Music and fashion-driven animated property to be released online and across other digital platforms including Toon Goggles, PopJam, BatteryPOP and the Kid Genius channel on Comcast’s Xfinity on Demand platform.
BEVERLY HILLS – Scheduled to launch on June 20th, Genius Brands International, Inc. (GBI) is forging new paths in the children’s media space by utilizing YouTube as its distribution path to exclusively launch its new music and fashion-driven animated property. SpacePOP is comprised of over 100 serialized adventures featuring original music woven into a narrative that follows five teenage princesses who disguise themselves as musicians and form a band while they secretly plot to vanquish an evil Empress who is seeking to enslave the galaxy. SpacePop offers a colorful blend of music, fashion, beauty, friendship and intergalactic adventures resulting in an engaging lifestyle brand.
The first six videos will debut exclusively on the YouTube SpacePOP Channel. Following the premiere, two new SpacePOP videos will be released each week on YouTube, as well as across other digital platforms, including Toon Goggles, PopJam, BatteryPOP and the Kid Genius channel on Comcast’s Xfinity on Demand platform. Music will also be available on iTunes and Spotify. The content and music rollout will be followed by a fall 2016 merchandise launch at retail.
SpacePOP’s development and production team include Emmy Award-nominated Steve Banks (head writer and story editor of Sponge Bob Square Pants) as content writer; Han Lee (Pink Fizz, Bobby Jack) for original character designs; multiple Grammy Award-winning producer and music veteran Ron Fair (Fergie, Mary J. Blige, Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera and more) and singer songwriter spouse Stefanie Fair (founding member of RCA’s girl group Wild Orchid with Fergie) for the original SpacePOP theme music; and veteran music producer and composer John Loeffler (Kidz Bop, Pokemon) for original songs.
“SpacePOP is a very unique brand, developed for girls in a manner that speaks directly to their passions as well as how they are consuming media,” explained Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of GBI. “From its inception, SpacePOP has been recognized for the incredible opportunities it presents in taking a fresh and direct approach to reach and engage its intended audience. We’re premiering on YouTube primarily because of its popularity, as well as its forward-thinking approach to promotion.”
Angela Y. Lin, Head of YouTube Kids and Learning, North America commented, “We are thrilled that Genius Brands recognizes the power of YouTube and is leveraging the platform to make their new series available to YouTube viewers around the world."
"Our focus for the Summer of SpacePOP is to establish it as the coolest new must watch brand for tween/teen girls, and we have all the right partners, from distribution and music to marketing and retail, lined up to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience,” concluded Stone Newman, President Global Consumer Products & Marketing. “In order to bring girls into the brand, we are taking SpacePOP to them, everywhere they are. This is just the beginning, but as Rhea, Luna, Juno, Hera and Athena say in the first episode with their debut single, ‘We’re About to Start Something Big!”
In addition to its premiere on YouTube, SpacePOP will also be a participant in YouTube Kids’ Reading Program, which runs the entire month of June within the YouTube Kids app. Designed to excite kids about reading, the program will include SpacePOP music videos and kinetic text videos encompassing excerpts from the forthcoming book release (due out July 26th from Macmillan Publishing’s Imprint) with each excerpt narrated by a SpacePOP princess.
GBI will also launch a number of digital marketing initiatives to support the SpacePOP launch, including:
- YouTube influencer campaign featuring popular YouTube stars showcasing the brand on their channels.
- The PopJam app will feature SpacePOP themed posts and activities as well as SpacePOP webisodes.
- Storybird, a platform for writers, readers, and artists of all ages, will feature a series of SpacePOP online writing challenges based on GBI’s original artwork, character descriptions, and basic storylines.
- Sony Music Entertainment, which released SpacePOP songs “Unstoppable” and “Start Something Big” on June 1, will also be making that music available on iTunes and Spotify.
- Musical.ly, the social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short music videos, will engage fans nationwide in a series of SpacePOP duets.
- The launch of a dedicated website, SpacePOPGirls.com, will serve as the definitive online resource for all brand initiatives and promotions.
GBI continues to expand upon the SpacePOP brand’s licensing, merchandising and retail program in collaboration with leading licensing partners throughout North America, including Taste Beauty (beauty and bath products), Bare Tree Media (emoticons), Canal Toys (craft and activity kits), Yowie Group, Ltd. (confections), Jaya Apparel (apparel), H.E.R. Accessories (accessories), and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (home entertainment). Additionally, SpacePOP products ranging from apparel and accessories, to beauty, cosmetics, candy, books, and music will be available at select Claire’s and Kohl’s starting in October. GBI will continue to add new retail partners to the program.
Source: Genius Brands International, Inc.
