Dick Clark Productions
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn American television production company best known for award shows, live entertainment specials, and music programming.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Dick Clark Productions (DCP) is an American television and live-entertainment production company founded by broadcaster and producer Dick Clark. Its roots lie in the syndicated radio and television activities surrounding Clark's broadcasting career in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The company became particularly visible through its connection with American Bandstand and through the production of music-focused specials, awards ceremonies, countdown programs, and other event television. Its name was adopted during the period when American Bandstand moved to Hollywood, allowing Clark to establish a recognizable production identity separate from his on-camera work. Over subsequent decades, DCP expanded beyond variety and music programming. It developed television specials, game-show projects, home-video releases, telemovies, and feature-film activities through related divisions and partnerships. Its best-known properties include Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the American Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards. The company also participated in productions such as American Bandstand, TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, and So You Think You Can Dance. These programs positioned DCP around recurring, high-profile television events that combine celebrity appearances, musical performances, ratings-driven live broadcasts, and extensive advertiser and promotional activity. DCP's ownership history has been unusually dynamic. It became a public company in 1986, was taken private in 2002, and then passed through several investment groups. Daniel Snyder acquired it in 2007. In 2012, a partnership involving Guggenheim Partners, Mandalay Entertainment, and Mosaic Media Investment Partners acquired the company. Guggenheim's interest was later separated into an enterprise associated with Todd Boehly and Eldridge Industries. A proposed sale to China's Wanda Group was announced in 2016 but abandoned in 2017 amid regulatory obstacles. In 2018, DCP became part of Valence Media, the company formed through a combination involving Media Rights Capital and Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Valence was renamed MRC in 2020, and DCP operated within the MRC Live & Alternative division. The Dick Clark Productions name was discontinued in 2021 as productions were placed under the MRC Live & Alternative identity. In 2022, the broader combination was unwound and Eldridge reacquired the live and alternative assets, restoring the DCP name. In January 2023, Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge placed the company into a joint venture known as Penske Media Eldridge. Later that year, DCP acquired the assets and intellectual property associated with the Golden Globe Awards from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, making the company the owner and producer of one of the entertainment industry's most established awards brands. DCP's current identity is therefore less that of a conventional scripted television studio than of a specialist in premium live and event programming. It produces or controls television properties with strong annual or seasonal identities and works across broadcasting, streaming, music media, entertainment journalism, sponsorship, and international licensing. Its relationship with Billboard and other Penske Media assets gives it an integrated position within a broader entertainment-media portfolio. The company remains associated with large-scale awards broadcasts and music events, although ownership changes, branding reorganizations, and the transition of the Golden Globes into a for-profit property have materially reshaped its corporate structure.
History
Dick Clark Productions developed from Dick Clark’s syndicated broadcasting activities in the late 1950s. The company identity was formalized during the early 1960s, when Clark’s move of American Bandstand to Hollywood created a need for a visible production organization. Clark established a modestly branded office on the Sunset Strip and used the company to extend his role from presenter into producer and rights holder. During the 1970s and 1980s, DCP broadened its activities through units including Dick Clark Teleshows, Dick Clark Cinema Productions, and Dick Clark Video. It produced music specials, telemovies, feature-film projects, home-video releases, and awards programming. The company also produced the early American Music Awards, the Black Gold Awards, and other projects connected with popular music and television entertainment. In 1986, DCP became a NASDAQ-listed public company. It was later taken private in 2002 by an investment group, with Mandalay Entertainment acquiring an interest in 2004. Daniel Snyder acquired DCP in 2007. After Dick Clark’s death in 2012, the company was sold to a partnership led by Guggenheim Partners, Mandalay Entertainment, and Mosaic Media Investment Partners. The new ownership expanded the company’s involvement with major entertainment properties, including the Billboard Music Awards, which DCP began producing in 2014. DCP also formed a development partnership with Keshet in 2013, leading to projects such as the American adaptation of Rising Star. In 2016, Wanda Group announced an agreement to acquire DCP, but the transaction was abandoned in 2017 because of regulatory complications. DCP subsequently became part of Valence Media in 2018. Valence was renamed MRC in 2020, and DCP operated within MRC Live & Alternative. In 2021, the DCP name was temporarily retired in favor of the MRC Live & Alternative brand. The corporate combination was unwound in 2022, with Eldridge regaining the relevant live and alternative assets and reinstating the Dick Clark Productions name. In January 2023, Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge combined the company within Penske Media Eldridge. In June 2023, DCP acquired the Golden Globe Awards’ assets and intellectual property from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. This moved the Golden Globes from an association-administered model into a for-profit ownership structure and made the awards a central asset in DCP’s portfolio. Across its history, DCP has remained focused on event television: annual awards ceremonies, music broadcasts, holiday specials, celebrity formats, and related intellectual-property licensing. Its importance comes less from a single studio lot or scripted-production slate than from its ability to package recurring cultural events for broadcasters, advertisers, music companies, and international media partners.
- 2023
Penske Media Eldridge ownership
[1]DCP becomes part of the Penske Media Eldridge joint venture.
- 2023
Golden Globe acquisition
[1]DCP acquires the Golden Globe Awards’ assets and intellectual property.
- 2022
DCP brand restored
[1]The corporate merger is unwound and Eldridge restores the Dick Clark Productions identity.
- 2021
DCP brand temporarily retired
[1]The company’s productions are consolidated under MRC Live & Alternative.
- 2020
Valence rebranded as MRC
[1]DCP operates within MRC Live & Alternative after Valence Media adopts the MRC name.
- 2018
Valence Media combination
[1]DCP becomes part of Valence Media.
- 2017
Wanda transaction abandoned
[1]Wanda Group’s proposed acquisition is canceled following regulatory issues.
- 2014
Billboard Music Awards production begins
[1]DCP takes over production of the Billboard Music Awards.
- 2013
Keshet DCP formed
[1]DCP creates a joint venture with Keshet to develop unscripted formats for the United States.
- 2012
Guggenheim-led ownership
[1]DCP is sold to a partnership involving Guggenheim Partners, Mandalay Entertainment, and Mosaic Media Investment Partners.
Products and positioning
A major American producer and owner of live, music-led, celebrity-oriented television events, with particular strength in recurring awards shows and seasonal broadcasts.
Music awards show · 1973
American Music Awards
A major American music awards broadcast created by DCP and built around performances, audience voting, artist appearances, and recognition across popular music categories. It is one of the company’s signature original event properties.
Film and television awards show · 1944
Golden Globe Awards
A prominent awards property recognizing achievements in film and television. DCP acquired the awards’ assets and intellectual property in 2023, bringing the event into its portfolio of major annual entertainment broadcasts.
Country music awards show · 1966
Academy of Country Music Awards
An annual country-music awards event produced as part of DCP’s broader portfolio of genre-focused music and entertainment broadcasts.
Music awards show · 1990
Billboard Music Awards
A music awards broadcast presented by Billboard and produced by DCP from 2014. The property connects DCP’s event-production capabilities with Billboard’s music-industry data, editorial identity, and audience.
Holiday music special · 1972
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
A long-running New Year’s Eve television event featuring live music, celebrity appearances, countdown coverage, and celebrations from New York and other locations. It is closely associated with the Dick Clark brand.
Music and variety television program · 1952
American Bandstand
The music and dance program that established Dick Clark as a major television personality and provided the creative and commercial foundation for his later production company.
Unscripted talent competition · 2005
So You Think You Can Dance
A dance competition produced by DCP in partnership with 19 Entertainment. The format combines auditions, choreography, performance episodes, judges, and audience engagement.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire Golden Globe Awards assetsM&ABackground
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association transitioned the Golden Globes toward a for-profit ownership model.
Action taken
DCP acquired the Golden Globe Awards’ assets and intellectual property.
Aftermath
The Golden Globes became part of DCP’s portfolio of owned and produced awards properties, alongside the company’s established music and entertainment events.
2021
Retire the Dick Clark Productions brandStrategyBackground
After DCP became part of MRC, the parent company consolidated its live and alternative productions under a common divisional identity.
Action taken
The Dick Clark Productions name was discontinued and productions were presented under MRC Live & Alternative.
Aftermath
The brand was restored in 2022 after the broader corporate combination was unwound.
2017
Abandon the proposed Wanda acquisitionM&ABackground
Wanda Group announced an agreement to acquire DCP, but the transaction encountered regulatory obstacles in China.
Action taken
The parties ended the proposed sale rather than completing the acquisition.
Aftermath
Eldridge retained control, and DCP later remained within the media and entertainment restructuring that produced Valence Media and MRC.
Reported breakup and extension fees. 50000000 (2017)
2014
Assume production of the Billboard Music AwardsProduct launchBackground
DCP expanded its music-event portfolio through its relationship with Billboard.
Action taken
DCP took over production of the Billboard Music Awards.
Aftermath
The awards became another recurring music property associated with DCP’s live-event production capabilities.
2013
Create Keshet DCP format-development joint ventureStrategyBackground
DCP sought to expand beyond established awards broadcasts and develop adaptable unscripted television concepts for the American market.
Action taken
The company partnered with Israeli broadcaster Keshet to form Keshet DCP.
Aftermath
The venture’s first major project was an American version of Rising Star, which was ordered to series by ABC.
Recent events
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