Radio Disney's The Next Big Thing Explained

Show Name:Radio Disney's The Next Big Thing
Format:Contest
Country:United States
First Aired:November 2008
Last Aired:2020
Home Station:Radio Disney

Radio Disney's Next Big Thing (also known by the initials NBT) was a singing contest broadcast on Radio Disney that first launched in November 2008.[1] The contest took place over 10 weeks, with new and unsigned artists or bands competing every two weeks. Radio listeners could then vote for the singer or band of their choice to progress in the contest, with the overall winner being announced at the contest's end.[2]

Singing duo Jonnie and Brookie won the show's first season in May 2009.[3] [4]

Season two of Next Big Thing began in late 2009 and was won by Jasmine Sagginario from Franklin, Tennessee.[5] [6]

Season three began in 2010 and was won by Kicking Daisies, with Shealeigh winning season four in 2011.[7] [8] [9]

Season Five began on October 12, 2012,[10] and featured four solo singers and one singing duo competing for an appearance on the Disney Channel series Austin & Ally, the chance to have a single released through the Disney Music Group, and to open for the Next Big Thing finale concert in Los Angeles.[11] The competitors for the fifth season were Chloe and Halle Bailey, Jack Skuller, Katherine Hughes, Elle Winter, and Damian Otchere. Chloe and Halle were declared the winners on December 8, 2012.

Original Style NBT: Contest for Unknown Artists (2008 - 2012)

The original NBT contest featured 5 unsigned and unknown artists for each season, with the exception of season 1, which featured 10. The artists gain exposure by performing, doing interviews and getting airtime on Radio Disney and Disney Channel. The winner of NBT would then be chosen through online polling.

Contestants

Season 1 (2008/2009):10 total artists including,

Season 2 (2009/2010):5 artists

Season 3 (2010/2011):5 artists

Season 4 (2011):5 artists

Season 5 (2012):5 artists

Season 6 (2012/2013):6 artists

New Format: Promo for Established Artists (2013 - 2020)

In 2013, Radio Disney started a new format for NBT, in the form of a promotional show where a single "featured artist" was highlighted, in lieu of a talent contest. Said featured artist was already signed to a record label and getting some airplay on Radio Disney as well as other stations, very much unlike NBT artists of the past, who were unsigned and had no media exposure. The featured artist would be promoted through different videos and media across the Radio Disney network as well as on the Disney Channel. Each artist was featured for a few months before moving on to a new artist. This has no resemblance to the original NBT, other than the same name and logo.

1st artist (2013):

2nd artist (2013/2014):

3rd artist (2014):

4th artist (2014):

5th artist (2014/2015):

6th artist (2015):

7th artist (2015):

8th artist (2015)

9th artist (2015/2016)

10th artist (2016):

11th artist (2016):

12th artist (2016):

13th artist (2017):

14th artist (2017):

15th artist (2017):

16th artist (2017/2018):

17th artist (2018):

18th artist (2018/2019):

19th artist (2019):

20th artist (2019):

21st artist (2019):

22nd artist (2019/2020):

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Radio Disney Focuses on Unsigned Artists. Radio Ink. 3 December 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141216081110/http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=143649&pt=todaysnews. 16 December 2014.
  2. Web site: Teenager Jasmine crowned Radio Disney's Next Big Thing. Christian Today. 3 December 2012.
  3. Web site: Singing sisters from Gilbert getting national interest. AZ Central. 3 December 2012.
  4. Web site: Epi Amp Endorsees Jonnie and Brookie Named Disney's Next Big Thing. Gibson. 3 December 2012.
  5. News: Burch. Bonnie. Take a Bow: Franklin teen may be Disney's 'Next Big Thing'. https://archive.today/20130131180524/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tennessean/access/1883340531.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+19,+2009&author=Bonnie+Burch&pub=The+Tennessean&desc=Take+a+Bow:+Franklin+teen+may+be+Disney's+'Next+Big+Thing'&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013. 3 December 2012. The Tennessean. October 19, 2009.
  6. Web site: Jasmine Sagginario Wins Radio Disney's Next Big Thing!. Crushable. 3 December 2012.
  7. Web site: Coco Jones wins Radio Disney contest. CT Post. 3 December 2012.
  8. News: Radio Disney's 'Next BIG Thing Winner' Congratulated By Cody Simpson, Network Execs. 3 December 2012. Hollywood Reporter. December 8, 2011.
  9. Web site: Disney Calling? A Band Takes Off. New York Times. 3 December 2012.
  10. Web site: Radio Disney's 'N.B.T.' Announces Season 5 Premiere Date, Mentors. Hollywood Reporter. 3 December 2012.
  11. Web site: Radio Disney's singing competition 'Next Big Thing': Meet the five season 5 competitors! -- EXCLUSIVE. Entertainment Weekly. 3 December 2012.
  12. Web site: Radio Disney – Artists – NBT. Radio Disney. January 22, 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090122195654/http://radio.disney.go.com/artists/nbt/. January 22, 2009.
  13. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. July 21, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130721165609/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. July 21, 2013.
  14. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. December 16, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131216200130/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. December 16, 2013.
  15. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. January 12, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140112144124/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. January 12, 2014.
  16. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. June 14, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140614174351/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. June 14, 2014.
  17. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. October 6, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006190455/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. October 6, 2014.
  18. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. February 7, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150207084831/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. February 7, 2015.
  19. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. July 3, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150703154924/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. July 3, 2015.
  20. Web site: Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music. Disney Music. September 1, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150901044125/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney-nbt. September 1, 2015.
  21. Web site: Radio Disney – Disney Music. Disney Music. December 18, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151218225330/http://music.disney.com/radio-disney. December 18, 2015.
  22. Web site: Radio Disney. Radio Disney. May 7, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507005653/http://radio.disney.com/. May 7, 2016.
  23. Web site: Radio Disney. Radio Disney. August 3, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160803061030/http://radio.disney.com/. August 3, 2016.