North West, the 12-year-old daughter of Kanye West, sampled Kikuo's Vocaloid track 'Aishite Aishite Aishite' on her debut EP N0rth4evr, released May 1. Kikuo replied: 'of course it's approved, and welcome even unauthorized.' A close read of why this is structurally unprecedented for Vocaloid in American hip-hop.
Vocaloid producer Rusino's 'Loop the Room (feat. Hatsune Miku)' has topped the Billboard Japan Songs chart in the US while entering the top 10 in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Fueled by a viral TikTok looping trend, the track proves Hatsune Miku's global relevance in 2026 and highlights how deeply Vocaloid culture has penetrated international audiences.
Ado debuted her new song 'Ai Ai A' on YouTube's THE FIRST TAKE on March 16, 2026, with a simultaneous surprise digital release. Written by renowned Vocaloid producer Kikuo, the chaotic carnival-like track features backup vocals from Phantom Siita, the idol group Ado herself produces. With a world tour of 500,000+ fans and a sold-out stadium show ahead, Ado continues her global dominance.
Music Natalie published an in-depth feature on Yorushika's latest work 'Second Person.' Composer n-buna discusses the creative vision behind a 32-envelope epistolary novel paired with a 22-track digital album, while vocalist suis shares her thoughts via a mail interview. With 4.8 million monthly Spotify listeners worldwide, discover why this literary-musical fusion is captivating fans across the globe.
PokeMiku, the Pokémon x Hatsune Miku collaboration, released "Crossroad" by kz and TAKU INOUE on Miku Day, March 9, 2026, with three Nijisanji VTubers on the chorus. Eleven days later, VOLTAGE Live! ran six shows at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY, drew more than 50,000 people, and performed all 27 originals with a live band.
Born from an April Fools' joke in 2008, virtual singer Kasane Teto now boasts 150M+ YouTube views on hit songs. Her long-awaited best compilation album '0401 - The Best Days of Kasane Teto 2026' and the inaugural DJ event TETO SONIC 2026 at Shibuya WOMB mark a new chapter for the eternal 31-year-old icon of Japan's Vocaloid culture.
Hatsune Miku V6, the latest AI-powered vocal synthesis software, launches April 14, 2026. Supporting trilingual singing in Japanese, English, and Chinese, it marks a giant leap in natural vocal expression. Explore the 19-year evolution from the original 2007 Miku to today's AI-driven Vocaloid culture and what it means for the future of music creation.
Hatsune Miku's European tour "MIKU EXPO 2026 EUROPE" is set for November 2026, visiting 7 cities starting from London's The O2. With a steampunk theme and 120 shows across 50 cities worldwide, Japan's virtual singer phenomenon continues to break barriers in global entertainment.