
Children's phenomenon Kidz Bop , which has had youngsters rockin' to popular songs on CD for several years, is crossing over to the concert stage.
The Kidz Bop World Tour will feature six kids and two young adult lead singers performing with a four-piece rock band in theaters and small arenas. The concerts will also spotlight local talent in each town and offer contests, song-voting and other interactive events, according to a press release.
The outing is set to kick off with two shows Oct. 12-13 in Davenport, IA, and travel across the eastern half of the US into January. Confirmed dates are listed below. More cities are being added every week and the itinerary is updated at the Kidz Bop World Tour website.
In six years, the Kidz Bop CD series has grown to include more than a dozen titles, scored nine gold album certifications and logged sales of more than 10 million units, according to a statement. The CDs are billed as "today's most popular songs, sung by kids for kids."
"Kidz Bop 12," released in July, includes covers of Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape," Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend," Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around...Comes Around" and Kelly Clarkson's "Never Again." The franchise also includes genre-specific albums, such as "Kidz Bop Country" and "Worship Jamz," as well as holiday titles such as "Kidz Bop Halloween" and "The Coolest Kidz Bop Christmas Ever," which surfaced last month.
The brand, which targets fledgling music fans aged 4-11, has also become an online destination for kiddies who can create, share and watch a variety of content at the Kidz Bop website.