Kids Music
Universal Music Group announced a new partnership with Pocket.watch, a kids-content studio with a roster of 45 creators that boasts over 750 million subscribers, on Thursday (July 20).
As part of the deal, songs on Pocket.watch’s many YouTube videos — plus tracks from the company’s original series on Hulu and Roku — will be brought to streaming platforms. And several creators will release their own original songs in the months to come.
In a statement, Albie Hecht, chief content officer for Pocket.watch, said “music is a huge part of kids’ lives, and this mutually beneficial partnership provides a path for our expansive library of kids and family songs to reach beyond their appearance within YouTube videos. We’re proud to partner with Universal Music Group as they further expand their investment in the kids music space.”
“We continue to see growth in this exciting category and look forward to working with pocket.watch’s team and their family of creators,” added Andrew Kronfeld, Universal’s evp of international and label and artist ventures.
Pocket.watch was started in March 2017 by Chris M. Williams, Hecht (a former president of film and TV entertainment for Nickelodeon), and Jon Moonves. “We set out very intentionally to change the conversations around the creative economy and create a whole new digital-first category of franchises,” Williams told Variety last year.
The company’s hits include Ryan’s World (35.2 million YouTube subscribers) and Love, Diana (8.95 million); in 2021, the roster generated more than 4 billion hours of views. Pocket.watch also has a robust consumer products line — Colgate Ryan’s World Pocket Watch Extra Soft Spin toothbrush, for example, and Love, Diana dolls — linked to its various franchises. Earlier this year, Pocket.watch debuted 12 original series on Hulu.
The first batch of music to hit streaming will encompass songs from Ryan’s Mystery Playdate, Love, Diana, Onyx Monster Mysteries, Toys and Colors: Kaleidoscope City, and more.
Republic Records: Kids & Family announced on Monday the signing of ARIA Hall of Fame inductee, singer, songwriter, actor and performer Sam Moran. His first single is to be released later this month.
“There is no other team that I would rather be working with than Republic Kids. The energy and creativity they are bringing to my debut project is exactly what I was looking for when venturing out on my own,” says Moran. “We have so many surprises in store that I know my fans are going to love so, get ready!”
Moran is an Australian-born performer best known for his work on the Wiggles television show, both as recurring characters and as Yellow Wiggle from 2006 to 2012.
“When launching Republic Kids I knew I had to sign Sam as an artist,” says Bree Bowles, vp of marketing and strategy. “He is the perfect complement to our mission of producing world-class music that can be enjoyed by both kids and their parents. Sam’s musical talents are beloved by so many and these new efforts will help to redefine the future of ‘kids’ music.”
Jonathan Shank from Terrapin Station Entertainment will manage Moran, telling Billboard: “We are so excited to be working alongside Sam and Republic for this release and know it’s the start of magical things to come.”
Moran said some of his material is meant to inspire kids who had a hard time emerging from the pandemic and that “there’s no better way to help them rediscover themselves than through music. I want to give them a voice that reflects how they see the world — with, of course, a bunch of fun along the way!”
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