Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Head of Kids Audio Content Verdell Walker Explains Spotify's Partnership With CoComelon-and Introduces Four Exciting New Shows for Families

18/01/2022

Image credit: Moonbug Entertainment

You've definitely heard of CoComelon if you have a toddler. (It's the number one kids channel on YouTube, for those without kiddos.) CoComelon videos are filled with catchy songs and energetic, colorful stories featuring a kid named J.J. and his friends on various adventures-from show-and-tell to bedtime and beyond. Now, the brand is venturing into the audio medium as CoComelon comes together with Spotify in an exclusive multiyear agreement.

Spotify will partner with CoComelon producer Moonbug Entertainment for a new podcast, CoComelon Story Time, as well as a mix of other original and exclusive homegrown shows. Bringing Moonbug Entertainment's shows to Spotify provides an unparalleled opportunity for families to experience their favorite characters in a brand-new way.

Image credit: Moonbug Entertainment

Since the launch of our stand-alone Spotify Kids app, Spotify has offered compelling and age-appropriate audio content for parents and their children. Through this new partnership, we're releasing unique podcast content specifically created for families to enjoy together. An array of exciting stories will debut to parents within the Family and Kids Hub on the main Spotify app, as well as on the Spotify Kids app, exclusive to Spotify Premium Family subscribers.

As Head of Kids Audio Content at Spotify, Verdell Walker is responsible for establishing and managing the audio content that serves families. We have a mission of being the number one audio platform in the world, and a big part of that is making sure that we have something for everyone, she explained to For the Record. No matter how old or young you are.

Read on for more from our conversation.

Why is it so important for Spotify to create content that appeals to families? There's so much empty space in the world of spoken word audio for families. There's a lot of kids music, yes, and audiobook versions of kids books, but there's a dearth of high-quality audio content out there for parents to enjoy with their children.

With homegrown shows for families, we have an opportunity to create a gold standard for audio that parents will turn to when it comes to playing podcasts with their children. We know that parents are often looking for ways to reduce screen time, so we want to elevate audio to a place where parents will think of it as an option alongside other forms of entertaining and educational media.

There is so much flexibility in this audio experience in terms of stories, characters, formats, narrative structures-and we can really push the envelope when it comes to what spoken word audio can mean. It's a happy medium between entertainment and education, and it's a way to engage together.

How will working with CoComelon and Moonbug Entertainment help Spotify grow these content offerings? CoComelon is one of the most recognizable IPs on earth. This partnership with Moonbug allows us to leverage really beloved stories that delight families, and it also signals to the broader world, to parents, to creators, that we are serious in this space. We are working with recognizable brands and making a splash with names that parents recognize and trust. This partnership and these stories are a new way for new and existing CoComelon fans to interact with this brand in a creative way.

Tell us a bit about the upcoming homegrown shows. CoComelon Story Time, which is launching on January 24, includes 42 beloved storybook classics with a CoComelon twist. The stories teach positive life lessons and provide families with playful and educational content that they can enjoy together. It's going to be available in four languages, including U.S. and U.K. English, Spanish, German, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Gardenkeeper Gus, probably my favorite show in the slate, is launching on January 31. It's designed for families with younger children, and it's a quiet and contemplative preschool podcast that follows six-year-old Gus and his squirrel best friend, Rel, as they explore and understand the endless and larger-than-life garden behind his family home.

100 Cinderellas, launching on February 14 and designed for families with younger children, is an anthology series of Cinderella stories from around the world and is suitable for bedtime. If you have children or know someone who has children, you know bedtime is a particular source of pain and frustration! We're releasing this story in two different formats-one that is 30-minutes all the way through, and the other is in shorter parts so you can listen to it over a number of nights and choose which is best for your bedtime.

Deep Blue Sea, launching on February 28, is a fun underwater adventure with two characters named Marina and Reef. Listeners will visit an underwater, oceanic laboratory, Sea Lab Alpha, with an impeccable view of sea life and get to learn about sharks, whales, and more. I'm excited for listeners to learn how to protect the ocean and be good stewards of the ocean.

What are some of your favorite stories from when you were a child? I loved the Redwall series. Catherine, Called Birdy. I was also into Masters of the Universe, particularly She-Ra. When I was a kid, I would run around the house with a toy sword announcing, I have the power of the universe; I am She-Ra! It was so empowering to me. I have watched every episode of the revival and it is incredible. When I got older I loved Totally Spies, Kim Possible . . . you can sense a trend-I love stories with powerful women.

Can't wait for new CoComelon spoken word audio content to come to Spotify? Catch the trailer below.

And in the meantime, get your fill with CoComelon songs, all in one place.
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-01-18/head-of-kids-audio-content-ver...
See more stories from spotify

More from Spotify

27/03/2024

Paving the Way' for Spotify's NextGen Scholarship Recipients

Spotify is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups, and that starts with empowering the creators who will shape our industry's future....

26/03/2024

Sube la temperatura con las canciones del verano 2024 en Argentina y Brasil

De diciembre a marzo, cuando los ciudadanos del hemisferio sur disfrutan del verano, la m sica se convierte en una poderosa representaci n de las culturas y cos...

26/03/2024

Aumente o Som com as Msicas do Vero de 2024 da Argentina e do Brasil

De dezembro a mar o, medida que as pessoas em todo o Hemisf rio Sul aproveitam o ver o, a m sica surge frequentemente como uma representa o poderosa das cult...

26/03/2024

Turn Up the Heat With Argentina's and Brazil's 2024 Songs of Summer

From December to March, as people across the Southern Hemisphere soak up the summer, music often emerges as a powerful representation of a region's cultures...

25/03/2024

Spotify Tests Video-Based Learning Courses in the UK

Today we're launching a test for video-based courses on Spotify in the U.K. We've partnered with educational tech companies including BBC Maestro, PLAYv...

21/03/2024

Spotify Celebrates Ramadan With Listening Trends From Around the World

March marks the beginning of Ramadan, a cherished cultural event celebrated by Muslims worldwide. As families and communities come together to observe, contempl...

20/03/2024

Five Artists Reflect on Five Years of Spotify in India, Reaching New Fans, and the True Power' of Music

Since launching in India in 2019, Spotify has opened up opportunities for artist...

19/03/2024

The Biggest Takeaways From Spotify's Annual Music Economics Report

At Spotify, we believe that artists deserve clarity when it comes to the economics of music streaming-that's why we publish data showing our impact on the i...

19/03/2024

As Maiores Concluses do Relatrio Anual de Economia Musical do Spotify

No Spotify, acreditamos que os artistas merecem clareza no que diz respeito economia do streaming de m sica - por isso que publicamos dados que mostram o no...

19/03/2024

Las Conclusiones Ms Importantes Del Informe Anual De Spotify Sobre La Economa Musical

En Spotify, creemos que los artistas merecen claridad cuando se trata de la econ...

19/03/2024

Les points cls du rapport annuel sur l'conomie de la musique de Spotify

Spotify pense que les artistes m ritent de la clart en mati re d' conomie du streaming musical. C'est pourquoi la plateforme publie chaque ann e des do...

18/03/2024

USC Basketball Star Juju Watkins on Fashion, Film, Friendship Bracelets, and More

Listeners turn to Spotify to connect with their favorites-from artists and album...

13/03/2024

Music Videos Rolling Out in Beta to Premium Spotify Users Across Select Markets

In the early neon-infused '80s, music videos burst onto TV screens, turning some of the most beloved songs into visual experiences that redefined the way fa...

12/03/2024

Five Years of Spotify in India: A Look Back at Our Greatest Hits

February marked Spotify's fifth year in India, and since our debut, we've focused on lifting up the country's creator community, localizing content ...

08/03/2024

On International Women's Day, Spotify Celebrates the Impact of Three Years of EQUAL

Spotify is dedicated to fostering gender equity in the music industry and beyond...

07/03/2024

Spotify ajustera ses prix en France prochainement

Prochainement, nos abonn s Spotify Premium en France subiront une augmentation de prix en raison de co ts suppl mentaires sur les services de streaming musica...

07/03/2024

Spotify To Adjust Its Prices Over New Tax in France

Spotify Premium subscribers in France will soon experience a price increase due to additional costs on music streaming services imposed by the government, as pa...

07/03/2024

La Tierra de Texas' Celebrates the Tejano Legacy of Msica Mexicana at the Houston Rodeo

On February 26, 1995, Selena walked into the middle of the Astrodome as the head...

04/03/2024

The European Commission Confirms, Apple's Anti-Competitive Behavior Is Illegal and Harms Consumers

Today's decision marks an important moment in the fight for a more open inte...

04/03/2024

Los artistas colombianos, una fuerza imparable en la escena msical global

Desde los movimientos magn ticos de Shakira, pasando por el electrizante rock en espa ol de Juanes y hasta la vibrante fusi n de pop y vallenato de Carlos Vives...

04/03/2024

Colombian Artists Prove To Be an Unstoppable Force on the Global Music Scene

From Shakira s magnetic moves to Juanes s electrifying Spanish rock and Carlos Vives s vibrant blend of pop and vallenato, Colombian music resonates globally. U...

01/03/2024

Spotify's New Audiobooks Access Tier Gives Booklovers More Listening Options

Spotify is continuously innovating to provide the best possible offering for every kind of audio fan. Since launching Audiobooks in Premium, we've seen a 45...

01/03/2024

A Letter to the European Commission on Apple's Lack of DMA Compliance

Ahead of the European Union's DMA implementation deadline next week, Spotify and many EU companies sent the following letter to the European Commission toda...

29/02/2024

Spotify's Song Psychic Is Ready To Answer Your Burning Questions

Life's full of little mysteries, and sometimes the most fun way to tackle them is with a bit of cosmic guidance. Spotify is ready to take you on a journey o...

27/02/2024

Creators Kevin Norman and Hina Talk Romance Fiction, Audiobooks, and Finding Community Online

Be it a steamy contemporary novel, a charming historical romp, or fantasy with a...

23/02/2024

7 Great Audiobooks That Inspired 2024's Most Nominated Films

Sometimes a story is too good to only exist as a book, which has inspired countless directors to turn must-read novels into feature-length films. And quite ofte...

21/02/2024

Introducing AUX, Spotify's First-of-Its-Kind Music Consultancy for Brands

With a music editorial team and recommendations that have created the most vibrant streaming ecosystem in the industry, Spotify is where more than 600 million f...

17/02/2024

Start a Jam With an Assist From Your Favorite FC Barcelona Player

In September we unveiled Jam, giving music fans a new, personalized way to listen with friends and family. This collaborative experience lets Premium subscriber...

15/02/2024

Reggaetn Mexa, the Homegrown Genre Taking Over Mexico

Reggaet n music has already captivated listeners around the world, but in Mexico the genre reigns supreme. In fact, on Spotify, Mexico listens to reggaet n more...

15/02/2024

Spotify CLASSICS: 30 Classic Hip-Hop and R&B Albums From the Streaming Era

Streaming has transformed not only the way fans listen to music, but also the way artists release music to the world. And while music has become a more song-dri...

15/02/2024

Reggaetn Mexa, el gnero que est arrasando en Mxico

El reggaet n ha conquistado a oyentes de todo el mundo, pero en M xico el g nero reina. De hecho, M xico escucha reggaet n m s que cualquier otro pa s en Spotif...

12/02/2024

Nick Viall Dishes on Relationships, His Podcast, and How He Discovers New Music on Spotify

We love helping listeners discover new music on Spotify, and when it comes to fe...

12/02/2024

RADAR US Is Back With the Raw and Unfiltered Raps of Sexyy Red

RADAR was launched in 2020 to support artists and creators as they chart their paths to superstardom, and it has since become the global home for what's nex...

08/02/2024

Writer Diablo Cody and Filmmaker Zelda Williams Talk the Tunes That Help Score Lisa Frankenstein'

The '80s. A teenage crush. High school drama. And, of course, a corpse. Mayb...

07/02/2024

7 Colombian Podcasters Breaking Through in 2024

Spotify is home to more than 5 million podcasts. From impactful life stories to tips for conquering the world, the medium gives fans countless hours of content ...

07/02/2024

Siete podcasters colombianos que la van a romper en 2024

Spotify es el hogar de m s de 5 millones de p dcast. Desde historias de vida impactantes hasta consejos para conquistar el mundo, el medio ofrece a los fans inc...

06/02/2024

Celebrate a Decade of Our K-Pop ON! () Playlist With a Special Series of Spotify Singles

The global success of K-Pop has opened the eyes and ears of music fans around th...

06/02/2024

Spotify Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings

Today, we announced our fourth quarter 2023 performance. The business delivered strong results in Q4, as all of our KPIs met or exceeded guidance. With revenue ...

06/02/2024

Spotify rapporterar intkter fr fjrde kvartalet 2023

Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r fj rde kvartalet 2023. Verksamheten levererade starka resultat under det fj rde kvartalet, och samtliga a...

02/02/2024

Watch ELLE Magazine's Exclusive Livestream of the 2024 Spotify Best New Artist Party Here

Our eighth annual celebration of the year's Best New Artist nominees has arr...

02/02/2024

The Art of Podcasting with Joe Rogan and His New Multiyear Spotify Partnership

The Joe Rogan Experience debuted in 2009, has been a Spotify exclusive since 2020, and we're just getting started. Today we announced our new multiyear part...

31/01/2024

Raise Your Snapchat Game With Spotify's New Snapchat Sharing Lens

Whether it's your signature song or a new single you can't stop playing on repeat, the music you love to listen to is a part of who you are. And we know...

31/01/2024

Actor Noah LaLonde Talks Top Books and Bringing My Life with the Walter Boys' from Page to Screen

You may recognize Noah LaLonde from his role as Cole Walter in Netflix's new...

31/01/2024

Best New Artist 2024: Everything You Need To Know About This Year's Nominees

Over the last eight years, Spotify has honored the top rising stars in the music world with an annual celebration recognizing their accomplishments in landing a...

26/01/2024

Apple's Proposed Changes Reject the Goals of the DMA

For almost five years - 1,782 days - we have been asking the European Commission to take action against Apple. In a world that values competition and innovation...

24/01/2024

The DMA Means a Better Spotify for Artists, Creators, and You

What's one of the top complaints about Spotify? It's actually something that until now has been outside of our control: the ability to seamlessly subscr...

17/01/2024

Spotify Helps Kick Off the Americas Kings League Santander as the Official Audio Partner

Spotify is ready to amp up the fun on and off the pitch as the official audio pa...

17/01/2024

Spotify se suma a la inauguracin de la Amricas Kings League Santander como partner de audio oficial

Spotify est listo para aumentar la diversi n dentro y fuera de la cancha como p...

15/01/2024

New Year, New You: Audiobook Picks To Help You Start 2024 on the Right Foot

Whether it's New Year's resolutions or a post-holiday reset, there's always extra motivation to adopt a few healthy habits each January. But sometim...

15/01/2024

Beauty and Fashion Creator Meredith Duxbury Dishes On the Music That's Been Dominating Her Playlists

Photo credit: Jared Kocka We love helping listeners discover new music on Spotif...