Spotify has announced the acquisition of Parcast, a storytelling-driven podcast studio. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.

The acquisition comes as Spotify continues to expand its podcast catalog; the company acquired Gimlet Media and Anchor in February.

Since its founding in 2016, Parcast has launched 18 premium podcast series including Serial Killers, Unsolved Murders, Cults and Conspiracy Theories and the studio’s first fiction series, Mind’s Eye. Parcast will bring to Spotify its curated library of highly produced shows and its engaged, loyal audiences. With an expertise in genres touching mystery, crime, science fiction, and history, Parcast has shown it has depth in subject matter and the ability to develop audiences across its robust network. Additionally, Parcast has more than 20 new shows slated to launch later this year.

“The addition of Parcast to our growing roster of podcast content will advance our goal of becoming the world’s leading audio platform,” said Dawn Ostroff, Spotify Chief Content Officer. “Crime and mystery podcasts are a top genre for our users and Parcast has had significant success creating hit series while building a loyal and growing fan base. We’re excited to welcome the Parcast team to Spotify and we look forward to supercharging their growth.”

“In three years, we have created a production house that has grown exponentially and hit a chord with mystery and true-crime fans, especially women, across all 50 states and around the world. We are proud to join the world’s most popular audio subscription streaming service and gain access to one of the largest audiences around the world,” said Max Cutler, Founder and President of Parcast. “Alongside Spotify, our ability to scale, grow and amplify the unique and tailored brand of content we create is full of fantastic possibilities.”

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) has announced this year’s inductees for its Music Business Hall of Fame, which include the late Sir George Martin, who will be inducted by his son Giles Martin. This year’s honorees will be recognized during the Music Biz 2019 Awards & Hall of Fame Dinner during Music Biz’s Annual Conference on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 p.m.

In addition to Sir George Martin, this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony will recognize major record labels Atlantic Records and Capitol Records; independent record label Sub Pop; industry executives Ahmet Ertegun, Herb Abramson and Miriam Abramson; music industry landmarks the Apollo Theatre, CBGB, Hitsville U.S.A.,Sun Studio, and the Troubadour; and Rolling Stone magazine.

“With the introduction of the Hall of Fame at last year’s Music Biz Conference, we sought to recognize the inspiration of those industry stalwarts who came before us and laid the groundwork for the vibrant industry we are now a part of,” commented Music Biz President James Donio. “We believe the slate of inductees who will be honored at this year’s ceremony represent the gamut of some of the most influential names in our industry’s history. And, we are especially thrilled to welcome Giles to this year’s celebration as we honor his father’s legacy.”

Across a legendary career spanning more than 50 years, Sir George Martin’s hallmark orchestrations and innovative recording techniques helped to shape popular music. In 1950, Martin began recording classical music, before broadening his scope with comedy, jazz, and pop. In 1955, he was appointed Head of the Parlophone label, and there in 1962 he signed The Beatles, launching an astonishing partnership that revolutionized studio recording forever. At London’s Abbey Road Studios, his own AIR Studios, and elsewhere, Martin also worked with comedians Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Flanders and Swann, jazz artists Stan Getz, John Dankworth, and more; and pop/rock artists Shirley Bassey, America, Jeff Beck, Kenny Rogers, Cheap Trick, Little River Band, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Sting, Michael Jackson, Kate Bush, Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, Pete Townshend, and Elton John, among others. Before retiring in 2006, Martin produced several Beatles catalog releases, including Let It Be… Naked and The Beatles 1, and collaborated with his son Giles to co-produce several projects, including The Beatles’ Anthology, The Glory of Gershwin, In My Life, and the innovative remixed audio and album for The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil. Martin won six Grammys, and he holds the record as the producer with the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with 23.

The Music Business Hall of Fame is reserved for the individuals, organizations and places that have left an indelible impact on the industry and that serve as shining examples for those who hope to carry the industry into the future. Hall of Fame inductees are selected annually by the Music Biz Board of Directors, which consists of top executives from a wide cross-section of the industry including major and independent labels and distributors, digital music services, wholesalers, and independent record stores.

The 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards have revealed a slate of collaborations ahead of the show on Sunday, April 7.

Duets include Khalid with Kane Brown; Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson; Dierks Bentley with Brandi Carlile; Eric Church with newly-minted ACM New Female Artist of the Year winner Ashley McBryde; Dan + Shay with Kelly Clarkson; Florida Georgia Line with Jason Aldean; and Maren Morris with Brothers Osborne.

The ACM Awards will once again feature “ACM Flashbacks,” a fan favorite moment honoring classic country music hits and/or the artists whose music continues to influence musicians and fans alike. This year’s “ACM Flashbacks” will feature 29-time ACM Award-winning duo Brooks & Dunn performing with Luke Combs (ACM New Male Artist of the Year), and  George Strait performing with Miranda Lambert. In addition, Lambert, the most-awarded artist in ACM Awards history with 32 wins, will perform a flashback medley of her greatest hits.

Previously-announced performers include New Group of the Year winner LANCO, as well as Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, and Carrie Underwood.

The awards telecast, hosted by Reba McEntire, will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8 p.m. ET / delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Sandi Spika Borchetta

MusicRow Magazine’s eighth annual Rising Women on the Row event will be held Tuesday, March 26, at Omni Hotel Nashville.

This year’s honorees include Sandi Spika Borchetta (Big Machine Label Group, Sr. VP Creative), Janine Ebach (Curb|Word Music Publishing, VP), Kelly Janson (Kelly Janson Management, Manager), Meredith Jones (Creative Artists Agency, Agent), Lenore Kinder (Paradigm Talent Agency, Agent), and Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI, Sr. Director of Operations).

Leading up to the event, MusicRow is spotlighting each honoree with a brief Q&A.

Sandi Spika Borchetta oversees all visual elements for the Big Machine Label Group including more than 25 music video releases in 2018 alone, which garnered seven No. 1 CMT clips. Big Machine Label Group music videos overseen by Borchetta have garnered over 4.5 billion views. With more than two decades of experience in the music industry, she may be most noted for designing Taylor Swift’s 2009 “Love Story” gown, in addition to Reba McEntire’s “Red Dress,” worn during the 1993 CMA Awards and revived at the 2018 ACM Awards, now a part of the permanent collection at the Country Music Hall of Fame. That artistry recently found her inducted in the Tennessee State Museum Costume and Textile Institute for design work with additional artists including Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Rogers, LaToya Jackson, Carly Pearce and Sheryl Crow. Honored in 2014 as Billboard’s Women in Music. Charitably, she oversees the Music Has Value brand and Fund, which was part of the 2017 Starkey Hearing Foundation Humanitarian of the Year honors, and serves on the board of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She additionally contributes to the TJ Martell Foundation, American Cancer Research, City of Hope, MusiCares, and General Mills’ Outnumber Hunger initiative.

MusicRow: What is the biggest lesson on leadership you have learned in your career?

Luck is 95% HARD WORK…encourage your team to stay focused and work hard. Select good people. Don’t be afraid of someone more talented than you to be on your team.

Help others achieve their goals, their course of action, and to believe in themselves and their future. Teach others to write down goals but most importantly etch them onto the inside of your eyelids. Every day, every hour…every time you blink… there they are… etched on your eyelids! Recognize the finish line and celebrate success with your team….then hit “repeat.”

MR: Who has been one of your biggest mentors and what has he or she taught you?

I was fortunate to tour and work side by side with Reba McEntire for over 13 years as her designer and stylist. Reba has been a huge influence in my life in many ways. Her drive, work ethic, down-to-earth nature and ability to make everyone feel comfortable is the best in the business. I appreciate and love her so much.

Scott Borchetta is a significant mentor. One of his notorious mottos is, “Start with crazy and work backwards.” He encourages you to think big and don’t stop trying until you have exhausted all avenues! I love our life, working relationship, and journey together.

MR: Describe a time that you took a big risk in your career, and how did it pay off?

Every time I pitch a creative idea, I’m taking a risk! Designing creative elements required within the entertainment industry means constantly pitching ideas. I’ve never been afraid to dedicate time and money toward a project I believed in, and I’ll work endless hours to make it work. It means putting your heart, mind, and talent on the line. One of my favorite risk-taking challenges is designing custom garments for film, music videos, live performances, red carpets, and award shows. Many factors contribute to the success such as lighting, staging, fit, materials, motion. It all has to work together. You’re putting your skill on the line and risking acceptance. Success of a production, be it a live performance, music video, etc., is magical. The payoff is priceless not just for myself, but for the entire team, the artist and fans. Creating visual collateral is very rewarding and if done right, your art lives forever within videos, film, packaging, photographs. I enjoy the risk, the challenge, and the opportunity to work with talented performers and our amazing team at Big Machine Label Group to create experiences that touch hearts and contribute to entertainment and music history.

MR: As Nashville continues to grow and evolve, what changes in the music industry excite you the most?

Production companies and various trades I deal with outside of Nashville now believe that our creative teams here are just as strong and talented as they are anywhere. Nashville has always had amazing video directors, directors of photography, photographers, stylists, glam teams, graphic designers. Now, with Nashville booming, production teams from other cities believe it and everyone wants to move and work here! Nashville is hot. It’s always been a special place to the country music industry but now it has the attention of the world. It’s very exciting to see the growth and talent of new business platforms. The accelerated speed of networking, social media, and content sharing is very exciting and presents an open highway to creatively invent new methods to share music and art.

MR: Favorite Nashville place to hold a business meeting/lunch?

Honestly…my favorite place is the backyard at our house! The history of the architecture is very surreal and enchanting! Bring food in and breathe the fresh air! I also love Taco Mamacita. I’m a sucker for chips and salsa.

(City National Bank, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, and Loeb & Loeb are again the Presenting Sponsors for the 2019 Rising Women on the Row.)