It has since expanded globally in multiple languages, with spinoff series, Netflix TV shows, merchandising, special events, and ongoing product diversification.

[4] The toddler characters' ages "'stretch' to reflect both the reality and the aspiration of their audience's lives," according to Cocomelon creative staff.

[5] The YouTube channel was created in 2006 by Jay Jeon, registered under the name "checkgate",[6] later rebranded to "ABC Kid TV".

[7] At the time, the Jeons were operating ThatsMEOnTV.com, an online business that incorporated children's photos into animated educational videos delivered on DVD.

[15] In early 2020, Jeon granted his first-ever media interview for Bloomberg Businessweek, which ran a profile of the "unassuming mogul" and his business.

[17] In July 2020, Jeon sold his fully-owned company, Treasure Studio, which produced Cocomelon and employed around 20 people, to Moonbug Entertainment, a British firm focused on children's content.

[20][21][22] In 2021, Moonbug was acquired for a reported $3 billion by Candle Media, a company founded by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by the Blackstone Group.

[29][30] On August 1, 2023, Moonbug was awarded $23.4 million in a copyright violation case against BabyBus, a company based in Fuzhou, China, which was accused of imitating CoComelon videos such JJ characters.

Centered around Nina and her Mexican American family, it was designed for both Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking children, and aims to accurately represent Latino culture.

Ms. Appleberry, originally an animated Cocomelon character, is played by Juliana Urtubey, named US National Teacher of the Year in 2021.

Supported by a learning specialist and a literacy consultant, the weekly show "integrates themes that are essential to early childhood cognitive, social and emotional development".

The channel grew rapidly following the July 2017 release of "Yes Yes" Bedtime Song, in which TomTom has to use stuffed animals to get JJ to prepare for bed; "Yes Yes" became Cocomelon's most-viewed video, with over 1 billion views.

[52] After a July 2019 settlement with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), YouTube began implementing major changes to its recommendation algorithm, data collection and ad targeting for children's content.

[56][57][58] As of September 2024[update], Cocomelon ranked third in YouTube subscriptions, with approximately 182 million subscribers and just under two billion monthly views.

[63][16] This coincided with the change in YouTube's advertising policies around child-focused content that resulted in an estimated 50-60% revenue loss for the top children's channels.

[67] Cocomelon partnered with Falcon's Beyond, a developer of entertainment attractions, on a resort destination in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The planned 40,000-to-60,000-square-foot activity area, featuring Cocomelon characters, is one of four attractions in Curiosity Playground, located on Meliá Hotels International property.

The interactive event allowed families to "sing, dance and play" with Cocomelon characters, including JJ, YoYo, TomTom, Nina, Cody and Ms. Appleberry.

Activities included ring toss, pin-the-tail and other games, coloring and party hat making, a light-up dancefloor, a simulated hot air balloon ride, storytelling, singalong, and photo opportunities.

Unlike the adult celebrity product, the children's videos are created from preset holiday, birthday and other messages, with a child's name spoken by a character using text-to-speech conversion.

The line includes individual sneakers for characters JJ, Nina, and Cody, and other items based on the show's logo and graphics.

[75] It has also been broadcast on SAB TV in Pakistan since March 29, 2021,[citation needed] Cartoonito in the United Kingdom from April 4, 2021, GMTV Kids in the UK since June 18, 2021, Tiny Pop in the UK from November 15, 2021, TV5 in the Philippines as part of Moonbug Kids since September 2022, and Gulli in France since November 7, 2022.

[citation needed] Reviewing the TV series, Common Sense Media rated it appropriate for ages two and up and gave it 3-out-of-5 stars, noting that it coexists with the YouTube channel.

[77] In The Guardian, entertainment reporter Stuart Heritage wrote: "Cocomelon is not the sort of thing that holds up to scrutiny well.