Inside Out

Who says kids' music doesn't “rock?” Well, these days the Grammys aren't just all about Hip Hop and Heavy Metal. Three children's albums, in fact, are going for Grammy gold: Beethoven's Wig 2: More Sing Along Symphonies, Merry Fishes to All and cELLAbration! A Tribute to Ella Jenkins are looking to pick up the best album in the children's category. While we might not get to see the artists playing live on stage on Grammy night, nomination alone signifies achievement and is especially sweet when it comes from fellow professionals … “Ship a-hoy” might be a phrase often heard around the Fisher-Price offices these days. The company is on board Royal Caribbean cruise ships conducting interactive educational play sessions. The sessions take place in an on-deck cabana that is a replica of the bow of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship—sort of a ship-within-a-ship, if you will. Fisher-Price launched the program after the cruise line saw a more than 50 percent increase in the number of children under three cruising with their parents. Toys like Fun on the Farm, Creatures of the Deep and To the Rescue are included in the toy mix … Musical chairs: Former Hasbro exec Michael Verrecchia is now at DIC Entertainment as a senior vice president of marketing, overseeing marketing and promotional initiatives, including marketing strategies for the company's upcoming release of Trollz. He'll handle strategies for other hot properties, like Strawberry Shortcake … Peter Reynolds, formerly with Brio is now doing sales and marketing management for another Sweden-based company, HaPe, which will be debuting a toy line at American International Toy Fair next month in New York City … Meanwhile, back at Brio, which is “refocusing” itself in the toy market, Thomas Brautigam has taken over at the helm as CEO, succeeding Tomas Persson, who held the position for five years … George Funk, formerly of Simple Wishes is the new vice president, sales, for the North American division of Japan-based TOMY… Adrienne Citrinformerly of Scholastic joined the Toy Industry Associationas the organization's new manager of public relations … Tracey Beeker, formerly with PBS Kids, is the new vice president of home entertainment for Discovery Consumer Products. She's responsible for the strategic development of Discovery's home entertainment business in North America, which includes overseeing a newly formed strategic alliance with Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.