Japan has long adored the compact disc — including 3″ and 5″ singles, rarely seen stateside — a predilection partly sustained by the country’s strong preference for local repertoire and love of limited, collectible releases. However, the writing is on the wall regarding streaming’s ascendence, and Japan will be no exception, though it clearly continues to be an uphill climb for this “new” digital industry. – Andrew Flanagan, Billboard http://ift.tt/2bVgMhY