Radio Disney has completed its move from AM stations across the country to HD subchannels and multiple digital platforms as its final analog signal flips to the new “Radio Disney Country” brand.
1110 KDIS Los Angeles also launched translator 99.1 K256CX Beaumont CA serving the eastern areas of the market near Pasadena and West Covina. New KRDC call letters are in place. The launch comes nearly two years to the date after first announcing the new brand as a digital platform. Disney is also expanding the Country programming to iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Spotify, Apple Music, and Musical.ly.
The Radio Disney CHR programming will continue to be heard in the Los Angeles market on CBS Radio’s 101.1 KRTH-HD2.
Sean Ross provided a “Fresh Listen” of Radio Disney Country on his Ross on RadioInsight column last week.
Launching in the second largest market in the United States, Radio Disney Country will expand its multiplatform country music offering with the launch of KRDC 99.1 FM out of Los Angeles, California, on FRIDAY, JUNE 9, it was announced today by Phil Guerini, vice president, Music Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide and general manager, Radio Disney Network.
In addition to the launch on FM, beginning today, Radio Disney Country will also be available on iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and as curated playlists within Spotify and Apple Music, further expanding its reach through diverse platforms on which audiences are consuming music. Radio Disney Country will also launch a musical.ly account (@RadioDisneyCountry) today building upon its strong consumer engagement across top social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. Radio Disney Country will continue to be available on the Radio Disney app, as well as AM 1110 Los Angeles (formerly Radio Disney).
In making the announcement, Guerini said, “As country music continues to deliver some of the biggest artists in music today, we are broadening the reach of Radio Disney Country through both terrestrial and digital extensions of its brand.”
To celebrate the launch of KRDC at the ultimate destination for country music, Kelsea Ballerini, Hunter Hayes, Bailey Bryan, Scotty McCreery, Tegan Marie and Temecula Road will join Radio Disney Country host Betsy Spina on the Radio Disney Country Stage at CMA Music Fest’s Xfinity Fan Fair X TODAY, JUNE 9, at 11:45 a.m. PDT/1:45 p.m. CDT, for a countdown event streaming live on Radio Disney Country’s Facebook. KRDC will officially begin broadcasting on 99.1 FM and AM 1110 at 12:00 p.m. PDT today.
The first hour commercial-free playlist on Radio Disney Country’s Los Angeles station will kick off with Kelsea Ballerini’s new single “Legends,” which was just released this week:
1. “Legends” by Kelsea Ballerini
2. “Play It Again” by Luke Bryan
3. “God, Your Mama, and Me” by Florida Georgia Line (f. The Backstreet Boys)
4. “Every Little Thing” by Carly Pearce
5. “Say” by RaeLynn (f. Dan + Shay)
6. “Yours If You Want It” by Rascal Flatts
7. “Own It” by Bailey Bryan
8. “What Ifs” by Kane Brown (f. Lauren Alaina)
9. “You Look Good” by Lady Antebellum
10. “No Such Thing As a Broken Heart” by Old Dominion
11. “Hoping” by Temecula Road
12. “I Could Use a Love Song” by Maren Morris
13. “How Not To” by Dan + ShayRadio Disney Country features chart-bound young artists and today’s biggest country hits including Kelsea Ballerini, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Marren Morris, Sam Hunt, Maddie & Tae and RaeLynn.
In June of 2015, the digital-only platform for Radio Disney Country was announced at CMA Music Fest with the help of Hayes, Ballerini, a rising star at the time who is now a popular Grammy-nominated artist, and country duo Maddie and Tae. Later that year, the 2015 CMA Awards red carpet hosted the inaugural broadcast for Radio Disney Country. The 2016 CMA Music Fest’s Fan Fair X made way for the first-ever Radio Disney Country Stage in Nashville, giving fans access to acoustic performances, artist Q&As, and meet and greets. This weekend, with its biggest presence yet, the Radio Disney Country Stage at CMA Music Fest’s Xfinity Fan Fair X will host over 35 artists for acoustic performances, special fan experiences and will continue the celebration of KRDC’s launch at the home of country music. Since its launch, it has been an integral part of the Radio Disney Music Awards, music’s biggest event for families, with dedicated categories and performances each year by Radio Disney Country artists.
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Joseph_Gallant 
I wonder if iHeart will file an interference notice for the new translator. Was in Rosemead (one of the areas well covered by the translator) recently and KGGI came in quite clearly even in HD.
I definitely agree with your previous statement. It’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. I honestly have no idea how they thought this would fly. If you look at the KGGI coverage map on radio locator you can see that this is not only interference but would be in the area that is considered local coverage.
Disney emphasized the iHeartRadio platform in its announcement. I strongly believe that they conferred with iHeart before the launch to ensure that there won’t be any interference concerns and if there are it will be taken care of without the need to go to the FCC.
As it turns out, Disney may not have gotten iHeart’s blessing; there’s apparently been an FCC filing by iHeart about interference to KGGI.
See today’s Tom Taylor Now (at http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=78b390ff9f5b002e3f050238c&id=4d54c702e9), under “iHeart says Disney jumped the gun on its new L.A. translator for ‘Radio Disney Country’.”
A country-music format for tweens??
Will there be enough listeners??
Not tweens. Families.
Think of all the money many Christian AC stations make with their “Safe For The Whole Family” marketing and now apply that to a digital-first platform that just happens to now have an FM signal in parts of Southern California.