Radio Disney's The Next Big Thing

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,

• Sarah Solovay
• Push Play
• Katie Lawhorne
• Kacie Lynch
• Danielle Thrush
• Comic Book Heroes
• Bre Morgan
• Allstar Weekend (formerly ‘ALLSTAR’)
• Jonnie and Brookie (winner)

Season 2 (2009/2010): 5 artists

• Josh Golden
• Cymphonique Miller
• Kropp Circle
• Jasmine Sagginario (winner)
• Gabi Wilson Season 3 (2010/2011): 5 artists
• Sacha Edwards
• Matthew Johnson
• Coco Jones
• Amber Lilly
• Kicking Daisies (winner) Season 4 (2011): 5 artists
• Shealeigh Voitl (winner)
• Zack Montana
• Ladina Spence
• Hollywood Ending (2008-2015)
• Tay Barton Season 5 (2012): 5 artists
• Jack Skuller
• Katherine Hughes
• Elle Winter
• Damian Otchere
• Chloe and Halle Bailey (winner)

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):

• Fifth Harmony

2nd artist (2013/2014):

• R5

3rd artist (2014):

• Becky G

4th artist (2014):

• The VAMPS

5th artist (2014/2015):

• Shawn Mendes

6th artist (2015):

• Olly Murs

7th artist (2015):

• Bea Miller

8th artist (2015)

• Jacob Whitesides

9th artist (2015/2016)

• Kelsea Ballerini

10th artist (2016):

• Sofia Carson

11th artist (2016):

• Jordan Fisher

12th artist (2016):

• Alessia Cara

13th artist (2017):

• Temecula Road

14th artist (2017):

• Skylar Stecker

15th artist (2017):

• Camila Cabello

16th artist (2017/2018):

• Why Don't We

17th artist (2018):

• Jagmac

18th artist (2018/2019):

• Anne-Marie

19th artist (2019):

• Lennon Stella

20th artist (2019):

• Meg Donnelly

21st artist (2019):

• Gabby Barrett

22nd artist (2019/2020):

• 2XO (final)

References

References

1. "Radio Disney Focuses on Unsigned Artists". Radio Ink.
2. "Teenager Jasmine crowned Radio Disney's Next Big Thing". Christian Today.
3. "Singing sisters from Gilbert getting national interest". AZ Central.
4. "Epi Amp Endorsees Jonnie and Brookie Named Disney's Next Big Thing". Gibson.
5. Burch, Bonnie. (October 19, 2009). "Take a Bow: Franklin teen may be Disney's 'Next Big Thing'". The Tennessean.
6. "Jasmine Sagginario Wins Radio Disney's Next Big Thing!". Crushable.
7. "Coco Jones wins Radio Disney contest". CT Post.
8. (December 8, 2011). "Radio Disney's 'Next BIG Thing Winner' Congratulated By Cody Simpson, Network Execs". Hollywood Reporter.
9. "Disney Calling? A Band Takes Off". New York Times.
10. "Radio Disney's 'N.B.T.' Announces Season 5 Premiere Date, Mentors". Hollywood Reporter.
11. "Radio Disney's singing competition 'Next Big Thing': Meet the five season 5 competitors! -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly.
12. "Radio Disney – Artists – NBT".
13. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
14. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
15. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
16. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
17. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
18. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
19. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
20. "Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" – Disney Music".
21. "Radio Disney – Disney Music".
22. "Radio Disney".
23. "Radio Disney".