A few years ago songwriter/musician/producer Nathan Meckel wasn’t very excited when his father, publisher Mark Meckel, tried to convince him to record a children’s album. “I thought it was fun idea, but wasn’t 100 percent sold on it,” recalls the younger Meckel, “but then I had an epiphany that there are no walls with kids’ music. All the normal rules, like worrying about radio airplay, don’t apply. As long as the music is positive and fun, I can sing whatever I want and play any instrument I want.”

Today his band The Happy Racers is part of a burgeoning genre known as Kindie Rock—kid indie, which has an adult sound and child-friendly lyrics. The Happy Racers’ debut album Ready Set Go is vying for a Grammy nomination in the Best Children’s Album category. Mark has a strong history in the category, he published the song “Check Your Attitude” which was on this year’s winning compilation album, All About Bullies.

The Happy Racers project started in 2008 when Nathan and his two kids wrote “All My Friends” at the breakfast table, and he recorded it in his home studio. Mark then teamed Nathan with popular children’s book authors Barbara Joosse and Peter Reynolds, and songwriter Burton Collins to write songs for the album. Nathan and Joosse wrote “Lovabye Dragon,” which is getting airplay on Sirius/XM’s Kid’s Place Live and compliments her book by the same name.

Another track from the album, “I Can Do Anything,” coincides with new e-book Go Go Greta, written by Dana Satterwhite and narrated by Lisa Loeb. The interactive e-book app has a soundtrack that allows kids to turn on and off parts of the sound, such as the drums or guitar.

Nathan’s brother-in-law Mark Niemiec is a drummer and engineer who has been a big part of The Happy Racers. Their recent gigs include performing at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, KS with Jack Ingram. In keeping with the grown-up-geared kindie image, the band doesn’t wear costumes. Nathan says he shies away from anything “gimmicky” but he plans “to make the stage show more entertaining and elaborate as it grows.” The concerts have also helped him discover The Happy Racers’ prime demographic—the preteen set often coveted by marketers.

Up next, The Happy Racers’ first music video for the song “Old Robert’s Jig.”

MusicRow offers its condolences to family and friends of Eli Young Band’s Jon Jones, whose father Allen Edwin Jones passed away yesterday (10/15) after a battle with lung cancer. Jones was 74 and a champion of his son’s musical aspirations. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure or the American Cancer Society.

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Kellie Pickler has teamed with smartphone accessory company Tru Protection to offer a limited edition iPhone case benefiting the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” campaign. The case sells for $29.95, with $20 from each purchase going to ACS. Pickler recently shaved her head in support of her childhood best friend, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. More information and ordering here.

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Darius Rucker will become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry this evening (10/16) and his induction can be seen exclusively on GAC’s Noteworthy at the Opry, airing at 9 pm/ET. Also appearing with Rucker are Vince Gill and Martina McBride.

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To aid victims of Hurricane Isaac in late August, Radney Foster has teamed up with The American Red Cross. Foster is donating proceeds from downloads of his video “Louisiana Blue” (from his Del Rio Texas Revisited: Unplugged & Lonesome) to those in need. Download the video here.

IEBA executive director Tiffany Davis has announced she will be exiting her role with the organization at the end of 2012. She made the announcement during the IEBA conference last week and plans to relocate to Boston at year’s end.

“I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments achieved the past five years,” said Davis. “Since 2008 the organization and the annual conference have been completely transformed in a very short time into something more dynamic than any of us dreamed.”

Davis is exiting on a high note, as the 2012 IEBA conference broke previous records for attendance with over 700 people present. Registration and sponsorship revenue are also up over 100 percent, and the number of showcasing artists has more than tripled since she assumed leadership.

Additionally, IEBA has raised over $300,000 in scholarship funds and helped place numerous graduates in industry jobs through its mentoring program IEBA Interactive.

Following her exit, Davis can be reached at tiffany@tiffanydavis.com.

A search is being conducted to find Davis’ replacement. Interested parties should submit cover letters and resumes to info@ieba.org.