Strategy · Branding · Design · Production · Songwriting · Distribution

Over the past 15 years I have developed a YouTube presence that has taken on a life of its own. With fans ranging from pre-k to grandparents and from countries all over the world, the BASHO & FRIENDS energy is transforming classrooms and homes with high-energy, educational videos that help kids love and learn through music.

After launching the BASHO & FRIENDS channel in 2008 I knew that to build an audience with parents and kids it was critical that create a brand that was relatable, trustworthy, and predictable. With the goal of creating a lifestyle brand that could stay relevant for decades to come I combined the uniqueness and intrigue of my own name with the “friends” moniker, enabling me to evolve the brand to meet the needs of future audiences. Anchored in my own energy and love for kids, music, and learning, the brand has enough flexibility to highlight other contributors and elevate other amazing artists.

By 2012 I knew it was critical that I connect with certain experts in the field in order to maximize my impact. As such I worked my way into the Family & Education Summit at YouTube where I met some of the biggest players in the YouTube Kids content space - all of whom were sort of just getting started. At the summit I became friends with the likes of Devon Thagard of Super Simple Songs, Vinoth Chandar of Chu Chu TV, and Scott Weitz of Cool School.

It was there I learned the majority of my strategies for impact on YouTube including a focus on appealing thumbnails, descriptions, and playlists, but more importantly I learned how critical it is to have an authentic and consistent presence on the platform.

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