Entertainment For Lively Minds
How do I sell a compilation series for parents and kids?
I have two children, the eldest of whom is two and a half. As a Word-Reading-Music-Fan, I have studiously avoided plinky-plonk music hell and I've been compiling CDs since she was born. The Treehouse - for, oh yes, the series has a name - is designed so that parents and children can listen to music together safe in the knowledge that a) it has some artistic merit and b) both will enjoy it.
Believe it or not, there is some tremendous music for kids both from people you'll have heard of - They Might Be Giants, Lisa Loeb, Barenaked Ladies, St Etienne - and some you probably have not - Brady Rymer, The Terrible Twos, The Sippy Cups.
There are various series of 'cool' music for kids, especially in the states, where the genre is occasionally known as 'Kindie', but all of these tend to be solely specially commissioned or 'Kid-friendly' tracks. The Treehouse mixes sequences of straight up songs by adult artists with Kid-specific tracks - one CD has 'train' sequence which includes Elvis Presley singing Mystery Train, The Sippy Cups' Little Puffer and Beck's Broken Train, for example - so it is a bit different to anything else I've come across. If you want a sample tracklisting, let me know.
The series is now up to its eleventh iteration and, as many friends can attest, it works. Most kids will listen to Tom Waits or Elvis Costello provided you throw in some Sesame Street or Laurie Berkner in between. Most parents enjoy a bit of Justin Roberts as long as R.E.M. get a look in too.
So, my question. How do I sell the idea to someone who makes and sells compilations? Kids music in the UK means Disney compilations and unbelievably awful BontempiSynthRubbish - and believe me, I check the section in record shops religiously - and there has to be space for an alternative.
I don't particularly want to make any cash - although that would be welcomed - I'd just like to get the music out there. Has anyone in the Massive ever licensed and flogged compilation series? Do they make money? Who commissions them? And is there any future for this kind of series in Download Land?
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my i propose: Anything my
my i propose:
Anything my Kimya dawson from the Juno sound track [watch the lyrics on Loose lips]
Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, ie Bike [although you might want to edit the sounds effect from the end, the Scarecrow, and The Gnome.
Tom Waits cematary Polka
Mott the Hoople- All the Young Dudes [ known to my 4 YRS OLD, AS 'Harry the Dude'
The THEME from the Archers, and the beverly hillbillys
the proclaimers 500 miles
All of which appear on my Car playlist on my iPod
I also need to add, by request Doghouse blues by seasick steve!!!
SKILL!
Bike appears already...
...along with Queen's Bicycle Race, Yves Montand's La Bicyclette and Justin Roberts' Taking off My Training Wheels on Treehouse Six.
Great suggestions, though. Will add to future Treehouses!
As someone
who works for a company who release many compilation ideas, the first thing to note is that sales are much lower than they used to be (apart from the Now series).
People make their own compilations and playlists and can put anything that they like on those comps.
In the world of compilations it is very hard to clear all the tracks that you actually want. For example Tom Waits would never appear on such a compilation. He has in the past but not any more.
Likewise REM appear on few compilations. The finished project would always be a compromise but might still be of interest.
Also on a business level what is your "route to market"? The kind of shops that used to cater for eclectic music tastes are no longer on the high street, so it would have to be through Amazon / Play.
For ITunes, you would have to persuade them to re-create the compilations with tracks that they already have and that again might be very different to your original concept.
I'm not saying it would be impossible but the idea you started with will end up looking nothing like the finished album / series.
Mostly as Big Guxy just said
People used to make a living out of putting together compilation packages, coming up with concepts, tracklistings, brands (personalities, DJs, TV tie-ins etc.), doing a lot of the preliminary work in tying up licensing deals, providing sleeve designs and marketing plans, and taking a fee and a few %age points for their trouble.
Sadly, that's not so much the case in today's iPod/iTunes/Spotify "instant playlist" age, where the compilation disk is very much an endangered species, so if you're serious about this, I'd advise aiming it at the "gifting" market and aim to push it through "alternative" outlets (Mothercare, Early Learning Centres etc.) rather than CD retailers, or go straight to the source and sell the concept to Huggies (or whoever) to give away a CD with every megapack of nappies...
Ta for the...
..feedback Metal Mickey and Big Guxy - much appreciated. Yep, I expected that clearing tracks would be a bit hit and miss - I know that people like Soulwax have always said that the finished product is largely unlike the initial idea. I can't see people like Prince or The Beatles licensing tracks for (essentially) Kids compilations. That said, there are often good cover versions which might make it...
The 'gifting' market and 'kid friendly' alternative outlets sound like a good idea - I wonder if someone like Putumayo might go for it? Anyone have any further suggestions?
Well, I'd love to hear it.
How about starting a Spotify playlist that we can enjoy (and add to)?? I've got one toddler and one bubsy, and I burn my own CDs with everything from the Banana Splits theme song to TMBG's kids stuff. Right now we're listening to the Bagpuss CD, which is both charming and folksy.
Always happy to hear more great kid / parent friendly songs.
Here's a bit of...
...Treehouse Eleven:
http://open.spotify.com/user/dafridge/playlist/0NCy88pZDa7NDR37CUr6oY
It's not complete, and these aren't all the versions in my original, but you get the idea. It is collaborative, by the way, so feel free to add things in...
it's looking good already
looking at this, I suspect we like a lot of the same stuff. I'll add some tracks when I've got a minute but got to go feed the bubs right now...
shame spotify doesn't have the piggleswick folk version of teddy bears' picnic... it's played on kazoos and is therefore officially wonderful.
Kazoos - mighty!
I look forward to seeing what you can find to add to the list! Spotify doesn't have many of my favourite 'kindie' acts, but I'll see what else I can find too...