Kidz Bop
Kidz Bop is an American children's music group composed like a music brand that produces family-friendly cover versions of pop songs and related media. Kidz Bop releases compilation albums that feature children covering songs that chart high on the Billboard Hot 100 and/or receive heavy airplay from contemporary hit radio stations several months ahead of each album's release. Their cover versions sometimes contain lyrics with substitutes for the lyrics' original profanity; however, critics have commented that this does not necessarily remove the adult themes from the music.
Product type
Children's music
KIDZ BOP Enterprises LLC.
United States
October 9, 2001
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Mexico
"Today's Biggest Hits Sung By Kids For Kids"
The concept was developed by Razor & Tie founders Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam[1] and released its first entry on October 9, 2001.[2] Since its debut, Kidz Bop has sold over 21 million albums and has generated over 4.5 billion streams.[3] Kidz Bop has expanded to include merchandise, music videos, a live touring division, and seeking talent search competitions.
Chart performance
The Kidz Bop Kids have been named Billboard's No. 1 Kids' Album Artist for ten consecutive years, including 2010,[4] 2011,[5] 2012,[6] 2013,[7] 2014, 2015,[8] 2016,[9] 2017,[10] 2018,[11] 2019,[12] and 2020.[13]
In December 2020, Spotify announced that The KIDZ BOP Kids are the top streamed artist in the US on the Spotify Kids app.[14]
The KIDZ BOP Kids were included in Billboard's Top 100 Artist of the Decade for the 2010s (#75).[15]
Kidz Bop 26, released on July 15, 2014, marked the franchise's 40th charting album on the Billboard 200.[16] Since the brand's debut in 2001, more than 20 million Kidz Bop albums have been sold worldwide.[17]
In November 2015, Billboard Magazine announced that the Kidz Bop Kids rank #4 on their list of artists with the Most Billboard 200 Top 10 Albums of all time. The Kidz Bop Kids rank higher than iconic artists such as Madonna and Bruce Springsteen, with 22 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 Chart.[18]
In 2015, Kidz Bop 29 debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 chart. In the same year, the franchise moved 1.15 million units, or 23% of the entire kids music album category.[19]
Kidz Bop has released the best-selling children's albums for several years; Kidz Bop 25 in 2014,[20] Kidz Bop 27 in 2015,[21] and Kidz Bop 31 in 2016.[22]
International expansion
United Kingdom
In February 2017, Kidz Bop announced it was launching outside America for the first time and expanding to the UK. There will be a new lineup of British Kidz Bop Kids.[41] Kidz Bop partnered with Universal Music Group, ITV, Crown Talent and Media Group, and Creative Artists Agency for the UK launch, with ITV featuring the group in an episode of its star search programme The Big Audition.[42][43]
The first two albums, Kidz Bop and Kidz Bop 2018, were released in the UK on March 31 and November 10 of 2017 respectively. The third and fourth albums, Kidz Bop Summer '18 and Kidz Bop 2019, were released in the UK on 23 March and 7 December 2018 respectively. The fifth album, Kidz Bop 2020, was released in the UK on 15 November 2019. The sixth and seventh albums, Kidz Bop Party Playlist and Kidz Bop 2021, were released in the UK in June and October 2020 respectively. The eighth album, Kidz Bop All-Time Greatest Hits was released in the UK on 26 March 2021.
The ninth album, Kidz Bop 2022, was released in the UK on 22 October 2021.
Criticism and controversy
Three months preceding the release of Kidz Bop 10 in 2006, the online tracklist was revealed to feature a cover of Fall Out Boy's "Dance, Dance". After finding out that Kidz Bop can use a song without the original artist's permission but needs their approval to change the lyrics, bassist Pete Wentz responded by requesting the removal of the cover due to the song's sexual overtones, to which Razor & Tie obliged and re-released the tracklist, eliminating "Dance, Dance".[46]
A 2017 study on censorship in Kidz Bop found that replacing words and phrases in songs does not disassociate the original in the minds of young listeners who have heard the uncensored song, and that "repackaging adult music as kids' music" does not remove the adult themes even when words or phrases are substituted. Christopher Bell, an associate professor of media studies at the University of Colorado has called Kidz Bop "an abomination" because it censors language but not content, altering specific words without changing or obscuring the underlying tone or meaning. He explained: "I don't need a sanitized version of 'Despacito' — I need 8-year-olds not to be singing 'Despacito' because that [song] is super dirty. And Kidz Bop doesn't always make that distinction."[47]
Related projects
Chuck E. Cheese music partnership
In August 2023, Chuck E. Cheese announced Kidz Bop as its official music partner, after using Kidz Bop music in their fun centers for several years.[51]
Kidz Bop experience at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
In 2018, Kidz Bop announced the fully branded "Kidz Bop Experience" at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.[52]
They opened a Kidz Bop experience at Hard Rock Riviera Maya in August 2019.
Legoland music partnership
In 2016 Legoland Florida appointed Kidz Bop as its official music partner, coinciding with the launch of Lego Ninjago World, on January 12, 2017. To celebrate the park's expansion, the Kidz Bop Kids recorded an original version of the park's (and the TV show's) theme song.[53]
Crazy 8 fashion brand
Kidz Bop partnered with kids' clothing brand, Crazy 8 to launch the Kidz Bop clothing line. The line was designed by Crazy 8.[54] The collection is made for babies, children and early adolescents.[55][56] The line officially went on sale on November 7, 2016, in Crazy 8 stores and online. The Kidz Bop performers wore the collection on stage during their 2016 Life Of The Party tour.[57]
Kidz Star USA talent search
In 2010, Kidz Bop launched Kidz Star USA, a national talent search for kids aged 15 and under.
In 2011, Kiana Brown from Phoenix, Arizona, became the second winner and received a recording contract from RCA Records.[58][59] American Idol (Season 8) winner, Kris Allen, was a celebrity judge and mentor for the competition.
Dallas Wayde was the 2012 Winner with Gavin DeGraw as his celebrity mentor.[60]
Isabel Lacatus was the 2013 winner with Jennette McCurdy as her celebrity mentor.[61]
SiriusXM Radio
In January 2012, Kidz Bop launched its first radio show on SiriusXM Radio.[62] Kidz Bop Block Party airs every Friday at 6pm est on Kids Place Live (Channel 69). In January 2014, Kidz Bop and SiriusXM Launched Kidz Bop Radio, a 24/7 channel dedicated to playing Kidz Bop music (Channel 79).[63]