Cocomelon

Cocomelon's videos, for a target audience of two- to five-year-olds,{{Cite web |date=Feb 2022 |title=In a breakthrough year for content, multicultural audiences crown 'Cocomelon' and 'Moana' among the most streamed titles ever |url=https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2022/in-a-breakthrough-year-for-content-multicultural-audiences-crown-cocomelon-and-moana-among-the-most-streamed-titles-ever/ |access-date=Sep 23, 2024 |website=Nielsen Company}} feature 3D animated children, adults, and animals who interact with each other in daily life. The lyrics appear at the bottom of the screen in the same way on all displays. Formats include standalone music videos, compilations, and livestreams.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} A blend of live action and animation was introduced in 2024 in one of the shows. The toddler characters' ages "'stretch' to reflect both the reality and the aspiration of their audience's lives," according to Cocomelon creative staff. There is a proprietary staff-only guide of about 100 pages detailing Cocomelon backstory and characters.{{Cite magazine |last=Tolentino |first=Jia |date=June 10, 2024 |title=How CoComelon Captures Our Children's Attention |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/06/17/cocomelon-children-television-youtube-netflix |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker}}

The YouTube channel was created in 2006 by Jay Jeon, registered under the name "checkgate",{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate|title=Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes|website=YouTube}} later rebranded to "ABC Kid TV".{{Cite magazine |last=Semuels |first=Alana |date=March 16, 2022 |title=Inside the Making of CoComelon, the Children's Entertainment Juggernaut |url=https://time.com/6157797/cocomelon-success-children-entertainment/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 14, 2023 |magazine=TIME}} The channel began by posting educational videos focused on the alphabet.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.cocomelon.com/aboutus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128124051/https://www.cocomelon.com/aboutus |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |access-date=27 December 2019 |work=cocomelon.com}} In 2016, it transitioned to 3D animation, with the first 3D video.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-31 |title=Behind CoComelon: How one dad turned his hobby into a YouTube empire |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cocomelon-youtube-jay-jeon-founder-animated-series-success-a9697566.html |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}} In 2018, the channel rebranded to Cocomelon, and introduced a recurring cast of characters.{{Cite web |last=Mollah |first=Mashum |date=2023-07-27 |title=Cocomelon: Channel History, Rebranding, Acquisition, & Success |url=https://mashummollah.com/cocomelon/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Mashum Mollah |language=en}}

On September 1, 2006, Cocomelon was created on YouTube under the username "checkgate", a month before Google acquired YouTube. According to Jeon, it was initially a hobby with his wife, sharing animations that their own kids enjoyed.{{Cite web |last=Housman |first=Andrew |date=Jun 28, 2021 |title=Who Owns Cocomelon & How Much Are They Worth? |url=https://screenrant.com/cocomelon-owner-founder-net-worth-rich-value/ |access-date=Sep 28, 2024 |website=ScreenRant}} Two versions of the alphabet song were uploaded on the first day. A third video was uploaded nine months later, titled "Learning ABC Alphabet – Letter "K" — Kangaroo Game". Most videos on the channel taught the alphabet, with a typical length of between one and two minutes. At the time, the Jeons were operating ThatsMEOnTV.com, an online business that incorporated children's photos into animated educational videos delivered on DVD.{{Cite web |title=ThatsMeOnTV.com |url=http://www.thatsmeontv.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=Sep 28, 2024 |website=Internet Archive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203061020/http://www.thatsmeontv.com/ |archive-date=December 3, 2011 }} Video titles on the channel were appended with "from www.ThatsMEonTV.com".{{Cite web |date=Sep 18, 2007 |title=checkgate |url=http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Sep 29, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918224117/http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |archive-date=September 18, 2007 }}

In 2013, the channel rebranded to "ABC Kid TV" and began remastering older videos, followed by a transition from alphabet videos to nursery rhymes. On April 8, 2016, computer animation was introduced, with the first 3D character appearing in a video for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". Later in 2016, 3D animation videos became longer, some videos used motion capture technology, and uploads became more frequent. Animation and music production continued to become more sophisticated, and a recurring cast of characters formed before the 2018 rebrand.

In the summer of 2018, the channel rebranded again to Cocomelon, introducing a new intro and outro for all of their videos.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} The next year, analytics firm Social Blade estimated Cocomelon's monthly YouTube advertising revenue between $638,000 and $10.2 million;{{Cite magazine |last=Martineau |first=Paris |title=YouTube Has Kid Troubles Because Kids Are a Core Audience |url=https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-kid-troubles-kids-core-audience/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811205146/https://www.wired.com/story/youtube-kid-troubles-kids-core-audience/ |archive-date=11 August 2019 |access-date=14 August 2019 |magazine=Wired}} The Wall Street Journal estimated annual ad revenue at $120 million.{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Yoree Koh and Betsy |date=Apr 11, 2019 |title=Kids Love These YouTube Channels. Who Creates Them Is a Mystery. |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/kids-love-these-youtube-channels-who-creates-them-is-a-mystery-11554975000 |access-date=Sep 2, 2020 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |via=www.wsj.com}}

In early 2020, Jeon granted his first-ever media interview for Bloomberg Businessweek, which ran a profile of the "unassuming mogul" and his business. Jeon, 55 at the time, agreed on condition of no photography and no mention of his wife, to preserve their privacy. For most its history, he and his wife had run the channel largely on their own, keeping a low profile; even their neighbors didn't know they owned Cocomelon. For many years, Jeon had also avoided expansion by turning down investors, sponsors, language translations, sequels, and merchandising.

In June 2020, Cocomelon launched on Netflix, with three episodes, each about an hour long. Netflix offered access to an audience that didn't allow their children to watch YouTube.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=Oct 19, 2020 |title=YouTube's biggest kids show is about to take over streaming services |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/19/21519095/cocomelon-netflix-moonbug-blippi-hulu-streaming-youtube-children-entertainment |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=The Verge}}

In July 2020, Jeon sold his fully-owned company, Treasure Studio, which produced Cocomelon and employed around 20 people, to Moonbug Entertainment, a British firm focused on children's content.{{Cite news |date=Jul 30, 2020 |title=The New King of Kids TV Gets 7 Billion Views a Month on YouTube |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-30/blippi-cocomelon-purchased-by-kids-media-giant-moonbug |access-date=Sep 2, 2020 |newspaper=Bloomberg |via=www.bloomberg.com}} According to Moonbug cofounder Rene Rechtman, "Cocomelon has the potential to be the biggest property in the world when it comes to kids. In terms of viewership, it already is."{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Lucas |date=July 30, 2020 |title=The New King of Kids TV Gets 7 Billion Views a Month on YouTube |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-30/blippi-cocomelon-purchased-by-kids-media-giant-moonbug?sref=ExbtjcSG |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=Bloomberg News}} The channel began increasing its reach by securing deals with platforms in South Korea, China, and Europe. By 2021, the channel had expanded its content to include Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin Chinese, German, and Arabic.{{cite news |date=7 February 2021 |title=Spacetoon to bring six Moonbug Entertainment shows to MENA including CoComelon |url=https://www.digitalstudiome.com/broadcast/broadcast-business/36375-spacetoon-to-bring-six-moonbug-entertainment-shows-to-mena-including-cocomelon |newspaper=Digital Studio Middle East}}{{Cite press release |title=Moonbug Partners With Tencent Video To Expand Its Reach Across China |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/moonbug-partners-with-tencent-video-to-expand-its-reach-across-china-838337818.html |website=www.prnewswire.com}}{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2021 |title=Kids round-up: Super RTL inks Moonbug deal; Zigazoo gains $4m capital funding; TVOkids makes BGM double order |url=https://tbivision.com/2021/04/23/kids-round-up-super-rtl-inks-moonbug-deal-zigazoo-gains-4m-capital-funding-tvokids-makes-bgm-double-order/ |website=TBI Vision}}

In 2021, Moonbug was acquired for a reported $3 billion by Candle Media, a company founded by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by the Blackstone Group.{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=Nov 4, 2021 |title='Cocomelon' Owner Moonbug Entertainment Sells to Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs' Blackstone-Backed Company |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/cocomelon-moonbug-entertainment-sale-blackstone-kevin-mayer-tom-staggs-1235104224/ |access-date=Sep 4, 2024 |website=Variety}}{{Cite magazine |last=Stokel-Walker |first=Chris |date=Nov 5, 2021 |title=The Wild Rise of Moonbug—YouTube's Magic Money Machine |url=https://www.wired.com/story/moonbug-cocomelon-youtube-kids/ |url-status=live |access-date=Sep 4, 2024 |magazine=Wired}}{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=Sep 28, 2022 |title=Kevin Mayer Defends Candle Media's Acquisition Approach: "We Did Not Overpay for Hello Sunshine" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/kevin-mayer-candle-media-hello-sunshine-acquisition-1235228937/ |access-date=Sep 4, 2024 |website=Hollywood Reporter}}{{cite news |last1=Segal |first1=David |date=5 May 2022 |title=A Kid's Show Juggernaut That Leaves Nothing to Chance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/05/arts/television/cocomelon-moonbug-entertainment.html |work=The New York Times}} That November, a new show, JJ's Animal Time, also called Cocomelon Animal Time, appeared on YouTube, featuring JJ's favorite animal friends.{{Cite web |title=JJ's Animal Time |url=https://tv.apple.com/us/show/cocomelon-jjs-animal-time/umc.cmc.6urey35isghr03dr8awaudjb9 |access-date=Oct 26, 2024 |website=Apple TV|date=November 14, 2022 }}{{Cite web |title=JJ's Animal Time |url=https://www.youtube.com/@CoComelonAnimalTime/videos |access-date=Oct 26, 2024 |website=YouTube}}

In 2022, Netflix began airing Cocomelon as a Netflix Original show.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In May, a new weekly spin-off show, It's Cody Time, also called Cody Time, launched on YouTube, featuring the character Cody, JJ's best friend.{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Sydni |date=May 11, 2022 |title='There's Officially A CoComelon Spinoff & It's All About JJ's BFF Cody |url=https://www.romper.com/entertainment/cocomelon-spinoff-its-cody-time |access-date=Oct 26, 2024 |website=Romper}}{{Cite web |title=Cody Time |url=https://www.youtube.com/@CoComelonCodyTime |access-date=Oct 26, 2024 |website=YouTube}}

On August 1, 2023, Moonbug was awarded $23.4 million in a copyright violation case against BabyBus, a company based in Fuzhou, China, which was accused of imitating Cocomelon, including the character of JJ.{{Cite web |title=Moonbug Awarded US$23 Million in Major Copyright Case |url=https://kidscreen.com/2023/08/01/moonbug-awarded-us23-million-in-major-copyright-case/ |access-date=2023-08-05 |publisher=kidscreen.com}} Later YouTube removed its channel BabyBus's Super JoJo.{{Cite web |title=The Outcome, damages electable in the alternative |url=https://imslegal.com/case-studies/moonbug-v-babybus%23:~:text=The%20Outcome,damages%20electable%20in%20the%20alternative. |access-date=2025-01-26 |publisher=imslegal.com}}

A spinoff series, Nina's Familia, premiered on September 29, 2023, focusing on Latine culture and bilingual content.{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Tanay |date=September 28, 2023 |title='Nina's Familia' Brings Mexican Culture to Life in New CoComelon Spin-Off |url=https://www.parents.com/ninas-familia-first-bilingual-cocomelon-series-7975871 |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=Parents}} The Nina Reyes character first appeared on Cocomelon in 2019. The show follows the Cocomelon format with educational songs and nursery rhymes. Centered around Nina and her Mexican American family, it was designed for both Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking children, and aims to accurately represent Latino culture.{{cite news |last=Hylton |first=Chelsea |date=September 25, 2023 |title='CoComelon' introduces new bilingual series 'Nina's Familia' |url=https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-09-25/cocomelon-bilingual-preschool-series-ninas-familia |work=Los Angeles Times}} About 70% of the episodes are in English and 30% with some form of Spanish. Development was based in part on focus groups with mothers.

A new original series, Cocomelon Lane, based on the Cocomelon universe, was released on Netflix on November 17, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Zahed |first=Ramin |date=Nov 17, 2023 |title=Singing & Dancing along the New 'CoComelon Lane' |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/11/singing-dancing-along-the-new-cocomelon-lane/ |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=Animation Magazine}} The series was described as "a more traditional preschool TV version" of the YouTube channel., narrative- rather than singalong-driven.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Parents' Guide to CoComelon Lane |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/cocomelon-lane |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=Common Sense Media}} It was built around a "'social-emotional learning curriculum" that focuses on milestone moments for preschoolers, and the accompanying feelings. The series allowed Cocomelon characters to speak directly to the audience for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Beth Ann |date=November 16, 2023 |title=A First Look at 'CoComelon Lane' Debuting on Netflix |url=https://www.parents.com/first-look-at-cocomelon-lane-8402062 |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=Parents}}

A spin-off series, Cocomelon Classroom featuring Ms. Appleberry, premiered on YouTube on September 21, 2024. It is the first live action Cocomelon title, with a blend of live action and animation. Ms. Appleberry, originally an animated Cocomelon character, is played by Juliana Urtubey, named US National Teacher of the Year in 2021. Supported by a learning specialist and a literacy consultant, the weekly show "integrates themes that are essential to early childhood cognitive, social and emotional development".{{cite web|url=https://toyworldmag.co.uk/moonbug-to-launch-cocomelon-classroom-spinoff-series/|title=Moonbug to launch CoComelon Classroom spinoff series|website=toyworldmag.co.uk|date=September 5, 2024 |access-date=26 September 2024}}

On September 18, 2007, a year after Cocomelon's YouTube launch as checkgate, the channel had seven videos uploaded and 41 subscribers. Two versions of "Cute Alphabet Song from WWW.ThatsMEonTV.com" had 179,970 and 49,292 views, the others from around 1,000 to 20,000 views.{{Cite web |date=Sep 18, 2007 |title=Cute Alphabet Song from WWW.ThatsMEonTV.com |url=http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918224117/http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |archive-date=September 18, 2007 }} By November 14, 2010, there were 1287 subscribers, while views of all videos uploaded to the channel reached over 30 million; "Cute Alphabet Song", renamed "ABC Song from WWW.ThatsMEonTV.com Alphabet Song", had nearly 25 million views. Over the next five years, by October 29, 2015, subscriptions rose to about 750,000, and a 50-minute compilation of previous videos, published on May 1, 2014, had over 244 million views.{{Refn|Rise in popularity on YouTube

• Apr 3, 2008: 187 subscribers. Views for "Cute Alphabet Song" were 1,104,387 and 364,868.{{Cite web |date=Apr 3, 2008 |title=checkgate |url=http://www.youtube.com:80/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403095232/http://www.youtube.com:80/user/checkgate |archive-date=April 3, 2008 }}
• Feb 10, 2009: 511 subscribers. Videos had been reduced to five; one version of "Cute Alphabet Song" had 5,702,390 views, the other four videos in the 600,000-800,000 range.{{Cite web |date=Feb 10, 2009 |title=checkgate's channel |url=http://youtube.com:80/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210160530/http://youtube.com:80/user/checkgate |archive-date=February 10, 2009 }}
• Nov 14, 2010: 1287 subscribers; 30,947,891 total upload views. "Cute Alphabet Song", renamed "ABC Song from WWW.ThatsMEonTV.com Alphabet Song", had 24,963,149 views.{{Cite web |date=Nov 14, 2010 |title=ThatsMEonTV.com Official Page |url=http://www.youtube.com:80/user/checkgate#p/u/4/0fw3l1z9CUQ |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114110641/http://www.youtube.com:80/user/checkgate#p/u/4/0fw3l1z9CUQ |archive-date=November 14, 2010 }}
• Sep 12, 2011: 5018 subscribers; 66,207,113 upload views. The again renamed "ABC Song with Cute Ending" had 44,024,060 views, and videos had been uploaded for each letter of the alphabet, with about 130,000 to 1.8 million views each.{{Cite web |date=Sep 12, 2011 |title=ThatsMEonTV.com Official Page |url=http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate#p/c/0/0fw3l1z9CUQ |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912062905/http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate#p/c/0/0fw3l1z9CUQ |archive-date=September 12, 2011 }}
• Sep 18, 2012: 16,300 subscribers; 125,577,383 upload views.{{Cite web |date=Sep 18, 2012 |title=ThatsMEonTV.com Official Page |url=http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918152421/http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |archive-date=September 18, 2012 }}
• Jun 12, 2013: 30,986 subscribers; 151,400,672 upload views.. Several videos had well over three million views.{{Cite web |date=Jun 12, 2013 |title=ABC Kid TV |url=http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612183254/http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |archive-date=June 12, 2013 }}
• Oct 29, 2014: 313,762 subscribers. Several videos had over 10 million views.{{Cite web |date=Oct 29, 2024 |title=ABC Kid TV |url=http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029143217/http://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |archive-date=October 29, 2014 }}
• Oct 29, 2015: 748,390 subscribers. A 50-minute compilation of previous videos, published on May 1, 2014, had 244,303,897 views.{{Cite web |date=Oct 29, 2015 |title=ABCkidTV |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029180759/https://www.youtube.com/user/checkgate |archive-date=October 29, 2015 }}{{Cite web |date=Dec 2, 2015 |title=ABC SONG {{!}} ABC Songs for Children - 13 Alphabet Songs & 26 Videos |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UR-l3QI2nE |url-status=live |access-date=Oct 1, 2024 |website=YouTube via Wayback Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202215527/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UR-l3QI2nE |archive-date=December 2, 2015 }}|group=note}}

After nine years on YouTube, Cocomelon reached 1 million subscribers on May 16, 2016; it reached one billion total views later in the month. The channel grew rapidly following the July 2017 release of "Yes Yes" Bedtime Song, in which TomTom has to use stuffed animals to get JJ to prepare for bed; "Yes Yes" became Cocomelon's most-viewed video, with over 1 billion views.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

In 2018, a YouTube study by Pew Research Center found that "some 81% of all parents with children age 11 or younger let their child watch videos on YouTube", with 34% indicating on a regular basis. Of the 50 most recommended videos found in the study, 11 were "oriented toward small children". Cocomelon's "Bath Song | + More Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs" was the most recommended video in the research project.{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Aaron |last2=Toor |first2=Skye |last3=van Kessel |first3=Patrick |date=2018-11-07 |title=Many Turn to YouTube for Children's Content, News, How-To Lessons |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/07/many-turn-to-youtube-for-childrens-content-news-how-to-lessons/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=Pew Research}}{{Cite web |last=Madrigal |first=Alexis C. |date=2018-11-08 |title=How YouTube's Algorithm Really Works |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/11/how-youtubes-algorithm-really-works/575212/ |access-date=27 December 2019 |work=The Atlantic}} (As of September 2020, that video had received over 3.2 billion views on YouTube, making it the 19th-most-viewed video on the site.{{cite web |title=Top 1000 Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All Time |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL11E57E1166929B60 |access-date=3 May 2020 |via=YouTube}})

In 2019, Cocomelon had the second-largest YouTube channel subscription gain, with an increase of over 36 million, ending the year on 67.4 million subscribers.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-24 |title=The 21 YouTube Channels That Gained The Most Subscribers In 2019, From T-Series To MrBeast |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/the-21-youtube-channels-that-gained-the-most-subscribers-in-2019-from-t-series-to-mrbeast/1-t-series/slideshow/72945986.cms |access-date=27 December 2019 |work=Business Insider}} Between May and June 2019, it received 2.5 billion total views, averaging 83 million daily viewers worldwide. It "[dwarfed] the turnout for most of the world's sports leagues, pop stars, and scripted TV." Comparatively, the "major four [American] TV broadcast networks averaged just 13 million viewers daily during the TV season".{{Cite web |author=Graham, Jefferson |date=2019-06-24 |title=Why YouTube's kid issues are so serious |url=https://phys.org/news/2019-06-youtube-kid-issues.html |access-date=27 December 2019 |work=phys.org}}

After a July 2019 settlement with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), YouTube began implementing major changes to its recommendation algorithm, data collection and ad targeting for children's content. The changes, along with a $170 million fine, followed a complaint to the FTC under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).{{Cite web |last=Osborne |first=Charlie |date=Jan 7, 2020 |title=YouTube rolls out changes for COPPA compliance, expects 'significant impact' for creators |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/youtube-revamps-child-privacy-through-content-controls-data-collection-measures/ |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=ZDnet}} A number of children's channels were negatively affected. Cocomelon "dropped from 575 million total views the week before the change, to 436 million the week of, to 307 million the week after, and 282 million the week after that."{{Cite web |author=Hale, James |date=2019-08-01 |title=YouTube Tweaked Its Algorithm To Promote "Quality Family Content." That Change Decimated Kid-Friendly Creators' View Counts. |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/08/01/youtube-tweaked-its-algorithm-to-promote-quality-family-content-that-change-decimated-kid-friendly-creators-view-counts/ |access-date=27 December 2019 |work=Tubefilter}}

In September 2020, Netflix ranked Cocomelon as its third most popular show.{{Cite web |last=Bean |first=Travis |title=This Children's Program Has Been Quietly Dominating Netflix This Summer |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2020/09/19/cocomelon-most-popular-childrens-show-netflix/ |website=Forbes}} On December 12, 2020, Cocomelon became the third YouTube channel to get 100 million subscribers.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Following predictions that Cocomelon would soon surpass PewDiePie in subscribers,{{Cite web |last1=Koepp |first1=Brent |date=June 6, 2020 |title=What is Cocomelon? The YouTube channel on track to pass PewDiePie |url=https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/what-is-cocomelon-the-youtube-channel-on-track-to-pass-pewdiepie-1375955/ |access-date=February 14, 2021}}{{cite web |date=June 2, 2020 |title=PewDiePie jokes he and T-Series will 'join forces' as children's channel looks set to overtake them in subscribers |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/02/pewdiepie-calls-t-series-join-forces-12792398/ |access-date=14 February 2021 |website=Metro |publisher=Louise Griffen}}{{Cite web |title=Compare: PewDiePie vs Cocomelon statistics |url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/compare/UC-lHJZR3Gqxm24_Vd_AJ5Yw/cocomelon%20-%20nursery%20rhymes |access-date=February 14, 2021 |website=Social Blade}} PewDiePie released a diss track titled "Coco" in February 2021. YouTube removed the video for violating its harassment and child safety policies; the audio remains on Spotify.{{Cite web |last=Hurley |first=Laura |date=February 19, 2021 |title=Why PewDiePie's Cocomelon Diss Video Was Removed From YouTube |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2563174/why-pewdiepies-cocomelon-diss-video-was-removed-from-youtube |access-date=Sep 22, 2024 |website=CinemaBlend}}{{cite web |title=Coco |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DHuHkwaWWs |access-date=14 February 2021 |website=YouTube |publisher=PewDiePie}}{{cite web |date=February 14, 2021 |title=Finally, Someone Made a Diss Track That Puts 'Cocomelon' in Its Place |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/cocomelon-diss-track |access-date=14 February 2021 |website=Distractify |publisher=Mustafa Gatollari}} Cocomelon surpassed PewDiePie in April 2021 to become the second-most-subscribed YouTube channel at the time.

As of {{As of|2024|September|bare=y}}, Cocomelon ranked third in YouTube subscriptions, with approximately 182 million subscribers and just under two billion monthly views.{{Cite web |date=Sep 30, 2024 |title=Cocomelon |url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/c/_cocomelon |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=Social Blade}}

In 2020, Cocomelon began moving into new product areas, including merchandising and live events.{{Cite web |date=Feb 13, 2020 |title=Cocomelon gets into merchandising |url=https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/cocomelon-gets-into-merchandising/en-gb/43228 |access-date=Sep 23, 2024 |website=WARC}}{{Cite web |last1=Bergen |first1=Mark |last2=Shaw |first2=Lucas |date=Feb 10, 2020 |title=YouTube's Secretive Top Kids Channel Expands Into Merchandise |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-10/popular-youtube-kids-channel-cocomelon-gets-into-merch-and-toys?leadSource=uverify%20wall |access-date=Sep 23, 2024 |website=Bloomberg BusinessWeek}} This coincided with the change in YouTube's advertising policies around child-focused content that resulted in an estimated 50-60% revenue loss for the top children's channels. That year, Cocomelon announced a partnership on a line of toys, including plush dolls and toy vehicles, with manufacturer Jazwares,{{Cite web |title=CoComelon partners with Jazwares on first CP line |url=https://kidscreen.com/2020/02/14/cocomelon-partners-with-jazwares-on-first-cp-line/ |access-date=Sep 2, 2020}} and content deals with Netflix and other streaming platforms.

Cocomelon participated in the Riyadh Season annual festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, collaborating with Spacetoon and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority on Cocomelon Town, open for three months.{{cite web |date=2 November 2021 |title=Cocomelon Comes to Riyadh Winter Wonderland |url=https://www.licensing.biz/cocomelon-comes-to-riyadh-winter-wonderland/ |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=licensing.biz}}{{cite web |date=21 October 2021 |title=Wow! Arab Saudi Gelar Pesta Besar, Penyanyi Pitbull Diundang |url=https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/lifestyle/20211021133918-33-285480/wow-arab-saudi-gelar-pesta-besar-penyanyi-pitbull-diundang |access-date=27 October 2021 |website=CNBC Indonesia}} The Town, set up in five locations, included a replica of the CoComelon house; the Melon Patch Academy, with a variety of learning activities; the Melon Patch Academy Playground; JJ's Grandparent's Farm, with various activities; and the CoComelon Musical Bus.

Cocomelon introduced its first spoken-word product, the Cocomelon Story Time podcast, in partnership with Spotify. It features "storybook classics", available in American and British English, Spanish, German, and Brazilian Portuguese. The podcast is available only by subscription to the Spotify Family Plan.{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ashley |date=Jan 18, 2022 |title=Spotify Inks Exclusive Deal with CoComelon for Kids' Podcast |url=https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/01/18/spotify-cocomelon-podcast-deal-details-2022/ |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=Digital Music News}}

Cocomelon partnered with Falcon's Beyond, a developer of entertainment attractions, on a resort destination in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The planned 40,000-to-60,000-square-foot activity area, featuring Cocomelon characters, is one of four attractions in Curiosity Playground, located on Meliá Hotels International property.{{Cite web |last=Wanna |first=Carly |date=May 24, 2022 |title='CoComelon' Is Coming to Punta Cana |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-24/-cocomelon-singing-preschoolers-get-their-first-real-playground |access-date=Oct 10, 2024 |website=Bloomberg.com}}

A live tour, Cocomelon Party Time, launched in the US in June. The interactive event allowed families to "sing, dance and play" with Cocomelon characters, including JJ, YoYo, TomTom, Nina, Cody and Ms. Appleberry. Activities included ring toss, pin-the-tail and other games, coloring and party hat making, a light-up dancefloor, a simulated hot air balloon ride, storytelling, singalong, and photo opportunities. Tickets were required for everyone aged 12 months and older.{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Jaylene |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Interactive 'CoComelon Party Time' experience kicks off in June. Here's how to join the fun |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/cocomelon-party-time-tour/story?id=99427813 |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=ABC News}}

Cocomelon partnered with Cameo, seller of personalized video messages from celebrities, to offer artificial intelligence-produced customized videos from the show's main characters.{{Cite web |last1=Carman |first1=Ashley |last2=Shaw |first2=Lucas |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title='CoComelon' Is About to Become a Movie Courtesy of Universal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-20/-cocomelon-is-about-to-become-a-movie-courtesy-of-universal |access-date=Oct 10, 2024 |website=Bloomberg.com}} Cocomelon was one of initial group of companies in the launch of Cameo Kids. Unlike the adult celebrity product, the children's videos are created from preset holiday, birthday and other messages, with a child's name spoken by a character using text-to-speech conversion.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=Dec 8, 2022 |title=Cameo Kids Launches With Personalized Videos From CoComelon Characters, Blippi, Santa Claus and More (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/cameo-kids-cocomelon-characters-blippi-santa-claus-1235453339/ |access-date=Oct 19, 2024 |website=Variety}}

Cocomelon partnered with Puma on a global line of apparel and footwear, based on the show. The line includes individual sneakers for characters JJ, Nina, and Cody, and other items based on the show's logo and graphics.{{Cite web |last=Andaloro |first=Angela |date=Mar 27, 2023 |title=PUMA Teams Up with CoComelon for Collection of Kids' Apparel and Footwear — See the Styles! |url=https://people.com/parents/puma-teams-up-cocomelon-collection-kids-apparel-footwear-exclusvie/ |access-date=Oct 10, 2024 |website=People.com}}

A Cocomelon movie based on the show's characters entered development with DreamWorks Animation.

In 2020, Treasure Studio added Cocomelon content to Netflix, Roku, and Hulu.{{Cite news |last=Owens |first=Jeremy C. |title=Netflix appears ready to stream Cocomelon, the most popular YouTube channel for kids |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/cocomelon-the-most-popular-youtube-channel-for-kids-appears-to-be-headed-for-netflix-2020-05-20 |website=MarketWatch}}{{Cite web |title=CoComelon |url=https://www.hulu.com/series/cocomelon-2e66939e-3ef1-4975-8df3-d0f3e338062c |website=Hulu}} Cocomelon programming aired on Universal Kids from June 21, 2021, until its closure on March 6, 2025, as well as Cartoonito from January 31, 2022, to February 16, 2024.{{cite web |title=Cartoonito picks up seven Moonbug titles |url=https://kidscreen.com/2022/01/31/cartoonito-picks-up-seven-moonbug-titles/ |access-date=January 31, 2022 |website=Kidscreen}} It has also been broadcast on SAB TV in Pakistan since March 29, 2021,{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Cartoonito in the United Kingdom from April 4, 2021, GMTV Kids in the UK since June 18, 2021, Tiny Pop in the UK from November 15, 2021, TV5 in the Philippines as part of Moonbug Kids since September 2022, and Gulli in France since November 7, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Moonbug signs first French free-to-air TV deal |url=https://kidscreen.com/2022/10/26/moonbug-signs-first-french-free-to-air-tv-deal/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=kidscreen.com}} Additionally, Cocomelon airs on RTÉ Jr Radio in Ireland.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Reviewing the TV series, Common Sense Media rated it appropriate for ages two and up and gave it 3-out-of-5 stars, noting that it coexists with the YouTube channel. The series "touches on typical preschool themes" and depicts teamwork and mutual support. The characters are "gender-balanced" with a "variety of skin tones, but main toddler JJ and his family are White." Some "inconsistencies" are cited such as the babies, who appear to be about age one, at times do things like use scissors, and usually speak in baby babble, but sometimes speak normally.{{Cite web |last=Ashley |first=Moulton |date=2020 |title=Parents' Guide to CoComelon |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/cocomelon |access-date=Sep 22, 2024 |website=Common Sense Media}}

In The Guardian, entertainment reporter Stuart Heritage wrote: "Cocomelon is not the sort of thing that holds up to scrutiny well. It's cloying and simplistic and repetitive and ... not designed to be watched by adults at all. ... Some songs ... are genuinely unbearable to endure. But guess what? They're not for you. If you're a preschool child, though, this stuff is like crack. ... The key to Cocomelon's success isn't that it's good ... [it's] that it's just about reliable enough. ... [It is] a series of inoffensive, if slightly unsettling, songs that go on and on and on for long enough to let you sneak off and cook dinner."{{Cite web |last=Heritage |first=Stuart |date=Nov 5, 2020 |title=Cocomelon: the unsettling kids show that's breaking Netflix records |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/nov/05/cocomelon-netflix-the-unsettling-kids-show-thats-breaking-records |access-date=Sep 30, 2024 |website=The Guardian}}

Psychologist Mark Travers cited Cocomelon as an example of a kids' TV show that may hinder the mental development of young children due to its frenetic pacing and overstimulating visuals.{{cite news|last=Travers|first=Mark|title=Why Kids' Shows Like 'Cocomelon' Hamper Critical Brain Development|work=Forbes|date=17 May 2024|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/05/17/why-kids-shows-like-cocomelon-hamper-critical-brain-development/|access-date=28 March 2025}}

• List of most-subscribed YouTube channels
• List of most-viewed YouTube channels

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://cocomelon.com/}}

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