I just realized how much working on Google+ has exposed me to popular culture. Youtube integration exposed me to todays pop music. Celebrity endorsements exposed me to the whole Kardashian thing (which I was blissfully unaware of!).

And now I get to understand how they do things in Japan.

Originally shared by Bradley Horowitz

Here's the big news... We're delighted to welcome the entirety of AKB48 onto Google+...

If you don't know AKB48, you don't live in Japan (or in fact, many other parts of Asia.) They are phenomenon that might be equivalent to the Beatles + American Idol + the Spice Girls + Justin Timberlake... They are a roster of more than 200 hand-selected performers who are the subject of huge media attention, and support from millions of devoted fans.

One of the philosophies around their stardom was to preserve meaningful interaction with, and access to their fans. They used to do "handshake events." As their stardom grew, this method of interaction wasn't scalable... Google+ is going to allow them to reconnect to their fans in an intimate, authentic way.

They'll be using Hangouts on Air to broadcast their concerts... they'll be regularly scheduling Hangouts to interact with their fans. Each of the stars will have their own profile, and AKB48 themselves will have a +Page...

I actually haven't yet heard them, and I'm apparently the only one presently in Japan now who hasn't. I can't yet say if AKB48 is personally for me... But I am thrilled at their adoption of our service, and they're committed to pushing the envelope of what is possible in terms of artist-fan relationship. And that's a plus.

#gplus