To be fair, they were following Juan, if only by a couple of years. I do think it could be argued that Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Tangerine Dream, and Afrika Bambaataa gave birth to Techno, but Juan really was the first mover on what is undeniably techno music in Cybotron. I'd say Techno City is the first techno song that can't be mistaken as electro.
To be fair, his list is pretty much "funk, Moroder and Kraftwerk" despite spewing clear through '98 (and picking up frickin' Derrick May along the way, who has only ever mattered to Detroit DJs). Electronic songs not mentioned by Juan Atkins: ...'cuz when you're a Detroit DJ, anything that was ever played on the radio anywhere on the planet ever clearly wasn't influential.
I doubt that Atkins titled the piece. Based on how narrow it is, and how it includes the B-52's I think this is his personal list of influences at the time, and the author is making it authoritative. I agree about Madonna, Dolby, Springsteen. Also Devo, Pet Shop Boys, Herbie Hancock, Harold Faltermeyer, New Order, Moev, Furious Five, the list goes on and on.