Kidsongs

Kidsongs is an American children's media franchise that includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, the Kidsongs TV series, CDs of children's songs, songbooks, sheet music, toys, and a merchandise website.<ref name="kidsongs.com">Template:Cite web</ref> It was created by producer Carol Rosenstein and director Bruce Gowers of Together Again Video Productions. The duo had produced and directed over 100 music videos for Warner Bros. Records and took their idea of music videos for children to the record label. Warner Brothers funded the first video, "A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm". Shortly thereafter, a three-way partnership formed between TAVP, WBR, and View-Master Video, with TAVP responsible for production and WBR and View-Master responsible for distribution to video and music stores, and toy stores respectively.

Development

The home video series was launched with four Kidsongs "Music Video Stories" being announced at New York's Toy Fair in February 1986. "A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm" was one of those first four and has sold over 4 million copies<ref>Bruce Haring, "Gold, platinum off in 1992 but multiplatinum ahead", Variety, January 5, 1993</ref> and won the Vira Award.<ref name="Video Review's Critics 1987, page 77">"Video Review's Critics' Choice Awards", Video Review, April 1987, page 77</ref> Each half-hour video featured around 10 songs in a music video style production starring a group of children known as the "Kidsongs Kids". They sing and dance their way through well-known children's songs, nursery rhymes and covers of pop hits from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s, all tied together by a simple story and theme.

The TAVP/WBR/View-Master Video partnership (View-Master was acquired by Tyco Toys in 1989)<ref>Reuters, New York Times Business section, May 24, 1989</ref> produced sixteen Kidsongs videotapes. In 1995, WBR and TAVP bought out Tyco's distribution rights, then "Let's Put on a Show" "Baby Animal Songs" were released in 1996 by WarnerVision Entertainment, another division of Time Warner.<ref>Business Wire, "Warner Home Video to Distribute Warner Vision", February 5, 1996</ref> In 1997, TAVP acquired Time Warner's rights to Kidsongs, assuming sole ownership of the franchise.

Later in 1997, TAVP entered into a distribution/production agreement<ref>Scott Hettrick, "Sony Wonder Joins..." Hollywood Reporter, July 10, 1997, page 3</ref> with Sony Wonder, having admired Sony's revitalization of Sesame StreetTemplate:'s home video and music products. TAVP and Sony Wonder co-produced four more titles: "I Can Dance!", "I Can Do It!" and two "Adventures in Biggleland" specials also broadcast in television syndication. In 2002, distribution rights migrated to Image Entertainment (later RLJE Films), which continues to distribute the videos.

Notable members

• Meredith Bishop (1985)
• Shawn Harrison (1986)
• Devyn Puett (1986–1987 and 1990)
• Ryan Bollman (1986)
• Raquel Alessi (1990)
• Jensen Karp (1990)
• Josh Keaton (1990)
• Veena Goel (1990)
• Alexandra Picatto (1993–1995)
• Galen Hooks (1994)
• Lynsey Bartilson (1994–1995)

Home videos

Twenty-five Kidsongs "Music Video Stories" were released between 1985 and 1998, encompassing more than 200 public domain, covered, and original songs, and featuring a variety of topics that of interest to kids: animals, birthdays, the zoo, sports, summer camp, fantasy, vehicles and general silliness. 14 have been certified platinum by the RIAA,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with 5 of them having sold more than 2 million copies. As of now, the videos have sold over 19.5 million copies.

Television series

The Kidsongs Television Show debuted on September 19, 1987, with 26 half-hour episodes distributed by Orbis Entertainment.<ref>Tom Bierbaum, "After Success In Homevideo, 'Kidsongs' Bouncing into NBC TV", Variety, July 8, 1987, page 20</ref> The half-hour, live-action episodes featured the Kidsongs Kids running their own TV show in a top 8 countdown-style show, featuring music videos from the Kidsongs home video series. It ran on network affiliates, primarily on Saturday mornings.<ref>"The Kidsongs Television Show Launched", TV Facts Figures & Film, September 1987</ref> The series aired for two years in syndication, then was rerun on The Disney Channel in 1990. It won the prestigious Excellence in Children's Programming Award from ACT. The 1987–88 series was titled The Kidsongs TV Show.<ref name="Jeanne Spreier 1998, page 51">Jeanne Spreier, "'Kidsongs' In Tune With Children", Dallas Morning News, March 23, 1998, page 51</ref>

In 1994, a new version of the television series was developed by Rosenstein and produced in conjunction with Chicago public television station WTTW for 30 minutes and distributed by American Public Television to public television stations nationally. The Kidsongs Television Show reached 89 percent of households by 1998.<ref>The Kidsongs TV Show, WTTW Chicago Carriage Report, February 1998</ref> Many of the original Kidsongs videos were used in the public television series, along with new educational content and in-studio guests. The kids are joined by the fantasy characters Billy and Ruby Biggle and their magical friends from Biggleland. The Biggles help the children resolve their problems and concerns in a comforting, kind way. They address age-appropriate issues, such as not wanting to share, jealousy, friendship, telling the truth and patience.

Seasons one through four of The Kidsongs Television Show totaled 96 episodes. It ran on public television for seven years, winning critical acclaim.<ref name="Jeanne Spreier 1998, page 51"/><ref>Tim Kiska, "Great Kid TV Debate: Entertain or Educate?", Detroit News, July 1, 1998, page 1E</ref> Currently, fifteen episodes of The Kidsongs Television Show are available on DVD,<ref name="kidsongs.com"/> and the series is also available in its entirety on digital download through iTunes and Amazon Video.

Season 1 (1987–1988)

The hosts this season are Chris Lytton and Triskin Potter.

Season 2 (1994)

The hosts this season are Christian Buenaventura and Alexandra Picatto (credited as Alexandra Palm). This is also the debut of Kidsongs' new mascots, the Biggles (though Ruby would appear in later episodes).

Season 3 (1995)

The hosts this season are Aaron Harvey, Alexandra Picatto (credited as Alexandra Palm), and Lynsey Bartilson (only in two episodes) with the Biggles.

Season 4 (1997)

The hosts this season are Sergio Centeno and Tiffany Burton with the Biggles.

External links

• Official website
• Kidsongs on IMDb