Kidz Bop is a leading children’s music brand known for its kid-friendly covers of popular songs. Since its launch, it has become a household name, offering music that is both entertaining and appropriate for young listeners.
But who owns Kidz Bop?
Understanding its ownership structure provides insight into how the brand operates and continues to thrive.
History of Kidz Bop
Kidz Bop was founded in 2001 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam, the creators of the independent record label Razor & Tie. Their idea was simple yet innovative: produce albums featuring children singing contemporary hit songs with kid-appropriate lyrics.
The concept quickly gained popularity, leading to strong album sales and a growing fan base. Over the years, Kidz Bop expanded beyond music albums to include merchandise, live tours, music videos, and a dedicated SiriusXM channel.
By 2016, the brand had sold over 17 million albums, solidifying its status as a leader in children’s entertainment.
Who Owns Kidz Bop?
In 2018, Concord, a global independent music company, acquired Razor & Tie, including the Kidz Bop brand. Concord specializes in acquiring music catalogs, publishing rights, and theatrical works.
This acquisition allowed Concord to strengthen its presence in the children’s music industry and expand its portfolio of family-friendly entertainment assets.
Concord is a privately held company with ownership shared among several investors. While specific shareholder percentages are not publicly disclosed, one of the major investors is Barings Alternative Investments, a subsidiary of MassMutual.
This investment group holds a significant stake in Concord, influencing strategic decisions and financial growth.
Other private stakeholders contribute to Concord’s overall business strategy and long-term vision.
Ownership Timeline
- 2001: Kidz Bop is launched by Balsam and Chenfeld through Razor & Tie.
- 2006: A 50% stake in Razor & Tie is sold to ABRY Partners, a private equity firm.
- 2015: Concord Music Group merges with The Bicycle Music Company to form Concord Bicycle Music. Subsequently, Concord acquires Razor & Tie, bringing Kidz Bop under its umbrella.
- 2018: Concord Music Group fully acquires Razor & Tie, solidifying its ownership of Kidz Bop.
Institutional Investors of Concord (Kidz Bop’s Parent Company)
Concord, the parent company that owns Kidz Bop, is owned by different institutional investors. Below are the major shareholders of Concord:
State of Michigan Retirement Systems (SMRS) – Majority Owner
The State of Michigan Retirement Systems (SMRS) holds a significant ownership stake in Concord, making it the company’s majority owner. SMRS’s investment underscores its commitment to long-term growth in the music and entertainment industry.
Apollo Global Management – Strategic Financial Partner
Apollo Global Management has played a pivotal role in Concord’s financial strategies. In October 2024, Apollo structured an $850 million asset-backed securitization (ABS) for Concord, backed by a diverse catalog of music assets. This transaction was part of Concord’s efforts to fuel strategic growth and acquisitions in the music industry.
Barings LLC and Sound Investors – Historical Stakeholders
Barings LLC, formerly known as Wood Creek Capital Management, along with Sound Investors, were instrumental in Concord’s earlier growth phases. In 2013, these entities led an investor group that acquired Concord, providing the company with resources to expand its catalog and market presence.
Who Controls Kidz Bop?
Although Kidz Bop is owned by Concord Music Group, the operational and strategic control of the brand is shared among Concord’s executive leadership and Kidz Bop’s own dedicated management team. Here’s a breakdown of the key players involved in controlling and guiding the Kidz Bop brand.
Concord Music Group: Parent Company Oversight
Concord Music Group is the parent company of Kidz Bop. As the ultimate owner, Concord holds the highest level of strategic oversight. This includes:
- Approving major investments and partnerships
- Allocating budgets across labels and properties
- Guiding global expansion plans
- Overseeing brand synergy within its entertainment portfolio
Concord itself is a major force in the global music industry, managing not just labels but also theatrical productions, artist management, and publishing. Kidz Bop falls under Concord’s label group division.
Concord is led by Bob Valentine, its President and CEO (as of 2024), who has significant influence over the group’s strategic direction. However, day-to-day operations for specific brands like Kidz Bop are delegated to division leaders.
Sasha Junk: President of Kidz Bop
Sasha Junk is the primary figure controlling the day-to-day operations and strategic execution of the Kidz Bop brand. She has been with the company since 2009 and became President in April 2020.
Under her leadership, Kidz Bop has:
- Expanded into international markets (UK, Germany, France, etc.)
- Launched live tours and merchandise lines
- Partnered with major platforms and sponsors like Spotify, LEGO, and Mattel
- Increased digital presence through YouTube and streaming services
Sasha reports to Concord’s Label Group executives, but she and her team retain creative and operational autonomy in managing the Kidz Bop franchise.
Executive Team and Departmental Leadership
Beyond Sasha Junk, Kidz Bop has its own internal teams handling:
- Music Production: Selecting songs, directing recordings, and ensuring kid-appropriate lyrics
- Marketing & Partnerships: Managing global branding and licensing deals
- Touring & Events: Organizing live shows and casting new performers
- Digital Strategy: Leading social media, YouTube, and digital streaming initiatives
Each team is crucial to Kidz Bop’s sustained success and contributes to its brand decisions.
Investor Oversight: Indirect Control
As Concord is partially backed by large institutional investors, most notably Michigan Retirement Systems, which invested over $1 billion, their influence is felt primarily at the board and policy level.
These investors do not manage Kidz Bop directly but have the power to influence Concord’s long-term financial strategy, mergers, or asset divestitures, which could affect Kidz Bop indirectly.
Annual Revenue and Net Worth of Kidz Bop
As of 2024, Kidz Bop’s annual revenue is estimated to be between $30 million and $50 million, derived from multiple income streams:
- Music Sales and Streaming: Approximately $10–15 million annually from album sales and digital streaming platforms.
- Live Performances: Around $12–15 million per year from touring, with gross earnings per show ranging from $150,000 to $300,000.
- Merchandise and Licensing: An estimated $5 million annually from branded products and licensing deals.
These figures highlight Kidz Bop’s diversified revenue model, contributing significantly to its parent company, Concord Music Group.
Regarding net worth, as of April 2025, Kidz Bop’s estimated net worth is $15.4 million, reflecting its brand value and assets.
Here’s an overview of the net worth growth of Kidz Bop from 2020-24:
- 2020: Approximately $9.26 million
- 2021: Approximately $10.8 million
- 2022: Approximately $12.3 million
- 2023: Approximately $13.9 million
- 2024: Approximately $15.4 million
In 2025, Kidz Bop continues to expand its reach with a 60+ city tour and international performances, indicating sustained growth and a strong market presence.
Here’s a breakdown of historical revenue and growth of Kidz Bop:
- 2016 – Kidz Bop had sold over 17 million albums, solidifying its financial strength and market dominance.
- 2018 – Following Concord’s acquisition, Kidz Bop saw an increase in revenue due to expanded marketing and distribution channels.
- 2020 – Estimated revenue reached approximately $10 million, with a net worth of around $40 million.
- 2021 – The brand’s net worth surpassed $50 million, driven by digital streaming and international expansion.
- 2023 – Estimated annual revenue stood at around $7.5 million, with continued strong performance in streaming and live performances.
- 2024 – As of the latest data, Kidz Bop’s revenue is estimated between $10 million and $25 million, with a net worth ranging from $7.9 million to over $50 million, depending on income sources. YouTube alone contributes an estimated $1.62 million annually.
Market Share and Competitors
Kidz Bop holds a dominant position in the children’s music market, controlling an estimated 65% market share within the segment of kid-friendly pop music. The brand’s continued success in album sales and digital streaming proves its strong standing.
Disney Music Group
Disney Music Group is one of Kidz Bop’s top competitors, holding approximately 20% market share in children’s music. It owns several popular children’s music labels, including Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records. Disney’s strong brand recognition and extensive music catalog give it a competitive edge in the industry.
Nickelodeon Music
Nickelodeon Music, a division of Paramount Global, also competes with Kidz Bop. It produces music for hit Nickelodeon shows and develops child-friendly music content. Nickelodeon holds around 10% of the children’s music market, leveraging its television network and digital platforms for cross-promotion.
Sing Up
Sing Up is another notable competitor, focusing on educational music for children. Unlike Kidz Bop, which adapts mainstream pop hits, Sing Up produces original songs designed to support learning and development in schools. It holds approximately 5% of the children’s music market.
Brands Owned by Kidz Bop
Kidz Bop itself is not a parent company that owns multiple brands in the traditional sense. Instead, Kidz Bop is a single, standalone brand under the ownership of Concord Music Group. However, Kidz Bop has expanded into various sub-brands, partnerships, and brand extensions that function like independent entities under the Kidz Bop umbrella. These sub-brands represent Kidz Bop’s strategy to reach wider audiences through diversified offerings in media, merchandise, live entertainment, and international markets.
Below is a detailed breakdown of these Kidz Bop sub-brands and brand extensions:
Kidz Bop Kids (The Performer Group)
Kidz Bop Kids is the core brand and public face of Kidz Bop. It features a rotating cast of child performers aged between 9–15 who sing clean versions of top 40 pop hits.
Key Features
- Performers are selected through national auditions.
- Kids record songs, star in music videos, and tour across the U.S.
- They receive vocal training, choreography coaching, and media training.
- Alumni of Kidz Bop Kids sometimes go on to professional music or acting careers.
This sub-brand fuels Kidz Bop’s albums, YouTube presence, and live shows.
Kidz Bop SiriusXM Radio (Channel 79)
Kidz Bop Radio is a 24/7 satellite radio channel available on SiriusXM (Channel 79) in North America.
Key Features
- Plays family-friendly pop music exclusively from Kidz Bop.
- Includes interviews with Kidz Bop Kids, themed hours, and listener call-ins.
- Offers an ad-free listening experience tailored to kids and parents.
This extension strengthens Kidz Bop’s presence in audio entertainment and helps maintain year-round visibility.
Kidz Bop International (UK, Germany, France, Mexico)
Kidz Bop has launched localized versions of its brand in several international markets. These feature native child performers singing locally popular songs in the respective language or English.
Kidz Bop UK
- Launched in 2017 in partnership with Universal Music.
- Features UK-based kids performing British chart hits.
- Includes localized tours, merchandise, and social media.
Kidz Bop Germany
- Debuted in 2019 with German-speaking performers.
- Albums include a mix of German pop and translated international hits.
- Supported by local radio and live events.
Kidz Bop France (launched in 2023)
- Focuses on clean renditions of French pop hits.
- Expands the brand’s reach in continental Europe.
Kidz Bop Mexico
- Includes Spanish-language songs and local child talent.
- Created in collaboration with regional labels and broadcasters.
These international sub-brands adapt Kidz Bop’s core formula to local cultures and languages, broadening global appeal.
Kidz Bop Live! (Touring Division)
Kidz Bop Live! is the touring division of the brand, bringing the Kidz Bop Kids on stage across the U.S. and select global markets.
Key Features
- Produced in partnership with Live Nation.
- Tour stops include theaters, amphitheaters, and state fairs.
- Shows include live singing, dancing, interactive segments, and merchandise booths.
- Recent tours include: “Dream Big Tour,” “Never Stop Tour,” and “Kidz Bop Live 2024: Certified BOP!”
This is a key revenue and branding stream, attracting hundreds of thousands of fans annually.
Kidz Bop Merchandise (Apparel, Toys, School Supplies)
Kidz Bop Merchandise includes branded apparel, accessories, toys, and back-to-school items.
Categories
- T-shirts, hoodies, and backpacks.
- Karaoke machines, microphones, and music-themed toys.
- Party supplies and activity books.
Kidz Bop partners with toy companies and retailers like Target, Walmart, and Amazon to distribute these products, further extending brand engagement beyond music.
Kidz Bop YouTube Channel
The Kidz Bop YouTube Channel functions as a standalone content brand, featuring music videos, behind-the-scenes content, and kid-focused series.
Channel Highlights
- Over 3.5 million subscribers (as of 2025).
- Features music videos for each album release.
- Includes challenges, Q&A videos, and lifestyle content hosted by Kidz Bop Kids.
This platform plays a critical role in Kidz Bop’s digital strategy, capturing younger viewers who engage more with video than traditional music formats.
Brand Partnerships (Lego, Crayola, Barbie)
Kidz Bop also engages in high-profile brand collaborations and campaigns, often with companies targeting similar family-friendly demographics.
Notable Partnerships
- LEGO®: Collaborative campaigns tied to creativity and play.
- Barbie™ & Mattel: Joint promotions around fashion and empowerment.
- Crayola®: Sponsored content and back-to-school events.
These partnerships often include co-branded merchandise, online contests, and event sponsorships.
Kidz Bop School & Streaming Programs (Educational Licensing)
Kidz Bop content is increasingly used in educational settings and children’s streaming platforms such as Kidoodle.TV and Sensical.
Offerings Include
- Clean versions of popular songs are used for school dances and gym classes.
- Licensing deals with schools and kids’ networks.
- Appearances on kid-safe streaming apps to ensure ad-free environments.
This initiative blends music and learning in structured environments, further reinforcing the brand’s “safe for kids” positioning.
Final Words
Kidz Bop has evolved from a niche music brand into a powerhouse in children’s entertainment. Under the ownership of Concord, it continues to expand and adapt to new trends while maintaining its core mission of providing family-friendly music. Concord’s strategic leadership ensures that Kidz Bop remains a favorite among children and parents worldwide.
FAQs
Who founded Kidz Bop?
Kidz Bop was founded in 2001 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam under their record label, Razor & Tie.
When did Concord acquire Kidz Bop?
Concord acquired Razor & Tie, including Kidz Bop, in 2018.
How many albums has Kidz Bop sold?
As of 2016, Kidz Bop had sold over 17 million albums worldwide.
What is Kidz Bop’s annual revenue?
Kidz Bop generates an estimated annual revenue of $7.5 million.
Who are Kidz Bop’s main competitors?
Kidz Bop’s main competitors include Disney Music Group and Nickelodeon’s music ventures.