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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
Winter 2007 Whew! 2006 was an exciting year for children’s music. With major labels boasting of exponential sales, a brand new record label launch (Little Monster Records and a slew of new artists bursting onto the scene, it’s enough to send parents’ heads spinning. The excitement was driven by grassroots buzz, including the blogging members of the Fids and Kamily Poll, spreading the word about interesting new indie artists and rock-infused hits. Salon.com may have coined a brand new term: “kindie rock,” with National Public Radio the New York Times, Miami Herald and the Wall Street Journal featuring the exploding genre. These are just a few of the multiple feature stories we’ve seen recently, focusing on a renaissance in children’s music. Most of the focus has been on artists with pop and rock sensibilities, and how they appeal to young, hip parents. With the new year, we’d like to turn your attention to the many other genres represented in children’s music. Just as we offer our kids a rich variety of healthy foods, let’s educate our children’s musical palate with an eclectic mix of music. That’s the beauty of children’s music — its free-flowing, genre-bending variety. When you’re looking for cool tunes for your kids, it helps to seek out artists whose long, kid-tested careers speak for themselves. This year’s Grammy nominees include the hilarious Beethoven’s Wig 3 (www.beethovenswig.com), which honors composers while offering up memorable and zany lyrics set to classical music. Trout Fishing in America’s new live concert CD My Best Day (www.troutmusic.com) exemplifies the expert folksy musicianship and jaunty lyricism which appeals across the generations. The best and most durable kids’ music works on so many levels, fostering emotional connections, building community, exciting the brain and inspiring just plain joy. While it hasn’t been high on the kindie-rock radar lately, American roots and country music continues to be a viable kids’ music genre. Elizabeth Mitchell’s music is a great place to start. Buck Howdy offers up Gene Autry style tunes for young buckaroos, and you’ll find yourself singing along too. Putumayo Kids offers a couple of award-winning and best-selling American roots music CDs for kids” Sing Along with Putumayo and Folk Playground. Farmer Jason and Jim Cosgrove are two other country influenced artists with new kids’ releases. We recently heard of a new act out of LA called The Bummkinn Band, offering “boot-scootin’ country tunes” on their new CD Starry Skies and Lullabies. And if you merely want to shake off those holiday calories and boogie down with your kids, consider Baby Loves Disco , a nationwide parent-created family dance party phenomenon which is expanding to Boston and Portland this winter. We’d love to hear from Sugar Mountain News readers about what else you’re bopping to. Meanwhile, here’s what we have coming up. NEW RELEASES COMING IN FEBRUARY: Boston based Ben Rudnick and Friends are old pals of ours, and they’re about to release a new CD called Grace’s Bell which is their best yet. With top notch production and tight musicianship, this collection of good-time times includes several original songs and singable versions of Americana classics, like “Mama Don’t ‘Low,” “Route 66” and “When the Saints Go Marching in.” When you hear their take on “Somewhere over the Rainbow” as it melds softly into “What a Wonderful World,” you and your child will be entranced. The band has a busy winter performance schedule planned on the East Coast – see www.benrudnickandfriends.com Peter Himmelman’s long-awaited new children’s record will be released on Rounder Records. We can’t stop humming the radio-ready title song on My Green Kite. Peter has a unique perspective on life; he can’t help but see the magical and wondrous side of ordinary things His sheer wit will overtake you. Check out www.rounder.com and www.peterhimmelman.com for news. Katherine Dines continues to create thoughtful music for the toddler set. Her two new CDs, Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Wiggle and Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Twinkle each feature her award- winning activity songs. A favorite with preschool teachers and parents for many years now, Denver based Katherine’s music fosters meaningful connections between grownups and very young children. If you aren’t familiar with Katherine’s longstanding reputation and how her music helps kids develop pre-reading skills, please visit www.hunkabunkta.com Spring Will Come! Just ask our little sundrop friend Gustafer (above). Watch out for Gustafer Yellowgold’s Wide Wild World, a multimedia musical experience created by Morgan Taylor and launching on DVD/CD from Little Monster Records. Rounder Records will release a new Girl Authority CD called Road Trip (www.girlauthority.com). In late May, Putumayo Kids will release Animal Playground, a wild collection of international songs featuring an all-new music video with Asheba, filmed last month on a beach in Trinidad. We caught a glimpse of the video recently, and we think you and your kids will be hop-jumping to his “No More Monkeys” song. November-December 2006 “I know it when I see it,” is how top-notch children’s librarian and former American Library Association Notable Recordings for Children juror Kristi Jemtegaard starts off her enlightening article in the November 1st issue of Booklist magazine. She analyzes the elements that make a kids’ CD worth listening to again and again. Kristi asks a lot of any new release – and so should we all! See the full article at http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=media It’s a helpful reference for any media reviewer to keep on hand. As the ever-present “holiday season” warms up, we’ve got a full slate of new releases to keep us hopping. They all pass the “I know it when I see (or hear) it” test. All Together Now, Little Monster Records’ sing-along Beatles tribute featuring artists like The Bangles, Marshall Crenshaw, Rachael Yamagata and Steve Conte, was just released at all Barnes & Noble stores – check out the review [http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&EAN=638812734426&itm=2] Brand new label Little Monster Records plans an ambitious slate of new CDs in early 2007, including discs by Medeski, Martin and Wood, Robert Schneider and Gustafer Yellowgold. Check out the new V2 Music label at www.littlemonsterrecords.com and the recent piece in Brandweek: [http://www.brandweek.com/bw/magazine/current/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003222257 ] Putumayo World Music’s efforts in New Orleans continue this month with a benefit concert featuring the amazing Charmaine Neville Band at the Louisiana Children’s Museum [www.lcm. org]. Wish I could be there on November 11th! Putumayo Kids will release a soothing lullaby collection, Asian Dreamland, on December 5th, just in time for midwinter sweet dreams. Get this and other Putumayo Kids news at www.putumayokids.com Rounder Records has signed fab and funny L.A. based artist Peter Himmelman for an early 2007 CD release. More information will be coming from us soon, and at www.rounder.com The web continues to be the best place to search for indie tunes. A consortium of reviewers and bloggers will soon announce the first ever Fids and Kamily poll, offering their picks of the best CDs of 2006. I can’t wait to see the results at http: //fidsandkamily.blogspot.com/. We always enjoy the crunchy-good music picks at VegetarianBaby - www.vegetarianbaby.com/reviews.shtml. Steveanne Auerbach, aka Dr. Toy has just announced her annual winners, and she has picked Elizabeth Mitchell’s lovely You Are My Little Bird for an award – www.drtoy.com. Armin Brott, the parenting expert known as Mr. Dad, will be announcing his best of the year picks soon at www.mrdad.com. Mr. Dad interviews artists like Richard Perlmutter (Beethoven’s Wig creator), Charity of Charity and the JAMband, Asheba and Shana Kirsch from Putumayo Kids on his syndicated “Positive Parenting” radio show this month. If you are fans of scallywags and pirates, you might like to check out the new music video “Pieces of 8ight” by Captain Bogg & Salty, on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Y6aF4EFnPlk ] and at www.eatalime.com Looking for unusual places to buy interesting music for kids? Check out these e-tailers, all leading you toward CDs in a variety of genres: • CDBaby.com www.cdbaby.com • Pokey Pup – run by an Atlanta dad. www.pokeypup.com • Best Children’s Music – run by music teacher and critic Fred Koch. www.bestchildrensmusic.com • Big Kids – run by an Austin, TX mom and her crew. www.bigkidsvideo.com And if you’re searching for nonprofit groups that help children, take a look Portland-based Mercy Corps – www.mercycorps.com. They help families around the world and here in the United States. A portion of sales of Putumayo’s new Acoustic Africa CD will benefit Mercy Corps work in Sudan's troubled Darfur region. Cool Music for Kids NEWS October 2006 Even on our sunny perch at Sugar Mountain PR (www.sugarmountainpr.com), we have to make our way through the clouds occasionally. And as grownups, it’s our job to gently steer kids through trouble. Some of the best children’s authors help readers deal with strong emotions. An interview with Maurice Sendak explains why he places his fictional children in fear and jeopardy: “Childhood is a very tricky business… usually something goes wrong.” His new book Mommy? steers children in an out of a nightmarishly imaginative world. Listen to the recent NPR interview with Sendak at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6139979&sc=emaf Similarly, the best children’s music explores issues that can spark good talks between parents and kids:
Putumayo Kids’ very own Mona Kayhan is interviewed on this fun site for dads this month: DadLabs.com OTHER KIDS’ MUSIC NEWS/NEW RELEASES This fall, a brand new children’s music label is taking shape. Key folks from V2 Music (formerly owned by the legendary Richard Branson, but now entirely made in the USA) are launching Little Monster Records. The first release is a really cool Beatles tribute CD All Together Now, featuring artists as diverse as Rachael Yamagata, Marshall Crenshaw and The Bangles. Even Steve Conte of the New York Dolls shows up to sing along with the Little Monster Choir on these natural sing-along songs. All Together Now launches November 7th at all Barnes & Noble stores, and will be available to other retailers next spring. Next up from Little Monster will be releases from Gustafer Yellowgold (an amazing animated music DVD) and Medeski, Martin and Wood called Let’s Go Everywhere. A Soulville CD will follow, and the label plans to release a CD by Robert Schneider (of The Apples in Stereo) – under the moniker of Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine. Check out Gustafer Yellowgold and Robert Bobbert's show at Joe's Pub on November 4th visit www. gustaferyellowgold.com for details, or send me an email. Beethoven’s Wig is headed to Plymouth, New Hampshire for another symphony concert on October 27th – www.beethovenswig.com. We also just learned that the Cincinnati Symphony has booked Magic Maestro Music’s award-winning work for narrator and orchestra, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (adapted from the classic book). It will be performed on January 13th (see Cincinnati Symphony). A few of our clients won Parents’ Choice awards this month: Rounder took home kudos for Beethoven’s Wig 3 and Raffi’s Quiet Time. Trout Fishing in America won for their fantastic new live concert CD My Best Day and Magic Maestro Music for their wonderful recording with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (the latest in the Stories in Music series). See all the audio award winners at www.parents-choice.org CHECK IT OUT: As usual, Zooglobble’s host Stefan Shepherd offers the most current and brilliant news about unusual music for kids – I recommend daily visits to www.zooglobble. com. Also, a new webcast “radio” show called Gooney Bird Kids is a lot of fun. Visit Gwyneth’s site at http://gooneybirdkids.blogspot.com/ -also listenable on Live365. Paul Butler’s Imagination Parade show on WFDU in New Jersey has been a family favorite for years, and I’m only just re-discovering it. Visit the show at www.wfdu.org. And “Uncle Chris” Trochez has revived his excellent show on WTUL in New Orleans on Saturday morning – www.thekidsshow.com. Sadly for NYC, Greasy Kid Stuff with Belinda and Hova has broadcast its final show on WFMU in Hoboken, The good news is they've moved GKS to 94.7 KNRK in Portland, OR – catch them on Saturday mornings: Greasy Kid Stuff. NEXT MONTH: Rounder Records signs Peter Himmelman for new CD release in February 2007. Putumayo Kids relaxes us all with a new Asian Dreamland collection of soothing songs. -- Beth Cool Music for Kids NEWS - September 2006 Last week, a friend mentioned that her mother had just purchased the new Fisher Price Song & Story Player for her 5 year old daughter. Her daughter loves it – and I’m proud to say that several of my clients have songs featured on this great new digital music product for kids. Check it out at Fisher Price Player. You’ll find tunes by Trout Fishing in America, Beethoven’s Wig, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Buck Howdy and Elizabeth Mitchell, among other greats. Jay Sweet, a contributor to Paste magazine, selected the tunes. A few other new tidbits to share: • Ahoy, matey! Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming up on September 19th, and I’m helping promote the first ever Portland Pirate Festival, which is on September 23rd – www. portlandpiratefestival.com. Portland is surely one of the most pirate-friendly towns in the world. I can’t wait to hit the deck of the tall ship Lynx, which just sailed across the Pacific toward Portland. Captain Bogg & Salty is slated to entertain the crowd - www.eatalime.com. Speaking of pirates, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer just launched a fantastic new website, complete with a blog, which features a “Real Pirate Dictionary for Real Pirates” Pirate Dictionary.pdf. If you haven’t already gotten my email about this, now’s the time to check out the interactive musical fun at SongShop. You may even learn to yodel like Bette Midler and Taylor Ware. This dynamic duo of Grammy Award-winning divas is also about to release their music videos on DVD for the first time ever. A new parenting blog run by the San Francisco Chronicle cracks me up. It was created by four Chronicle writers who used to go out a lot, and then had children. My Bay Area friends Asheba and Charity and the JAMband are featured. I can’t believe that a former member of Camper Van Beethoven is getting into kids’ music. Check it out at SF Poop. For any parents trying to raise street-smart kids who still know how to enjoy life, you’ll find Anna Quindlen’s Newsweek column of great interest. As she says, “We live at a time when we can't afford to let them accept the Samaritan's ride. But we also can't afford to think that Samaritans don't exist.” LINK And, hey, music can brighten anyone’s outlook on life, so take a look at these fantastic new releases: • Elizabeth Mitchell –You Are My Little Bird – Smithsonian Folkways has smartly signed this wonderful artist. As the label notes, Once in a great while we encounter an artist who stands consciously and directly in the tradition of children's music that Folkways has carried for nearly 60 years, and Elizabeth Mitchell is one such artist. Her lovely voice brings a fresh sound to cherished American folk songs and other melodies from around the world. In a peaceful yet powerful way, she reintroduces us to the songs we thought we knew so well. The CD features Mitchell’s homespun renditions of songs by Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, The Velvet Underground, Vashti Bunyan, Gillian Welch and more. It includes a must-read 28- page booklet and subtly beautiful cover art. You Are My Little Bird is the featured CD as Fisher Price launches that new Song & Story Player I just told you about. More at Folkways and Elizabeth's site. See Elizabeth perform at a Putumayo Kids concert with Brady Rymer at WXPN’s World Café Live in Philadelphia on September 23rd! Elizabeth joins an amazing roster of music available from Smithsonian Folkways. The label is also releasing Sam Hinton’s classic 1964 recording. Whoever Shall Have Some Good Peanuts, on CD for the first time. I am amazed at the cult following for Sam, who also had a long career as a marine biologist. Check out Sam's fan site to find out more. Coming next month: The Ultrasonic, Super Fantastic Kids Day Weekend, a free festival featuring great music by Justin Roberts, Captain Bogg & Salty and Yosi, will land October 7-8 at the PNC Arts Center. If you live anywhere near northern New Jersey, you won’t want to miss it. www.kidsdayweekend.com Putumayo Kids will release two new CDs this fall: New Orleans Playground and Asian Dreamland. CD sales always benefit non-profit groups that help children. I’ll give you more details on these great new releases next month. See this and other news at www.putumayokids.com. In October, I’ll also have news about an exciting new children’s music label launching from V2-Artemis Records. The first release is a surprising collection of artists covering Beatles tunes. More on that soon! Cool Music for Kids NEWS - August 2006 The blogosphere and the web in general is blossoming with news about kids’ music. Check these out: • Zooglobble http://zooglobble.blogspot.com/ – Arizona dad Stefan Shepherd writes intelligently about kids’ music, and lots of people tune in. He was recently featured on NPR, where he spotlighted the renaissance in music for kids. • The Lovely Mrs. Davis lovelydavis.blogspot.com/ – This kid culture blogger and Ohio mom writes about everything under the sun, including commentary on kids’ music and videos. Mrs. Davis is also going to be a regular contributor to www.coolmompicks.com. NPR just aired a stop-in-your-tracks radio piece about kids and media, starting with a discussion of the popularity of Kidz Bop CDs. It’s definitely worth a listen, and you can hear the story at the NPR website: "Tweens and Media: What’s Too Adult?” NPR STORY For more resources about children’s music, I recommend you visit www.childrensmusic.org www.bestchildrensmusic.com and www.kidzmusic.com. These sites are hosted by three of the most knowledgeable people in children’s music: PJ Swift, Fred Koch and John Wood, respectively. Fran Grauman’s newish website, www.kidsmusic.about.com is another great resource for up-to-the minute kids’ music news and reviews. All of these sites showcase music – from top labels and many smaller indie artists of note. We’re proud to say two of our clients are performing at Kidzapalooza (the kids’ stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago) this month: Asheba (for Putumayo Kids – www.putumayokids.com) and Justin Roberts www.justinroberts.org. Justin’s also going to appear on the “Today” show on August 22nd to celebrate the release of Putumayo Kids’ CD Folk Playground. What a small world it is! We’ve got lots of great CDs coming out soon. Last month, we spotlighted the new August releases from Verve (Baby Loves Jazz), Magic Maestro Music (Sorcerer’s Apprentice), Toucan Jam (A World of Music) and Yosi (What’s Eatin’ Yosi?). Don’t miss these extra-fun releases, effectively promoting the concept of carpe diem: • SteveSongs – Marvelous Day (August 22nd) – Rounder Records just signed this kid favorite dynamo. Steve Roslonek is one of the hardest-working artists we know, performing in hundreds of shows each year. Smart and sassy, catchy and fun, these jazzy rock songs have been tested and approved by the toughest audience on the planet -- kids. Steve blends participatory songs, clever stories and great melodies into an experience that leads young listeners on what the Boston Globe calls “not just a musical journey but an entertaining, interactive and educational one.” Winner of the prestigious Parents’ Choice Gold Award, Marvelous Day is SteveSongs’ fifth CD. www.rounder.com and www.stevesongs.com • Trout Fishing in America – My Best Day (September 12th) – Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimwood have received many national honors including two Grammy nominations, and widespread critical acclaim. Their CDs are always a treat, but to get the freshest take on this dynamic duo’s musical talent, it’s essential to hear them perform live. This new release captures the excitement and genius of their performances. The title song, and three other tunes on this CD, originated in workshops with young students. Perhaps that explains the continuing “cool” factor of Trout Fishing in America. www.troutmusic.com BIG NEWS SOON from Smithsonian Folkways www.folkways.si.edu – This venerable label will soon release two excellent CDs: Whoever Shall Have Some Good Peanuts by Sam Hinton and You Are My Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell. You’ll hear more about these two very soon. Also, Putumayo Kids is going to release New Orleans Playground in late October. It’ll transport you to the musical milieu of the Big Easy. Putumayo has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hurricane Katrina relief, and this new release benefits the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Next month, I’ll tell you more. To request review copies and more information about any of these great new music releases, please contact Beth or Peggy at 503.293.9498 or sugarmountainnews@msn.com. Cool Music for Kids News - July 2006 Long car trips, rainy days and lazy summer hours are here, and what better way to pass the time than with great tunes that everyone can enjoy? We’ve come across some interesting articles that spotlight trends in family music. You’re sure to find some gems here: • Check out Gregory Keer, the Family Man Online, and his recommendations for summer listening at www.familymanonline.com. • Scott Lamb of Salon.com has a thoughtfully comprehensive piece about the state of children’s music, posted at http://www.salon.com/ent/music/feature/2006/06/24/kindie/ • And Stephen Busemeyer of the Hartford Courant (who hopes to syndicate his kids’ music reviews soon) just posted this fine trend piece: http://www.courant.com/hc-kidsmusic. artjul02,0,1107113.story?track=mostemailedlink Children’s music is indeed experiencing an amazing renaissance period, and Sugar Mountain PR is happy to be part of the trend. We’ve told you about great new music releases from Putumayo Kids, Rounder Records, Justin Roberts, Asheba and a host of other great artists and labels so far this year. Here’s what’s coming up in August: Baby Loves Jazz: Go Baby Go – (Verve Music Group) – This snappy new CD sets a groovy groove and launches an exciting new “Baby Loves Music” series from Verve. Penguin Books is also publishing a Baby Loves Jazz picture book series this fall. Featuring performances by Sharon Jones and John Medeski, with arrangements by Steven Bernstein, this is top-notch family entertainment. Music industry veteran Andy Blackman Hurwitz is producing Baby Loves Music CDs to introduce children to different genres without dumbing down the content or presentation; it’s real music played by real musicians. www.ververecords.com The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Magic Maestro Music) – This will be the latest release in the acclaimed “Stories in Music” series, featuring performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Simon. A full-color program book with activity ideas make this a great way to introduce children ages 5-12 to symphonic music – and to hone those listening skills during the summer. www.magicmaestromusic.com What’s Eatin’ Yosi (Yosi and Yosi Music) Pull up a chair and fill up on this bowlful of 16 musical surprises from Yosi, whose all-ages tunes have been acclaimed by the New York Times as “whimsical and genre spanning.” Catch Yosi and the SuperDads at many summer festivals and concerts this month and next. You can also contribute your favorite family recipes to his new “Eats” page on the website: www.yosimusic.com A World of Music (Toucan Jam) – This unique release blends globe-trekking sensibilities and expert musicianship with a kid-friendly message. Through story and song, Toucan Jam aims to excite young listeners about other cultures and gently guide them in their role as global citizens. Toucan Jam is multi-instrumentalist Kelly Mulhollan and singer/violinist Donna Stjerna. Keith Grimwood from Trout Fishing in America joins in for several tracks. www.toucanjam.net Speaking of Trout Fishing in America (www.troutmusic.com), don’t miss their upcoming fall release of a new live concert recording –My Best Day. More soon! |
Fall 2007 Cool Music for Kids News
FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO SHARE FAMILY MUSIC
If summer is the family concert time of year, fall is a time when the year's harvest of great family music releases is at its peak:
Baby Loves Jazz Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & 2 –Produced by legendary Philadelphia DJ King Britt, is the first release from a brand new Baby Loves Music
label, created by Andy Blackman Hurwitz, co-founder of Baby Loves Disco and owner of Ropeadope Records. This 2-CD gift set includes a colorful poster
and a coloring sheet. Check out Baby Loves Jazz online for more information about this and future releases.
Buck Howdy, one of family music’s most acclaimed recording artists, partners with his sidekick BB to release a brand-new collection of tunes that will have the
whole family bopping along to jazzy big band sounds. Chickens, offering up a barnyard full of original and favorite Western swing-style family tunes. BB is the
rootin’ tootin’ -est cowgirl around, and she has lent her bright harmonies to live Buck Howdy concerts for years. Now, BB makes the 15 songs on Chickens fly,
sharing lead vocals with Buck on several tunes. Buck even tries out the trombone!
Putumayo Kids offers two great new releases this fall, each of which introduce kids to a world of musical treats:
Brazilian Playground-- Samba, bossa nova and forró are among Brazil’s most popular and accessible musical styles for adults and children alike. This new CD
features these and other engaging rhythms which reflect the country’s diverse culture and easygoing way of life. A portion of Putumayo's proceeds from the
sale of this CD will be donated to the Axé Project in support of its efforts to educate and defend the rights of disadvantaged Brazilian children.
Celtic Dreamland – The latest in Putumayo Kids’ acclaimed Dreamland collection, these songs will sooth even the most wintry nights. While its power to lull
listeners to a restful state is it’s best feature, it also provides a great introduction to music from Ireland, Scotland and Canada, with many pieces sung in Gaelic.
The Secret Mountain also offers up a new lullaby collection, a whimsical mix called Down by the Sea Hotel. Various Red House Records artists perform the
bedtime title-song originally penned by Greg Brown. Performers on the other 13 tunes include Guy Davis, Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, The
Wailin’ Jennys and Lynn Miles. This imaginative release is available as a book/CD set or an audio-only digipak.
Shout! Factory is getting into kids’ music in a big way, with two October releases that will have wide distribution across North America:
NAPPA Presents: Classic Animal Songs- These 14 timeless tunes, a delightful sampling of some of the wittiest children’s recording artists, have all won Gold
awards from NAPPA, the National Parenting Publications Awards . Artists include Dan Zanes, Raffi, Peter Himmelman, Jessica Harper, Grammy®-Award
winners Cathy & Marcy, Craig ‘n Co, Parachute Express and Trout Fishing in America.
Songs about animals also energize Every Child Deserves A Lifetime: Songs from the ‘For Our Children’ Series, with a portion of sales benefiting the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. With 18 songs in all, you’ll also travel on a magical airship and enjoy blueberry pie with some of the top
recording artists ever. It features an A list”of top stars including Bob Dylan, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Bette Midler, Faith Hill and Brian Wilson.
OUT NOW ON DVD: Suzi Shelton LIVE! at Southpaw - The excitement of a live Suzi Shelton concert comes to the small screen with this new music video,
taped live at Brooklyn’s acclaimed Southpaw nightclub, renowned lately for its family-friendly events. Suzi and her hip young band perform hits from the multi
award winning 2005 CD Simply Suzi as well as newer rock and roll winners from her follow up CD No Ordinary Day, due early 2008.
As always, I highly recommend these sites if you want to discover and purchase unusual kids’ music:
FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO SHARE FAMILY MUSIC
If summer is the family concert time of year, fall is a time when the year's harvest of great family music releases is at its peak:
Baby Loves Jazz Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & 2 –Produced by legendary Philadelphia DJ King Britt, is the first release from a brand new Baby Loves Music
label, created by Andy Blackman Hurwitz, co-founder of Baby Loves Disco and owner of Ropeadope Records. This 2-CD gift set includes a colorful poster
and a coloring sheet. Check out Baby Loves Jazz online for more information about this and future releases.
Buck Howdy, one of family music’s most acclaimed recording artists, partners with his sidekick BB to release a brand-new collection of tunes that will have the
whole family bopping along to jazzy big band sounds. Chickens, offering up a barnyard full of original and favorite Western swing-style family tunes. BB is the
rootin’ tootin’ -est cowgirl around, and she has lent her bright harmonies to live Buck Howdy concerts for years. Now, BB makes the 15 songs on Chickens fly,
sharing lead vocals with Buck on several tunes. Buck even tries out the trombone!
Putumayo Kids offers two great new releases this fall, each of which introduce kids to a world of musical treats:
Brazilian Playground-- Samba, bossa nova and forró are among Brazil’s most popular and accessible musical styles for adults and children alike. This new CD
features these and other engaging rhythms which reflect the country’s diverse culture and easygoing way of life. A portion of Putumayo's proceeds from the
sale of this CD will be donated to the Axé Project in support of its efforts to educate and defend the rights of disadvantaged Brazilian children.
Celtic Dreamland – The latest in Putumayo Kids’ acclaimed Dreamland collection, these songs will sooth even the most wintry nights. While its power to lull
listeners to a restful state is it’s best feature, it also provides a great introduction to music from Ireland, Scotland and Canada, with many pieces sung in Gaelic.
The Secret Mountain also offers up a new lullaby collection, a whimsical mix called Down by the Sea Hotel. Various Red House Records artists perform the
bedtime title-song originally penned by Greg Brown. Performers on the other 13 tunes include Guy Davis, Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, The
Wailin’ Jennys and Lynn Miles. This imaginative release is available as a book/CD set or an audio-only digipak.
Shout! Factory is getting into kids’ music in a big way, with two October releases that will have wide distribution across North America:
NAPPA Presents: Classic Animal Songs- These 14 timeless tunes, a delightful sampling of some of the wittiest children’s recording artists, have all won Gold
awards from NAPPA, the National Parenting Publications Awards . Artists include Dan Zanes, Raffi, Peter Himmelman, Jessica Harper, Grammy®-Award
winners Cathy & Marcy, Craig ‘n Co, Parachute Express and Trout Fishing in America.
Songs about animals also energize Every Child Deserves A Lifetime: Songs from the ‘For Our Children’ Series, with a portion of sales benefiting the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. With 18 songs in all, you’ll also travel on a magical airship and enjoy blueberry pie with some of the top
recording artists ever. It features an A list”of top stars including Bob Dylan, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Bette Midler, Faith Hill and Brian Wilson.
OUT NOW ON DVD: Suzi Shelton LIVE! at Southpaw - The excitement of a live Suzi Shelton concert comes to the small screen with this new music video,
taped live at Brooklyn’s acclaimed Southpaw nightclub, renowned lately for its family-friendly events. Suzi and her hip young band perform hits from the multi
award winning 2005 CD Simply Suzi as well as newer rock and roll winners from her follow up CD No Ordinary Day, due early 2008.
As always, I highly recommend these sites if you want to discover and purchase unusual kids’ music:
| Cool Music for Kids News 2011: Fall into Sing-Alongs, Music Play and Some Very Sweet Tunes Fall is upon us, and it's a busy musical season ahead. As the winds howl and the rain pelts down, it's time to head indoors for a family hootenanny. There's no better guide to sing-alongs this fall than Alastair Moock. This rootsy Boston artist's second family music record, These Are My Friends comes out next week. This collection of warm new songs just won a NAPPA Gold Award, and it's getting great reviews all over the place. The multi-talented Mr. Moock gathered a host of musical friends (Mark Erelli, Lori McKenna, Anand Nayak, Vanessa Trien and Rani Arbo to name a few) for this release. If you watch Alastair in action on his new "These Are My Friends" video, you'll realize that this musical father of two surely knows how to enjoy his kids. Indoor play can seem freewheeling and aimless, but it is actually essential to a kid's development. After all, play is a child's business. Chicago-based early childhood specialist and banjo-playing songwriter Jim Gill is a wizard at blending music, lyrics and playful activities for kids and parents to share. These songs and activities are not only fun, they'll enhance a young child's verbal and motor skills. Jim's forthcoming CD/DVD set Music Play for Kids of All Stripes offers several new songs and music videos designed to open the possibilities for play, physical movement and active expression. Clap-alongs, finger plays, pretend games and imaginative dances round out the fun of this new release. Jim has dozens of free concerts planned for the fall and winter. By now, kids are firmly back to their books and pencils. The elementary school aged curriculum often focuses on the heroes of history. The Deedle Deedle Dees, an educational rock band from Brooklyn, NY, are about to release a new CD Strange Dees, Indeed. Each catchy piece is based upon something from history, science and folklore, and the Dees offer a fresh perspective even on the most familiar people and places. Dees band leader Lloyd Miller (aka Ulysses S. Dee) performs hundreds of workshops and sing-alongs in schools around NYC and the Northeast. His enthusiasm for history and folklore excites even the most reluctant learners to discover more about people like Cool Papa Bell, Abigail Adams, Sacagawea and Henry Hudson, not to mention Mayor LaGuardia's big belly. Meanwhile, Chip Taylor, the songwriter known for such hits as "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning" (not to mention being Jon Voight's brother) brings his family into the act with Golden Kids Rules (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings). Highlighting the idea that a child has a unique and special perspective in the world, this album melds the husky, time-worn vocals and the musical instincts of a seasoned performer with the charming artistry of his three young grandchildren. It'll be available on October 18th. Watch for the cover story in Grand magazine in November. Cool nights call for soft songs, and the new Songs from the Baobob: African Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from The Secret Mountain will waft you away to a comforting and quiet place. The haunting pieces are performed in 10 languages from mothers and children from various countries and cultures of Africa. The colorfully illustrated book features the CD insert, a map, and translations of each lullabye and rhyme. It's entrancing and significant. We're very excited, too, about the November release of Portland-based artist Laura Veirs' first family music CD, Tumble Bee. The recording covers a wide range of folk songs, from early 20th century work songs to the ballads of Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Peggy Seeger and Harry Belafonte. Guest artists include Colin Meloy (Decemberists), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Bela Fleck and Brian Blade (drummer for Bob Dylan) among many others. As Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Elizabeth Mitchell says, "This is a luminous, smart, essential and truly extraordinary album." I think you'll agree that the cover art by Carson Ellis makes purchasing the full CD a wise investment. |
Cool Music for Kids News: Spring 2012
These Springy Tunes Will Please Your Ears
We've been busy all winter, talking to artists as they've been writing and recording new songs. It's amazing to us how many tuneful choices will be
available for discerning kids and families this spring and summer. There's so much to say about what's in store for you, that we'll just come out of
hibernation and shout about it:
April
The Pop Ups release their second family music CD, Radio Jungle, on April 3rd. Several reviewers and DJs are already choosing this polished, sonically
cohesive and approachable collection of songs as a "best" for 2012. Let us know if you'd like to hear this new pop classic. The Pop Ups have also been
busy crafting a brand new stage show, the follow-up to their acclaimed "PASTA" puppet musical. The theatrical version of Radio Jungle will debut at
Littlefield art space in Brooklyn on April 22nd. Details to come. (Note: Littlefield is also the site of Kindiefest, the fourth annual family music industry
conference, April 27-29.)
May
This is the time when new children's music explodes like a late-spring garden. Here is just a sampling of what our clients are sprouting in May.
The Okee Dokee Brothers ~ Joe and Justin's epic journey down the Mississippi River has resulted in a transcendent music-and-DVD release that'll have
their fans shouting Can You Canoe? to all of their friends. (May 15). Review copies are available now!
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band ~ This adorable traveling family band will release a second full-length collection of their bright and catchy
original songs (including one in Spanish!). It feels like a joyous, summery neighborhood block party: A Potluck (May 15).
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo ~ Skidoo’s third studio release, Make Believers, on his own new Underground Playground label, fuses empowering messages with
traditional hip hop beats and a dizzying range of musical styles, from punky-garage rock to funky-vintage R&B and even salsa rhythms. (May 22)
Putumayo Kids ~ Cowboy Playground will be the next release from the prolific purveyor of international music. This time, little buckaroos can dance to
tunes by 12 artists (Johnny Bregar, Victor Johnson, Buck Howdy and Riders in the Sky among them) featured on this rousing kid-friendly Americana
collection of tunes from far and wide. (May 29)
Dog on Fleas ~ This Woodstock based band, headed up by über kindie music producer Dean Jones, presents loose, energetic and rhythmic music that's
hard to resist. Look for more news about their Invisible Friends release soon.
Randy Kaplan ~ Two years in the making, Randy will release his kid-friendly exploration of American blues, Mister Diddie Wah Diddie, on the new
myKaZoo Music label (Universal, summer).
Sugar Free Allstars ~ In between recording fun songs with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and Recess Monkey (one of which was featured on a Grammy winning
CD for kids), the funkiest duo in kids' music will release a new CD, All on a Sunday Afternoon, on June 5th.
The Secret Mountain ~ With a growing catalog of gorgeously illustrated storybooks packaged with lovingly produced music CDs, this Montreal based
publisher recently adapted some of their titles into iPad apps. In June, The Secret Mountain will present the next book-CD in their lullaby and nursery
rhyme series: Songs in the Key of the Flamboyant Tree, this time featuring soothing Caribbean-Creole sounds and images. It's magical and unique, to say
the least.
Also coming in early summer are exciting, multilingual musical releases from Mister G and Aaron Nigel Smith. Stay tunes for more news soon.
Recent Release Updates
It's nearly Earth Day, and Nature Jams by Farmer Jason is the perfect gift for young ecologists. The good farmer is raking in kudos from parents and critics
alike. Dadnabbit posted an interview with Jason, and the growing list of reviews are on the website. Jason will soon be featured on legendary critic Dave
Marsh's Sirius-XM "Kick Out the Jams" radio show. Next week, he will be interviewed on NBC TV, Nashville's legendary WSM radio and Great American
Country television. Have you heard his songs, or seen his music videos on myKaZootv?
Is the election getting you down? Ellis Paul spotlights some true American heroes with The Hero in You. Ellis' smart lyrics and engaging melodies were
featured on a recent Kids Rock Nashville show, and you may read what a Chicago Sun-Times writer has to say about these songs, which inspire the right
kind of patriotism.
Happy Spring!
Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR beth@sugarmountainpr.com
Tweets! at BethBC
PS: Have you noticed our “2 Tunes 2 Ways” blog posts at BunchFamily?
These Springy Tunes Will Please Your Ears
We've been busy all winter, talking to artists as they've been writing and recording new songs. It's amazing to us how many tuneful choices will be
available for discerning kids and families this spring and summer. There's so much to say about what's in store for you, that we'll just come out of
hibernation and shout about it:
April
The Pop Ups release their second family music CD, Radio Jungle, on April 3rd. Several reviewers and DJs are already choosing this polished, sonically
cohesive and approachable collection of songs as a "best" for 2012. Let us know if you'd like to hear this new pop classic. The Pop Ups have also been
busy crafting a brand new stage show, the follow-up to their acclaimed "PASTA" puppet musical. The theatrical version of Radio Jungle will debut at
Littlefield art space in Brooklyn on April 22nd. Details to come. (Note: Littlefield is also the site of Kindiefest, the fourth annual family music industry
conference, April 27-29.)
May
This is the time when new children's music explodes like a late-spring garden. Here is just a sampling of what our clients are sprouting in May.
The Okee Dokee Brothers ~ Joe and Justin's epic journey down the Mississippi River has resulted in a transcendent music-and-DVD release that'll have
their fans shouting Can You Canoe? to all of their friends. (May 15). Review copies are available now!
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band ~ This adorable traveling family band will release a second full-length collection of their bright and catchy
original songs (including one in Spanish!). It feels like a joyous, summery neighborhood block party: A Potluck (May 15).
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo ~ Skidoo’s third studio release, Make Believers, on his own new Underground Playground label, fuses empowering messages with
traditional hip hop beats and a dizzying range of musical styles, from punky-garage rock to funky-vintage R&B and even salsa rhythms. (May 22)
Putumayo Kids ~ Cowboy Playground will be the next release from the prolific purveyor of international music. This time, little buckaroos can dance to
tunes by 12 artists (Johnny Bregar, Victor Johnson, Buck Howdy and Riders in the Sky among them) featured on this rousing kid-friendly Americana
collection of tunes from far and wide. (May 29)
Dog on Fleas ~ This Woodstock based band, headed up by über kindie music producer Dean Jones, presents loose, energetic and rhythmic music that's
hard to resist. Look for more news about their Invisible Friends release soon.
Randy Kaplan ~ Two years in the making, Randy will release his kid-friendly exploration of American blues, Mister Diddie Wah Diddie, on the new
myKaZoo Music label (Universal, summer).
Sugar Free Allstars ~ In between recording fun songs with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and Recess Monkey (one of which was featured on a Grammy winning
CD for kids), the funkiest duo in kids' music will release a new CD, All on a Sunday Afternoon, on June 5th.
The Secret Mountain ~ With a growing catalog of gorgeously illustrated storybooks packaged with lovingly produced music CDs, this Montreal based
publisher recently adapted some of their titles into iPad apps. In June, The Secret Mountain will present the next book-CD in their lullaby and nursery
rhyme series: Songs in the Key of the Flamboyant Tree, this time featuring soothing Caribbean-Creole sounds and images. It's magical and unique, to say
the least.
Also coming in early summer are exciting, multilingual musical releases from Mister G and Aaron Nigel Smith. Stay tunes for more news soon.
Recent Release Updates
It's nearly Earth Day, and Nature Jams by Farmer Jason is the perfect gift for young ecologists. The good farmer is raking in kudos from parents and critics
alike. Dadnabbit posted an interview with Jason, and the growing list of reviews are on the website. Jason will soon be featured on legendary critic Dave
Marsh's Sirius-XM "Kick Out the Jams" radio show. Next week, he will be interviewed on NBC TV, Nashville's legendary WSM radio and Great American
Country television. Have you heard his songs, or seen his music videos on myKaZootv?
Is the election getting you down? Ellis Paul spotlights some true American heroes with The Hero in You. Ellis' smart lyrics and engaging melodies were
featured on a recent Kids Rock Nashville show, and you may read what a Chicago Sun-Times writer has to say about these songs, which inspire the right
kind of patriotism.
Happy Spring!
Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR beth@sugarmountainpr.com
Tweets! at BethBC
PS: Have you noticed our “2 Tunes 2 Ways” blog posts at BunchFamily?
Cool Music for Kids News: October 2012 www.sugarmountainpr.com Smart family music is dropping as colorfully as the leaves this month. The Secret Mountain, purveyor of gorgeously illustrated stories-with-books, releases the latest in their international lullaby and nursery rhyme collection. Out this week is Songs in the Shade of the Olive Tree, with 30 entrancing tracks from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, performed by singers from these lands. Lyrics are printed in Arabic and English, and the hardcover, colorfully illustrated book includes a CD. The Montreal-based label has just won two awards from Parents' Choice plus a NAPPA Award for other releases in their growing collection. Putumayo Kids continues to present engaging and accessible world and American roots tunes for families. In one of the most active seasons since the label’s launch in 1999, the company has announced its first-ever digital release of four of their albums with LeapFrog; a new World Playground series on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live radio; a Putumayo Kids Children of the World 2013 calendar; and World Sing-Along CD, due out October 30th. Elizabeth Mitchell's summer release, Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie has won Gold Awards from both Parents' Choice and NAPPA this fall. On October 23, Elizabeth will release a new collection of original and tenderly rendered cover songs from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. About.com hails it as a masterpiece and "one of the best kids' CDs of 2012. David Tobocman just released a new collection of his original tunes. See why Randy Kaplan calls David "a world-class musician and songwriter," and Brady Rymer says these new songs are "melodically rich and endearing as a smile" at www.veryhelpfulsongs.com. David is also offering a FREE Halloween song download. "Spooky Stuff" was co-written by David's daughter Zoe. With a background in children’s literature, plus a GRAMMY® nomination for his kids’ songs, Zak Morgan brings all of his life experiences and a simple delight in words and music to his fourth family music album, The Barber of the Beasts, available on October 30 from the new Universal Music Enterprises label myKaZoo. Zak is the latest artist signed to the label, and he will join fellow artists on the roster for a PBS TV special airing this holiday season. His music videos are in high rotation on myKaZooTV. Next month, we'll share news about Justin Roberts' first-ever Lullaby album, plus some holiday treats and previews of what'll be coming in early 2013. Music Videos that We Love Speaking of myKaZooTV, Aaron Nigel Smith launched his live-action video for "Man Gave Names" on the music video channel for kids. His zippy version of the Bob Dylan classic. Can you guess who the puppets on this video represent? The Portland branch of the One World Chorus chimes in. The Harmonica Pocket's "Diaperman" is heating up on kids' radio shows nationwide. Their wry environmentally conscious story-song is worth a look. It's also posting on myKaZooTV. This band walks the talk: all of The Harmonica Pocket's songs are produced in their solar-powered studio. The amazing Gimbel Family has generated a national following for their hilarious fan videos featuring some of the top acts in kindie music. We've already rocked along to their excellently directed videos for songs by Bill Harley and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. Check out the newly posted one for Ozomatli's OzoKidz song "Moose on the Loose." Mister G continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (through October 15th) and his new CD Chocolalala. We love how the kids react to his onstage energy in this video of the title song. Mister G plans shows soon at Coolidge Corner near Boston and the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA. New apps for your play and learning time Sugar Mountain PR is finally entering the 21st century. Our clients are way ahead of us, releasing brand new apps you'll want to check out. No more couch potatoes! Check the mike, scratch that track, spin the disco ball and dance along! Baby Loves Disco partnered with H&M for their brand new and FREE Disco Boogie app, available from the iTunes store now. Three Putumayo Kids CDs are now available as apps from LeapFrog: European Playground, Jazz Playground and Cowboy Playground. World Sing-Along will debut there on November 6. Grammaropolis will release a new series of apps based on their award-winning interactive website. Check out the iTunes store to try out the Word Sort app with kids ages 7 and up. We want to hear what you think. Please contact us: REVIEW COPIES: Peggy Gansberg, sugarmountainnews@msn.com INFORMATION/INTERVIEW REQUESTS, ARTWORK: Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR, beth@sugarmountainpr.com PS: Have you noticed our “2 Tunes 2 Ways” blog posts at BunchFamily? Head back Home August 2012 releases from Sugar Mountain PR clients * Barry G and the Dream Jam Kids—Huh-uh – www.mykazootv.com artist from the Dream Jam Band. This is Barry’s first solo CD on the myKaZoo Music label. Due July 31. Barry is a music educator based in Westchester County, NY (near NYC). The CD was produced by Grammy nominee Rick Chertoff. * The Harmonica Pocket – Apple Apple - a solar-powered Puget Sound based band, will release their third family music CD on August 14th. The 14 songs on Apple Apple reflect the band’s deep connections to the natural world as well as the humor and wonder of childhood. This truly green recording was produced off the grid at The Harmonica Pocket’s solar-powered studios. www.harmonicapocket.com Coming in September! * Aaron Nigel Smith - Welcome to the Village! * The Secret Mountain - W Is for Wapiti * Mister G - Chocolalala * Ozomatli Presents OzoKidz |
NEW SUMMER MUSIC - SUMMER 2007 NEWS
Peter and the Wolf – Magic Maestro Music presents the latest in their award-winning Stories in Music series. Prokofiev’s classic composition, designed to
introduce children to the instruments of the orchestra, comes to life with performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by former Kennedy
Center conductor Stephen Simon) and the remarkable Russian-American Trio Voronezh. After one listen, you and your child will be orchestral ! experts, ready
for that first symphony concert experience.
The Ballad of Phineas McBoof – Denver based musician/dad Cory Cullinan (aka Doctor Noize) offers up this year’s smartest rock opera for kids. Follow the
adventures of this rock and roll monkey and his International Band of Misunderstood Geniuses. The CD features top musicians and an array of instruments and
musical styles. XM Kids will premier the entire Ballad over the weekend of July 6-8, and the song “Banana” will be in heavy rotation this summer.
Everybody Plays Air Guitar – This month, Joe McDermott releases his fourth family music record, showcasing his amazing songwriting talents and adept
musicianship. This Austin based kid-pop artist will perform at the Strings in the Mountain festival in Colorado, at Jammin’ Java in Virginia, and in Minneapolis
and Des Moines this summer.
THE AMAZING ELLA JENKINS
Ella Jenkins is truly the First Lady of Children’s Music. This is her 50th anniversary with the venerable Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and she is still going
strong. She’s got a few summer concerts and workshops lined up and a tribute concert DVD is due out in late fall 2007.
COMING UP THIS FALL
The Secret Mountain, the Montreal-based producer of gorgeous books, CDs and DVDs for children, plans to release a beautifully illustrated book/CD set in
September: Down at the Sea Hotel with songs performed by artists including Guy Davis, Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson and Lynn Miles.
Also in September, Putumayo Kids will release Brazilian Playground – the latest in the
label’s award-winning collection of family-friendly international music. Discover the musical feast that is Brazil – with samba, bossa nova and forro styles. The
colorful liner notes will include a glossary, a map of Brazil, cultural information and photos of this musically rich country. The Putumayo Kids Animal
Playground tour, featuring Asheba, wraps up June 23rd after a 25-city tour attracting many thousands of parents and kids to the live concerts.
Andy Blackman Hurwitz, the genius co-founder of Baby Loves Disco will release Baby Loves Jazz: Greatest Hits, a two-CD gift set featuring real jazz music
by some of New
York’s top artists (Sharon Jones, Miles Griffin, John Ellis, Omer Avital and more). The CD set will be available in September at www.babylovesmusic.com and
everywhere else.
ONE MORE SUMMER TIP
If you’re looking for non-commercial videos to share with tots, check out the new releases in the Scholastic Video Collection. This DVD series has won more
awards than any other for its lovely adaptations of classic children’s books. My new favorite in the Collection is Arnie the Doughnut – who can resist a talking
pastry?
Peter and the Wolf – Magic Maestro Music presents the latest in their award-winning Stories in Music series. Prokofiev’s classic composition, designed to
introduce children to the instruments of the orchestra, comes to life with performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by former Kennedy
Center conductor Stephen Simon) and the remarkable Russian-American Trio Voronezh. After one listen, you and your child will be orchestral ! experts, ready
for that first symphony concert experience.
The Ballad of Phineas McBoof – Denver based musician/dad Cory Cullinan (aka Doctor Noize) offers up this year’s smartest rock opera for kids. Follow the
adventures of this rock and roll monkey and his International Band of Misunderstood Geniuses. The CD features top musicians and an array of instruments and
musical styles. XM Kids will premier the entire Ballad over the weekend of July 6-8, and the song “Banana” will be in heavy rotation this summer.
Everybody Plays Air Guitar – This month, Joe McDermott releases his fourth family music record, showcasing his amazing songwriting talents and adept
musicianship. This Austin based kid-pop artist will perform at the Strings in the Mountain festival in Colorado, at Jammin’ Java in Virginia, and in Minneapolis
and Des Moines this summer.
THE AMAZING ELLA JENKINS
Ella Jenkins is truly the First Lady of Children’s Music. This is her 50th anniversary with the venerable Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and she is still going
strong. She’s got a few summer concerts and workshops lined up and a tribute concert DVD is due out in late fall 2007.
COMING UP THIS FALL
The Secret Mountain, the Montreal-based producer of gorgeous books, CDs and DVDs for children, plans to release a beautifully illustrated book/CD set in
September: Down at the Sea Hotel with songs performed by artists including Guy Davis, Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson and Lynn Miles.
Also in September, Putumayo Kids will release Brazilian Playground – the latest in the
label’s award-winning collection of family-friendly international music. Discover the musical feast that is Brazil – with samba, bossa nova and forro styles. The
colorful liner notes will include a glossary, a map of Brazil, cultural information and photos of this musically rich country. The Putumayo Kids Animal
Playground tour, featuring Asheba, wraps up June 23rd after a 25-city tour attracting many thousands of parents and kids to the live concerts.
Andy Blackman Hurwitz, the genius co-founder of Baby Loves Disco will release Baby Loves Jazz: Greatest Hits, a two-CD gift set featuring real jazz music
by some of New
York’s top artists (Sharon Jones, Miles Griffin, John Ellis, Omer Avital and more). The CD set will be available in September at www.babylovesmusic.com and
everywhere else.
ONE MORE SUMMER TIP
If you’re looking for non-commercial videos to share with tots, check out the new releases in the Scholastic Video Collection. This DVD series has won more
awards than any other for its lovely adaptations of classic children’s books. My new favorite in the Collection is Arnie the Doughnut – who can resist a talking
pastry?