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Kids Music and Digital Downloads: Things Look Different Here -- Spring 2007 NEWS
With mainstream music industry in the seventh year of its decline and experts decrying the demise of the CD, we’ve been wondering what it all means for
children’s music. As CD sales fall for most genres, children’s music is growing by 6 or 7 percent each year, as a Billboard analyst recently noted. Major labels
have finally started to pay attention to this wonderfully free-flowing genre. Still, if you aren’t selling the latest kids’ pop or movie-based sensation, generating
retail sales is tough. One of the largest specialty retail distributors of cool kids’ music, Rounder Kids Distribution, just folded its inventory into Portland-based
NewSound Distribution, a division of Allegro Music. What that consolidation portends is still unclear.
At the SXSW Conference, panelists touched on how digital downloading is affecting children’s music. An executive from Razor and Tie noted how families
want to have a CD the way they want to have a toy. Kids are learning that music comes on a CD and they aren’t typically burning CDs on their own.
Listening to music remains a key pastime of kids ages 2 to 12. Kids actually listen to music more often than they use the computer or play video games, as
evidenced by a new study by the NPD Group, as quoted in Kidscreen magazine.
We all know toddlers who are able to tune in their iPods and Fisher Price “FP3” players at ever-younger ages, and young parents whose leisure time usually
involves an electronic device. Digital downloads and file-sharing are clearly on the horizon for kids’ music. How much longer will the CD be a viable format?
How will free downloads and piracy affect the bottom line? Will the album continue to be the way kids’ artists deliver their music to their young fans?
We talked with several recording artists and industry experts over the past few days. Surprisingly, few of them plan to abandon the CD format anytime soon.
Things look different in the world of children’s music, and while these experts are all feeling the effects of digital downloading, they believe it’ll take years
before the CD goes the way of vinyl and cassette.
It’s Still a Mixed Bag
Jay Sweet, editor at large of Paste Magazine and a music consultant who selects music for the Fisher Price Song & Story FP3 player, is certain that CDs in
general are “going by way of the dodo bird,” even though the extinction may be a bit slower for kids’ music. He advises artists to look on the bright side: “As
digital media players become more affordable and durable they will take over the market for kids’ music. Kids and parents will have a more direct relationship
with their favorite artists and in turn concert events and customized direct to fan club digital offerings will be the way in which artists reach and build their
audience.”
Derek Sivers, founder and CEO of CDBaby.com, sold more than 118,000 children’s music CDs last year. Meanwhile, they also sold 1.5 million song
downloads in all genres, and that was just through Apple iTunes (they also provide their artists’ songs to dozens of other music services). Sivers says “there's no
secret industry answer” regarding the future of the CD format for kids’ music. “Some families rotate around the computer as their entertainment center. Some
families spend more time in the minivan or around the TV, so the CD is still the most convenient way for them to play some music.” Tamara Turner, CDBaby’s
senior music editor, says everything depends upon who actually buys music for children – and it’s usually the parents. “If the parents are high-tech and into
iPods or similar portable players, there's a good chance they will approach their kids’ music that way, too.”
Rico Micallef, executive vice president and COO of NewSound-Allegro Music, notes that despite all of the moaning from the music industry, we have to
remember that CD sales are still huge – more than 554 million CDs (in all genres) were sold during 2006. “The reality is that 97% of the music that people
listen to on their iPods or mp3 players came from music that they had on CDs. According to the recent statistics, digital is about 5-15% of the business
depending on the genre, overall it is about 10%. I expect this to increase; my guess is it will stabilize at 20-25%. I do not expect it to replace the physical CD.”
Retail remains a challenge
But for children’s music, CD sales can be an uphill battle. Most indie children’s performers’ best-selling outlet is their concerts, where fans line up to buy
autographed CDs of their favorite performers. Even for an artist like Justin Roberts, whose CDs are linked into a vast retail network through Red Distribution, it is
not easy to find his CDs in stores. One parent, Baby Loves Disco co-founder Andy Blackman Hurwitz, took his young sons to Justin’s recent Philadelphia
concert, but he was not able to find any of Justin’s CDs in the two remaining record stores in his neighborhood. “I had to order a CD from Amazon.com, though
I could have gotten some songs from iTunes just as easily.” Why didn’t he? “My kids like looking at the CD box. They need the visuals; it helps them enjoy the
songs more. It’s hard for kids to associate the music with the artist unless they have the visuals. CD packaging really enhances the product. CD sales are
actually up for kids’ music – so creative packaging is important.”
One company that can boast of truly exponential sales growth in kids’ music is Putumayo Kids. For Putumayo, enhanced value in packaging, liner notes and
presentation is a key factor in their success. Mona Kayhan, Manager of Putumayo Kids, says, “Putumayo Kids’ business continues to grow during this era
because our CDs are not just vessels in which to hold music; they’re gifts of multiple values. The liner notes are multi-lingual and teach children and families
about a particular culture, the instruments, the food, what country the song is from, etc. Parents know that they’re getting something educational and
simultaneously fun for their kids. A Putumayo Kids CD is a world music adventure. Split up the songs into separate downloads and that journey is lost.”
It also helps that Putumayo has figured out how to get their CDs into a wide assortment of nontraditional retailers – grocery stores, import shops, airports,
museums, zoos and even clothing stores. International sales helped drive sales that tripled from 2005 to 2006 in the kids’ arena. Understandably, the company
is planning several new children’s CD releases for 2007 and 2008.
Packaging has become ever more important as labels and artists strive to add value to their musical products. Note the artfully designed CD/book packaging of
Little Monster Records’ recent release All Together Now and the Gustafer Yellowgold’s Wide Wild World DVD/CD/poster gift set. Kevin Salem, a musician
who operates Little Monster with his wife Kate Hyman, says, “CDs will continue to be a viable medium, but only to the extent that their packaging makes them
so. Parents need to put something tangible in children’s hands as much as kids need to receive something they can touch. This is how three-year-olds (and
their parents) understand giving and getting. The pictures, the information, the video content, books included in the packaging... this stuff promotes listening
as a family experience, and a learning one at that.” He plans to offer the labels entire catalog for digital downloading, and is not even afraid of piracy. “File
sharing is probably one of the best promotional tools an artist has. It does the job radio cannot do unless you have hundreds of thousands of dollars behind your
promotional campaign,” Salem notes.
Specialty Retail and Schools – CDs still surpass downloads
“CDs will continue to be a viable medium for children's music and other genres of music as well. Children's music CD sales have been one of the few growth
categories in the music industry in the last few years and I believe that trend will continue,” says Bryan Townsend, who recently opened shop as The Pokey
Pup, where he sells CDs, DVDs and books. He thinks kids like having a physical object in their hand to look at as they listen to music. “It's unclear how digital
downloading affects our business directly. I have faith in our store's unique product offerings and personal customer service.” Townsend says he may offer
digital downloads sometime in the future, but it’s not in his immediate business plan.
Similarly, Fred Koch, who has hosted BestChildrensMusic.com for several years, selling his handpicked favorites in children’s music, plans to continue selling
CDs. For the first time last year, he noticed a drop in sales. “Is CD on its way out? Probably not completely, at least not for a while, but the numbers speak for
themselves.” By day, Koch is an elementary school music specialist who downloads music all the time from iTunes and other services. “Often, I need to find a
certain tune to fit a teacher's needs and usually in a hurry. One teacher needed "Hail to the Chief," and within two minutes I was able to get it off of iTunes,
onto a CD and into her hands. The school nurse needed songs about teeth and hygiene. I quickly found some great tracks. Downloading is fabulous for
teachers. You need it today and you can get it.”
Still, Koch is not sure he’s typical. “I know a gym teacher who still plays the ‘Chicken Dance’ on an old record player. It sounds like bacon and eggs frying when
he puts that LP on.”
This gets to one key issue for children’s music. Many artists depend upon sales to libraries and schools, and those institutions are not as likely to adopt new
technologies right away. Regina Kelland, a Los Angeles based music consultant who represents Rounder Records among other labels, notes that “it was only
three years ago we stopped selling cassettes at the NAEYC conference.” Kelland is also executive producer of the popular Beethoven’s Wig series. She has
noticed a definite increase in downloads but without a similar decrease in CD sales. “The children’s music field tends to lag behind the current technology.
When we saw the changeover from vinyl to cassette, then cassette to CD, children’s music moved much more slowly than other genres. It’s going to be similar
with the change from CD to digital downloading. Right now, it’s just one more method of delivery.”
Karen Thom of Trout Music (the label of Trout Fishing in America) says it’ll take years before the CD is no longer viable for their customers. “We were able to
sell the cassette format long after it died in the rest of the industry, about 10 extra years.” Trout began selling music downloads from their site about two years
ago. “Over those two years we have seen our sales of single song downloads increase by 60%, but downloads of full albums barely increased (about 9%).
People want their favorite songs, so instead of someone buying a $15 CD, to get those favorites they buy $3 or $4 worth of singles. They get exactly what they
want and cheaper... maybe it’s a comment on today’s society?”
Albums or Singles?
Will the album format fall by the wayside as digital downloading grows? Artists say they’ll continue to create albums, but they see a dramatic increase in their
singles. Ben Rudnick, whose good-times family band repertoire includes classic tunes, has found a new income stream from digital downloading through
CDBaby’s services to artists, but if a song is not one of his originals, it may not make business sense to offer it digitally. “Sometimes you have to pay a lot more
in annual licensing fees than you actually make from the download purchases. We can actually lose money.”
Justin Roberts, one of the stars of the current “kindie rock” scene, thinks that eventually the album will go away as a format, even for children’s music. “The
world will be a sadder place,” he says, as kids won’t get to discover tunes on albums that aren’t immediate hits.
And Joe McDermott, whose new CD Everybody Plays Air Guitar comes out in June, says he may not continue to create music in terms of the album format. It
can take years to create the larger body of work that is an album. “This is the YouTube generation; maybe artists should offer a new song every couple of
months, thereby keeping topical, rather than releasing a CD full of songs every couple of years. People want instant accessibility, one hit wonders, one idea,
one song at a time. Even though that is sad in some ways, you can also see it as freeing for the artist to not have to think in terms of creating a whole album at
a time.”
As Paste Magazine’s Jay Sweet sums up, “Although we are increasingly living in a singles driven musical marketplace, kid music will always be more friendly
to the album concept due to its penchant for theme generated content. Kids’ music is in an excellent space to be as an artist because of its strong affinity
group. If children like something they are loyal to it as they grow older and everyone knows kids are the single best viral marketers on the planet.”
Believe it or not, we gathered even more extensive quotes from these industry experts. For their full comments, please send an email to sugarmountainpr@msn.
com, and we’ll email you the transcripts.
With mainstream music industry in the seventh year of its decline and experts decrying the demise of the CD, we’ve been wondering what it all means for
children’s music. As CD sales fall for most genres, children’s music is growing by 6 or 7 percent each year, as a Billboard analyst recently noted. Major labels
have finally started to pay attention to this wonderfully free-flowing genre. Still, if you aren’t selling the latest kids’ pop or movie-based sensation, generating
retail sales is tough. One of the largest specialty retail distributors of cool kids’ music, Rounder Kids Distribution, just folded its inventory into Portland-based
NewSound Distribution, a division of Allegro Music. What that consolidation portends is still unclear.
At the SXSW Conference, panelists touched on how digital downloading is affecting children’s music. An executive from Razor and Tie noted how families
want to have a CD the way they want to have a toy. Kids are learning that music comes on a CD and they aren’t typically burning CDs on their own.
Listening to music remains a key pastime of kids ages 2 to 12. Kids actually listen to music more often than they use the computer or play video games, as
evidenced by a new study by the NPD Group, as quoted in Kidscreen magazine.
We all know toddlers who are able to tune in their iPods and Fisher Price “FP3” players at ever-younger ages, and young parents whose leisure time usually
involves an electronic device. Digital downloads and file-sharing are clearly on the horizon for kids’ music. How much longer will the CD be a viable format?
How will free downloads and piracy affect the bottom line? Will the album continue to be the way kids’ artists deliver their music to their young fans?
We talked with several recording artists and industry experts over the past few days. Surprisingly, few of them plan to abandon the CD format anytime soon.
Things look different in the world of children’s music, and while these experts are all feeling the effects of digital downloading, they believe it’ll take years
before the CD goes the way of vinyl and cassette.
It’s Still a Mixed Bag
Jay Sweet, editor at large of Paste Magazine and a music consultant who selects music for the Fisher Price Song & Story FP3 player, is certain that CDs in
general are “going by way of the dodo bird,” even though the extinction may be a bit slower for kids’ music. He advises artists to look on the bright side: “As
digital media players become more affordable and durable they will take over the market for kids’ music. Kids and parents will have a more direct relationship
with their favorite artists and in turn concert events and customized direct to fan club digital offerings will be the way in which artists reach and build their
audience.”
Derek Sivers, founder and CEO of CDBaby.com, sold more than 118,000 children’s music CDs last year. Meanwhile, they also sold 1.5 million song
downloads in all genres, and that was just through Apple iTunes (they also provide their artists’ songs to dozens of other music services). Sivers says “there's no
secret industry answer” regarding the future of the CD format for kids’ music. “Some families rotate around the computer as their entertainment center. Some
families spend more time in the minivan or around the TV, so the CD is still the most convenient way for them to play some music.” Tamara Turner, CDBaby’s
senior music editor, says everything depends upon who actually buys music for children – and it’s usually the parents. “If the parents are high-tech and into
iPods or similar portable players, there's a good chance they will approach their kids’ music that way, too.”
Rico Micallef, executive vice president and COO of NewSound-Allegro Music, notes that despite all of the moaning from the music industry, we have to
remember that CD sales are still huge – more than 554 million CDs (in all genres) were sold during 2006. “The reality is that 97% of the music that people
listen to on their iPods or mp3 players came from music that they had on CDs. According to the recent statistics, digital is about 5-15% of the business
depending on the genre, overall it is about 10%. I expect this to increase; my guess is it will stabilize at 20-25%. I do not expect it to replace the physical CD.”
Retail remains a challenge
But for children’s music, CD sales can be an uphill battle. Most indie children’s performers’ best-selling outlet is their concerts, where fans line up to buy
autographed CDs of their favorite performers. Even for an artist like Justin Roberts, whose CDs are linked into a vast retail network through Red Distribution, it is
not easy to find his CDs in stores. One parent, Baby Loves Disco co-founder Andy Blackman Hurwitz, took his young sons to Justin’s recent Philadelphia
concert, but he was not able to find any of Justin’s CDs in the two remaining record stores in his neighborhood. “I had to order a CD from Amazon.com, though
I could have gotten some songs from iTunes just as easily.” Why didn’t he? “My kids like looking at the CD box. They need the visuals; it helps them enjoy the
songs more. It’s hard for kids to associate the music with the artist unless they have the visuals. CD packaging really enhances the product. CD sales are
actually up for kids’ music – so creative packaging is important.”
One company that can boast of truly exponential sales growth in kids’ music is Putumayo Kids. For Putumayo, enhanced value in packaging, liner notes and
presentation is a key factor in their success. Mona Kayhan, Manager of Putumayo Kids, says, “Putumayo Kids’ business continues to grow during this era
because our CDs are not just vessels in which to hold music; they’re gifts of multiple values. The liner notes are multi-lingual and teach children and families
about a particular culture, the instruments, the food, what country the song is from, etc. Parents know that they’re getting something educational and
simultaneously fun for their kids. A Putumayo Kids CD is a world music adventure. Split up the songs into separate downloads and that journey is lost.”
It also helps that Putumayo has figured out how to get their CDs into a wide assortment of nontraditional retailers – grocery stores, import shops, airports,
museums, zoos and even clothing stores. International sales helped drive sales that tripled from 2005 to 2006 in the kids’ arena. Understandably, the company
is planning several new children’s CD releases for 2007 and 2008.
Packaging has become ever more important as labels and artists strive to add value to their musical products. Note the artfully designed CD/book packaging of
Little Monster Records’ recent release All Together Now and the Gustafer Yellowgold’s Wide Wild World DVD/CD/poster gift set. Kevin Salem, a musician
who operates Little Monster with his wife Kate Hyman, says, “CDs will continue to be a viable medium, but only to the extent that their packaging makes them
so. Parents need to put something tangible in children’s hands as much as kids need to receive something they can touch. This is how three-year-olds (and
their parents) understand giving and getting. The pictures, the information, the video content, books included in the packaging... this stuff promotes listening
as a family experience, and a learning one at that.” He plans to offer the labels entire catalog for digital downloading, and is not even afraid of piracy. “File
sharing is probably one of the best promotional tools an artist has. It does the job radio cannot do unless you have hundreds of thousands of dollars behind your
promotional campaign,” Salem notes.
Specialty Retail and Schools – CDs still surpass downloads
“CDs will continue to be a viable medium for children's music and other genres of music as well. Children's music CD sales have been one of the few growth
categories in the music industry in the last few years and I believe that trend will continue,” says Bryan Townsend, who recently opened shop as The Pokey
Pup, where he sells CDs, DVDs and books. He thinks kids like having a physical object in their hand to look at as they listen to music. “It's unclear how digital
downloading affects our business directly. I have faith in our store's unique product offerings and personal customer service.” Townsend says he may offer
digital downloads sometime in the future, but it’s not in his immediate business plan.
Similarly, Fred Koch, who has hosted BestChildrensMusic.com for several years, selling his handpicked favorites in children’s music, plans to continue selling
CDs. For the first time last year, he noticed a drop in sales. “Is CD on its way out? Probably not completely, at least not for a while, but the numbers speak for
themselves.” By day, Koch is an elementary school music specialist who downloads music all the time from iTunes and other services. “Often, I need to find a
certain tune to fit a teacher's needs and usually in a hurry. One teacher needed "Hail to the Chief," and within two minutes I was able to get it off of iTunes,
onto a CD and into her hands. The school nurse needed songs about teeth and hygiene. I quickly found some great tracks. Downloading is fabulous for
teachers. You need it today and you can get it.”
Still, Koch is not sure he’s typical. “I know a gym teacher who still plays the ‘Chicken Dance’ on an old record player. It sounds like bacon and eggs frying when
he puts that LP on.”
This gets to one key issue for children’s music. Many artists depend upon sales to libraries and schools, and those institutions are not as likely to adopt new
technologies right away. Regina Kelland, a Los Angeles based music consultant who represents Rounder Records among other labels, notes that “it was only
three years ago we stopped selling cassettes at the NAEYC conference.” Kelland is also executive producer of the popular Beethoven’s Wig series. She has
noticed a definite increase in downloads but without a similar decrease in CD sales. “The children’s music field tends to lag behind the current technology.
When we saw the changeover from vinyl to cassette, then cassette to CD, children’s music moved much more slowly than other genres. It’s going to be similar
with the change from CD to digital downloading. Right now, it’s just one more method of delivery.”
Karen Thom of Trout Music (the label of Trout Fishing in America) says it’ll take years before the CD is no longer viable for their customers. “We were able to
sell the cassette format long after it died in the rest of the industry, about 10 extra years.” Trout began selling music downloads from their site about two years
ago. “Over those two years we have seen our sales of single song downloads increase by 60%, but downloads of full albums barely increased (about 9%).
People want their favorite songs, so instead of someone buying a $15 CD, to get those favorites they buy $3 or $4 worth of singles. They get exactly what they
want and cheaper... maybe it’s a comment on today’s society?”
Albums or Singles?
Will the album format fall by the wayside as digital downloading grows? Artists say they’ll continue to create albums, but they see a dramatic increase in their
singles. Ben Rudnick, whose good-times family band repertoire includes classic tunes, has found a new income stream from digital downloading through
CDBaby’s services to artists, but if a song is not one of his originals, it may not make business sense to offer it digitally. “Sometimes you have to pay a lot more
in annual licensing fees than you actually make from the download purchases. We can actually lose money.”
Justin Roberts, one of the stars of the current “kindie rock” scene, thinks that eventually the album will go away as a format, even for children’s music. “The
world will be a sadder place,” he says, as kids won’t get to discover tunes on albums that aren’t immediate hits.
And Joe McDermott, whose new CD Everybody Plays Air Guitar comes out in June, says he may not continue to create music in terms of the album format. It
can take years to create the larger body of work that is an album. “This is the YouTube generation; maybe artists should offer a new song every couple of
months, thereby keeping topical, rather than releasing a CD full of songs every couple of years. People want instant accessibility, one hit wonders, one idea,
one song at a time. Even though that is sad in some ways, you can also see it as freeing for the artist to not have to think in terms of creating a whole album at
a time.”
As Paste Magazine’s Jay Sweet sums up, “Although we are increasingly living in a singles driven musical marketplace, kid music will always be more friendly
to the album concept due to its penchant for theme generated content. Kids’ music is in an excellent space to be as an artist because of its strong affinity
group. If children like something they are loyal to it as they grow older and everyone knows kids are the single best viral marketers on the planet.”
Believe it or not, we gathered even more extensive quotes from these industry experts. For their full comments, please send an email to sugarmountainpr@msn.
com, and we’ll email you the transcripts.
Cool Music for Kids NEWS
BACK ISSUES
BACK ISSUES
Cool Music for Kids News - SPRING 2009
NEW RELEASES SPROUTING
On March 24th, a bouncy new CD leaps onto the national stage as Ben Rudnick & Friends springs out with
A Frog Named Sam. Featuring 11 ribbity, feel-good tunes, the title track is already getting heavy rotation on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live, and it's
generating buzz among reviewers. We love the Hip Grandma's review, which recommends it as "a great collection of songs for old croakers and their little toads."
Ben and his festive, American roots style band has several family concerts scheduled, beginning with CD release shows in Boston and New York City on April 18-
19.
Billy Jonas returns next week from a 3-month sabbatical in Israel and Palestine. He's also about to release a new CD, Happy Accidents, on March 31st, and will
kick off an energetic concert tour as soon as he is back stateside. As soulful as it is witty, Happy Accidents is not just for tots; grownup fans of Billy's inimitable,
percussive and inclusive style of music-making will love these songs too. Kathy O'Connell of WXPN's wonderful Kids' Corner show is already calling this one of
the best CDs of 2009. One of the highlight shows of Billy's spring itinerary is hosted by Parents' Choice Foundation and the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, in Washington DC's Lisner Auditorium on April 29th. This special "Listen To Your Buds" concert will include more than 2,000 children who will
enjoy Billy's songs and learn about how they can protect their hearing while using personal audio technology. Check out the brand new website spotlighting the
national coalition of musicians who are signing on to take the "Buds Pledge." More concerts are planned in Los Angeles and New Orleans later this year.
If you know a child who's struggling through the times tables, take a look at Hap Palmer's new CD, Multiplication Mountain. Hap is a pioneer in the area of music
and movement in early childhood education. With this newest release, he offers an array of musical styles, helpful liner notes (featuring activity ideas, full lyrics
and a handy multiplication table) and a top-notch way of helping kids - and grownups - memorize their factoring. It is sure to help even the rustiest memory!
COMING SOON
We're excited to begin working with a DC-based dynamic trio called Rocknoceros. These much-beloved performers will celebrate the April 18th release of a
new CD called Pink! with at least 20 shows a month during April through August. Look for them as they expand on their exuberant fan base by performing in
Richmond, Boston, New York and Philadelphia. And visit their growing collection of entertaining podcasts at their official YouTube page (your kids will be
intrigued by Boogie Woogie Bennie's haircut). Watch for amazing new KarpToons-created animated music videos soon. Tons of parents have posted videos of
their kids enjoying Rocknoceros tunes, but we think this video of young Finn is the absolutely perfect illustration of how children invest their entire being in music.
In early May, The Grammy winning duo of Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer will release a new EP called Banjo to Beatbox. Cathy and Marcy fuse their talents with
Washington, D.C.’s Hip-Hop sensation Christylez Bacon in a fresh new collection of tunes.
On May 19, Putumayo Kids will bring forth a brand new world musical adventure called European Playground. If you've ever wondered what the kids are
listening to across the pond, this CD promises to give you a taste of a musical smorgasbord. European Playground includes 15 tracks from as many Continental
countries and colorful liner notes in English, French, Spanish and German. A free, downloadable activity guide and map of Europe will be posted soon at the
Putumayo Kids website. Meanwhile, check out the U.K. artist, Herbie Treehead's zany music video of "The Change Song."
We're excited about a new group signed to Little Monster Records recently. Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke will release a new CD called Rise and Shine on the
label this summer, and it promised to tickle the funny bone while continuing Little Monster Records' growing reputation as the preeminent purveyor of fascinating
family music. Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine continues to amaze listeners with its power pop appeal. Bubbly good Robbert Bobbert shows in Los
Angeles, New York and Chicago are coming up soon.
Other fun releases will be coming this summer from Putumayo Kids, Eric Herman, Laura Freeman and Peter Yarrow. Stay tuned, and enjoy the tulips!
NEW RELEASES SPROUTING
On March 24th, a bouncy new CD leaps onto the national stage as Ben Rudnick & Friends springs out with
A Frog Named Sam. Featuring 11 ribbity, feel-good tunes, the title track is already getting heavy rotation on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio's Kids Place Live, and it's
generating buzz among reviewers. We love the Hip Grandma's review, which recommends it as "a great collection of songs for old croakers and their little toads."
Ben and his festive, American roots style band has several family concerts scheduled, beginning with CD release shows in Boston and New York City on April 18-
19.
Billy Jonas returns next week from a 3-month sabbatical in Israel and Palestine. He's also about to release a new CD, Happy Accidents, on March 31st, and will
kick off an energetic concert tour as soon as he is back stateside. As soulful as it is witty, Happy Accidents is not just for tots; grownup fans of Billy's inimitable,
percussive and inclusive style of music-making will love these songs too. Kathy O'Connell of WXPN's wonderful Kids' Corner show is already calling this one of
the best CDs of 2009. One of the highlight shows of Billy's spring itinerary is hosted by Parents' Choice Foundation and the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, in Washington DC's Lisner Auditorium on April 29th. This special "Listen To Your Buds" concert will include more than 2,000 children who will
enjoy Billy's songs and learn about how they can protect their hearing while using personal audio technology. Check out the brand new website spotlighting the
national coalition of musicians who are signing on to take the "Buds Pledge." More concerts are planned in Los Angeles and New Orleans later this year.
If you know a child who's struggling through the times tables, take a look at Hap Palmer's new CD, Multiplication Mountain. Hap is a pioneer in the area of music
and movement in early childhood education. With this newest release, he offers an array of musical styles, helpful liner notes (featuring activity ideas, full lyrics
and a handy multiplication table) and a top-notch way of helping kids - and grownups - memorize their factoring. It is sure to help even the rustiest memory!
COMING SOON
We're excited to begin working with a DC-based dynamic trio called Rocknoceros. These much-beloved performers will celebrate the April 18th release of a
new CD called Pink! with at least 20 shows a month during April through August. Look for them as they expand on their exuberant fan base by performing in
Richmond, Boston, New York and Philadelphia. And visit their growing collection of entertaining podcasts at their official YouTube page (your kids will be
intrigued by Boogie Woogie Bennie's haircut). Watch for amazing new KarpToons-created animated music videos soon. Tons of parents have posted videos of
their kids enjoying Rocknoceros tunes, but we think this video of young Finn is the absolutely perfect illustration of how children invest their entire being in music.
In early May, The Grammy winning duo of Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer will release a new EP called Banjo to Beatbox. Cathy and Marcy fuse their talents with
Washington, D.C.’s Hip-Hop sensation Christylez Bacon in a fresh new collection of tunes.
On May 19, Putumayo Kids will bring forth a brand new world musical adventure called European Playground. If you've ever wondered what the kids are
listening to across the pond, this CD promises to give you a taste of a musical smorgasbord. European Playground includes 15 tracks from as many Continental
countries and colorful liner notes in English, French, Spanish and German. A free, downloadable activity guide and map of Europe will be posted soon at the
Putumayo Kids website. Meanwhile, check out the U.K. artist, Herbie Treehead's zany music video of "The Change Song."
We're excited about a new group signed to Little Monster Records recently. Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke will release a new CD called Rise and Shine on the
label this summer, and it promised to tickle the funny bone while continuing Little Monster Records' growing reputation as the preeminent purveyor of fascinating
family music. Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine continues to amaze listeners with its power pop appeal. Bubbly good Robbert Bobbert shows in Los
Angeles, New York and Chicago are coming up soon.
Other fun releases will be coming this summer from Putumayo Kids, Eric Herman, Laura Freeman and Peter Yarrow. Stay tuned, and enjoy the tulips!
Cool Music for Kids News August 2009
Music Is Magic… Make that Last Road Trip with These Tunes
If you have any doubts about the power of music, particularly with children, take a look at this gem of a video on YouTube. Little Kira reacts to Jay
Mankita’s song “Eat Like a Rainbow” (featured in
Putumayo Kids’ yummy new release for little foodies, Picnic Playground).
We were also delighted to hear some of the submissions the theme song contest for the Absolutely Mindy show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s
Kids Place Live. Chosen from more than 50 entrants, Justin Roberts’ “Mindy” tune has that sweet alt.pop sound he’s famous for. Visit the Kids Place
Live Fan page (administered by the lovely and talented Gwyneth Butera) for updates and tune in to channel 116 in the afternoons to hear the tune.
KidzMusic.com continues to build its roster of great kid tunes – take a look at the KidzTown Artists for a great selection of songs by some of the most
respected artists in children’s music.
NEW RELEASE UPDATE
The new CDs by Asheba – In the Kid Zone; Laura Freeman - Somersault Season; Hot Peas ‘N Butter – Best of the Bowl, Ingles y Espanol are
drawing rave reviews. Check out Paula Slade’s Children’s Entertainment page on Examiner.com and Amber Bobnar’s Boston Children’s Music page for a
sampling of the good news.
Zooglobble just published a fun interview with Peter Himmelman about his My Trampoline, available this week from the new music label Minivan
Productions. You can see Peter performing the title song in the August 25th episode of Peter Himmelman’s Furious World, his weekly webcast.
On October 27th, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will release a new CD by Sarah Lee Guthrie – Go Waggaloo. These 13 songs by talented
singer-songwriter and her family – husband, Johnny Irion, her two daughters and dad Arlo Guthrie – blend traditional folk with hip instrumentation. There’
s even a song recorded on their cell phone! Pete Seeger makes an appearance, and three of the songs employ Woody Guthrie lyrics never before set to
music. The cover art is a whimsical painting by Woody himself!
OTHER NEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS
The incredible Portland based DJs at Greasy Kid Stuff radio have just released Greasy Kid Stuff 3: Even More Songs from Inside the Radio. The new
CD includes some of Belinda and Hova and Georgia’s favorite tunes, including a piratical version of Ariel’s theme song in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
sung by the inimitable Captain Bogg. It also includes a hilarious tune called “Favorite Names” by Key Wilde and Mr Clarke. That zany-smart duo’s
new book/CD set will be coming out soon from Little Monster Records.
We recently discovered a program that has been doing amazing things with kids over the past decade.
Kid Pan Alley (KPA) began with a brilliant, yet obvious discovery: children's imaginations make them the greatest songwriters. The group songwriting
process inspires and empowers children to become creators of their own music, not just consumers of popular culture. Under the leadership of
composer Paul Reisler, 25,000 young children in a dozen states have written, recorded, and performed 1,500 original songs for their communities, with
more coming soon!
Music Is Magic… Make that Last Road Trip with These Tunes
If you have any doubts about the power of music, particularly with children, take a look at this gem of a video on YouTube. Little Kira reacts to Jay
Mankita’s song “Eat Like a Rainbow” (featured in
Putumayo Kids’ yummy new release for little foodies, Picnic Playground).
We were also delighted to hear some of the submissions the theme song contest for the Absolutely Mindy show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s
Kids Place Live. Chosen from more than 50 entrants, Justin Roberts’ “Mindy” tune has that sweet alt.pop sound he’s famous for. Visit the Kids Place
Live Fan page (administered by the lovely and talented Gwyneth Butera) for updates and tune in to channel 116 in the afternoons to hear the tune.
KidzMusic.com continues to build its roster of great kid tunes – take a look at the KidzTown Artists for a great selection of songs by some of the most
respected artists in children’s music.
NEW RELEASE UPDATE
The new CDs by Asheba – In the Kid Zone; Laura Freeman - Somersault Season; Hot Peas ‘N Butter – Best of the Bowl, Ingles y Espanol are
drawing rave reviews. Check out Paula Slade’s Children’s Entertainment page on Examiner.com and Amber Bobnar’s Boston Children’s Music page for a
sampling of the good news.
Zooglobble just published a fun interview with Peter Himmelman about his My Trampoline, available this week from the new music label Minivan
Productions. You can see Peter performing the title song in the August 25th episode of Peter Himmelman’s Furious World, his weekly webcast.
On October 27th, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will release a new CD by Sarah Lee Guthrie – Go Waggaloo. These 13 songs by talented
singer-songwriter and her family – husband, Johnny Irion, her two daughters and dad Arlo Guthrie – blend traditional folk with hip instrumentation. There’
s even a song recorded on their cell phone! Pete Seeger makes an appearance, and three of the songs employ Woody Guthrie lyrics never before set to
music. The cover art is a whimsical painting by Woody himself!
OTHER NEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS
The incredible Portland based DJs at Greasy Kid Stuff radio have just released Greasy Kid Stuff 3: Even More Songs from Inside the Radio. The new
CD includes some of Belinda and Hova and Georgia’s favorite tunes, including a piratical version of Ariel’s theme song in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
sung by the inimitable Captain Bogg. It also includes a hilarious tune called “Favorite Names” by Key Wilde and Mr Clarke. That zany-smart duo’s
new book/CD set will be coming out soon from Little Monster Records.
We recently discovered a program that has been doing amazing things with kids over the past decade.
Kid Pan Alley (KPA) began with a brilliant, yet obvious discovery: children's imaginations make them the greatest songwriters. The group songwriting
process inspires and empowers children to become creators of their own music, not just consumers of popular culture. Under the leadership of
composer Paul Reisler, 25,000 young children in a dozen states have written, recorded, and performed 1,500 original songs for their communities, with
more coming soon!
| Cool Music for Kids News - Winter 2010 Back to the Future www.sugarmountainpr.com Waggaloo on Vinyl In a move that can only be described as 21st century retro, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings recently announced the March 16th vinyl release of the Oppenheim Toy Award winning CD Go Waggaloo. Created by Woody Guthrie's granddaughter Sarah Lee, and featuring performances by the entire Guthrie clan as well as Pete Seeger, Go Waggaloo blends traditional folk music with contemporary lyrics and instrumentation. Among the surprises on Go Waggaloo are a scratching drum machine, songs about Xboxes and DVDs, and a spur-of-the-moment song recorded on a cell phone by the Guthrie family on a road trip. For yet another fresh twist, the vinyl release will include a coupon for a free digital download of the entire album. Catch Sarah Lee Guthrie and family's one-hour music special with Robbie Schaefer on Sirius-XM's Kids Place Live in March. Old School Songs for a Green Generation Next week, the collective effort of some of Los Angeles' top Americana artists will celebrate the sprouting of their new CD Earthworm Ensemble. The self- titled CD includes 11 original songs that will bear repeated listening by kids of all ages. These songs offer an imaginative, child's eye view of nature and the universe, with light and humorous touches throughout. "Bang a Drum" is a deceptively simple percussive piece that will get kids up off the couch and banging along to the beat. A healthy, DIY message is humorously delivered in the father-to-son song "Pizza Moon," and we can come along for the ride on old-timey songs like "The Traveling Train" and "Walking Boy." Don't take our word for it; check out DailyCandy's rave review. Cathy & Marcy's Songshop News Grammy Award divas Cathy and Marcy have been making smart songs for kids for more than two decades. Their recent EP Banjo to Beatbox continues to generate buzz and awards because of its ingenious combination of traditional folk sounds with of-the-minute urban beats (as performed by Christylez Bacon). This winter, Cathy & Marcy's Songshop will release two new instructional DVDs called Meet the Instruments: Tap and Clap and Things with Strings. The artists speak directly to the viewers, who will feel that they're getting friendly and personal information about music and instruments. And for the first time, Cathy & Marcy's Songshop will release the work of a fellow artist, with Michele Valeri's delightful new collection of activity songs for babies and toddlers: Little Ditties for Itty Bitties. String Band Music for Kids Talk about old made new! One of America’s best-loved string bands with a loyal fan base, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, took the kids' music blogosphere by storm earlier this winter, and will soon offer the national release of their CD Ranky Tanky. There's definitely no hanky panky going on here. Their rendition of the Cat Stevens hit "If You Want To Sing Out" is enjoying heavy rotation on Sirius XM's Kids Place Live. Check out band member Anand Nayak's 3 year old son Jack on Youtube -- he's got rhythm! Pop and Funk: Good Stuff Coming this Spring Debbie and Friends delivers sold pop tunes for kids who are "all grown up" On most weekends, this Berklee College of Music dean hits the stage and becomes a kindie pop sensation. Folllowing the success of her Story Songs and Sing Alongs release two years ago, Debbie Cavalier will deliver More Story Songs and Sing Alongs on March 30th. Debbie's got a host of great music videos, including some that were featured on the season premiere of TV's "24" last month (check out what Jack Bauer's granddaughter is watching this winter!). Debbie's blog is also worth checking out for the latest performance news and free offers. Some of the funkiest music ever made for kids is coming out of... Oklahoma!!!??? It's true, we recently discovered the witty vibes of the Sugar Free Allstars. Their 2007 disc Dos Ninos created a sensation with the Fids and Kamily critics poll, and in late April, the duo of Chris (Boom!) Wiser and Rob (Dr. Rock) Martin will deliver some new goods with Funky Fresh and Sugar Free. We'll soon have news about new music from Justin Roberts, Elizabeth Mitchell and more, so stay tuned |
| Cool Music for Kids News - Spring 2010 Pop Pop Pop for Kids – and More You can’t underestimate the allure of pop hooks for kids. It’s the reason that Kidz Bop records consistently make Billboard’s top album lists. But I doubt parents are keen on hearing their tots learn the lyrics to Lady Gaga’s songs before they hit puberty. Do we want boys whose voices haven’t changed yet, singing “Poker Face” or, “I’m gonna chase you down until you love me,” as extolled by Lady Gaga on “Paparazzi?” (check out Christopher Healy’s astute review of this song , featured on Kidz Bop 17). As Jennifer Gish of the Albany Times-Union says, “I’m starting to think Top 40 radio is definitely off-limits in my car.” Some aspects of KGOY are fine, but not this one. Luckily, you and your kids don’t have to abandon the pop genre entirely just to avoid inappropriate lyrics. Enter bands like Debbie & Friends with their crisp and catchy tunes (check out their March 30th release More Story Songs & Sing Alongs for evidence). And Justin Roberts, who will soon deliver a playground full of power pop tunes about iconic childhood experiences with Jungle Gym, due out in June. Don’t stop with pop. There’s a world of music out there with kid-friendly lyrics, whether you and your kids like rock, country, jazz or even string band style modern folk … which reminds us to remind you about our clients’ new music: Everything’s coming up daisies Ranky Tanky is generating rave responses wherever we send it. As Robbie Schaefer of Sirius-XM’s Kids Place Live notes, “Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem avoid the cardinal sin of today’s adult-turned-kid/family artists: playing down to their audience. These are really good, well-performed songs, played by very talented musicians.” Uncle Rock has more than proved his talent with his previous three CDs and a music DVD. He’s about to celebrate the national release of The Big Picture, proving his thought-provoking lyrical skill and rockabilly influenced music. Uncle Rock enlisted the help of multi-instrumentalist Dean Jones, the man behind the acclaimed family music group Dog on Fleas, to produce it. The Big Picture is a socially conscious salute to Uncle Rocks’ musical heroes, offering sonic nods to David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, the Ramones, Buddy Holly , Johnny Cash and Billy Idol. The humorous advice song, “Leave the Bees Be” is enjoying heavy rotation on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio. If you like your funk played on a Hammond organ, complete with the funkiest drum kit ever to come out of Oklahoma City, be sure to check out The Sugar Free Allstars’ April 30th release, Funky Fresh & Sugar Free. This is the duo’s second family music release. They’ll perform at Kindiefest in New York, chosen from among hundreds of entrants to play the industry showcase there. We just signed on with StarFish, a very fun group of dads from New Jersey who will release their second family music CD in June: Enter Sandbox. While the rock vibe will entertain even the most jaded parent, the lyrics relate to important things in kids’ lives – treehouses, time outs, homework and parents who always say “No.” Batter up! And Celebrate Earth Day Debbie & Friends just launched a new animated video celebrating the joy of a kid’s first baseball triumph. Check out “Home Run Ronnie” now. It’s one of the fun songs on Debbie’s next release More Story Songs & Sing Alongs. Through April 4th, Debbie is also running a Garageband Remix contest for her song “Willy Won’t.” The aforementioned Uncle Rock offers a new song, “There Is No Away,” featuring the dreamy vocals of Smithsonian Folkways artist Elizabeth Mitchell, with lyrics to make us mindful of where our garbage goes. Earthworm Ensemble’s new self-titled CD has won national acclaim and tons of radio play nationwide. The song “That’s What the Earthworm’s For” is a great way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. A new Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands… and More Stories to Celebrate the Environment, features seven animated stories and a guide for parents and kids with tips on how to live green. Join Sugar Mountain PR on Facebook! Enjoy the thaw! Beth Blenz-Clucas Sugar Mountain PR Twitter: @bethbc |
| Cool Music for Kids News – June 2010 Why Kids’ Music? When we tell a new acquaintance that we work with great kids’ music, the usual response is a blank stare. At best, the response is, “Well, I play my music for my kids. They don’t need children’s music.” Most music critics begin with the same way of thinking. Witness this article by a writer for the Hartford Courant as he reviewed a new Barry Louis Polisar family music compilation. The story leads off: “Children’s music, with a few exceptions, is typically dreadful.” A very cool mom blogger named Toni started out with the same opinion (“I’m always a bit suspicious of children’s music. I mean, really, can’t children just listen to music?”). But after listening to Uncle Rock’s new CD The Big Picture, she comes away pleasantly surprised at its musicality and intelligence, wanting to hear more. Granted, Uncle Rock is an exceptional artist. And granted, there is a lot of unlistenable music out there, mistakenly created “for the kiddies.” I don’t blame people who avoid the genre. Most of the kid tunes on display at your local big box retailer and on the Billboard best-seller lists don’t reflect the new wave of independent music by real musicians who delve a little deeper than these overly simplified and commercialized CDs. It turns out that you don’t have to sacrifice musical quality while serving your kids with lyrics that truly speak to them. As Dan Zanes so aptly remarked at Kindiefest in May, “what kid wants to hear yet another song about drinking or failed romance?” I’m staggered to hear the creative exuberance in the new music so far this year on blogs like Zooglobble, Dadnabbit, OutwiththeKids, AOL ParentDish and GooneybirdKids. Jitterbug TV posts incredibly smart new kids’ music videos all the time, and a host of other sites like Kidzmusic.com also feature interesting options. Currently, the only national radio outlet for this genre so far is Sirius-XM’s Kids Place Live, whose brilliant DJs play hours of interesting indie music every day. And hosts of smaller shows at public and community radio stations across the country are like little beacons of light, pointing parents, grandparents and kids to the wide world of interesting family music. As reflected by the reader responses to Harriet Barovick’s recent Time magazine piece about “kindie rock,” the range of what parents want is about as wide as the range of musical interests among the general public. Why limit your kids to your music, or conversely (to cite the second letter writer to Time) to music that is purely educational? Play whatever you want for your kids, but realize that there’s a wide variety of options available in the new “kindie” genre. New CDs for Summer Listening With rave reviews in the Star-Ledger and Time Out New York, and two sold-out CD release party shows, StarFish rocks the summer with their new release, Enter Sandbox. Check out this video interview with the band members for an insider’s look at how they play and work together. Justin Roberts continues his never-ending family concert tour with dozens of shows this summer, many of which are free. His seventh family music release, Jungle Gym is generating tons of buzz. Check out the one-hour “Rumpus Room” concert on Sirius- XM’s Kids Place Live, which plays four times over this coming weekend (June 4th- 6th). Justin and his Not Ready for Naptime Players are currently producing a zany video for the new song “Obsessed by Trucks.” Look for cameo appearances by Ezra and Keith of Trout Fishing in America. Fans in Chicago, Boston, Columbus, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Winnipeg will get to see the band live in the next few weeks. Worried that your kids will suffer the summer slide? Why not help them build language skills, both in English and Spanish, with Hap Palmer’s newest release, Learning in Two Languages/Aprendiendo en dos idiomas. Hap is a rock star among educators, and well known for his best selling Baby Songs CDs and DVDs. If you want to fill your summer road or plane trip with music and educational activities, the new Scholastic Storybook Treasures Wheels on the Bus Sing Along Travel Kit is just the ticket. The little carry-on kit includes 2 award-winning DVDs, a music CD featuring songs by the Bacon Brothers and Cyndi Lauper, a colorful activity guide and crayons. Peter Yarrow (of the legendary folk trio Peter Paul and Mary) continues to produce glorious new recordings of classic folk songs with his daughter Bethany, and Sterling Publishing packages his CDs with gorgeously illustrated books. His latest publication is Songs for Little Folks. Coming in August The Okee Dokee Brothers’ second family release Take It Outside will present new and original songs with a bluegrassy flair. The energetic Twin Cities duo of Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing enlisted the help of Grammy nominated producer Tor Hyams and the smart guitar licks of Adam Levy of the Bunnyclogs to create a powerful new sound. Meanwhile, please join Sugar Mountain PR on Facebook! |