Media & Entertainment

Radio Disney

A mobile audio experience that brought Disney magic to millions of young listeners — and paved the way for Disney's streaming future.

This app has since been retired as Disney consolidated its digital properties.

Client The Walt Disney Company

Industry Entertainment / Audio

Platform iOS & Android

01 The Challenge

Bringing radio to the smartphone generation

Radio Disney had a loyal audience of kids and families, but traditional radio was losing ground to on-demand digital content. Young listeners expected more than just audio — they wanted interactivity, personalization, and connection to the broader Disney universe.

The challenge: reinvent the radio experience for mobile while maintaining the live, communal feel that made Radio Disney special — and strategically position the app as a gateway to Disney's growing digital ecosystem.

02 Our Approach

More than an app — a Disney experience

We designed and built a native mobile experience that went far beyond simple streaming:

Live streaming reimagined — Crystal-clear audio with real-time now-playing information, artist details, and interactive elements that made listeners feel connected to the broadcast
Radio Disney Alarm Clock — Wake up to your favorite Disney music. A beloved feature that let kids start their day with Radio Disney, driving daily app opens and habitual engagement
Disney ecosystem integration — Deep links to Disney Channel content, Disney apps, and eventually Disney+ — positioning Radio Disney as a discovery engine for Disney's entire content library
Social and interactive features — Song requests, shoutouts, and contests that brought the community feel of radio into the digital age
Parental trust — A safe, ad-appropriate experience that parents could hand to their kids without worry

03 The Results

A launchpad for Disney's digital future

Millions of young listeners

Daily alarm clock engagement

Gateway to Disney ecosystem

Radio Disney became more than a streaming app — it was a daily touchpoint with young Disney fans and a proving ground for cross-app content integration. The vertical integration patterns we built helped inform Disney's broader digital strategy as they moved toward consolidated streaming.

While the app was eventually retired as Disney consolidated properties into Disney+, the work demonstrated how audio content could drive engagement and serve as a bridge to video and interactive experiences.

04 The Legacy

Building for what comes next

The Radio Disney project exemplified a principle we still follow today: build not just for current requirements, but for where the industry is heading. The ecosystem integration patterns we pioneered — launching users seamlessly into related Disney content — anticipated the streaming consolidation that would define the next decade of entertainment.

Sometimes the best measure of success isn't how long something lasts, but what it enables. Radio Disney helped millions of kids discover Disney content and helped Disney understand how mobile could unify their entertainment empire.

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