just wondering what kind of background music you guys are listening to when you study (if you listen to any at all) I've been studying while listening to the albums of this website for months now: http://ocremix.org/ definitely helps me a ton when working through large Anki decks... just click on their "Latest Albums" section and download from there... their FFVII remix is great!

While I usually don't listen to music when I do Anki (I normally work it without sound, or some podcast like Tokyo Local or whatever in the background), if I do, it's just the last.fm j-pop tag radio. It plays 99% japanese music (with the occasional freak, like Utada's english stuff).

I also listen to last.fm whenever I can at school, or I'm driving, or reading something in Japanese... They've got a good Android app, and probably an iPhone app as well.

Anki reviews are generally silent. I'll find myself singing/humming/whistling along and paying too much attention to the songs. Sometimes it affects my results, sometimes not. Regardless, I find it annoying.

If I need something in the background, I'll usually turn on my TV (I'm in Japan, so it's that whole immersion thing...) or turn on some radio station.
http://radiotime.com/region/c_101255/Japan.aspx
Still haven't found a station I particularly like, but if I could find a talk show like they have in the US, I might listen to it more.

I usually use this: http://www.simulradio.jp/

I find I have better luck finding stations that actually stream and play decently. That, or I listen to TV-Japan, depending on what's on.

I haven't been listening to much music while studying recently - usually it's podcasts or shows now. When I do listen to music, it's often instrumental (eg. Joe Satriani, Ratatat, Orbital, etc.), Japanese, or video game music. In fact, I've actually been a big fan of OC ReMixes for like 8 years - glad to see another listener!

I find it easier to study with music so I usually have jpop/anime Shoutcast radio on through Winamp, or KeyholeTV/Freshverse on the news (Boring enough that I won't be distracted, but it's still Japanese). I haven't tried Japanese radio yet though... I've got to try some of the links posted here later. ^-^