The latest addition to the list of Pinoys who gained worlwide popularity because of YouTube is AJ Rafael.

He tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on January 10 that the video-sharing site "is an important part of any artist's career."

The Filipino-American singer adds, "And YouTube is free to watch. So that's the number one thing that I'm using it as a resource."

More than just the "funny and accident videos," the almost-seven-year-old site "has become a source of entertainment, next to TV; some people, as replacement for TV."

For his part, Internet, has been a useful medium to promote his music.

"I was using MySpace a lot, actually, before it died...before it became a graveyard.

"When YouTube came along in 2006, I posted my first video," he related.

To date, the 22 year-old singer/songwriter has over 80, 000, 000 views and 400,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, where he posted his popular original songs "We Could Happen," "Without You," and "When We Say (Juicebox)."

He also has more than 200, 000 fans on Facebook, and almost 100, 000 followers on Twitter.

Aj resumes, "I believe it's the most important tool in my career because, I'm an independent artist, you know..."

He is being managed by Christina Luna under Luna Co, and co-managed by Ken Rose. Both his managers are based in California.

But, "I don't have a major label telling me what to do and like, putting all the resources, money and stuff."

STAYING INDEPENDENT. Getting signed by a record label is "something worth, maybe, exploring."

But it's not his "top priority."

He has been in the independent industry since he was 15, and has been thriving in the what he calls "organic internet revolution."