Linus Entertainment has acquired the assets and catalogue of award-winning
The Children’s Group boutique label for an unspecified sum, Linus president Geoff Kulawick reports. The catalogue includes 100 titles in various languages, plus a portfolio of teacher aids.

Industry veteran Laura Hunter, who joined the company in 2002 and currently serves as VP, will remain with the label as General Manager.

Founded in 1990 by principal shareholders Hy and Judy Sarick, The Children’s Group is an award-winning and internationally recognized independent record label specializing in classical music and story-based entertainment for children.

The Children’s Group has sold more than 4 million albums and more than 250,000 copies of the Emmy Award-winning family film, Beethoven Lives Upstairs.   The labels’ signature brand, Susan Hammond’s Classical Kids, has earned an unprecedented six Juno Awards for Best Children’s Album and six certified Platinum and Gold sales awards.  The Children’s Group is also home to the best-selling recordings in The Mozart Effect series as well as the first musical recording of best-selling children’s author and storyteller Robert Munsch.

“It is time for a reinvigoration of the unique Children’s Group catalogue and I can think of no one better equipped to do this than Geoff Kulawick, assisted by Laura Hunter and the crew at Linus Entertainment,”  Hy Sarick, Chairman, The Children’s Group said.
“The Children’s Group has a fabulous reputation for releasing quality music for kids.   I am looking forward to growing the label and the Classical Kids brand, working with Laura Hunter expanding markets, producing and releasing new recordings,”  Linus Entertainment president Geoff Kulawick said in announcing the acquisition.

Linus Entertainment was founded in 2000 by Geoff Kulawick, and has released albums by Gordon Lightfoot, Sophie Milman, Ron Sexsmith, Quartetto Gelato, Alannah Myles, Ashley MacIsaac, and Downchild.    In 2004 Linus acquired the Hypnotic Records catalogue, and in 2007 formed an investment group and acquired Canada’s oldest independent label True North Records, home to iconic songwriters Bruce Cockburn & Murray McLauchlan.   Linus also handles the international distribution for acclaimed Canadian Folk label Borealis Recordings.

Effective November 1st 2009, The Children’s Group, Linus Entertainment, and True North Records will be operating at a new location:  14 – 3245 Harvester Road, Burlington, ON Canada   L7N 3T7

For further information, contact Laura Hunter, The Children’s Group lhunter@childrensgroup.com (905) 831-1995 x 22 or Jessica Moore, Linus Entertainment jessica@linusent.ca 905 278 8883 x 234.