TOKYOPOP Announces New Music Label

TOKYOPOP has announced a partnership with Digital Rights Agency, “the leading worldwide digital music distributor,” to launch TOKYOPOP Music. The label premiered with 3 albums, now available from I-tunes and other digital music retailers:

Drift 2 Die is a mix of electronica and hip hop from the American Initial D soundtrack, produced by b_nCHANt_d and D.J. Milky.

Anime Trax Volume One is a collection of American music tracks by D.J. Milky and b_nCHANt_d from “hot anime properties” including GTO, Rave Master, and Princess Ai.

Beats 4 Riderz features hip-hop music from Street Fury, Initial D and various other properties. Music produced by D.J. Milky and b_nCHANt_d.

“There is a rising thirst amongst fans to access this niche music category and now TOKYOPOP is the exclusive company to quench that thirst,” says TOKYOPOP music supervisor Ben Chan. “We have plans to release more than 20 albums per year featuring the coolest music from Asia and we feel that DRA’s excellent technology platform, worldwide reach and marketing expertise will serve TOKYOPOP Music very well.”

“In line with its expansion into a fully integrated media entertainment company focused on the ‘manga lifestyle’,” TOKYOPOP CEO and CCO Stu Levy says, “The launch of TOKYOPOP Music marks the beginning of our move into the music space… In the near future, TOKYOPOP will be producing anime and manga soundtracks, mangapods (audio books), ringtones, manga podcasts, and much more. We are currently considering building a satellite radio manga channel.”