J1 is a 24-hour-a-day internet radio station that plays popular music from Japan.
During the week, J1 operates on a Top-40 format focusing on newer songs with the
current top-40 songs being in a heavier rotation. On the weekends, J1 will present
"retro" JPOP from the entire 2000 decade from a library of over 5,000 tracks.
At times, special programming will also be broadcast on the weekends.
J1 also maintains a Top 40 music chart which is based on the music charts from local
radio stations in different regions of Japan.
Unlike FM radio stations in Japan, J1's playlist is at least 95% from Japanese artists
with the remaining from non-Japanese artists but with Asian influence or major popularity.
Unlike other internet "JPOP" radio stations, J1 does not dwell on the anime aspect
of the genre. While anime music is important to the format and J1 does play songs that
appeared in anime series, it is not our focus.
J1 is operated by REC Networks, which for the past 10 years, has been broadcasting
Japanese music on various outlets including the former Anime Hardcore Radio stations.
J1 started in the Spring of 2001 under the name Hardcore J. In the Summer of 2009,
Hardcore J was renamed to J1 (or J1FM). This name change was done to allow us to
stand up to the major stations and networks in Japan and other parts of the world.
J1 is currently broadcasting from Tempe, Arizona. We anticipate a studio move sometime
in 2010 to a location to be determined.
Over 50% of our total listening hours (TLH) come from the United States and Canada with
over 30% of our TLH coming from listeners in Japan. The remaining 20% comes from many
places around the world including significant listening from Singapore, Malaysia,
The Philippines, Latin America and throughout Europe.
J1 operates through Live365, a popular online
music streaming service. Through this Live365 arrangement, J1 is covered where it comes
to licensing through Sound Exchange, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Japanese artists, composers
and songwriters are supported through reciprocal agreements between ASCAP and JASRAC.