Who Owns KIDZ BOP? The Quick Answer
If you’re looking for the short answer: KIDZ BOP is currently owned by Concord Music Group (simply known as Concord). While the brand was famously founded by independent label Razor & Tie in 2001, Concord acquired a significant stake in 2015 and took full ownership of the entire Razor & Tie catalog, including KIDZ BOP, in 2018.
Interestingly, the ultimate financial “owner” behind the scenes is the State of Michigan Retirement System, which holds a 93% majority stake in Concord.
The Tween Pop Empire: Concord Music Group
To understand who owns KIDZ BOP today, you have to look at Concord. Based in Nashville, Concord isn’t just a children’s music label; it is a global powerhouse that manages over one million copyrighted works.
KIDZ BOP sits in the Concord Label Group alongside legendary names like Stax Records and Fearless Records. When Concord fully absorbed Razor & Tie in 2018, they didn’t just buy a brand; they bought a cultural phenomenon. This acquisition provided KIDZ BOP with the massive infrastructure needed to expand into the UK, Germany, and Mexico, turning a domestic CD-selling business into a global streaming giant.
The Michigan Connection: How a Pension Fund Owns Your Favorite Covers
One of the most fascinating layers of the KIDZ BOP ownership story is the State of Michigan Retirement System (ORS). It might sound like a plot twist, but a government organization responsible for the pensions of public school employees and state police is the primary financial engine behind KIDZ BOP.
The Michigan ORS has invested over $1 billion into Concord. This means that when a song like “Cuff It” gets the “family-friendly” treatment, the profits are ultimately helping to fund the retirements of teachers and judges in Michigan. It’s a unique model of “long-term institutional capital” that has allowed the brand to remain stable even when the rest of the music industry was in turmoil.
The Origin Story: Two Dads and a Birthday Party
Before the corporate buyouts and billion-dollar valuations, KIDZ BOP was just an idea between two friends: Craig Balsam and Cliff Chenfeld.
In 2001, the duo—who had already found success with their label Razor & Tie selling “oldies” compilations—noticed something missing. While attending birthday parties for their own children, they realized there was a massive “musical gap.”
There was music for toddlers (think Barney) and music for teens (Britney Spears), but nothing for the five-to-nine-year-old “tweens” who wanted to hear the hits their parents liked without the “not-so-friendly” lyrics.
They hired a group of kids to cover the biggest hits of the day, marketed the first album through TV commercials, and sold 800,000 units before it even hit retail shelves. The rest, as they say, is history.
Current Leadership: The Face of the Brand in 2026
While the corporate giants at Concord pull the strings, the day-to-day operations and creative direction of the brand fall under the leadership of Sasha Junk. Appointed as President of KIDZ BOP in 2020, Junk has been with the company for over 15 years, navigating its transition from physical CDs to a streaming and touring powerhouse.
Under her tenure, the brand has seen a massive global expansion. Today, in 2026, KIDZ BOP isn’t just an American phenomenon; it has dedicated groups in the UK, Germany, France, and Mexico, recording in five different languages. Junk’s strategy has been clear: keep the brand “aspirational but attainable.”
By leaning into major partnerships—like the SiriusXM KIDZ BOP Radio (Channel 135) and massive tours with Live Nation—she has ensured that the brand remains the undisputed leader in children’s entertainment.
The KIDZ BOP Machine: How It Actually Works
You might wonder how a company can release 50+ albums of cover songs without spending every waking hour in a courtroom. The answer lies in the legal architecture of the music industry.
Why They Don’t Get Sued
KIDZ BOP operates on a system of Compulsory Mechanical Licenses. In the United States, once a song has been publicly released, anyone can record a “cover” version of it as long as they pay a statutory royalty fee (currently around 12 cents per track sold or a specific rate per stream).
Because KIDZ BOP re-records every single instrument and vocal from scratch, they don’t need permission from the original artist (like Taylor Swift or Harry Styles).
They only need to pay the songwriters and publishers. Over decades, the brand has built iron-clad relationships with these publishers, ensuring that the “papering over” of profanity is done with professional precision.
The “Menudo Model”: Aging Out of the Group
The “KIDZ BOP Kids” are the heart of the brand, but they aren’t permanent members. The group follows a “rotating door” policy often compared to the boy band Menudo.
- The Casting: National casting calls look for triple-threat performers (singing, dancing, and acting) typically between the ages of 9 and 12.
- The Tenure: Most performers stay with the group for three years.
- The “Age Out”: By the time a performer reaches 13 or 14, they generally “age out.” This keeps the brand eternally youthful and prevents the performers from becoming “too old” for their 5-to-9-year-old target audience.
Notable Alumni: The Superstar Launchpad
The “aging out” process isn’t the end of the road for these talented kids; for many, it’s just the beginning. The KIDZ BOP training ground is legendary for its discipline and high-stakes performance schedule. Some of the most famous names in Hollywood today got their start right here:
- Zendaya: Before she was an Emmy-winning actress and fashion icon, she was a KIDZ BOP kid, appearing in early music videos and commercials.
- Becky G: The global Latin pop star cut her teeth performing family-friendly covers before her breakout hit “Shower.”
- Ross Lynch: Before Austin & Ally and his career with The Driver Era, Ross was part of the KIDZ BOP ensemble.
For these stars, KIDZ BOP was a “Masterclass” in the music business, teaching them how to handle national tours, music video shoots, and press junkets before they even hit high school.
The Business Impact: Outperforming the Legends
In 2026, the sheer scale of the KIDZ BOP business model is staggering. While critics once dismissed the brand as a novelty, the numbers tell a different story. Since its inception, the franchise has sold over 23.5 million albums and generated more than 14 billion streams.
To put their success into perspective: KIDZ BOP has had 24 Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200 Chart. In the history of the music industry, only three artists—The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Barbra Streisand—have had more Top 10 albums. For over eleven years, the group has been Billboard Magazine’s “#1 Kid Artist,” making them more than just a cover band—they are a cultural institution.
Debunking the Myths: Who Doesn’t Own KIDZ BOP?
As the brand’s popularity grows, so do the internet rumors. In 2026, one of the most persistent questions is whether a specific YouTuber owns the company.
Is Elise Ecklund the Owner?
No. Despite a viral “glitch” on Google and a long-running joke on her channel, Elise Ecklund is not the owner or CEO of KIDZ BOP. She is a successful music content creator who has often parodied or reviewed the brand.
While the internet briefly labeled her the “CEO” due to search engine confusion, the actual leadership remains firmly with Sasha Junk and the executive team at Concord.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of KIDZ BOP?
KIDZ BOP operates with a President rather than a CEO. Sasha Junk currently holds the role of President. She reports to the executive leadership at the parent company, Concord.
How much are the KIDZ BOP kids paid?
While exact contracts are private, performers receive a professional salary, travel expenses, and high-level training. According to industry data, executive-level roles at the company, like the President, can earn upwards of $800,000 annually, ensuring the brand attracts top-tier talent both on and off the stage.
Do the kids go to school?
Yes. KIDZ BOP provides a team of one-on-one teachers who travel with the kids during tours and recording sessions. Performers typically switch to online schooling and must maintain high grades to remain in the group.
Is KIDZ BOP still releasing new music?
Absolutely. As of January 2026, the brand has released KIDZ BOP 52, featuring clean versions of global hits like “Pink Pony Club” and “Espresso.”
Conclusion: The Future of the “Bop”
KIDZ BOP has proven to be one of the most resilient brands in music history. By successfully transitioning from television infomercials and physical CDs to a streaming-first strategy with 14 billion plays, they have secured their place in the 2026 landscape.
While the “owners” may be corporate entities like Concord and the State of Michigan Retirement System, the heart of the brand remains its ability to provide a safe, high-energy entry point into pop culture for the next generation of music fans. As long as there are hits on the radio, there will be a KIDZ BOP version ready to keep the party family-friendly.