AOL offering J-POP tunes!!

Anime News Network - Press Release: "New York, NY July 22, 2005 .With the growing popularity of Japanese pop culture in the U.S. in video games, animation (anime), sports, fashion, movies and music, the top-ranked AOL Radio Network today announced the launch of its exclusive Japanese Pop station. The station was added to the roster by popular demand after the successful May launch of AOL Radio's Video Game Scores station, which features original music scores from popular video games, many of which are Japanese.

It's not surprising that the demand for popular Japanese music is so great, said Mike Spinella, a music director for the AOL Radio Network. The influence of Japanese culture is everywhere in U.S. as a result of popular video games and anime; and now we see it in everything from Gwen Stefani's Hirajuku Girl entourage to the popularity of baseball stars such as Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. The AOL Radio audience is extremely music-savvy and always seeking out new genres of music to explore. We're excited to respond to the multiple weekly e-mails we�ve received by offering the Japanese Pop station.

Bringing together Japan's most popular Hip-Hop, Rock and Dance music, the Japanese Pop station features a diverse playlist of hit ,J-POP artists including Hamasaki Ayumi, Utada, Puffy AmiYumi, Yuki, Orange Range, Crystal Kay and many more.

For your listening pleasure...

Mark
The Anime TImes