RadicalMedia, LLC is an independent global media and creative production company. Founded by Jon Kamen and Frank Scherma, the company had developed film, television, andbranded content.[1]
In 2010,Fremantle purchased a 60 percent stake in the company.[2] In 2015, RadicalMedia bought back the company's shares, retaining its majority ownership.[3]
The company had shot three performances of shows with the original principal cast at theRichard Rodgers Theatre inNew York City during a week in the summer of 2016.[8] That footage was edited together into afull-length film recording of the musical, which was then offered for bidding to major film studios.[9] Eventually, the distribution rights were purchased byWalt Disney Studios on February 3, 2020, for a total of $75 million.[10][11]
In July 2012, RadicalMedia launched THNKR, the company'sYouTube channel.[12]
RadicalMedia also producesbrand-driven entertainment for its partners and advertisers. Productions includeNike Battlegrounds, a 3-season street basketball competition series.[13]Iconoclasts, a series featuring unscripted encounters with cultural figures,[14] was produced by RadicalMedia for theSundance Channel in partnership withGrey Goose Entertainment.[15] In 2007, the company also worked withBBH to develop and produce the MTV-scripted reality dating seriesThe Gamekillers, which was sponsored byAxe deodorant.[16] In 2011, RadicalMedia andOgilvy & Mather produced a short documentary series forIBM,[17] "Watson".[18] In 2012, RadicalMedia won threeCannes Lions for "GT Academy" forSpeed.[19]
Other productions include theMajor Lazer document "Chasing the Sound" following the trio's tour through West Africa; the visuals for every track onOrville Peck's albumBronco and previous single "Queen of the Rodeo";Tom Misch's video for "What Kinda Music";Lil Xan andCharli XCX's video for "Moonlight";Sia's video for "Rainbow"; andKaty Perry andNicki Minaj's music video for "Swish".
In April 2011, the company took legal action to prevent a collective of radical media organizations from using the trademarked phrase "radical media" to promote their upcoming Radical Media Conference in London, which was consequently renamed to the Rebellious Media Conference.[22] On May 3, 2011, a group held a demonstration outside RadicalMedia's London offices. ProtesterEwa Jasiewicz said the company had "locked off the term 'radical media' away from anybody else using it, including activists who really do make radical media".[23]
^abjoint venture with Amperwelle Studio München Programmanbietergesellschaft,Axel Springer AG, Burda, Studio Gong, m.b.t. Mediengesellschaft der bayerischen Tageszeitungen für Kabelkommunikation, Medienpool and Radio Bavaria Rundfunkprogrammgesellschaft.
^joint venture with Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack, Studio Gong Niedersachsen and Brune-Rieck-Beteiligungs.
^joint venture with Axel Springer, Heinrich Bauer Verlag, Lühmanndruck Harburger Zeitungsgesellschaft and Morgenpost Verlag.
