Music On AM Killed The Radio Disney Star

Courtesy of InsideRadio

For Radio Disney, on-air listening became too small a world after all.

Radio Disney may never have been a ratings blockbuster during its 18-year existence, but in the end it was a different set of numbers that led the Walt Disney Company to silence nearly all of its remaining two dozen over-the-air stations, according to InsideRadio.

Fewer than one in five — 18% — of Radio Disney listeners now consume the network on a broadcast station.    So on September 26 a portfolio of mostly AMs will go silent while Disney looks for buyers for 23 of its 24 stations.

“Across all forms of media, digital technology continues to dramatically change consumer habits,” Radio Disney general manager Phil Guerini says in a memo to staff announcing the decision to put the emphasis on digital distribution and music-centric programming.  Nielsen data shows twice as many teens, tweens and their parents are already consuming Radio Disney on the web than on AM/FM radio.

And Entercom CEO David Field wrote on Twitter yesterday that in spite of Disney station going on-the-block, he says ABC/Disney still are committed to radio:

Let's keep it real: Disney recently paid $100+ mil to put ESPN on FM in NYC & just made big commitment to ABC News on am/fm....,
— David Field (@DavidFieldETM) August 14, 2014

(2 of 2)....They cut Radio Disney stations because people under 75 don't listen to music on am.
— David Field (@DavidFieldETM) August 14, 2014

The company says it will retain control of KDIS, Los Angeles (1110) which will become the flagship for the brand’s audio programming.

InsideRadio also reports Radio Disney will also retain its channel on Sirius XM Radio and continue in radio syndication through Dees Entertainment’s “Radio Disney Top 30” countdown show.