| Wiggles doubles to juggle new market. (Australia).(different versions of popular music group to tour Asia)(Brief Article) Author/s: Don Groves Issue: April 1, 2002 SYDNEY Aussie moppet group phenom the Wiggles are to "clone" themselves throughout Asia in an innovative deal with the Walt Disney Co. Disney will help create local versions of the group -- using their names, characters and songs -- Paul Field, the group's general manager, says. Field is bound for Hong Kong this week to sign the deal with Jon Niermann, president/managing director of Disney Asia/Pacific. The band is rapidly building its profile in the U.S. via live tours, film clips on the Disney Channel and the upcoming release of a CD and video that pairs the quartet with "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. The idea for the Wiggles came about 11 years ago when Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Greg Page met while studying early childhood education at Sydney's Macquarie U. The three began writing kids songs as one of their music projects. They enlisted Jeff Fatt, who played with Field in 1980s band the Cockroaches, and the Wiggles were born. Since then the Wiggles have become one of the most popular and successful acts in Australia in any age group. In the U.S., the Disney Channel in January started airing the group's clips in high rotation in its preschool programs, which helped create awareness for the group's first Stateside tour in February. The Wiggles will return for three more tours starting in June. That will coincide with the release of the "Wiggly Safari" album featuring "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin; the video will go out in September via Hit Entertainment. Field figures "Safari" will benefit from the exposure Irwin will get when MGM launches his debut pic, "Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," in U.S. theaters in late June. The group is about to start filming its latest TV series in Oz for pubcaster ABC and the local Disney Channel, which Field hopes will be picked up by the U.S. Disney Channel. |