Kidsongs

Kidsongs is an American children's media franchise that includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, The Kidsongs TV Show, CDs of favorite children's songs, song books, sheet music, toys and an ecommerce website. It was created by producer/writer Carol Rosenstein and director Bruce Gowers of Together Again Video Productions (TAVP), both of whom are music video and television production veterans. The duo had produced and directed over 100 music videos for Warner Records (WBR) 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 between TAVP, WBR and View-Master Video was formed with TAVP being responsible for production and WBR and View-Master responsible for distribution to video and music stores, and toy stores respectively.
History.
The home video series was launched with four Kidsongs Music Video Stories episodes at New York's Toy Fair on January 1, 1985. "A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm" was one of those first four and has sold over 4 million copies and won the Vira Award. Each half-hour Music Video Stories episode features 10 to 15 songs, in a music video style production starring children. They sing and dance their way through well-known children's songs, nursery rhymes, and covers of pop hits from the '50s, '60s and '70s—all tied together by a simple story and theme.
The TAVP/WBR/View-Master Video (Viewmaster was acquired by Tyco Toys in 1989–95) partnership produced 16 Kidsongs episodes of the Music Video Stories. In 1995, WBR and TAVP bought out Tyco's distribution rights and produced three more View-Master videos called "Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs", "Country Sing-Along", and "Boppin' with the Biggles" in 1994, and two KidVision videos called "Let's Put on a Show" & "Baby Animal Songs" in 1995, as part of a new venture with another division of Warner Bros.--Warner Vision. In 1997, TAVP acquired all rights from WBR/Warner Vision and became the sole owner of all Kidsongs properties.
Later in 1997, TAVP entered into a distribution/production agreement with Sony Wonder, which resulted in the production of four more titles called "I Can Dance!", "I Can Do It!", "Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday", and "Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles". That agreement ended on July 1, 1998, and in 2002, distribution rights were licensed by RLJE Films, who continues to distribute the videos.
Home Videos.
From December 3, 1985 to July 7, 1998, Kidsongs home video episodes encompassing 300 children's songs, nursery rhymes, and cover versions of pop hits from the '50s-'90s were produced, featuring a variety of topics that are of interest to kids: animals, birthdays, the zoo, sports, summer camp, fantasy, vehicles, and general silliness. 14 have been certified platinum by the RIAA, with 5 of them having sold more than 2 million copies. As of now, the videos have sold over 19.5 million copies.
The following is a complete list of Kidsongs music video titles available on VHS:
A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm (1985) [US: 4x Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1986) [US: 2x Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
Good Night, Sleep Tight (1986) [US: Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes (1986) [US: 2x Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
Sing Out, America! (1986), Renamed "Home on the Range" in 1990 and renamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in 2002 [US: Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
A Day with the Animals (1986) [US: 3x Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
What I Want to Be! (1986) [US: Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
The Wonderful World of Sports (1987) Renamed "Let's Play Ball" in 1990, and Renamed "Sport Adventures" in the UK in 1994 [US/UK: Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
A Day at the Circus (1987) [US: 2x Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
A Day at Camp (1989) [US: Platinum].
Featuring these music videos:
Ride the Roller Coaster (1990) [US: Gold].
Featuring these music videos:
Very Silly Songs (1990).
Featuring these music videos:
A Day of Fun (1991) (Both released on VHS and DVD).
Featuring these music videos:
We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1992).
Featuring these music videos:
Play-Along Songs (1993).
Featuring these music videos:
If We Could Talk to the Animals (1993).
Featuring these music videos:
Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs (1994) Renamed "My Favorite Songs" in 2002.
Featuring these music videos:
Country Sing-Along (1994) Renamed "I Can Go to the Country" in (1997).
Featuring these music videos:
Boppin' with the Biggles (1994) Renamed "I Can Bop With the Biggles" in (1997).
Featuring these music videos:
Let's Put on a Show! (1995) Renamed "I Can Put On a Show" in (1997).
Featuring these music videos:
Baby Animal Songs (1995) Renamed "I Can Sing Baby Animal Songs" in (1997).
Featuring these music videos:
I Can Dance! (1997).
Featuring these music videos:
I Can Do It! (1997).
Featuring these music videos:
Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday (1998).
Featuring these music videos:
Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles (1998).
Featuring these music videos:
Television series.
The Kidsongs Television Show debuted on September 19, 1987, with 26 half-hour episodes for 30 minutes distributed by Orbis Entertainment. 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. It garnered excellent ratings and ran for 2 years, before moving to the Disney Channel and Las Estrellas for another four years. It won the prestigious Excellence in Children's Programming Award from ACT. In 1987–88, it was called "The Kidsongs TV Show".
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 PBS stations nationally. Airing as part of the PBS Kids "Ready to Learn" block, "The Kidsongs Television Show" aired throughout the country and, by 1998, reached 89 percent of households. 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" totalled 96 episodes. It ran on Public Television for six years, winning critical acclaim. Currently, fifteen episodes of "The Kidsongs Television Show" are available on DVD, and the series is also available in its entirety on digital download through iTunes and Amazon Video.
Episodes.
Series overview.
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