Kidz Bop is a popular children’s music brand that produces family-friendly versions of pop songs sung by kids. Since its takeoff in 2001, Kidz Bop has sold over 21 million albums and has been Billboard’s No. 1 Kids’ Album Artist for 10 straight years But who owns kidz bop, and how did it start?
Who Owns Kidz Bop?
Kidz Bop was created by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam, the founders of the entertainment company Razor & Tie, in 2001. They came up with the idea of making kid-friendly covers of hit songs after noticing that their children loved listening to pop music but often encountered inappropriate lyrics or themes. Concord decided to hire talented young singers to record clean versions of popular songs. They market them as albums for kids and families.
The first Kidz Bop album came on October 9, 2001, and featured songs such as “All-Star” by Smash Mouth, “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC, and “Oops!.. I Did It Again” by Britney Spears. The album succeeded, reaching No. 76 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 500,000 copies. Since then, Kidz Bop has released over 40 albums in the US. They expanded to other countries such as France, UK, Germany, and Mexico.
Who Owns Kidz Bop?
In 2015, Razor & Tie sold Kidz Bop to Concord, a private company specializing in creating, organizing, and acquiring sound recordings, music publishing, and performance rights. Concord is funded by its management team and long-term institutional capital. They own a diverse portfolio of music labels, publishers, composers, and artists.
Concord’s chief label executive Tom Whalley oversees the Kidz Bop brand. Sasha Junk is the president of Kidz Bop. Junk joined the company in 2009 and was promoted to president in 2020. She leads global growth and expansion across all platforms, including albums, videos, tours, merchandise, and digital media.
The Controversies:
Kidz Bop has faced criticism and controversy over the years despite its popularity and success. Some parents and critics have argued that Kidz Bop does not always remove the adult themes or innuendos from the original songs or that it sometimes changes the lyrics in ways that alter the meaning or message of the song. For example, in Kidz Bop’s version of “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, the line “might seduce your dad type” was changed to “might be really bad type,” while in Kidz Bop’s version of “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, the line “riding on a tractor” was changed to “riding on my bladder.”
Some artists have also expressed their displeasure or amusement at having their songs covered by Kidz Bop. For instance, rapper Cardi B tweeted, “KIDZ BOP DID WAP OMG I’M CRYING” after hearing Kidz Bop’s rendition of her explicit hit song “WAP,” which featured lyrics such as “I don’t cook, I don’t clean”. Singer Lorde also joked that she felt “old” after hearing Kidz Bop’s version of her song “Royals”, which replaced the word “Cristal” with “juice box”.
In addition, some internet users have pranked or trolled them by editing their Wikipedia page or spreading false rumors about their ownership or CEO. For example, in June 2021, popular YouTuber Elise Eklund shared a video where she showed that Wikipedia listed her as the owner of Kidz Bop after someone had changed the page as a joke. She clarified that she was not the owner and was afraid of being sued by the company.
Some Facts:
The Kidz Bop Kids Have More Top 10 Hits Than Madonna
You might be surprised to learn that the Kidz Bop Kids have had more albums in the Billboard Top 10 than some of the most iconic artists in music history. With 22 top 10 albums, they rank higher than Madonna, Bob Dylan, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen, who have had 21, 20, 18, and 18 albums, respectively.
The Kidz Bop Kids Are Not Just American
While it started as an American brand, it has since expanded to other countries and regions, such as the UK, Germany, France, and Mexico. Each country has its lineup of Kidz Bop Kids who sing local and international pop songs in their native languages. For example, the UK Kidz Bop Kids have covered songs by Ed Sheeran, Little Mix, and Dua Lipa. The German Kidz Bop Kids have covered songs by Mark Forster, Lena Meyer-Landrut, and Wincent Weiss. The international expansion has helped the brand reach a wider, more diverse audience of kids and families worldwide.
The Kidz Bop Kids Have Some Famous Alumni
Some former Kidz Bop Kids have pursued successful careers in music, acting, modeling, and other fields. For instance, Zendaya, who was a member of Kidz Bop in 2009, is now a multi-talented star who has appeared in movies such as Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Greatest Showman and has won an Emmy Award for the HBO series Euphoria. She is also a singer, dancer, model, and fashion designer. Other notable alumni include Becky G, a singer-songwriter and actress known for her hits such as “Shower” and “Mayores”, and Spencer Locke, an actress who has starred in movies such as Resident Evil: Extinction and Afterlife.
Most Popular Kidz Bop Album:
According to the available information, the most popular album is Kidz Bop All-Time Greatest Hits. It released in 2021 to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The album features 58 songs from each year of Kidz Bop’s history, ranging from “All Star” by Smash Mouth to “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande. It is available on Spotify and other streaming platforms.
Another popular album is Kidz Bop 2022, the latest release in the series. It contains 16 songs that are currently popular on the radio and online, such as “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo, “Peaches” by Justin Bieber, “Levitating” by Dua Lipa, and “Drivers License” by Olivia Rodrigo. The album also features international songs, such as “Achterbahn” by Helene Fischer and “Chöre” by Mark Forster. It came on 12 November 2021.
Regarding sales and chart performance, some of the best-selling albums are Kidz Bop 25, Kidz Bop 27, and Kidz Bop 31, released in 2014, 2015, and 2016 respectively. These albums sold over a million units each and reached the top three positions on the Billboard 200 chart. They also featured some of the most popular songs of those years, such as “Firework” by Katy Perry and “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake.
FAQ
Q: What is Kidz Bop?
A: It is a children’s music brand that produces family-friendly versions of pop songs sung by kids.
Q: Who owns Kidz Bop?
A: Concord is the owner of kidz bop, a private company that specializes in the acquisition of sound recordings, music publishing.
Q: Who are the Kidz Bop Kids?
A: They are a group of talented young singers who perform songs on the Kidz Bop albums and videos. They choose them through auditions and change every few years.
Q: How many Kidz Bop albums are there?
A: There are over 40 Kidz Bop albums in the US and several albums.
The Future of Kidz Bop
Despite these challenges, Kidz Bop remains a dominant force in the children’s music industry. It is a beloved brand for many kids and families worldwide. We told you who owns kidz bop, and it is a company, Concord. The company has diversified its offerings to include music videos, a live touring division, talent search competitions, and online content. They also plan to release more albums, expand to more markets, and collaborate with other artists and brands.
Kidz Bop is a remarkable example of how a simple idea can become a global phenomenon that entertains millions. Kidz Bop will likely remain a relevant and influential music brand for years.