New York, NY (Top40 Charts/
Spirit Music Group) -
Spirit Music Group (Spirit) announced today the signing of a global, multi-year publishing administration deal with songwriter/artist Laurie Berkner, widely recognized as one of the most popular children's performers in America. The deal, Berkner's first music publishing association since her debut in the late 1990's, covers her entire creative output including 5 acclaimed CD's, an award-winning DVD, two music-driven picture books and all future works.
With a background in choral and orchestral performance and pre-school music education, Berkner entered the children's music scene in 1997 with the release of her first album, Whaddaya Think Of That? Encouraged by a strong response in New York and her native New Jersey, Berkner formed Two Tomatoes Records for the release of her second CD, 1998's Buzz Buzz. Berkner's third set, 1999's Victor Vito, received enormous critical acclaim and enough national attention to warrant the artist's first significant tour for the newly-formed Laurie Berkner Band.
Following the release of her fourth CD, Under A Shady Tree, and her first picture book-with-CD distributed by Scholastic's Orchard Books, Berkner burst onto the national stage thanks to a recurring guest role on the Nick Jr. cable network's popular series, Jack's Big Music Show. Buoyed by a massive new fan base thanks to the ongoing television exposure and years of national touring, Berkner's first DVD, We Are...The Laurie Berkner Band, entered at the top of Billboard's Top Music Video chart and eventually sold quadruple platinum.
After the release of a second book-with-CD project, a sheet music folio and production of a custom software cartridge to accompany Fisher-Price's award-winning toy, 'Learn Through Music Plus,' Berkner released her fifth studio CD, 2008's Rocketship Run.
In announcing the signing, Peter Shane, Spirit's VP of Creative Services & Marketing noted, 'Laurie has a one-of-a-kind ability to create timeless songs that connect with children as well as their parents. We're on a mission to find ways to bring her music to an even wider group of young fans.'
'Laurie Berkner has made an indelible imprint on children's music,' said Spirit President/CEO Mark Fried 'and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her and her team in bringing her music to new and different media and identifying branding partners here and around the world to extend her reach.'
Said Berkner, 'I'm excited to be working with Spirit Music Group. I love their passion for music and for the artists that create it! It's why I feel they genuinely understand me and the appeal of my songs and why they will be great at finding situations that are just the right fit.'
