Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: A Social Context and Media Globilization

Disney's television series, Hannah Montana was first aired on March 6, 2006. Only two years have passed, and the show has become a sensation, along with its star Miley Cyrus. The show is about a young popstar hiding her real identity by using a stage name so that she can preserve her life as a normal teenage girl. Hannah Montana has caused a stir among young girls all over the world. One episode of the show surpassed all other regular television broadcasts in history, averaging 10.7 million viewers.

Disney sure knows how to market the starlet, Miley Cyrus. Hannah Montana has become a brand name, and the Miley Cyrus franchise is worth about $1 billion. The merchandise ranges in all categories possibly imaginable, such as lunch boxes, pajamas, dolls, t-shirts, pencils, replica wigs, video games, DVDs, CDs, posters, pencils, backpacks, purses, cups, silverware, and much more.

The soundtrack from the show debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, a first for a Television series' soundtrack. Her show is also the No. 1 cable show for kids from the age range of 6-14. She also has gone on a sold-out national tour that generated over $24 million. The artist has covered every demographic possible and is succeeding in all areas. She has also released an album under her own name called "Breakout."

Miley Cyrus is an example of the globilization of popular culture. Her show is broadcasted to over 50 countries worldwide. Young girls all over the world knows who Hannah Montana is. Some may have a limited access to her merchandise, but they probably can still sing along to her songs.
Cyrus even has a wax figure of herself in Madame Tussaud's in New York City. As a social context, she is referred to in other forms of popular media. For example, I was watching two of my favorite television shows on last Monday night. Both Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill used her name as a reference. The Simpons and South Park have also made a references to Hannah Montana. In a December 16, 2007 episode of The Simpsons entitled "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" when Bart writes on the blackboard "The capital of Montana is not Hannah." Mad TV also did a spoof of the show. These are just examples in which the names "Hannah Montana" and "Miley Cyrus" influence our society and are used as a social context.