According to this press release that was issued today, MTV Networks will be releasing a new video service called FLUX for mobile phone. FLUX will feature short video clips, animations, and music videos. This service will be first launched in Japan with a deal with Utada to release a series of music videos designed for mobile phones, a world first. The music for these videos will be from the EXODUS album and will apparently be animated.
Quote:
In addition, FLUX has secured an exclusive partnership with Utada, Japan's
biggest female artist with sales of more than 37 million units, to produce the
world's first mobile music video series. Leading Japanese animator Koji
Morimoto will create shorts in collaboration with FLUX and Utada featuring
music from her acclaimed release Exodus (Island Records/Universal Music
Group).
www.Utada.com has announced the Exodus '04 CD Single!
There are 10 remixed tracks and the Single will be released on June 21, 2005.
Tracklisting:
1. ?Exodus? ? Double J Radio Mix (3:43)
2. Josh Harris? Elektrik Radio (3:26)
3. Josh Harris vs. The MPC Radio (3:43)
4. Josh Harris? Exodus Experience (4:15)
5. ?Exodus? ? Double J Extended Mix (5:56)
6. Peter Bailey Dub (7:43)
7. JJ Flores Dub #1 (5:33)
8. Kriya vs. Velez Progressive Trance Mix (6:34)
9. Kriya vs. Velez Electro House Mix (6:51)
10.JJ Flores Dub #2 (7:12)
According to this job posting at craigslist.com, which was posted May 26th, they are hiring talent for an upcoming Hikaru Utada music video in LA!
Could this upcoming music video be for "Exodus '04"?
UPDATE: It turns out that this was a casting call for a music video for the song "You Make Me Want To Be A Man", NOT "Exodus '04".
As expected, there seems to be another "Exodus '04" release. From djricomixshow.com (end of the page), there is a new Promo CD release this month for "Exodus '04" along with the earlier announced Vinyl single. It is likely that there will be a CD Single release for this song soon (as well as a music video as I will mention in the next news post).
MTV hosted the unveiling of Microsofts new game console, the XBOX 360. Hikki attended this event at The Avalon in Hollywood, CA with her husband. She saw The Killers perform and got to see the new Xbox. There seems to have been some sort of interview with MTV Japan where she said "XBOX 360!" for a promo clip. In her latest blog message she talks about her night. Since she is also spokesperson for the Nintendo DS, there may have been a conflict of interest. In her message she apologizes to Nintendo for being asked to do a spot for the Xbox 360. Utada in Japanese, "Before you watch MTV Japan and are surprised, I'm sorry Nintendo!"
www.Utada.com officially announces that a vinyl record LP single of "Exodus '04" will be released in the US on May 17th, 2005. The LP will include several remixes.
You can preorder your copy now from TowerRecords.com.
[April/25] www.Utada.jp is also updated with this news.
In the April issue of Paper Magazine, Utada is featured as one of the "Beautiful People" of 2005. They define "beautiful people" as "creative talents", not just physical beauty.
Go here to view the article. Click on the image of Utada in the lower right for the article about her.
The article basically sums up her fame in Japan and her history.
There's a new message in English from Hikaru!
[3/14] I just saw "Robots"
First, obviously she has just seen the movie "Robots", but for most of the message she is talking about the experience of the Showcase. There was more people than she had expected, which affected the film footage. She defends her staff from criticism about them during the Showcase.
In a this column in the New York Daily News, the writer tells us about a story that Hikki told at an "Exodus" album release party. She talks about her experiences when she first went to Columbia University, and about how everyone knew who she was and that she couldn't stay in the dorms because of security.
Alloy.com is a teen lifestyle magazine. There is a nice article as a well as a very interesting interview with Hikki!
Read it here
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_1_35/ai_n9474410
^Elton John praises Utada in an interview~~
Quote:
In terms of surprises, there's an interesting girl, Utada, who's a pop star in Japan and who released an album late last year called Exodus [Island]. It's really interesting dance and pop music. She could be the first Japanese recording artist to really make it in the West.
awesomenessss!!! recognition rather than brainless mainstream!! is the way to go
Utada has been nominated for the BEST HOUSE / GARAGE TRACK of 2004 at the International Dance Music Awards. The IDMAs will be hosted at the Winter Music Conference 2005 in Miami.
Vote for Utada HERE (category #5).
Last day to vote is March 11th.
www.Utada.jp has just updated their news with a post-Showcase news flash.
Read the Japanese news here.
www.Utada.com News has now been updated with post-Showcase news. 
For more pictures:
WireImage.com
ISIFA.com
GlobePhotos.com
GettyImages.com
UN Gallery
The setlist was 1."Devil Inside", 2."Hotel Lobby", 3."Exodus '04", 4."Animato", 5."You Make Me Want To Be A Man", [talking], 6."Kremlin Dusk". Cameras were spotted at the event, so a DVD is a possibility. This live was done in a classical lounge theme, with the costuming and atmosphere done in that way. People were free to move about, just hanging out and drinking. The stage was surrounded by giant screens that projected graphics that went with the music, definitely a large and extravagant setup.
[Read more for updates]
The official breakthrough producer of the year Tom Neville has just finished a remix of Utada's "You Make Me Want To Be A Man" for Universal International. Not much information is given about when or where it will be released, but we'll update you when more info is announced.
From http://www.eyeindustries.com/ - Read under 'Tom Neville' in the News
[UPDATE]: Looks like we also forgot to read the rest of the Eye Industries news. Under 'Kurtis Mantronik', it says that "Hotel Lobby" has been remixed and is set to be released.
Hikki has posted a new English message up at www.U3music.com
"A very belated..." - She talks about her Valentines and what shes been up to lately, including preparations for the Showcase and a book on SALT.
You can read the message here.