DISNEY HIGH UNTOLD STORY DISNEY CHANNELS TWEEN EMPIRE

Artists: (W) Ashley Spencer For many kids growing up in the 2000s, there was no cultural touchstone more powerful than Disney Channel. At its peak, Disney Channel was the most-watched cable channel in primetime, generating billions of dollars from its related movies, albums, merchandise, and more. Today, it might best be known for introducing the world to talents like Hilary Duff, Raven-Symoné, Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Zendaya. In the new millennium, it churned out original content and triple-threat stars whose careers were almost entirely controlled by the corporation. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of the pie-and there were constant clashes between the studio, network, labels, and creatives as Disney Channel became a pressure cooker of perfection for its stars. From private feuds and on-set disasters to fanfare that swept the nation and the realities of child stardom, culture journalist Ashley Spencer offers the first unauthorized look at the heyday of TV's House of Mouse.