Sorry to steal your lyrics, Baby Boomers, but: Something's happening here; what it is ain't exactly clear...
It's true. Something is happening. Unlike what was happening in the Buffalo Springfield song, this is something good happening. (By the way, did you know the name of that song is actually "For What It's Worth"? That is today's music history mini-lesson.)
The Salon.com article "Kindie Rock" from a couple weeks ago got me thinking more and more about recent happenings in children's music. The comments on that article also provide a lot of food for thought, and one in particular really got to me: "Either you just became a father and this is suddenly news to you or you were up against a deadline. The rest of us have been listening to wonderful music for children without wanting to die for decades." It was signed Mr. Get A. Clue (actually just "get a clue" but Get A. Clue is much funnier, don't you agree?). Sad, because such an authoritative statement deserves full credit to the person behind it.
I totally disagree with Mr. Clue, by the way.
Sure, Mr. Clue has probably been listening to some decent kids' music in decades past - Trout Fishing in America has been around since the 1990's, and way before that there were folk artists like Leadbelly and Pete Seeger who made music for families to enjoy together. But there is something new happening with children's music. Something that happened when Baby Boomers passed the parenting baton to Gen X, right around the turn of the century. Artists are making more sophisticated music. Parents are seeking it out. And the media is just starting to catch on to what a big thing this could be.
Mr. Clue so inspired me, that I've spent some time over the last few days researching what exactly has happened in recent years to bring the children's music genre to the place where it is today. I've thrown in some personal milestones to give this all some context. Check this out:
1990
For Our Children album is released. This early children's music compilation includes Little Richard singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and Paul McCartney singing "Mary Had a Little Lamb". A 10th anniversary edition was released in 1999. The album is geared toward Baby Boomer parents. Many Gen Xer's, including The Lovely Mrs. Davis (at that time The Lovely Ms. X), were still in college or grad school.
1993
Jerry Garcia releases Not for Kids Only with David Grisman.
The Lovely Mrs. Davis gets married at La Petite Wedding Chapel outside Atlanta, Georgia.
2000
March - Mrs. Davis gives birth to first child (Gen X poster child is now a parent).
November - Dan Zanes releases Rocket Ship Beach.
2001
February - Ralph's World releases self-titled first album.
2002 - Gen X begins to impact children's music in a big way
For the Kids is released, a compilation album geared toward Gen X parent tastes, featuring Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, and Dan Zanes.
June - They Might Be Giants releases No!
November - Dan Zanes releases Night Time!
2004
Noggin begins running music videos between shows.
August - Zooglobble blog launches with 2-3 posts per month.
2005
February - TMBG releases Here Come the ABC's and performs “Alphabet of Nations” on Conan O’Brien.
March - Mrs. Davis gives birth to second child (Gen X poster child is now well-established in adulthood).
July - Mrs. Davis sees TMBG and Justin Roberts live in Cleveland.
August - Spare the Rock podcast blog launches.
October - "Jack’s Big Music Show" premieres on Noggin.
- The Lovely Mrs. Davis Tell You What to Think blog launches.
January 2006
((sm))all ages blog launches.
The Lovely Mrs. Davis resumes blogging after 2-month break.
Zooglobble begins more frequent posting.
February 2006
We Are….The Laurie Berkner Band released on DVD.
Zooglobble, ((sm))all ages, Spare the Rock, and The Lovely Mrs. Davis are all active blogs with frequent posting about children's music.
March 2006
The top three slots on the Billboard album chart are held by kids records - Disney's "High School Musical" Soundtrack, "Kidz Bop 9", and Jack Johnson's "Curious George" soundtrack.
While "High School Musical" and "Kidz Bop" garner high Billboard rankings and huge sales, several other artists release kids' albums throughout early 2006, including Milkshake, Brady Rymer, Charity and the JAMBand, Frances England, Justin Roberts, Dan Zanes, and Rebecca Frezza.
CNN Money runs this piece about children's music record sales.
March 21, 2006
Justin Roberts' Meltdown! is released.
April 2006
According to Nielsen SoundScan, kids' music album sales were up 103 percent compared to the same period last year, with 5.5 million units sold as of the end of April 2006. That's 5.5 million kids' music albums sold in four months.
NPR airs “Music For Kids Even Parents Might Love” on All Things Considered, featuring an interview with Stefan from Zooglobble. This is unique in that NPR and many other sources had covered individual artists in the children’s music genre over the last many years, but this piece was one of the first (at least that I know of) to discuss the children’s music as a genre, to examine trends, and to suggest/explore the influence of bloggers on the genre.
May 2006
Release of Dan Zanes' Catch That Train, which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's new Top Kid Audio chart and debuted at No. 9 in the Billboard independent album rankings.
June 2006
Salon.com runs "Kindie Rock" article. Like the NPR piece from April, this article includes further discussion of children’s music as a genre with special focus on indie arists, explores the impact of music videos, also mentions influence of bloggers.
_____________________________________
OK, I'm exhausted from doing that homework and putting it together for you. Time for you to tell me what you think it all means. Also, are there other key events that are missing from this timeline? What I've put together here isn't by any means complete - there are just some of the things that stood out to me and shaped my view of this genre. There are dozens of artists who are not mentioned here, who may turn out to be incredibly important.
Look at how much has happened in the first half of 2006. Something's happening here. What is it?
July 09, 2006
For What It's Worth
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24 comments:
A big part of the growth in this genre has to be attributed to the internet and blogging. I am from a very small midwest town, where many young parents still do not have a clue.
True though, when I was little, we had Burl Ives.
The next generation had Raffi, Sharon, Lois and Bram, and other cutesy stuff, that some adults still find suitable for little ears.
You say, "There are dozens of artists who are not mentioned here, who may turn out to be incredibly important." I have to say, there were some worth listening to 10-15 years ago, who could've been incredibly important, if people had had the means to spread the word.
What she said.
I do think a lot of it is the ability to communicate and hear music from elsewhere. Mr. Clue probably feels like he should get more credit for finding the decent music back in the day, the same way I feel vaguely resentful of suburban kids finding good music without having to go dig through record stores like I did (walking uphill both ways). Bringing home the Replacements' Let It Be from Northern Lights Records in Minneapolis took more work than one-click buying "I Will Dare" from iTunes. Put another way, people used to have to work to find good stuff, while now they can just read your blog and Clea's blog and Stefan's blog and listen to our little show and be in pretty good shape -- and, with the exception of Clea (if memory serves), none of us are really in a hotbed of any sort of music. (We have a decent non-kids scene here for being a town of 36,000, but it's still a town of 36,000.)
How long until bands get accused of being sellouts for being reveiwed by you? (That's a joke.) (Mostly.)
There's something beyond that, too, and I think that's what you're getting at. We have a decent bit of the older kids' stuff and occasionally play it on the show -- Ella Jenkins (who we met, by the way, at my sister's church in Chicago), Pete Seeger, etc. -- but relatively little of it is really all that varied. As Lisa and Mikel from Milkshake said in the interview we had with them, the music seems to encompass a much wider array of styles than it once did (or at least than what made it through to us today).
Why is there a wider variety? Probably because of the technological advances, that allow people to self-release or internet-only-release music without a label. Makes the economics work to release something even without a huge promotion budget. Heck, my favorite new album of this year was done as a fundraiser for a preschool! Couldn't have happened even ten years ago, most likely.
(And, by the way: How cool to be included in a chronology.)
Another piece of the reason might be that when I was a kid, grown up music wasn't quite so grown up.
I was raised in a time when "Rubber Duckie" was a radio hit. Mom listened to Herb Alpert, Beach Boys, Byrds, CSNY, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel. You get the picture.
What's the opposite of "kid friendly"? "parent-scary"?
The more "adult" the mainstream music gets, the harder I try to find good kid stuff. (Looks like I need to try "Spare the Rock")
Well, since I just got into this whole kids music scene (almost entirely thanks to you), I really have nothing to add but what an impressive time line. I bought my first Laurie Berkner CD and my first Dan Zanes CD yesterday, and they should send you a commission.
I think that Gen Xers want to be more involved with their kids music choices, like past generations and reading. ? I dunno, is that shallow?
In our family, it's that we do music (play, sing, listen) together.
When I was growing up, my parents would play "their" music on the living room stereo (the big gigantic thing that looked like a sideboard) and the "kid music" was played in our room on our little turntable that came in a suitcase. So what did they really care what it sounded like? We did listen to some cool stuff, but also to our fair share of kiddie junk that didn't stand the test of time.
Now, we all play instruments and sing together. We listen to music on the stereo together and want to listen to things that we can enjoy togther. Some from the collection we had pre-littles (that we continue to add to in wee bits) and some from the collection of kids music that seems to grow like kudzu. But no matter which pile it comes out of, we all have to dig it, or it's not gonna fly.
That translates into a lot of generational parenting style issues in our community.
plus, amen to bill and suzanne - "...means to spread the word".
First off, great chronology. And I'm not just saying that because I'm included in it. ;-)
I remember reading Mr. Clue's comments at the time and thinking, "troll." But he raises an interesting point. Trout Fishing in America has had an interview on NPR; Dan Zanes had several. And the original four -- Guthrie, Lead Belly, Jenkins, and Seeger -- were doing it before any of us were even born.
What's different now is twofold: the ascendance of blogging as a medium and most, most, most importantly, Noggin. I mean, the timeline is fabulous, but it lacks a sense of scale, and if there was a scale, all our blogging appearances would be in about 6-point font and Jack's Big Music Show would be in about 236-point font. No way does Laurie Berkner get a Starbucks distribution deal without Jack. No way does Berkner sell a gajillion DVDs without Jack (and Starbucks' help). And without Berkner selling all those DVDs members of the media don't sit up and take notice.
You think non-Barney kids' music is big now -- just wait until Disney gives the upcoming Ralph's World DVD its promotional weight.
I think you may overstate the importance of Jack's Big Music Show (though you're certainly right that it is overwhelmingly more important than my show or many other sources).
Laurie Berkner has been a relative star for a long time, and I'd be very surprised if the launch of a show in September 2005 impacted a Starbucks decison announced just four months later. That sort of deal doesn't get made and finalized and formalized in four months.
I would probably cite as at least as big a deal the appearance of XM Kids (and I would add that to the chronology). Getting play on that outlet is, so far as I can tell, a huge deal, more so than reviews, local play, etc., and, yes, Noggin.
So, yes, Noggin and such is very important and bigger than most sources. But it's not the exclusive and dominant influence the way KROQ was to '90s alt-rock.
Hi there Mrs. Davis, I’ve actually been thinking a lot about this and some of the other issues you raised in your June 18th “We’re Counting ‘Em Down” post where you questioned if it’s possible for a children's music artist be successful without Disney? Although I’m not nearly as knowlegable about this genre of music as you bloggers (especially you, Bill, Stephan, Warren, and Clea) I do agree that something really big is going on here. In the short time since I released my kid’s album and started really paying attention to the players in this genre of music, I’ve been stunned by the sheer amount of kid’s music being released (seemingly everyday!) and the diversity of the sounds. I think Bill’s point about technology allowing artists to record at home and on a shoe-string budget is HUGE. Based on my own experience, there is no way I could have ever afforded to go into a real studio and pay to get my record made. But thanks to all the technological advances in home studio recording software, I was able to make Fascinating Creatures for very little money at home (as Bill mentions, the whole idea for the record actually came about as a fundraiser for my son’s preschool). This combined with the fact that artists don’t need a label to release a cd anymore and the role that the Internet plays in helping musicians spread the word about their music themselves (from getting reviewed on blogs & misc. music sites to selling it online via cdbaby.com or amazon) is tremendously different than how things worked in the music business 10 or even 5 years ago. I kind of like to think of it as the DIY factor – it seems that a great many of the artists putting out kid’s records these days are, for the most part, doing it themselves. And for this reason, with very little investment, virtually anybody can make a record. I’m proof of that.
Having said all of this, I think it’s very unlikely that Mr. Clue(less) has ever visited your blog or any of the ones you link to. For if he had, he too would realize that “something’s happening here.” I’m forever in awe of all the research you guys do and the information you all post on a daily basis. You definitely keep all of us on the other side of things on our toes – so thank you!
Frances England (p.s. I’m so honored (and stunned!) that Bill listed my album as his favorite of the year so far.... thanks, Bill).
As someone with dial up internet and basic cable, I have to say that neither Noggin nor XM (that's radio, right?) have influenced my musical choices.
KidzBop has, to the extent that it makes me want to run the other way.
Still, somehow, the marvelous Cathy Richardson made her way into our home. There again, because I saw her online singing "O, Darlin'" in an Old Town School of Folk Music Beatles-themed benefit. I joined her message board, and discovered she was working on a Nick Jr project with some Sesame alums, and we had to have us some Curious Buddies. I suppose "Jack's" will be available on dvd, if we decide we still need it.
One other point about Noggin's "treatment". The stark white backdrop doesn't fly in our house. We much prefer Dan Zanes in the House Party style, as seen on PHD
Like Deb in SF said, we enjoy music together as a family, singing and playing and dancing along. The difference in my upbringing was us kids didn't have our own phonograph. If Mom played the Sea Shanties album, we listened too. When The Moody Blues' "Question of Balance" came out, we shared that too. I am still searching in vain (through the snow, uphill both ways, Bill) for an album I had in '69 called "Let's Sing Silly Songs", which Mom remembers as well as I do.
Sorry to take up so much space here, but I must bring up one more thing. Mrs Davis, I know how hard you worked to create the very informative timeline. I do appreciate it. However, in our house, it includes (ok, lambast me, but I have good reason) the Wiggles' "Wiggle Time" on Playhouse Disney in January 2001, simultaneous with TLC's Short Stuff/ Ready Set Learn. Maybe Mr Clue was listening to some of these artists from those interstitials(See also, Ruth Harris' site, Songs For Teaching)(If I may interject, kid's music is better when the focus is on good music over simply teaching)
Cathy and Marcy
Glenn Bennett
Skip West
Rachel Sumner
Joe Scruggs
and the wretched Barry Louis Polisar
Wow, what an interesting discussion this has started....
Suzanne, I totally agree that the Wiggles should be on this timeline, for many reasons.
Frances, you are the prime example of what good can come out of the whole "now anybody can make a record" situation. And yes, the ability to record at home and sell online has definitely impacted things.
I'm not sure I would give Noggin as much credit in all of this as some of you suggest. I do agree that TV exposure gives artists a new level of legitimacy with the buying public, but I'm not sure they can't gain that kind of legitimacy in other ways.
Keep talking!
I'm not saying that there aren't other ways artists can't gain major exposure, but TV -- through the Disney Channel, Noggin, and Sesame Street -- is preeminent.
XM Kids is also important (and an excellent channel), but its reach can't match Noggin's. Otherwise we'd be overwhelmed with sales for that "Wish I Was Your Mama" song.
Yes, Laurie Berkner and Dan Zanes were (relative) stars before, but appearing on Noggin and the Disney Channel will make them sell waaaay more disks than they would've otherwise. The Wiggles are a case in point.
(Note: I say this as a man whose family doesn't have cable. So I've never seen Jack.)
I know that I'm not a target demographic type for the cable or network folks. So, what works for me does WAY not work to get most people out buying records and DVDs, I bet.
We don't have XM and I've never heard it. No idea what they play. We have cable and my littles watch Jack, but TV here is used so I can shower and cook meals. I don't watch with them. I don't buy music based on what we all dig because we saw it on the show.
I buy stuff because I hear it on Bill's show or I check out what Stefan writes about or Clea or Warren Truitt (Children's Music that Rocks).
But yeah, we had the wiggles back in the day, pre-disney when they were super-wacky and super-australian and not slick and not well known and a grandparent sent them to us. We thought they were pretty fun. But MAN, Disney sure sent them through the roof!
Thank the internet and cheaper computers and whatnot that we can hear all these great artists, now. "We're livin' in the future..."
oh, and ps -
and thank the internet and you fabulous, intelligent, committed bloggers that we have smart, fun people to help get the word out to us who only have this way to hear it.
Expanding from Jack's to the full national TV media, I agree that they're critical to get to the monster huge star level, though I still think I find it more balanced than you do, Stefan. (If it were very nearly the exclusive important factor, I don't think our little 100-watt station in western Massachusetts would get service from Berkner, Zanes, etc., and we do -- and, of note, we don't get service from the major labels -- and we wouldn't have names like Milkshake, etc., interested in being on the show.) While XM doesn't have the reach, it does have the 24/7 factor; radio (even satellite radio) still is a major factor. Interesting that Sirius hasn't really tried to do the equivalent, so far as I can tell, though. (And "Wish I Was Your Mama" isn't huge because it is a terrible, terrible, terrible song. Even KROQ couldn't make stars out of many bands, and neither XM nor Noggin nor anyone else can make a star out of music that's just awful.)
Incidentally, I finally saw Jack's Big Music Show (we just got cable). Music is good, the show...um, maybe I saw a bad one.
Rambling, rambling, rambling. Sorry!
(very glad I'm not the only one who rambles, and who hasn't seen Jack)
It seems that we parents are growing to expect more from our music, whether for family listening, or just personally. We know there is something better out there, and we don't have to work that hard to find it (thanks again to Mrs. D, Stefan, Bill, Dave, etc).
(NPR gets props for bringing Ralph into my World)
There has been a trend in kidTV theme music, to use celebs, such as Ziggy Marley(Arthur), Wyclef (Postcards From Buster), BahaMen (Stanley), and TMBG (Higglytown Heroes & Mickey Mouse Clubhouse).
Also, the music within PHD shows has been enhanced by the writing of talented "grown-up" musicians like Peter Lurye and Brian Woodbury.
Finally, it seems that the "stars make a kid's record" isn't a new idea. We have had them from Johnny Cash, the aforementioned Garcia/Grisman, Maria Muldaur, Linda Ronstadt, John Lithgow (and more), but to concentrate on making great family music is different. They best reason I can come up with for that trend is our demand.
Funny you are having this discussion as I've recently communicated with Mrs. Davis on this very issue. I do believe, like Stefan, that television is the ticket to really big sales...obviously the most efficient means of reaching families and disseminating your name. Many buyers assume that those artists who are on TV are there because they've made the cut and those who aren't must have tried...and failed. TV does equal legitimacy with many Americans.
Of course, you folks who are closely following this industry know that there are all sorts of ways of gaining....and measuring success. So many families love to attend live performances and so many venues sponsor them. Preschool teachers and librarians (a very loyal crowd and DJs in their own right) are always sharing music with children and their families. The web and blogs like this are exposing readers to great family music. And then there's kid's radio which suddenly has an explosive presence. All of this means that artists who choose not to pursue TV can have an impact despite the weighty Noggin factor.
I can speak for one artist...and the family he supports.....who really appreciate the interest that folks like Mrs. Davis, Mr. Zooglobble, Mr. Kids Music That Rocks, Mr. & Miss Spare the Rock, & Mr. XM Radio (& Cohorts) have generated. Thanks!
As a small fish in the big pond of children's music, I have a couple of things to add.
One factor that I've found to help the independent artist is CDBABY.COM
CDBABY allows anyone with a CD to get digital distribution through ITUNES and dozens of other digital download sites. My CD "History Rocks" has been sent to 41 different download sites by CDBABY all for a one time nominal fee. The playing field is more level for an artist without any label backing than it has ever been.
I also feel the ability of people with similar interests to discuss and enlighten each other about new artists and old favorites through the internet/blogs is really helping create a sort of grassroots movement in kids music.
thanks to Warren and Bill for the exposure and for turning me on to new CD's for my daughter and I to enjoy.
Bill R
wow- it it so interesting to read everyone's 2 cents' worth on this-- blogging has had such a huge impact on so many diverse things (i.e. the knitting/crafting community, family activity sites), and i am really digging what i come across here and on clea's blog. but-- and i don't want to sound like a grumpy old lady-- this looks like the media getting a whiff of a good thing and making it into a 'trend.' (crafting isn't a *trend,* making 1,000 sky-blue macramé potholders is a trend... )i don't think it's a trend to enjoy making and listening to music with your family-- going back to a place where you can just let go & participate, enjoy, become a kid again with the music. thank you, mrs. davis, for this forum!
Interesting point, Kelli Ann. Maybe that's why I'm mildly resentful of things like Slate, or a little suspicious of our local paper calling to do an interview about kids' music -- a fear that it's going to become line dancing or Sudoku or something like that. My wife works at a crazy good yarn store and is a a knitter/blogger, so I've seen that from that side too... Dunno. Interesting thoughts, in any event.
Can I get one of those potholders, though? Those sound awesome.
hey there
man this is a great blog - congrats.
some comments from the perspective of a 30 something A&R/ record label guy based in australia
just say
.... that the wiggles = 80's corporate rock
......that kindie rock/ indie romp = grunge/ any other wave of alternative successful crossover since the 90's ( hip hop/ electronica/ indie pop/electro included)...
Mrs Davis timeline highlights the tipping point we are fast approaching where the notion of lowest common denominator music for kids is replaced by valid music alternatives - in a way its the 2nd generation legacy of the early 90's crossover where those teens/twenties that went thru that time are still making alternative music choices except their kids are listening now too....
(for my mind pancake mountain sums this up to a tee &
so does the fact that belle & sebastian are releasing a kids compilation in the coming months )
The only difference this time round is that this evolution from mainstream/safe/corporatized sounds to a break out/crossover of an alternative music choice will happen a lot faster courtesy of the web and new media platform choices....
a case in point and an interesting addition to mrs davis timeline ...
June 2006 - Salon.com kindie rock article runs...
July 9 The Lovely Mrs Davis blogs kindie rock chronology
and on the same day on the other side of the world quite by chance this article runs in one of Australia's major sunday broadsheets:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/whipping-kids-music-into-shape/2006/07/08/1152240539965.html
Finally for those that are interested
check out www.myspace.com/thepurplestripes
to hear indie romp/kindie rock sounds
and a final disclaimer... bing!bang!bong! is my kindie rock label here in Australia... 3 years ago i thought there was something going on with a new wave of kids music so set up a label to do something about it.. :)
cheers
k
G'day Karl!
Thanks for the news from Down Under. Exactly my original point, that sharing information this way is key to parents finding great music to share with their kids.
Kudos for picking up Ralph's World. We have enjoyed the games and recipes on your RW site
http://www.ralphsworld.com.au/home.htm
now I'm off to myspace to check out the purple stripes
Amy, what a succinct and moving timeline - you are right - even though great kids' music has been floating around for many years, it seems as though we're reaching critical mass. My head is spinning because every day, I discover more buzz and more interesting artists/labels/people who should know better, ready to jump into the fray. Let's just hope there is a market out there, big enough to allow everyone a piece of the pie.
XO
Beth in PDX
Is it just me or would an Indie Romp Festival be something way too cool for the kids? Bugger the plain old Wiggles, Give me They Might Be Giants, Purple Stripes, Devo 2.0 and the like and I reckon kids would have a rocking awesome time!
Haven't seen anything like this advertised around here (Sydney Australia) but then, I am a new kid on the block with all this parenting stuff...
Now having a 2 year old, I became a first time parent right when JBMS began and that for me was my step into the kiddie rock world. Once I happened upon Noggin and JBMS on maternity leave it opened the door and I began searching the internet etc. Now that my son is starting to get into Disney shows like Little Einsteins (which we love and involves classical music) we are also starting to get into Dan Zanes and his house party videos. Being a naive young (21) midwest mother, Noggin and the internet have played a huge role in finding good kid music.
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