Radio Disney, Disney Country Shutting Down
• As a worldwide pandemic continues to rage, and the radio business continues to contract, RAMP has learned that The Walt Disney Co. is shutting down its Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country operations, effective the first quarter of 2021. The news was initially reported by NextTV.com.
Radio Disney’s 36 staffers were informed of plans to cease operations during a Thursday morning teleconference with Gary Marsh, President & Chief Creative Officer, Disney Branded Television. “I want to thank [Radio Disney GM] Phil Guerini and the entire Radio Disney team for their work over the years to cultivate and amplify the careers of music artists that became the definitive voices of their generation,” Marsh said. The innovation and creativity of this team helped to deliver unforgettable experiences. Radio Disney has made an indelible impact on my family — and on millions of others.”
[Ed. note: for me, this decision hits painfully close to home: my son, Morgan Tompkins (pictured here with BTS) has worked for Radio Disney for eight years].
Launched in 1996, Radio Disney helped launch young Disney music stars including the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, as well as Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and One Direction. In 2013, it began producing the Radio Disney Music Awards, which were televised on Disney Channel. We are told the shutdown process will take a few months, and the Radio Disney signal will be shut off in the first quarter of 2021.
NextTV.com adds, “Disney has been restructuring to focus on its direct-to-consumer business. Combined with the pandemic, which has devastated the company’s theme parks and movie business, the company reported a $710 million loss for its fiscal fourth quarter and has eliminated thousands of employees to reduce costs. The decision to close follows Disney’s exit from the radio station business, which began in 2007 and concluded with the sale of five Radio Disney stations to Salem Media Group for $2.225 million in 2015. Radio Disney kept one local station, KRDC-AM/Los Angeles, to originate its national programming feed. Disney will sell that station in 2021.” [Photo credit: Radio Disney]
