Radio Disney Announces Latest 'N.B.T.' Featured Artists THE VAMPS

The UK pop/rock band The Vamps will be the next featured recording artists in Radio Disney's popular "N.B.T." (Next Big Thing) music showcase. It was announced today by Phil Guerini, Vice President, Programming and General Manager, Radio Disney. The band's debut album, "Meet The Vamps," was released in U.K. on April 11 on EMI/Island Records where it debuted at #2, and their debut single, "Wild Heart," recently climbed into the Top 10 of the Radio Disney Top 30 chart. The band will be releasing a U.S. EP in the Summer.

Radio Disney's "N.B.T." showcase gives fans exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developing young recording artists on their way to becoming music's Next Big Thing. N.B.T. provides exposure to their music and aspiring journey across Disney Channel, Radio Disney, RadioDisney.com, Disney.com and related social media sites, as well as at live Radio Disney events in markets across the U.S.

The Vamps will perform at "ARDY's Pre-show Party" festival, a free-to-the-public event on Saturday, April 26 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE. They are also set to make an appearance during the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards, airing Sunday, April 27 on Disney Channel. Radio Disney's "N.B.T." cameras will follow The Vamps through their music video shoot for "Somebody To You" this spring and on "The Secret Tour," their first-ever U.S. tour with Austin Mahone and Fifth Harmony, kicking off July 25 in San Antonio, Texas.

"Our eyes have been locked on The Vamps, our listeners are actively engaged, and they recently played to ecstatic crowds during a concert we hosted in Orlando," said Guerini. He added, "They have the foundation for an exciting future, and through N.B.T. we look forward to sharing their discovery with our audience."

The four piece band - singer Brad Simpson, guitarist James McVey, drummer Tristan Evans and bassist Connor Ball - first got together and built a following on YouTube. Since then, they've amassed a substantial online following and had a particularly strong arrival onto the UK music charts with their debut album ranking #2 and with three Top 3 hits: "Can We Dance," "Wild Heart" and the most recent, "Last Night." In February, "Wild Heart" was released as their debut single in the U.S. and Canada.

The Vamps join the "N.B.T." roster alongside previously announced Kemosabe/RCA Records' Becky G, Hollywood Records' R5 and Epic Records' Fifth Harmony.

Radio Disney is the #1 radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families on a 24-hour basis, and is widely recognized as the first platform for many of today's most popular young artists, including Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Austin Mahone. The network's customized Top 40 format is driven by listener requests and represents major recording label artists, including One Direction, Katy Perry, Cody Simpson, Fifth Harmony and Demi Lovato. Radio Disney reaches nearly 21 million listeners each week across 24 local stations in the top 25 media markets, RadioDisney.com, Sirius XM satellite radio on channel 79, TuneIn App or at TuneIn.com/RadioDisney, iTunes Radio Tuner, mobile phones, the Radio Disney iPhone, iPad and Android Apps, and the Radio Disney Facebook page.