Music For Aardvarks

What Music For Aardvarks does

Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals is a privately held, founder-owned children's music education and entertainment company founded by David Weinstone in 1997. Its core product is an interactive music class program for children aged 6 months through 5 years, incorporating singing, dancing, musical storytelling, instrumental jam sessions, and puppet play. The company is built on a library of 16 original albums containing 250+ proprietary songs that reflect urban childhood themes; the catalog has been extended into related media including two picture books published by Macmillan (Music Class Today! in 2015 and All My Friends Are Fast Asleep in 2022), an iOS Rockin' Interactive Coloring Jukebox app launched in 2015, and music videos that air daily on Nick Jr. TV.

The business operates through multiple revenue streams. Live classes are sold at approximately $185 per 10-week semester in the NYC flagship, with pricing varying by location because independent licensees set their own rates. The company sells CDs and apparel through a direct-to-consumer online store ($12 per CD), generates in-app purchase revenue from the mobile app ($2.99 per album), and runs a licensing program that allows independent music teachers to launch their own MFA classes under a per-child fee structure with special rates for public schools and non-profits. Distribution includes live classes in parks and classrooms, an online shop, the iOS app store, Apple Music/iTunes, Nick Jr. TV, and licensed teachers across 11+ U.S. states and England.

The company is self-published and self-recorded, with Weinstone retaining full ownership of the children's music catalog (he negotiated a carve-out from his punk band's Sire Records deal in 1998). It operates with a small internal team of 9 employees and has not raised external venture or private equity capital. The licensed-teacher model functions as a quasi-franchise distribution mechanism, enabling geographic expansion without proportional corporate headcount, while the founder's continuing creative output anchors the brand's identity and content moat.

Name

Music For Aardvarks

Legal name

Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals

Website

https://musicforaardvarks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Music for Aardvarks is a founder-owned children's music education company founded in 1997 by David Weinstone, offering interactive music classes for children aged 6 months to 5 years through live sessions, a licensed-teacher network, 16 original albums, an iOS app, and picture books.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Music Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores (5735), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Creative Arts, Music & Movement Content (EDAGACAG), Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship (EDAMANAF)

Keywords

• Children's music classes
• Early childhood music
• Music education programs
• Kids music licensing
• Preschool music curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Live Music Classes: In-person and online interactive music classes for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Classes incorporate singing, dancing, musical storytelling, instrumental jam sessions, and puppet play. Revenue generated through class fees (approximately $185 per 10-week semester per family).
2. CD and Compilation Sales: Sale of physical CDs including 16 original albums and compilation CDs. Best sellers include CD1, CD 2, Taxi CD, CD 3, CD 4, and Lullabies CD. Sold at approximately $12 per CD plus shipping.
3. Mobile App (In-App Purchases): Free app with 6 free songs/coloring pages. Full albums available for in-app purchase at $2.99 each. Each album unlocks the full Taxi song version.
4. Licensing to Independent Teachers: Licensing program allowing independent music teachers to start their own Music for Aardvarks classes. Licensing fee works on a per-child basis and includes materials (CDs) for each child. Special rates for public schools and non-profit organizations.
5. Apparel (T-Shirts): Sale of branded T-shirts through the online shop.
6. Picture Books: David Weinstone has published children's picture books including 'Music Class Today!' and 'All My Friends Are Fast Asleep' through Macmillan Books.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals is a children's music education company offering interactive, parent-participation music classes for children aged 6 months through 5 years, featuring singing, dancing, musical storytelling, instrumental jam sessions, and musical puppet play. The company pairs these classes with a catalog of 16 original albums and 250+ songs written by founder David Weinstone, plus companion products such as CDs, picture books, a mobile coloring jukebox app, Nick Jr music videos, and a teacher licensing program.

Product overview

Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals is a children's music education and entertainment company founded by David Weinstone in 1997. The core offering is an interactive music class program for children aged 6 months through 5 years, which is available through licensed instructors in locations across the US and internationally. The product portfolio includes 16 original CD albums with over 250 songs (sold via the online store), two published picture books ('Music Class Today!' and 'All My Friends Are Fast Asleep'), the iOS 'Coloring Jukebox' app featuring interactive coloring paired with songs, and original music videos that have aired on Nick Jr. TV. The company also offers a licensing program for individuals to launch their own MFA classes. The offering is unified under the Music for Aardvarks brand, with the live classes serving as the original and foundational product, and the media, merchandise, and app extending the brand experience for families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music for Aardvarks Interactive Music Classes Weekly interactive music classes for young children (6 months to 5 years) and their caregivers, featuring singing, dancing, musical storytelling, instrumental jam sessions, and musical puppet play set to original music.
• Music for Aardvarks CDs and Albums A catalogue of 16 original albums with 250+ songs written specifically for children and parents, covering urban themes and diverse musical styles including rock, jazz, blues, hip-hop, Latin, and folk.
• Music for Aardvarks Rockin' Interactive Coloring Jukebox App Mobile app for iPhone and iPad that delivers an interactive coloring jukebox experience using the Music for Aardvarks song catalogue for young children and families.
• Music Class Today! Picture Book Picture book tied to the Music for Aardvarks class experience, available for purchase by families and supporters of the program.
• All My Friends Are Fast Asleep Picture Book Picture book authored by founder David Weinstone, built around themes from the Music for Aardvarks songs and sold to families.
• Music for Aardvarks Teacher Licensing Program Program that licenses the Music for Aardvarks curriculum, music, and brand to independent teachers nationwide and internationally, enabling them to run their own licensed Music for Aardvarks classes.
• Music for Aardvarks Nick Jr Music Videos Music videos produced from Music for Aardvarks songs that aired on Nick Jr, extending brand reach to a national television audience of young children and parents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew from 6 families to 1,000+ children weekly in NYC within first years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• CoComelon: CoComelon is a dominant children's animation and music brand on YouTube and Netflix with original songs and merchandising. Comparable as a children's music/IP competitor for the same preschool audience, but operates as screen-first entertainment rather than live classes.
• Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street): Sesame Workshop produces children's educational content spanning TV, music, and consumer products with deep early-childhood educational focus. Comparable as a large incumbent that overlaps in original children's music, TV distribution, and educational mission.
• The Wiggles: The Wiggles are an established children's music and entertainment brand with video distribution, live touring, and merchandise. Comparable as a scaled children's music brand, though far larger and broader in scope than MFA.
• The Little Gym: The Little Gym is a franchised parent-child enrichment program with structured movement classes for ages 4 months to 12 years. Comparable as a sibling franchised early-childhood enrichment category competing for the same parent discretionary spend.
• Gymboree Play & Music: Gymboree Play & Music offers structured early-childhood enrichment classes (including music) across a global franchised footprint for ages 0–5. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same parent-paid enrichment category but with a wider curriculum than music-only.

Direct peers

• Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner is an independent children's recording artist with a deep catalog of original kids' songs, streaming distribution, and a history of live concert experiences for young children. Comparable as an artist-led children's music brand with classes/concerts plus digital distribution.
• Kindermusik: Kindermusik is one of the largest franchised early-childhood music education programs globally, with licensed educators delivering curriculum-based classes for infants through age 7. Same age band, same licensed-teacher GTM, and same educational music positioning as MFA.
• Music Together: Music Together runs early-childhood mixed-age music classes (newborn through kindergarten) with a licensed teacher model very similar to MFA, including parent participation and a published song catalog. Closest direct analog in format and target demographic.

Emerging players

• ABCmouse (Age of Learning): ABCmouse is a subscription early-childhood digital education platform with a music and arts component. Comparable as a digital-first early-childhood education alternative competing for the same parent's educational budget.
• Romp n' Roll: Romp n' Roll is a franchised early-childhood enrichment program offering gym, art, music, and science classes for children under 5. Comparable as a smaller multi-discipline enrichment competitor that includes music alongside other categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Music4Aardvarks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLJuO5xiBQB7ktFE5fnAUobutD4LpZWmRa
• Facebookfacebook.com/MusicForAardvarks
• Instagraminstagram.com/MusicforAardvarks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/music-for-aardvarks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Music For Aardvarks