This phenomena is something I really don't understand. I think the technology behind it is interesting, the holographic projection aspect anyway, but I don't understand the intense fascination with a fake idol. The singing is all computer generated, too, right? Why do people care more about a fake creation than real, talented singers?

@Kris

It takes a lot of talent to use Vocaloid. And it also takes a lot of talent to actually come up with a song in the first place that you want it to sing, just like if you had a real human singing.

Just because there's no human singing doesn't mean there's not humans behind creating the songs. And it's that talent that many people is fascinated by, just like any other human with great talent.

In other news, Yamaha officially announced the next version of the Vocaloid engine, Vocaloid 3, and going to be released in September.
It's apparently going to be much more realistic, and you can even import voices from Vocaloid 2, and let them get some of the benefits the Vocaloid 3 engine brings.

http://vocaloidotaku.net/index.php?/topic/17506-a-turning-point-in-vocaloid-history/

@Kris

It's not so much that Miku is the main attraction, but that she is more the face of the community of composers and musicians that use Vocaloid software to make their music and sing their songs. It's not always easy to find "real, talented singers" to perform the songs a musician or lyricist creates, and Vocaloids are a solution to that issue.

The result is a kind of positive feedback loop, where folks create songs for Miku, who sings them, which in turn increases her popularity as both character and figurehead for the community, inspiring more users to create, and even inspiring real, talented singers to sing songs originally composed for Vocaloids (cases in point: Nagi and Supercell).

It's an organic phenomenon that wouldn't be possible had Miku been merely been the CG equivalent of a flesh-and-blood idol, whose performances are dictated and managed by her agency, rather than her fans.

I don't think Viz would be in charge of the games. Sega has passed on publishing numerous games in the U.S. that fall into the niche side. Also, Imageepoch has a deal with NISA (actually, it wouldn't surprise me if they made an announcement of some sort at AX), so I'm kind of hoping this is part of that deal.
Although, now I'm a little confused now that Viz has license to the entire name in the U.S., right? Hope that doesn't ruin any future potential plans.

@Kris: I think you just answered your own question. Not being a huge fan myself I think the music is the main draw, but also, she was made to be appealing the way she is. You won't have to worry about seeing Miku snorting coke on stage, like she was Amy Winehouse. The problem I hear from fans about Miku is stuff that usually doesn't involve the character herself, but how she's "handled" by companies and such.
Project Diva is awesome, btw!

I guess as a trained singer I just won't ever understand it. I get the technology, I really do, and it's not unimpressive. I'm just very amazed that computer generated music can create such a MASSIVE following. I don't deny that it takes talent to create digitally like that, but as a lover of musicians who use actual instruments and singers who use such an incredible instrument as their own voice, this isn't something I could ever get into. I have listened to Miku before, and I don't think she sounds that great. Not as bad as that Rebecca Black bullshit, but it SOUNDS mechanical, which is not a sound I'm fond of.

Kris, you don't like Zapp & Roger?! :P
Ah, since it's a Miku post, this.

I'm an ammeter musician, but the best way to see it is sort of like acoustic and electric guitars, I guess? Some compositions sound nice on acoustic while other tune were made to be played on electric. Not entirely true, but that's the idea.

@Kris

But how good it sounds depends on how good the user is. Here is a song where Miku has been tweaked very precisely (the blue curve).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UiYEgBjoKQ

There is an application called Vocalistener, which uses the voice of a real person as a base to tweak the Vocaloid to sound more realistic.
Here is a demo using Miku and Miku Append:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UiYEgBjoKQ

Vocalistener will be bundled with Vocaloid 3 when it's released in September.

While this might not be perfect, I love electronic/techno/trance music. That's probably a factor for why I love Vocaloid, even if they don't sound completely realistic.

I wonder if whoever came up with her is proud of themselves right now.

@Kris

Like I said, it isn't necessarily rooted in people thinking Miku's "voice" sounds good (though obviously that's a significant factor). I think one of the reasons Vocaloids are popular is because of the agency it gives users to basically create a pop star that's to their liking, whose very being is essentially subject to their own preference.

To use a game analogy, think about why Minecraft is popular. Its graphics are terrible and once you get to the logic of it, it's not particularly realistic. But people love it because it's a fun, working sandbox that allows players to create their own stuff and basically play it the way they want to. Just as Minecraft is a toolset, so are Vocaloids.

Miku is just a catalyst for that creativity, and in some cases gives users access to resources they wouldn't otherwise have.

Think of it from your perspective. You're a trained singer, probably a professional. But would you sing any old composition someone handed you off the street? I doubt it. They might have to pay you first, or you could simply think the song sucks. Vocaloids won't do that. Besides the cost of buying the software, Vocaloids don't demand pay or benefits. They'll sing almost anything, even crap songs (which would explain why most Vocaloid compositions are insipid pop fluff).

I'm not saying Miku will replace a real singer, nor should she. But she IS an enabler for artists that might not otherwise get the chance.

don't feel too bad Kris - the software is really cool but the overall phenomenon, I don't fucking get it - and I hope it goes away soon.

Anyone who doesn't like the Vocaloids is going to have to get used to them because they're here to stay. Vocaloids as I like to define them are in a sense the personification of ones dreams, hopes and ambitions come to fruition.

On the flipside I think a lot of naturally talented singers and musicians are wasted performing boring, uninspired music. I put a very high value on creativity and passion for what you're doing, and there's certainly a lot of that going on in the Vocaloid community. If you don't like the music that's fine, that's a matter of preference, but I don't think it's surprising at all how popular it is. And it certainly isn't stopping anyone from making "real" music, so there's room for everyone to be happy here.

As far as Viz getting the license, um, ok? If it slightly improves our chances of getting Project Diva then sure, why not?

@Kris- its not a phenomena to me. If it Miku sounded like shit, (which purely is opinion) I wouldn't listen to her music. When I hear something I like, I listen to it. There's no further theory, meaning, or reason.

What? I can't believe that they actually allowed it, considering the revenue it could pull in.

YESSSSSSSS. I love Miku Hatsune ♥ Not so much the Vocaloid bashing going on in the comments here (seriously, why would you comment on a Miku piece if you don't even like Vocaloids?)

@Kris
Even though I played the shit outta Project Diva (I love rhythm games), I'm going to agree with your stance on the morbid fascination with Miku Hatsune. I can see Vocaloid as being immensely useful as framework, creating a song, notes, and lyrics until an actual singer can be found (ie Supercell), but I too don't understand why people go crazy for the tinny, shrilly voice effects.
And no, this is nothing like Zapp and Roger, because Z&R was a funktastic planetary soul adventure with a talk box, that predicted online dating 15 years before it's conception.

To play Devil's advocate though, so many modern artists today make use of Autotune and give themselves artificial perfect pitch, that the thought of a Virtual Idol isn't so far fetched.

@theseventhl
Having an dignified question about why something is popular =/= Bashing. It's called having a dissenting opinion.