Berklee Today: Children's Music Grows Up

While in recent years overall CD sales have faltered, music industry trend-watchers have noticed an uptick in a previously less significant category: children's music. Between 2006 and 2007, for example, Nielsen SoundScan reports sales of children's CDs increased 38 percent, from 12.3 million to 17.1 million.

As well, high-profile artists such as They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies, and Medeski Martin & Wood have attracted media attention with recent releases. These artists' creations for the children's market have been top sellers and in some cases have eclipsed sales of the bands' adult-oriented albums. Children's artists are starting to show up at the top of the sales charts for all music. As of this writing, the Laurie Berkner Band, a children's group made popular on the children's cable television station NOGGIN, is the number-13 top seller on Amazon.com. In this article, Berklee alumni and other experts share thoughts about the genre, writing good kids' songs, and getting that music out to the public.

Read more about Berklee alumni and children's music in Berklee Today.