Radio Disney's The Next Big Thing facts for kids

Radio Disney's Next Big Thing (also known by the initials NBT) is a singing contest broadcast on Radio Disney that first launched in November 2008. The contest takes place over 10 weeks, with new and unsigned artists or bands competing every two weeks. Radio listeners can 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. Singing duo Jonnie and Brookie won the show's first season in May 2009.

Season two of Next BIG Thing began in late 2009 and was won by Jasmine Sagginario from Franklin, Tennessee. Season three began in 2010 and was won by Kicking Daisies, with Shealeigh winning season four in 2011.

Season Five began on October 12, 2012, 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. The competitors for the fifth season are Chloe and Halle Bailey, Jack Skuller, Katherine Hughes, Elle Winter, and Damian Otchere. Chloe and Halle were declared the winners on December 8, 2012.

Participants

Original NBT contest featuring 5 unsigned and unknown artists (10 in season 1). The artists gain exposure by performing,doing interviews and getting airtime on radio disney and disney channel. Then through online voting one is chosen as the winner of NBT.

Contestants

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

• ALLSTAR
• Comic Book Heroes
• Bre Morgan
• Jonnie and Brookie
• Sphynsie (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)

Season 6: (2012/2013): 6 artists Winner: The Never Ever (2009-2016).

NEW Format

In 2013, Radio Disney started a new format for NBT. Instead of it being a competition, it became a promotion type of show where there was a single "featured artist." Said featured artist was already signed to a record label and getting some airplay on Radio Disney as well as other stations, so they were not as unknown as NBT artists in the past. The featured artist was promoted in different videos and media across the Radio Disney site and station as well as sometimes on the Disney Channel. Each artist was featured for a few months before moving on to a new artist. This pretty much has no resemblance to the original NBT, but they use the same name and logo.

1st artist (2013):

• 5th Harmony

2nd artist (2013/2014):

• R5

3rd artist (2014):

• The VAMPS

4th artist (2014):

• Becky G

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 Ballerani

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 (current)