85% of all Music Sales in Japan are CDs - Yes in 2014!!

I was just amazed as you may have been reading this. Normally the Japanese are ahead of the technology curve on most things, but it seems there are a number of factors keeping the CD alive and well in this Asian isle. Apparently the digital rights issues have not been worked out quite as well over there as in the US. Two of the biggest music streaming companies, Spotify and Rdio are not yet launched in Japan. That combined with the fact that it seems the culture there really still likes to have a physical souvenir in the shape of a CD case and booklet with their music. Tower Records, the huge music chain that went out of business in the US almost 10 years ago, STILL is alive and well with 85 stores in Japan with annual sales around 500 million. On one hand all this seems very strange to us in the US, however CDs apparently still account for 40 percent of all music sales world wide.

So I guess I'll hang on to my supply of Vincent James "One More Night" CDs and see if there's a way I can get them shipped and sold over in Japan. We are planning a trip there sometime next year so I'll have to find a way to stash of box of CDs for the visit :)

To read more about this very interesting CD phenomena check out the full article in this weeks Forbes Magazine at 85-Percent-of-Music-Sales-in-Japan-are-CDs

I'll leave you today with a fun novelty tune from way back in 1980 when vinyl records still ruled the day. Take a walk back in history with The Vapors and "Turning Japanese":

Have a great nite and will be back tomorrow with another ppppost!

Music, Love & Laughter

~Vincent James @ LoveSongs.com www.Facebook.com/KeepMusicAliveMission

So "HAPPY" Spring is here - "BEST Day of My Life!"

FINALLY, Spring has come but WAIT there's one at least one more snowstorm in our future this week - can you BELIEVE that?? Well I'm not gonna let one more snowstorm get me down - I am HAPPY that Spring is here! And unless you've been living under a HUGE rock the past few months, you've also heard Pharrell Williams song called, you guessed it, "Happy" - you know "Clap along if you feel like a room without a room, cause I'm HAPPPY". The song and lyrics are infectious - once you hear them you won't be able to stop clapping & singing along. First released as part of the "Despicable Me 2" movie, "Happy" was released as a single on November 21st, 2013 and reached #1 on the Billboard chart just 2 weeks ago on March 8th and stayed there for 2 weeks. Now having topped the music charts in 23 countries AND 3 Million copies sold later, "Happy" is still going strong and will probably be with us for a good while longer.

Check out the Official Video for "Happy" right here - even the the Cat'n'Mouse GEICO commercial makes me laugh (although it doesn't end up too well for the mouse, despite the Cat still missing his lunch :))

I know it's Monday and for some we REALLLY don't like Monday's, but hey there's another upbeat song that's bean making the rounds over the past year: "Best Day of My Life" by the band American Authors reached #13 on the Billboard charts and made the Top 40 in 7 different countries (not too shabby ehhhh). "This is gonna be the best day of my LIFE" is a positive proclamation that we should all start our days with - If we did we might find that we're HAPPY a lot more often than not :) Check out the video here for "Best Day of My Life" - The pre-video Lebron/McDonalds Bacon cheeseburger Ad wasn't nearly as funny as the "Happy" cat'n'mouse ad but at least its over in about 15 seconds :)

ALL Robot band from Japan - "Z Machines"

Last on the list for today is something INCREDIBLE - okay well it is really cool at least - Check out this ROBOT (yes ROBOT) band called "Z-machines". This "all-electric" band features a guitarist with 78 fingers and cable dreadlocks, a drummer with 22 arms and last but not least, a keyboard player with green lasers for eyes. Straight from Japan you have to see this to believe it. I wonder if they will be playing love songs anytime soon? Z-Machines-The ALL Robot Band from Japan

Hope you have a Grrrrrreat week and make it past the last snowstorm of the season (we hope!). I'll be back at you with another posting sooner than you can say APRIL FOOLS!

Peace, Love & Laughter

~Vincent James @ LoveSongs.com