Please contact at <a href="mailto:sachie.kuroda@japaninc.com">sachie.kuroda@japaninc.com</a> for more details.<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>----------------------------------------------------------<br>
STAFF<br>
Written by: Steve Myers (<a href="mailto:steve@thetamusic.com">steve@thetamusic.com</a>)<br>
Steve Myers is president and chief enthusiast of Theta Music<br>
Technologies, which specializes in the development of<br>
music-related software applications.</p>
<p>SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO MUSIC MEDIA WATCH:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up" title="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up</a><br>
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER JAPAN-SPECIFIC NEWSLETTERS<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters_main_page" title="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters_main_page">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters_main_page</a><br>
ADVERTISING INFORMATION<br>
To advertise in this newsletter, contact:<br>
<a href="mailto:ads@japaninc.com">ads@japaninc.com</a><br>
GET THE MAGAZINE<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions" title="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions</a><br>
FEEDBACK AND PROBLEMS<br>
We welcome your viewpoint:<br>
<a href="mailto:editors@japaninc.com">editors@japaninc.com</a><br>
(NB Please do not reply to this newsletter --<br>
it's outgoing only, so we won't get it!)<br>
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS:<br>
<a href="mailto:webmaster@japaninc.com">webmaster@japaninc.com</a><br>
(C) Copyright 2008 Japan Inc Communications KK.<br>
All Rights Reserved.<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------</p>