Hello fellow music otaku! I think it's about time to give another update on what's been happening to Keiichi.net Radio over the last several weeks, and what will happen in the weeks ahead.

As many of you are well aware, we've seen an increase in listenership over the last couple of months, thanks in part to some advertising that we've been doing. Whether you're a newcomer or a "seasoned veteran", we thank you for making Keiichi.net Radio your number one destination for the latest, greatest and finest in Anime and J-Pop music.

Keiichi-san founded Keiichi.net Radio back in 2001 with one purpose: to share the love of the music of the Japanese culture - particularly the latest tunes and music from numerous Anime titles, Japanese movies and video games - with the world. We have certainly lived up to our billing, from the early days in Live365 to the present Shoutcast setup.

On August 15, Keiichi.net Radio's main server suffered a catastrophic software and hardware failure, which brought the entire station offline. As a result, some of the data on that main server, including show archives, is now lost and irrecoverable.

The number one rule in computing, of course, is to back up your work - whether it's saving a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet, progress in a video game, or an entire music library. We've done just that: a majority of Keiichi.net Radio's music is safe on the backup server. This server unfortunately does not include any of Keiichi.net Radio's most recent station additions (added after May 2010), but most of the tunes that you've come to know and love are still readily accessible.

Keiichi.net Radio has come a long way, from a small 300-song rotation to a giant library of thousands of tracks. As a staff member of the station for all but its first year, I feel that it is my responsibility to ensure that the radio station that we all love continues to operate for everyone that wants to listen to it.

To that end, I am announcing today that I have accepted Kei's offer to take over station operations. In the next several weeks, I will assume the role of Station Manager of Keiichi.net Radio.

I consider myself honored to be affiliated with Keiichi.net Radio, ever since stumbling upon it in October of 2002 when trying to search for music from my (Sailor) Moonie Obsession. Keiichi.net Radio helped enhance my perception and love of the Japanese culture - it still does. I am sure it has done the same for many listeners such as you.

I might not be like many other Anime fans out there, but my love of the Japanese culture is unwavering. That is why I have accepted Kei's offer to run the radio station. I will try to keep this station moving forward during whatever spare time I have available. Yes, I have a steady job and I'm trying to make a living. I'm going to try this out and see what I'm able to do. If I find it doesn't work out for me, I'll pass the baton to someone else... but I'm a guy who enjoys taking on challenges. I'm betting that it will work and that all of you will be able to continue enjoying Extreme Anime Radio.

On the heels of this announcement come a few others:

Keiichi-san will remain on board with the station that he created, albeit in a reduced role. He will continue to be the station webmaster, hosting and maintaining the KNR family of websites: animeradio.net and jrhorse.info. He will also provide technical support for the station if I need it (and I probably will at some point).

Keiichi.net Radio will continue to operate on the backup server for several more weeks, as there is one thing that I have to get out of the way - my planned vacation which I will take later this month. Once I return from that trip at the end of September, we will begin the transfer of operations - equipment and music included - from KNR's current home in Texas to its new home in New York City. Once the transfer is complete, you will once again be able to request music through the website.

Keiichi.net Radio would not be the way it is without the recognition and thanks of every individual that has directly helped in its growth and development. There are many of you that I would like to thank, most of whom Kei has touched upon in his message from earlier. However, there are a few individuals in particular that I would like to recognize:

My parents. They have put up with my obsession of the Japanese culture since I was a child, and especially over the last eight years that I have been involved with Keiichi.net Radio. I thank them very much for their support as I continue something that I love to do.

Warren Fernandez, aka DJ Jinnai. When I first started listening to Keiichi.net Radio back in the days of Live365, I'd frequent a show on Fridays called Keiichi.net Remix (the predecessor to Reload). Many of the songs that came up for airplay during that show were remixes by Jinnai. Jinnai is a wonderful DJ that is able to take modern Japanese music and give it a unique essence and imagination. He is a major reason why I've supported Keiichi.net Radio, and he's now moved on to bigger and better things. I thank Jinnai and hope I can keep supporting him in the future.

Chibi Britt Myer. I first came across Britt several years ago when the station hosted a Karaoke contest. I knew she had so much potential when she blew the entire field away. She's used her time and talents on the station - hosting the J-Rock show, co-hosting Keiichi.net Request, and yes, singing - as a springboard for something higher. I'm proud to say she's accomplished just that, as an English voiceover artist for a Japanese computer simulation game. I've been very impressed with her skills and dedication. I salute her for work on the station and for continuing the pursuit of her dream.

Someone more recent that I've started to work with, on Kei's own recommendation: Kara, the woman behind ConScrew and the Side Project mascot, Sarah Yoshida. She and I have had a great working relationship for over two years, and I hope to continue working with her as we continue to spread the word about Extreme Anime Radio.

Some individuals that Kei has not mentioned: the people behind Rizon and SWCast that have helped promote the station in recent years through chatroom and licensing, respectively.

Finally, I salute Michael Morris himself. He won't be going away completely, but without his vision and dedication over the last nine years, you would not be enjoying great Anime and J-Pop music right now. Please join me in thanking him for creating a wonderful service to us, the dedicated army of Anime fans and Japanese Otaku.

Of course, Keiichi.net Radio could not grow and develop without the support and feedback of you, our listeners. So to you listeners, as well as the others that I have worked with and conversed with for many years - Mako-chan, Tohru and Duckie, that includes you - Thanks again for making Keiichi.net Radio your destination for great anime and j-pop music. I hope, with everyone's support, it remains that way.

Jordan Martin (Merrihop) has been assigned by Keiichi-san as new Community Relations director for Keiichi.net Radio and will be in charge of overseeing the Chatroom for the foreseeable future. She has been a loyal KNR listener for almost as long as I've been involved with it. Please welcome her as she assumes this role.

As the station manager I will also be responsible for all financial activities related to Keiichi.net Radio. I will be monitoring the status of donations and ELS subscriptions and may adjust the amount of listener slots available on the station based on those donations and subscriptions. More details on that will follow.

The status of most of our shows on Keiichi.net Radio is still in question. I would like to thank DJ Allvah, who has informed me that he is interested in continuing Analog on Tuesday evenings after the station is back up and running.

Well this has been a very long note to you all. I would very much welcome any comments that you may have about the station, and your suggestions on the station going forward. Please e-mail me at jrsideproject@aol.com or call the KNR hotline at 34-ROCKS-KNR.

We only live life once... and all we can do is to move forward. With everyone's support and prayers, your Anime and J-Pop Radio Station will continue to blossom for new legions of Anime fans... as well as for old guys like myself.

Jose I. Ramos (JRHorse)
Interim Station Manager, Keiichi.net Radio
New York, NY
September 8, 2010

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Keiichi-san's Original Message from September 2

Staff Changes and Leavings
Well, I have been thinking about how to word this over the past few days, and I guess the straight forward way is the best way to handle this. As of Sept 02, 2010, I will be stepping down as station manager and retiring from Keiichi.net Radio. It's been one HELL of a run for me, and I appreciate everything that everyone has done, but nine and a half years is quite a long time, and I just need a break from everything. We are currently looking for a new station manager, but with this change, it means that Jose Ramos [JRHorse] will be filling in as Interim Station Manager until a replacement can be found for me. I will continue to work with the station on a purely consultant basis, and as a DJ At Large. We will try to do one more Request show on Wed, Sept 08, 2010, but that depends on how recovery of the station goes.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this station what it has become! We've had some fantastic staffers including JRHorse, Enya, Yuki, Celes, Jinnai, ChibiBritt, Policho, Allvah, and many others who helped so much, simply because they believed in the same vision that I did. We've also had some FANTASTIC listeners who have stuck with us through all of best and worst. While I can't name you all, there are quite a few that need mentioning since you guys were always willing to step in and help a new person, or just be a friend to that random Anime fan on the other side of the wired. So thanks to all of you, including Kaldeth, Merrihop, Coraphise/Cora, NefCanuck, Junji, Odie, Roy, Char, Tohru-chan, Latino, and so many others. We have some of the best, most awesome listeners on the net, and I really mean that... you guys are a great bunch. And yes, even you Remmy.. =)

Finally, we have made one addition to the Station Staff, and welcome Jordan Martin [Merrihop] as our Community and Imaging Manger. She will work with JR to help shape the image of the station over the time to come, so we are quite happy to have her on board.

Main Server Still Offline
We are still trying to find a recovery method for our main server. Unfortunately, we needed our backup server for the AnimeFEST Anime Convention, so this weekend we will be in SUPER BACKUP mode. Requests are offline for the time until Monday when can return to our normal backup.

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Well, that's it everyone. Thanks to everyone who has ever listened to the station. KNR has become more then I ever dreamed it would when I started this little station nearly ten years ago as a way for far off friends to be able to hear the Anime music that we had access to in Texas. And it can only continue to grow and flourish, no matter who leads her into a new tomorrow. Thanks again everyone, and I hope the best for everyone and to keep enjoying the music, since it is truly a wonderful thing. =)

~k1
a.k.a Michael "Keiichi" Morris
Former Station Manager
Keiichi.net Radio