Asahi.com reported about the computer generated "star" Hatsume Miku. This computer generated sensation first hit Japan in the summer of 2007. Since then I have seen some amazing promotions using her. She even has her own concerts! Thousands of fans in the audience dancing and singing to her projection on a stage.
"She" is pretty amazing in concert by the way:
Love the creation of this type of content and the advertising opportunities that surround her. She now has her own radio spot. Moving from the internet to more traditional media. Nicely done:
Asahi.com reported:
After a meteoric ascent to stardom through the Internet, Hatsune Miku, the computer-generated virtual singing idol, is reaching more fans via a traditional medium: radio.
Hatsune Miku's voice is now heard every Saturday from 10:15 p.m. on the Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) Radio 1 service.
The music program has two main features: Requests from listeners for songs popular on Internet music channels, and original songs composed by listeners that are sung by Hatsune Miku.
As many cover songs released on the Internet by amateur musicians have not received copyright clearances, NHK first contacts the composers for permission to play the fan versions.
Hatsune, a computer-generated anime character with synthesized voice, or vocaloid, emerged into the spotlight in summer 2007. She was created as the human face for a synthesizing software application developed and marketed by Sapporo-based designer Crypton Future Media Inc. The software is based on the Vocaloid 2 voice-synthesizing technology developed by Yamaha Corp.
Users install the software and then input their own musical compositions and lyrics, which are performed virtually by Hatsune Miku on their computers.
According to her official profile, Hatsune is 16 years old, stands 158 centimeters and is at her best when performing pop and dance tunes at anywhere from 70 to 150 beats per minute. Her voice was synthesized from the real voice of anime actress Saki Fujita.
In a business where sales of 1,000 copies of a music synthesizing software is considered a success, the Hatsune Miku software is a phenomenal megahit, selling 60,000 copies to date.
The video-sharing website Nico Nico Douga lists more than 20,000 tunes created by amateur musicians for Hatsune, and CDs that feature some of those songs have claimed the top spot twice on a weekly music hit chart.
Moreover, a videogame in which Hatsune shows off her dancing skills, developed and marketed by Sega Corp., has sold a total 600,000 copies. Live performances with real musicians alongside images of Hatsune, the latest held in March, have drawn thousands of fans.
Akihiko Hashiura, a producer at NHK who oversees the radio program, said the virtual idol has "become a music genre unto itself."
Her performances have introduced fans to electronica and trance music, he added.
Vocaloid songs have also become a standard feature in karaoke rankings and CD rankings tracked by the industry.
At a preview event for the launch of the radio program, some participants even suggested that Hatsune Miku should be invited to appear on the annual year-end Kohaku Utagassen (Red-white song battle), a massive song contest televised each New Year's Eve on NHK.
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