Archive for March, 2006

Universal Music Releases New Bratz™ CD

Posted in Press Releases on March 27th, 2006
UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES CASTS A SPELL
WITH Bratz™ genie magic™ cd,
based on the worldwide hit girls’ lifestyle brand

 

New CD Features Songs from The New DVD Of The Same Name
As Well As From The Hit Bratz™ TV Series

 

Los Angeles, CA – March 27, 2006 – The Bratz™ — Yasmin™, Cloe™, Jade™ and Sasha™, “The Only Girls With A Passion For Fashion™,” made their musical debut last summer with Bratz Rock Angelz, which became a staple on the Billboard charts for the rest of 2005.  In addition, the Bratz ™ headlined a hit DVD and videogame of the same name, as well as starring in the highly rated Saturday morning series Bratz™ on 4Kids TV on FOX.  On April 11, 2006, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the newest Bratz™ DVD feature Bratz Genie Magic™.  On that same day the brand new album also entitled Bratz Genie Magic, will be released by Hip-O/UMe.

 

The album includes five songs featured in the new DVD (“Make You Wanna Dance,” “Never Gonna Give Up,” “The Way We Shine,” “Life’s A Wild Ride” and “All Together”) as well as songs from the Bratz™ TV series, including the popular TV theme song.  Genie Magic hopes to emulate the success of Rock Angelz, which rocketed to #1 on the Kid Audio chart and debuted in the Pop 100.  Matthew Gerrard, one of today’s most in-demand and successful pop writer-producers, has penned all of the songs on Genie Magic.  Currently, Gerrard’s “Start Of Something New” can be heard on the #1 album in the country, the soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie High School Musical.

 

He also co-penned the hit “Breakaway” for Kelly Clarkson and has worked with such artists as Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson and Jesse McCartney.

 

The Genie Magic album embraces the Bratz™ philosophy of self-expression, being who you are and feeling empowered with songs such as “The Real You,” “Invincible,” “When We’re All Together,” and “Makin’ It Happen.”

 

Bratz™, a wildly popular line of fashion dolls, manufactured by MGA Entertainment, a leader in consumer entertainment products for children of all ages, became a worldwide phenomenon among tween girls.  Bratz™ has won more awards and received more press recognition than any other fashion doll brand since its debut in 2001.
  

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Title:                 The Bratz™ Genie Magic
Format:            CD/Original Music
Producer:         Matthew Gerrard
R/T:                  Approximately 42 minutes.

 

Available at traditional retailers and online.

 

Press Contact:
Andrea Blain
Andrea Blain Public Relations
9750 Crawford Ave.
Skokie, IL 60076
847-933-9884 (phone)
847-673-5836 (fax)
andrea@andreablainpr.com

 

 

For art, please contact:  andrea@andreablainpr.com.

 

A World of Education…Right in Your Pocket

Posted in Press Releases on March 27th, 2006

 

Award-Winning Pocket Snails DVD Series

Continues to Provide ‘A Soaring Start for Little Minds’

Through Imagination and Creativity

 

“Pocket Snails Aquaphonic Adventure”

 Newest Title in the Award-Winning Series Now In Stores,

Produced by Soaring Star Productions LLC

 

 

Surprise, AZ (March 27, 2006) – Gordon, Dale and Buttons – otherwise known as the Pocket Snails – are back to take their friend Jake and young viewers everywhere on a whole new learning adventure in Pocket Snails Aquaphonic Adventure, now available on DVD and VHS from Soaring Star Productions..

 

In this delightful new title–part of the educational and entertaining Pocket Snails DVD series– the clever mollusk trio work as a team to help Jake, whose pocket they reside in, learn the sounds of the letters of the alphabet.  Using distinctive and engaging mixes of vibrant colors, original upbeat music and amusing animation, young viewers will be encouraged and enthused to take this next step in their educational and literary development.

 

Recommended for ages 3 and up, the suggested retail price for “Pocket Snails Aquaphonic Adventure” DVD is $15.95, VHS is $12.95.  Special features available on the DVD include: 

 

·         Interactive “Phonics Pics” Activity to challenge viewers on what they’ve learned.
·         Bonus Scene—an additional scene to help reinforce the vowel sounds.
·         Music Player—includes the Pocket Snails Theme and other fun songs from the program.
·         Meet the Snails—fun facts about each snail including special features of each snail, favorite foods, favorite colors, and favorite phrases.
·         Company information
·         Pocket Snails catalog products

 

“Our mission is to provide high quality entertaining media that enhances and elevates learning and encourages the highest potential in every child,” says Kate Beale, vice president, Soaring Star Productions.  “‘Pocket Snails Aquaphonic Adventure’ offers children the perfect introduction to learning the letter sounds in a fun and engaging way that has true entertainment and educational value.”

 

            With camera in hand, the Pocket Snails make their way to Phonic Island by way of the sea (on and beneath it), photographing recognizable objects – an anchor, a motorboat, a lobster, to name a few – to take back to Jake so that he may learn the sounds each letter makes, making valuable use of repetition so no child is left behind in further learning their ABCs.

 

Original upbeat tunes will get children singing and clapping along to the catchy lyrics.  “We Love the Vowels” focuses solely on the vowels and teaches how they each have two sounds and how at least one is present in every word.  “Tell Me All About (Phonics)” recaps the exercise to seal the lesson, and as previous Pocket Snails DVDs, the “Pocket Snails Theme” delights all.  These songs, along with “Pocket Snails Celebration” and tunes from the first Pocket Snails release, “Pocket Snails Letter Adventure,” can be found on the “Pocket Snails & Other Snaily Songs” CD, which was named a “Toy of the Year” by Creative Child Magazine and received a 5-Star Rating from the Dove Foundation.

 

 “Pocket Snails Letter Adventure,” released in 2004, received many awards and accolades including:

  • Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Educational Products for 2004
  • Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products for 2004
  • Dr. Toy’s Best Children’s Vacation Products Award 2004
  • Dr. Toy’s Smart Play/Smart Toy Product of Excellence Award 2004
  • Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence 2004
  • iParenting Media Awards Hottest Products for 2004
  • Finalist – 25th Annual Telly Awards
  • KIDS FIRST! Endorsement – Coalition for Quality Children’s Media
  • Dove Foundation Family Review Board Seal of Excellence
  • Award of Excellence – The Film Advisory Board

 

Future Pocket Snails topics to be released in 2006 include Shapes & Colors, and Numbers.

 

Beale founded Arizona based Soaring Star Productions, LLC in February 2003.  The company specializes in producing distinctive, humorous and exciting educational media for preschool-age children and is dedicated to providing high quality, innovative and appealing products that are both educationally rewarding and entertaining.

 

To order Pocket Snails multimedia products, please visit www.pocketsnails.com or call toll free 1-800-477-7811.

MADACY LATINO PARTNERS WITH SCHOLASTIC MEDIA

Posted in Press Releases on March 27th, 2006

 

 

MADACY LATINO PARTNERS WITH SCHOLASTIC MEDIA
 TO PRODUCE NEW MAYA & MIGUEL™ CD SERIES

Debut Titles:
“Best Friends,” “Party ¡Fiesta! and “Favorite Radio Hits”
Launch into Stores April 28, 2006

 

 

Miami, Florida (March 27, 2006) – Madacy Latino, a leader in children’s musical products for the Hispanic and English speaking markets, has partnered with Scholastic Media to produce and market branded music products based on the top-rated Maya & Miguel™ series on PBS KIDS GO!  Madacy Latino plans to release several English and Spanish Maya & Miguel musical CDs in 2006 as the widely-popular twins leap from the TV screen to music for the first time.  

 

“Madacy Latino is very excited to bring into the company the Maya & Miguel brand,” said Federico Teran, Managing Director of Madacy Latino U.S. and South America “We have been working several years now developing bilingual audio and video products for kids so that Latin kids can cherish their roots and their language. Maya & Miguel is the perfect example of a bi-cultural family living in a multi-cultural neighborhood that can help us continue to achieve our goal. We are very lucky to work with Scholastic in this new venture.”

 

Leslye Schaefer, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Consumer Products, Scholastic Media added, “Fans of Maya & Miguel have really connected with the characters and the series’ message of multi-cultural understanding and friendship. With its line-up of popular tunes, these CDs provide children with another fun gateway for entering the world of Maya & Miguel and share these values.”

 

  The initial releases Maya & Miguel “Best Friends,” “Party ¡Fiesta!” and “Favorite Radio Hits,” are the first in a series of musical delights that will have even the little music fans singing along! “Best Friends” is a collection of 14 timeless, toe-tapping tunes that celebrate the wonders of friendship, including such favorites as “Happy Together,” “We Are the World,” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” Best Friends is approximately 45 minutes and will retail for $7.98.


 

 

The two-disc “Party ¡Fiesta!” has 20 fun party songs including “Celebration,” “Get This Party Started,” “Everday People,” and “Dancing in the Streets.” It is 60 minutes and will retail for $9.98.

 

 

 “Favorite Radio Hits” has a special split track whereby each of the 14 songs can be sung Karaoke style.  Turn the speakers to the left and sing-along to instrumental versions of such favorites as “Car Wash,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and “We Are Family.”  Turn the speakers forward and the vocals are heard.  “Favorite Radio Hits” is packaged in a specially designed digipak that includes the lyrics.  Favorite Radio Hits is 45 and will retail for $7.98.

 

 Newly recorded by the successful children’s band The Tweens, Maya & Miguel CDs be available in stores nationwide April 28, 2006.  Maya & Miguel CDs are recommended for ages 4-8 and will also be available to consumers for download at the popular iTunes online music service.

 

For more information about Madacy’s Maya & Miguel products please visit www.madacy.com, e-mail madacylatino@madacy.com, or call toll free 1-888-2MADACY.

 

Maya & Miguel made a stellar debut in fall 2004, quickly becoming the # 1 new show on PBS KIDS GO! and establishing an immediate and powerful connection with its audience. To date, the Maya & Miguel website at pbskidsgo.org/mayaandmiguel has received over 265 million page views, and gets an average of 30,000 emails per month from kids.  The series is designed to present culture and language learning as fun, relevant, and rewarding for all children, with a special emphasis on the Latino population. The goals of the series are: (1) to promote the value of a culturally diverse society; and (2) to support English language learners through the presentation of language in a natural context with a special emphasis on vocabulary. Maya & Miguel is a broad-based Scholastic initiative comprised of television; print media; school and community outreach; dynamic Web sites at  pbskidsgo.org/mayaandmiguel as well as scholastic.com; publishing; and a host of ancillary products including apparel and accessories, and DVDs.

 

About Madacy Latino
Madacy Latino, a division of Madacy Entertainment Group, Inc., is responsible for the creation, distribution and marketing of Spanish-language audio and video products for the US and South America. Madacy is a leading developer, producer and marketer of recorded music products in North America. Madacy is also involved in the distribution of products of other music labels, the licensing of its proprietary recordings and the development and marketing of home video products. 

 

 

About Scholastic Media
Scholastic Media (SM) is the entertainment and media division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing and media company. A proven leader and innovator in the children’s entertainment landscape and award-winning licensor and marketer of children’s properties worldwide, SM ranks as one of the foremost producers of quality, family-oriented content for all platforms including television programming, feature films, home entertainment, interactive, and the Internet.

 

 

 

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology.  Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children’s books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys.  The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company’s Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

 

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CD Titles:                     Maya & Miguel Best Friends; SRP $7.98; approximately 45 minutes
Maya & Miguel ¡Party Fiesta!; SRP $9.98, approximately 60 minutes (2-discs, 10 songs each)
Maya & Miguel Favorite Radio Hits; SRP $7.98; approximately 45 minutes (digipak, includes lyrics, split track: vocals/instrumental)

 

Label:                           Madacy Latino
Artist:                           Maya & Miguel
Release Date:               April 28, 2006

 

Press Contact:
Andrea Blain
Andrea Blain Public Relations
9750 Crawford Ave.
Skokie, IL 60076
847-933-9884 (phone)
847-673-5836 (fax)
847-53309414 (cell)
andrea@andreablainpr.com

 

 

Contact andrea@andreablainpr.com for art.

No Passport Required for ‘Trip’ to Canada

Posted in Press Releases on March 27th, 2006

 

‘Families of Canada’


Newest Title in the Award-Winning Families of the World Video Series Now Available on DVD from Master Communications

Entire Families of the World Catalog is also Released on DVD

Cincinnati, Ohio (March 27, 2006) – Explorers of all ages need travel no farther than their living rooms to learn about the lives and cultures of children around the world thanks to the multi-award-winning video series Families of the World. 

The series – 17 titles and growing – offers a documentary-style “day in the life” glimpse into how people in different countries live from a child’s point of view.  The latest release, “Families of Canada,” is now available on DVD  for a suggested retail price of $29.95.  VHS titles are also $29.95.  In addition, the entire Families of the World catalog is now on DVD, while many titles are being broadcast on select PBS stations around the country.

“We’ve been inundated with requests for some time now to make Families of the World available on DVD,” said Selina S. Yoon, president of Master Communications, distributor of the Families of the World series.  “We are pleased that there has been such a high demand for this quality series, and now it will now be available to a wider audience.  Global understanding, now more than ever, must be a priority and through Families of the World, we can bring other cultures a bit closer to children and their families.”

“Families of Canada” introduces two children from differing provinces and follows them in their daily activities from waking to bedtime, all the while showing young viewers the amazing similarities between their own lives and those of children the same age living thousands of miles away:  similar chores, school and extra-curricular activities and family interactions.

Seven-year-old Hannah is a second grader from Nova Scotia.  When we meet her, she is in the midst of Carnival Week at school, which celebrates a different wardrobe oddity each day (today it’s “Backward-Inside-Out Day”) and is looking forward to seeing her older sister Emma participate in the “Bug on the Wall” contest at lunch (students are taped to the wall and the last one hanging wins).  Hannah’s father works as a lobster fisherman and her mother as a dental assistant.  We travel along with Hannah on the two buses and ferry she must take every day to school, where she checks in on the class science project (hatching eggs), partakes in a fire drill and gets help from the third graders she shares the class with.  After school activities include jumping on the family trampoline and a piano lesson.  The family pitches in to fix dinner, watches a little television and then it’s off to bed.

We join 11-year-old John, who lives just outside of Toronto, as he prepares to enjoy Thanksgiving (in October) with his family at his Aunt Kathleen’s house.  After leisure time playing video games and a special church mass ceremony, the family enjoys a traditional dinner with loved ones.  The following day, it’s back to school where John takes a spelling test, studies biology and enjoys lunch and recess as his mom and dad work their respective jobs as a computer financial analyst and loan officer.  After school, John enjoys a guitar lesson and some group playing with his older brothers, Adrian and Paul.  To finish his day, John enjoys a little reading before bed.

School Library Journal applauds Families of the World as “excellent,” providing “an intriguing taste of another culture.”  The series, which has garnered repeated acclaim and awards from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents’ Choice and NAPPA (National Parenting Publications of America) as well as endorsements from KIDS FIRST! and recommendations from Dr. Toy’s Children’s Products, is used in classrooms around the country as a valuable tool for multi-cultural education.

 Families of the World is recommended for ages 5-11.  The series features families in Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Ghana, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico (includes Spanish and English soundtrack), Puerto Rico, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.  To order, call 1-800-765-5885 or visit www.familiesoftheworld.com.

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