Contributed by Robert Blaine, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Musicians are role models, for better or for worse.

Usually for worse. But when they are talented without being explicit, responsible while still being cool, and positive without being darn corny, these musicians can impact tweens in highly positive ways. Kid-friendly singers can reach great heights. Not only do they beget life-long fans in children, but they also win their parents over. Parents don’t feel like criminals if they let their kids listen to them.

Let’s count down the top ten popular musicians for tweens, the kind of artists kids have harassed their parents into buying records from for the last few decades.

10. Bobby Darin

He was a very clean, upbeat figure in rock who parents didn’t mind letting their kids listen to. And although it was a supercool song back in the ‘60s, decades later, Darin’s hit Splish Splash ended up being the song that helped every toddler upgrade from the kitchen sink.

9. Kriss Kross

The fact that Kriss Kross actually were kids helped propel these Atlanta-based hip hop prodigies into rapid success among their peers with their contagious 1993 hit single Jump.

8. *Nsync

Move over, New Kids on the Block. The “new” kids are on the block. Or were on the block. Sure, half their fans were teenage girls, yet the other half were elementary school girls. Where were the boys? Don’t ask.

7. Weird Al Yankovic

The king of musical spoofs thrilled children worldwide for perhaps the same reason bodily functions fascinated them, but all that aside, he achieved monumental success in his career, often by spoofing songs that were too grown up for kids to listen to.

6. MC Hammer

It’s rarely mentioned, but Hammer performed an incredible feat. He was a catchy lyricist and a talented dancer who was adored by children nationwide, a hip hop performer loved by parents because he didn’t curse in his songs, and a clean artist who could still be taken seriously as a rapper. Sorry Kid n’ Play.

5. Justin Bieber

Teen pop sensation Justin Bieber won the hearts of millions with his wholesome, high voice, childish features, and innocent charm. In fact, his 2010 hit, “Baby” is currently the most viewed and most discussed video on YouTube. The title of that song gives you an idea what age group his fans are in.

4. Marilyn Manson

Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

4. (Really) Jackson 5

Five young brothers, four hit singles in a row and three decades of legacy, the greatest singing family of the 20th century, the Jackson 5 made songs perfect for the entire family, appealing to a wide variety of listeners and rocketing a young Michael Jackson to fame.

3. Backstreet Boys

The heartthrobs of every young girl back in the ‘90s, the Backstreet Boys sold records, set records and for the record are the best selling boy band of all time.

2. Will Smith

“I’m Will Smith.” “No, I’m Will Smith!” Typical dialogue of a 3rd grade playground in the late ‘90s. Known for his hip persona, his stylish music and his profanity-free lyrics, Will Smith was, without a doubt, the most successful G-rated rapper in history, a legend among the kiddies and one of the most idolized musicians of the last couple decades.

1. Michael Jackson

His success was humungous with adults, yet it was at least just as phenomenal among the little ones. Also called Peter Pan, Michael was much like a child himself, a boy who would never grow up, and who dedicated his tumultuous life to making children happy. With such meaningful messages in his songs, including Black or White, Beat it, Man in the Mirror and Heal the World, Michael Jackson was the epitome of a tween’s favorite musician and an artist children could look up to. In fact, very many new kids envy those lucky millions who grew up when Michael was on top.