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Radio Disney is a radio network based in Dallas, Texas in the United States broadcasting music and other content targeted at children. As indicated by its name, it is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The network primarily uses AM stations, and it is also available on XM Satellite Radio (channel 115) and Sirius Satellite Radio (also on channel 115), as well as via Music Choice on most digital cable-TV systems. Radio Disney is also available via satellite on XM on DirecTV (channel 867) -- the Sirius package on Dish Network currently does not carry Radio Disney. KDIS in the Southern California Los Angeles area is the network's flagship station. The station is also streamed at http://www.radiodisney.com. The network was launched on November 18, 1996 (coincidently with Mickey Mouse's birthday) at 4:58 A.M. EST with the song "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" as a direct competitor to Minneapolis-based Radio Aahs, which reached about 30 stations at its height. Disney had collaborated with Radio Aahs for a time prior to the launch of Radio Disney, and former Aahs owners sued for damages because of a breached agreement. In 2004, Disney paid the former Children's Broadcasting Corporation (which operated Aahs) $12.4 million.
"Classic" Disney songs are (now) rarely played on this radio network. Most of the format consists of:
- Songs currently/recently on the pop charts that are unusually popular with pre-teens (if the song has a minor amount of "adult" lyrics, such as "Get the Party Started" by Pink or "1985" by Bowling for Soup, the song simply gets edited rather than lose airplay).
- Other songs not on the pop charts that are popular with pre-teens, such as "The Hampster Dance" theme song or Axel F.,by Crazy Frog.
- Songs from recent cartoons/movies made by Disney or one of its subsidiaries. Sometimes, fairly old songs that wouldn't normally play on Radio Disney get airplay for this reason (for example, various Elvis songs played in Lilo and Stitch) (although, back in the network's early years, oldies were a regular part of the format).
A similar station, Capital Disney *, broadcasts on the DAB digital radio network, on Sky Digital (Digital Satellite) and various digital cable TV operators in the UK.
In February 2006, the Walt Disney Company announced that it will be keeping Radio Disney and its owned-and-operated stations while divesting much of its radio holdings (including ABC Radio stations and networks) to Citadel Broadcasting.
Station listings for Radio Disney
The listing below is believed to be accurate as of January 2006. Despite their current standing, many of these stations have diverse histories. Many of the current call signs of Radio Disney stations are variations on the Disney name and that of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. At least one appears to be named for Goofy.
| Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|
| WWLF¹ | 1340 | Syracuse, New York |
| WALL | 1340 | Poughkeepsie, New York |
| WWMI | 1380 | Tampa, Florida |
| KMUS | 1380 | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| WAJD | 1390 | Gainesville, Florida |
| WEOK | 1390 | Middletown, New York |
| WNEX¹ | 1400 | Macon, Georgia |
| WOWW | 1430 | Memphis, Tennessee |
| KDIZ | 1440 | Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota |
| WBYU | 1450 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| WDDY | 1460 | Albany, New York |
| KIID | 1470 | Sacramento, California |
| WGFY | 1480 | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| KQAM | 1480 | Wichita, Kansas |
| WOLF¹ | 1490 | Syracuse, New York |
| WDZK | 1550 | Hartford, Connecticut |
| WQEW | 1560 | New York, New York |
| KOCY | 1560 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| KMIK | 1580 | Phoenix, Arizona |
| KMIC | 1590 | Houston, Texas |
| WMNE | 1600 | West Palm Beach, Florida |
| WKSH | 1640 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| KDZR | 1640 | Portland, Oregon |
| WHKT | 1650 | Norfolk, Virginia |
| KAVT | 1680 | Fresno, California |
| WDSS | 1680 | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
| KDDZ | 1690 | Denver, Colorado |
| Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|
| WOLF¹ | 96.7 | Syracuse, New York |
| WRDZ | 98.3 | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| KDIS | 99.5 | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| WDZN² | 100.1 | Cumberland, Maryland |
- ¹ indicates multiple Radio Disney outlets in a single city
- ² W263AJ 100.5 is a broadcast translator for WDZN
Albums released for the station
- Radio Disney Ultimate Jams
- Radio Disney Jingle Jams
- Radio Disney Jams Series
- Radio Disney Holiday Jams
- Radio Disney's Move It
Notes
- WQEW 1560 AM from New York City is one of the strongest stations, operating on a clear channel frequency which allows listeners to receive the signal from hundreds or perhaps thousands of miles away at night, even out as far as Ottawa, Ontario.
- There is also a Radio Disney in Argentina which has a Latin format.
- 2006 Marks the 10th year that the station was on the air, the rebroadcast of it's first hour of broadcasting was aired on June 6th, 2006 at around 4:58pm EDT on select markets such as WQEW.
- Also, as part of the 10-year anniversary, the concert "Totally 10 Birthday Concert" will be held August 2006 at Anaheim, California.
External links
American radio networks | Sirius Satellite Radio channels | Walt Disney Company subsidiaries | XM Satellite Radio channels | 1996 establishments | Radio Disney
"Radio Disney"