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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 April 2009
www.sugarmountainpr.com
Parents’ Choice just announced their spring Audio award winners. Congratulations to our Gold Award winners Billy Jonas for his CD Happy Accidents and Hap
Palmer for his CD Multiplication Mountain. Beethoven’s Wig 4, Captain Bogg & Salty’s Emphatical Piratical also won top awards. The non-profit Parents’
Choice Foundation has been recognizing excellence in children’s media and playthings since 1978.
Parents’ Choice, collaborating with ASHA, is also building a national coalition of children’s musicians who are signing on to encourage kids to take charge of
their hearing health. Kids, parents and teachers can check out the Listen To Your Buds page to learn more and play a fun interactive video game. Billy
Jonas will be the featured artist at the next Buds concert, leading a percussive hootenanny with thousands of school children in Washington, DC on April 29th.
Our new favorite Washington DC family rock band, Rocknoceros, celebrates the release of their brand new rockin’ CD PINK! with a crazy-busy schedule of
family shows and a new music video. Visit the handy new one-stop informational page at www.goteammusic.com/rocknoceros/
Music from across the Pond- Putumayo Kids style
Putumayo Kids, the world’s foremost children’s music label, will release a new collection of kid-friendly global tunes on May 19th called European Playground.
With 15 songs and colorful liner notes in four languages, European Playground takes families on a cross-genre musical tour around the continent. This year
marks the 10th anniversary of the release of a ground breaking CD called World Playground. The label sells music in more than 100 countries today. You can
hear the tunes now by visiting www.putumayopress.com.
Taking Requests Now… ‘Banjo to Beatbox’
Grammy Award winning folk and family music legends Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer are cooking up new musical fun for spring. Their early June release will be
an 8 song EP called Banjo to Beatbox, featuring the talents of hip hop artist Christylez Bacon. Cathy & Marcy have been at the forefront of the children’s
music scene since the 1980s. This new collaboration blends traditional folk instrumentation with hip hop rhythms. "Beatbox is a new roots music, with urban
origins but based on a long tradition of African rhythms,” explains Fink, a master banjo player. “This collaboration is as exciting to us as any we’ve done.” The
EP will be enhanced with three music videos. Banjo to Beatbox will also be available for download from Cathymarcy.com and several digital music services.
What a Ride – Just in Time for Summer Travel
Eric Herman is busy putting the finishing touches on his newest CD, What a Ride, due out June 16th. We’d love to share these new tunes with you soon. What
A Ride features 11 new and original songs and several guest artists, including Gwendolyn Sanford of Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang, Robbi K, Chris
Wiser of the Sugar Free Allstars and Jim Dague of Scribblemonster, all indie favorites in the burgeoning alt.kids music scene. Meanwhile, Eric is firing up the
family RV for a busy spring and summer concert tour. Check out the news at www.erichermanmusic.com .
This summer, get ready for a Somersault Season, another joyful collection of original songs from the wonderful Austin based artist Laura Freeman (with her
new band the Hey Lollies). Asheba will bring forth a calypso style celebration of Caribbean culture and childhood called In the Kid Zone. Putumayo is also
planning a family concert series in August featuring artists (Jay Mankita, Johnny Bregar and Rhythm Child) from their food-themed July release, Picnic
Playground.
Key Wilde and Mr Clarke are the newest artists to sign on to the hip Little Monster Records label. Showcasing on May 2nd at Stinkfest NYC, this zany-smart
duo will release a wonderfully illustrated book and CD set called Rise and Shine. An August release date is planned.
FOR REVIEW CDS AND MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR,
www.sugarmountainpr.com (503) 293-9498 beth@sugarmountainpr.com
www.sugarmountainpr.com
Parents’ Choice just announced their spring Audio award winners. Congratulations to our Gold Award winners Billy Jonas for his CD Happy Accidents and Hap
Palmer for his CD Multiplication Mountain. Beethoven’s Wig 4, Captain Bogg & Salty’s Emphatical Piratical also won top awards. The non-profit Parents’
Choice Foundation has been recognizing excellence in children’s media and playthings since 1978.
Parents’ Choice, collaborating with ASHA, is also building a national coalition of children’s musicians who are signing on to encourage kids to take charge of
their hearing health. Kids, parents and teachers can check out the Listen To Your Buds page to learn more and play a fun interactive video game. Billy
Jonas will be the featured artist at the next Buds concert, leading a percussive hootenanny with thousands of school children in Washington, DC on April 29th.
Our new favorite Washington DC family rock band, Rocknoceros, celebrates the release of their brand new rockin’ CD PINK! with a crazy-busy schedule of
family shows and a new music video. Visit the handy new one-stop informational page at www.goteammusic.com/rocknoceros/
Music from across the Pond- Putumayo Kids style
Putumayo Kids, the world’s foremost children’s music label, will release a new collection of kid-friendly global tunes on May 19th called European Playground.
With 15 songs and colorful liner notes in four languages, European Playground takes families on a cross-genre musical tour around the continent. This year
marks the 10th anniversary of the release of a ground breaking CD called World Playground. The label sells music in more than 100 countries today. You can
hear the tunes now by visiting www.putumayopress.com.
Taking Requests Now… ‘Banjo to Beatbox’
Grammy Award winning folk and family music legends Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer are cooking up new musical fun for spring. Their early June release will be
an 8 song EP called Banjo to Beatbox, featuring the talents of hip hop artist Christylez Bacon. Cathy & Marcy have been at the forefront of the children’s
music scene since the 1980s. This new collaboration blends traditional folk instrumentation with hip hop rhythms. "Beatbox is a new roots music, with urban
origins but based on a long tradition of African rhythms,” explains Fink, a master banjo player. “This collaboration is as exciting to us as any we’ve done.” The
EP will be enhanced with three music videos. Banjo to Beatbox will also be available for download from Cathymarcy.com and several digital music services.
What a Ride – Just in Time for Summer Travel
Eric Herman is busy putting the finishing touches on his newest CD, What a Ride, due out June 16th. We’d love to share these new tunes with you soon. What
A Ride features 11 new and original songs and several guest artists, including Gwendolyn Sanford of Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang, Robbi K, Chris
Wiser of the Sugar Free Allstars and Jim Dague of Scribblemonster, all indie favorites in the burgeoning alt.kids music scene. Meanwhile, Eric is firing up the
family RV for a busy spring and summer concert tour. Check out the news at www.erichermanmusic.com .
This summer, get ready for a Somersault Season, another joyful collection of original songs from the wonderful Austin based artist Laura Freeman (with her
new band the Hey Lollies). Asheba will bring forth a calypso style celebration of Caribbean culture and childhood called In the Kid Zone. Putumayo is also
planning a family concert series in August featuring artists (Jay Mankita, Johnny Bregar and Rhythm Child) from their food-themed July release, Picnic
Playground.
Key Wilde and Mr Clarke are the newest artists to sign on to the hip Little Monster Records label. Showcasing on May 2nd at Stinkfest NYC, this zany-smart
duo will release a wonderfully illustrated book and CD set called Rise and Shine. An August release date is planned.
FOR REVIEW CDS AND MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR,
www.sugarmountainpr.com (503) 293-9498 beth@sugarmountainpr.com
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!