Was listening to one of my favorite bands today, Mana. Would never have heard this on the radio. Thank God for Internet. When you think of Mana, think Sting in Spanish. Why do people let language barriers get in the way of enjoying outstanding music? Some of the best musicianship in the world, especially drums and guitar, is on Mana’s work.
When I was a boy, there was a song, “Sukiyaki,” by Kyu Sakamoto; "Ue o muite arukō" (上を向いて歩こう "[I] shall walk looking up") per Wikipedia, in Japanese. Had no idea what he was singing about, but it went to #1, I believe, and sold 13-million. Sakamoto probably got 10 cents per million on that. That was James Bond money in 1963 ($130,000).
Okay, time to mention Disney. Yes, there’s a Disneyland in Paris. Yes, they speak French there. Don’t know if Disney has television shows there, but they do in Japan, where they also have a Disneyland. Even Radio Disney. According to Wikipedia, “Internationally, Radio Disney can be heard in Australia, Chile, Japan, Poland, Argentina, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. It plans to broadcast in the Philippines, Sweden, Mexico and Brazil in the near future.” Is Warner Bros. or Sony doing this? Hollywood Records – Japan? Not yet – what is wrong with Disney?
If Disney can operate in all these countries, think of the international Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus they have to dump on this nation! They may have missed Taylor Swift, but I’m sure someplace like Sweden has another one waiting for Disney to discover.
Disney has already prepped tweens for accepting these international stars and help take more of mom and dad’s money. You didn’t see the Disney Games? There was an international flair for a reason.
Don’t wait for Disney, though. Start exploring. Did you know there’s a Launch music (Yahoo) in almost every country?
Now, if Disney were more brilliant, they’d have something like the “incubator” for international talent on Radio Disney – throughout the world!
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