Googling Children's Music

Google has introduced a beta version of Google Trends, which tracks the popularity of certain search terms. What can this tell us about the popularity of children's music? A lot (though it means nothing to me in terms of what our family actually listens to).

Here's Dan Zanes. A spike in mid-2005 -- I'm guessing there must've been some Noggin-related activity around then. The graph only appears to go through early-April, so there's little evidence of a Catch That Train! bump in the available data. Looks pretty good until you compare him to...

Laurie Berkner. Note the spike in early 2006 -- that would be the release of We Are... The Laurie Berkner Band DVD. Again, looks pretty good until you compare her to...

They Might Be Giants. I'm guessing the spike in mid-2004 has to do with the release of The Spine, their last non-children's release of new material. So they have the advantage of non-kids-related stuff, too. But you don't need that if you're...

The Wiggles. Hoo-boy, those other lines are getting mighty flat. But even that's not all that impressive once you type in...

High School Musical. Breaking Free, indeed.

Sing A Song of SteveSongs

Just wanted to point out that Bill at Spare the Rock announced today that SteveSongs would be appearing in-studio on his June 17 show. I've been told that Steve's latest album, Marvelous Day!, will be re-released by Rounder Records this summer. More details (and review) later this summer.

Anyway, kudos to Bill for getting both Steve and Milkshake to appear on the air with him.

I Hear The Kids (Music Artists) Love This MySpace Thing

Did you know Gustafer Yellowgold has his own MySpace page? And blog? Who knew he was a Ween and Sun Kil Moon fan? And does he have latent cheese anger? (The blog, while not inappropriate, is really for the adults, not for the kids.)

You can also check out his music page, from which you can stream 3 songs, including a new track, "Rocket Shoes," which is a sparse, melodic track reminiscent of the first DVD's songs. Stills from the upcoming DVD are also available.

Incidentally, the Hollow Trees also have a MySpace page. But it's not quite as... different... as the Yellowgold pages.

Dan Zanes, Auteur?

Speaking of videos, I doubt Dan Zanes directed any of these, but it looks like he's adding a bunch of videos to his website. They're not all there yet, but a few from his All Around the Kitchen DVD are there right now.

Call him a producer then.

New Noggin Videos for Old Songs

News from the Justin Roberts newsletter that Noggin will begin airing videos for "Willy Was A Whale" and "If You Got 1" next week. Fran also notes that Buck Howdy will have videos airing on Noggin soon as well.

So soon you can watch these videos (which appear to be new, or at least they're not on their respective websites) where they were meant to be seen. On TV, not on a computer. When you were watching A-ha's "Take On Me" video on MTV 20 years ago, did you ever think you'd be watching videos. With kids. Of yours. On a cable channel specifically for those kids. And that that channel would air more videos than MTV?