VIZ Media Releases The Third Annual Shojo Beat Music Awards Issue, February 2008

Featuring A Reader's Choice Vote And Exciting Contest In Partnership With MYX!

San Francisco, CA, January 24, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its Third Annual SHOJO BEAT Music Awards Issue features a reader's choice vote and a new, exclusive contest in conjunction with MYX, the first and only music lifestyle channel focused on the Asian American market. The February issue, on sale at retail outlets now, offers a host of new surprises and exciting editorial content sure to delight even the most discriminating fan.

The February 2008 issue of SHOJO BEAT, rated T+ for Older Teens, celebrates the best in Japanese music with a beginner's guide to Japanese bands, a Tokyo record store's top 10 and two music-themed Hot Lists in addition to the featured awards. For the Music Awards, SHOJO BEAT takes a look at previous up-and-comers in the awards competition as well as this year's newest and most talented artists. In the Best Pop Artist or Group category, artists include: Budo Grape, Puffy AmiYumi, Swinging Popsicle and HALCALI. In the Best Rock Artist or Group category, artists include: L'Arc~en~Ciel, AN CAFÉ, ROCKET K and DOGG BONE. There is also a new category for Music Videos made possible by the folks at MYX.

SHOJO BEAT readers who vote for their favorite music will be entered into a random drawing for one of 15 cool prizes. Prizes include 100 song downloads on JapanFiles.com, and the latest edition of Dance Dance Revolution, SuperNOVA2 donated by Konami. For more details and Official Rules, visit http://shojobeat.com/music/rules.php

In addition to its help with the Music Video category in the Awards, MYX is also working with SHOJO BEAT this month and allowing readers to get even more into the exciting world of Asian music. The ‘MYX a Music Spot SHOJO BEAT Style' contest promotes a search for creative SHOJO BEAT and J-Music-loving fans to help MYX create a 10-30 second spot to be featured between their regular programming of music videos and Asian-American oriented shows! Participants will simply upload their ideas to the MYX.tv website, MYX and SHOJO BEAT will pick the best concepts, and one lucky grand prize winner will have their concept turned into an actual spot produced by MYX. The grand prize winner will also receive a SHOJO BEAT goodie bag containing a T-shirt and Konami's Dance Dance Revolution game. Each of the three runner-up winners will receive a SHOJO BEAT goodie bag containing a T-shirt and Konami's latest Dance Dance Revolution game. For more details and official rules, visit http://www.shojobeat.com/myx32/.

MYX is also offering an exclusive promotion in conjunction with the SHOJO BEAT music issue on its website (http://myx.tv) where participants can enter to win a new 16gb iPod Touch. Site visitors who join the MYX newsletter are automatically entered in a random drawing to win.

"MYX is committed to raising awareness about some of the hottest musical artists sweeping Asia and we're very excited to partner with SHOJO BEAT for this exciting issue," states Enrique Olives, Director for Business Development of ABS-CBN Global. "The popularity of J-Music among anime and manga fans is widespread and growing and we welcome the opportunity to have so many talented and unique artists featured in this special issue. We encourage readers to vote for their favorite artists and lend support to this growing genre of music."

"Rock and pop music from Japan and other Asian countries has complemented the popularity of anime and manga across North America," says Kristine Givas, Director Advertising & Marketing, VIZ Media. "Many artists lend theme songs to popular anime series and our readers have become avid fans. This issue will explore a range of cutting edge artists and we are pleased to team with MYX to also present several contests and ways that SHOJO BEAT readers can become involved in this musical phenomenon that is quickly gaining domestic momentum."

In addition to extensive and exciting music coverage, the February issue features all the fun stuff that SHOJO BEAT is known for-- dramatic, cathartic, romantic and fantastic shojo manga: Monkey High! preview, plus the exciting continuation of serialized titles Absolute Boyfriend, Crimson Hero, Vampire Knight, Honey and Clover, Haruka and Sand Chronicles. The fresh Japanese infused lifestyle editorial, along with the incredible addiction of the shojo manga titles has helped this unique magazine increase its circulation over 57% percent since launching in June 2005 and shows no signs of slowing its growth as the appeal of manga for girls and Japanese pop culture continues to rise.

About MYX
Launched in April 2007, MYX is the first and only music lifestyle channel focused on the Asian American community and a broader audience hungry for music fusion. A nationally-distributed premium television channel, MYX targets the 15 to 34 demographic. MYX fuses mainstream hits, the biggest jams from Asia and a healthy dose of independent music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Based in Redwood City, Calif., MYX is developed by ABS-CBN Global, a media company with a 15-year track record in successful ethnic programming in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.myx.tv.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.