Radio Disney is being shut down by The Walt Disney Company as the company continues to restructure itself. Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country will both go dark during the first quarter of 2021. It will result in a loss of 36 full and part-time jobs. The announcement came from Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer of Disney Branded Television.
The move away from radio comes as Disney continues to emphasize its focus on streaming, particularly Disney+. The continued rise of streaming audio and uncertainties about live music’s future also contributed to the shutdown. Radio Disney in Latin America, which is a separate operation, will continue to operate.
Radio Disney was launched in 1996 as an on-air radio network. At its height, it owned 23 stations. However, in 2014 Disney sold 22 of its stations as it moved to satellite and digital distribution instead. The only station that remained was KRDC-AM in Los Angeles. This is also where Radio Disney’s national programming feed originated. The station will be sold in 2021. Radio Disney Country launched in 2015.
Multiple stars saw their career boosted by Radio Disney. This included singers like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Raven-Symoné, along with the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, and NSYNC to name a few.
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