Maggie Moo Music launches in Australia this week after Moo Music UK has thrilled young children with its infectious songs, cute farmyard characters and sensory format throughout the UK for the past four years. This popular ‘moosical’ program was developed with a songwriter and early learning professionals.

Franchising professional Carolyn Dufton, from franchisingplus and Hire For Baby, came across the franchise in early 2016 when Moo Music UK franchisor Ant Parker asked her to help develop a strategy for expansion in Australia.

“I love the humour and warmth in the brand, but most importantly the fact that there is a range of over 125 songs for children that have been written by a professional songwriter and early learning educators really demonstrated the integrity of the brand,” Ms Dufton said.

The Moo Croo includes the franchise’s namesake Maggie Moo and her farmyard friends Henry Horse, Ollie Oink, Doris Duck, Holly Hen and Barry Baa who all love to sing, dance and make music.

Maggie Moo Music Australia runs fun, interactive music and movement sessions for 0 to 5 year olds and their parents, carers or grandparents. With more than 125 original songs, the program’s interactive ‘moosical’ sessions have been designed with early learning specialists to help young children gain confidence and develop memory, language and coordination skills in a fun multi-sensory way.

Using music as part of early learning has many benefits, which Maggie Moo Music draws on in its sessions. In their 2009 study entitled, ‘The Impact of Music on Childhood and Adolescent Achievement’, Southgate and Roscigno found “Music participation, both inside and outside of school, is associated with measures of academic achievement among children and adolescents”. Other activities include ‘Moo Doos’ (parties) and ‘Messy Moo’ sessions (hands-on messy play), with the latter particularly beneficial for children who find it difficult to express their emotions, such as children on the Autism spectrum.

So impressed with the Moo Music franchise model, Ms Dufton decided to become the Australian franchisor (or head farmer) for the brand in a move reminiscent of Victor Kiam’s Remington shaver ad from 1979 where he said “I liked it so much, I bought the company”.

“Over the years I have been offered many franchise business opportunities and nothing has tempted me, until now. Moo Music was just too good an opportunity to pass up,” Ms Dufton said.

“Parker had developed a low-key, low-cost franchise model that had grown to 160 franchises in just two years. That’s so impressive by any standard,” she said.

Maggie Moo Music Australia has already been successfully piloted in Australia by Gold Coast ‘Farmer’ and mother-of-one Kristy Imrie. Expressions of interest are currently being taken from potential farmers throughout Australia.