Billboard Brings Music to Japanese Ears

VNU Business Media's Billboard has partnered with Japanese service provider Hanshin Contents Link to help the media brand bring music and entertainment to Japanese consumers.

The agreement spans live entertainment, publishing, television and radio programs, Web sites, digital products and other marquee music properties.

Hanshin Contents Links is a household name in Japan due to their ownership of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. It will look to Billboard to bring its brand to the company's entertainment and event-planning division.

Hanshin Contents Link will operate Billboard's live clubs in Osaka and Fukuoka as well as a 330-person venue in Tokyo in the summer of 2007.

The Tokyo Midtown Complex will be located in Tokyo's Minato Ward. The club will offer live performances of jazz, pop and classical music.

A new Web site at www.billboard-japan.com is in the works for updated music information, charts, music downloads, CD/DVD merchandise and other music related products.