Hi-5 GETS KIDS MOVING WITH
TOE-TAPPING, HAND-CLAPPING FUN
ON ALL-NEW MUSICAL CD
JUMP AND JIVE WITH Hi-5!

 

New Hi-5 CD from KOCH Records to Make
National Debut September 7, 2004

 

New York, NY, August 30, 2004 - Kids from coast to coast will be movin' and groovin' to the high-energy sounds and lively lyrics of Hi-5, when the hip, young group star in Jump And Jive With Hi-5, the all-new musical CD from Koch Records, debuting in stores nationwide, September 7, 2004!

The toe-tapping, hand-clapping, karaoke sing-along fun of the 52-plus minute CD captures all the energy and excitement of the group's widely-popular TV series for kids ages 2-8. Based on the mega-hit from 'down under,' the U.S. version of Hi-5 is now available in 85 million homes each weekday on The Learning Channel and Discovery Kids' 'Ready Set Learn!' programming block.

'Jump And Jive With Hi-5 offers young children nearly an hour of the engaging exuberance of the Hi-5 TV show in a format they can enjoy over and over again,' said Helen Harris, Founder of Kids Like Us and Creator and Producer of Hi-5 and many other children's programs, including the phenomenally-successful preschool series Bananas in Pyjamas. 'We are delighted to offer fans a brand new way to extend the series' benefits and its high-impact fun both at home and on the road.'

'Hi-5 is already a bonafide hit in both Australia and the UK, and has been extremely well received by children and families throughout the U.S.,' said Tom Briggs, KOCH Records' Senior Director of Marketing. 'Audiences everywhere can't seem to get enough of Hi-5 and we expect response to the new CD to be equally enthusiastic.'

Jump And Jive With Hi-5 captures the sounds of the popular TV series with ten upbeat songs, including the 'Hi-5 Theme' and 'Ready or Not,' as well as 17 'songlets' such as 'Sailing Down the River' and 'Pizza, Pizza, Pizza.' The new CD also invites children to be part of the Hi-5 magic with nine fun-filled karaoke tracks, including the popular 'So Many Animals.'

The enhanced CD includes bonus previews of MGM Kids' all-new Hi-5 Home Video/DVD titles, excerpts of the Discovery Kids' 'Ready Set Learn!' program, and special Internet links to keep the fun going both online and off. Children will also be treated to a 24-page booklet, featuring song lyrics and photos of the whole Hi-5 gang.

KOCH Records is supporting the release of Jump And Jive With Hi-5 with a multi-faceted national marketing campaign that includes a special give-away of 3-track Hi-5 CD samplers as a Gift With Purchase for the first wave of MGM Kids' Home Videos/DVDs, which were released earlier this month and distribution of Hi-5 stickers promoting the CD at the annual Toys 'R' Us Holiday Parade in New York City and similar events across the country.

In addition, 'splash page' product placement and audio streaming from the new CD will be featured on the Hi-5 Web site, www.hi-5us.com. Recently, Hi-5 performed exclusively at Wal*Mart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas as part of the leading retailer's Kids Appreciation Day event, held August 1, 2004.

 

About Hi-5

Hi-5 are the newest - and coolest! - children's sensations to reach the preschool programming scene since the debut of fellow Aussie property, The Wiggles, which Hi-5 has unseated as the #1 kids show and outsold over the past 12 months in both Australia and the UK. The group features five fresh-faced, ethnically-diverse role models - Kimee Balmilero, Curtis Cregan, Karla Cheatham-Mosley, Jennifer Peterson-Hind, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett - who explore new themes through dynamic and playful presentations that utilize song, dance, and imaginative skits to encourage interactive participation by young audiences.

The Hi-5 TV series presents the engaging cast singing lively, pop-style tunes to exhilarated preschoolers, who dance and sing along to the songs. Each cast member leads a different show segment focusing on important developmental learning concepts across all educational categories -- from logical thinking and math to music and linguistics. While Kimee helps children figure out 'Puzzles & Patterns' (logical thinking), Karla hosts 'Body-Move' (coordination and motor skills). While Curtis makes some noise in 'Making Music' (musicality), Jenn has fun with 'Word Play' (linguistic and aural skills), and Shaun blasts off with 'Shapes in Space' (visual and spatial awareness). Chatterbox and Jup Jup, two energetic puppets, join in the on-screen adventures to the delight of young viewers.

Based on the #1-selling children's property in Australia, Hi-5 made its U.S. debut with an all-American cast on The Learning Channel and Discovery Kids' 'Ready Set Learn!' block in February 2003. Hi-5 is a production of Kids Like Us and Nine Films & Television, in association with Discovery Kids. The critically-acclaimed kids show is produced and created by award-winning producer Helena Harris (Bananas In Pajamas).

About KOCH Records

KOCH Records is a division of KOCH Entertainment, the fastest-growing music company and the market leader among independents in North America. The KOCH Entertainment corporate umbrella encompasses the KOCH Records label, KOCH Vision home video, KOCH Music Publishing and KOCH Entertainment Distribution with operations in both the U.S. and Canada. KOCH Records proudly claims the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents for each of the last three years (2001-2003). For additional information on the KOCH Records label and its roster of artists, please visit www.kochrecords.com.