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Announced today, Liz Gateley, former Head of Development, Originals at Spotify Studios and Head of Programming at Lifetime, has left Spotify to launch Damsel Media, a new television, film, direct-to-consumer, and digital media production company focused on Gen Z. The entity will lean into the culture-defining stories Gateley is known for with a focus on premium content for female YA audiences. Over the past two decades, Gateley has created and produced groundbreaking content across the industry including: Laguna Beach, The Hills, 16 & Pregnant, Teen Mom, Teen Wolf, Surviving R. Kelly, Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone (If You’re a Girl), which won the Oscar in 2020 for Documentary Short, as well as developing the scripted series You.

Most recently, Gateley helped contribute to the exponential growth of the Spotify platform. In February 2019, Gateley joined Spotify as employee number four of the Original Podcast Studios team, and in her...

Liz Gateley, former head of development, originals at Spotify Studios, has left the company to launch Damsel Media.

The new company is a television, film, direct-to-consumer and digital media production company that will be focused on Gen Z. Before working at Spotify, Gateley was head of programming at Lifetime.

Gateley has created content including Laguna Beach, The Hills, 16 & Pregnant, Teen Mom, Teen Wolf, Surviving R. Kelly, Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone (If You’re a Girl), which won the Oscar in 2020 for documentary short, and developed the scripted series You.

Gateley joined Spotify in February 2019 as a member of the original podcast studios team. She bought Wind of Change, a co-production with Pineapple and Crooked Media, as an exclusive original for Spotify, which won the 2020 Webby for best podcast of the year.

She oversaw Spotify’s Warner Bros./DC partnership deal which launched podcasts including Batman Unburied,...

Liz Gateley, who created series including MTV’s Laguna Beach, is launching her own production company.

Gateley has left Spotify to launch Damsel Media. The company will specialize in programming for Gen Z women, a fitting move for the exec behind series such as Teen Mom, Teen Wolf and You.

She was most recently Head of Development, Originals at Spotify Studios, which she joined in 2019. At the audio platform, she was behind series including Wind of Change, which asked whether the CIA wrote the Scorpions famous power ballad and The System: The Case of Kevin Keith with Kim Kardashian. She oversaw the partnership with Warner Bros. and DC, which led to Batman Unburied and Harley Quinn & The Joker: Sound Mind.

She also helped Spotify move into video with What Now? With Trevor Noah and was behind Spotify Pictures, which was involved in adaptations such as RapCaviar Presents with Hulu, and...

Oscar winner Colman Domingo says the second season of Batman Unburied: Fallen City, the superhero podcast from Spotify, Warner Bros and D.C., promises a revealing look into the mind of a grieving Bruce Wayne.

“This story, one that explores Bruce losing a friend and an emotional new discovery about his parents’ death, was exciting and challenging. I can’t wait for listeners to experience the twists and turns awaiting them,” Domingo, who voices the role of Batman, said in a statement on Tuesday.

A synopsis for the second season, to premiere Nov. 26, indicates Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent launching a social program that rattles the Gotham City elites, while winning over the city’s newest masked figure, the Oracle of Gotham. But when Harvey goes missing, Batman is forced to descend into the city’s labyrinthian underground, uncovering a horrific conspiracy by a secret society that has ruled Gotham for ages,...

A+E Networks has tapped Elaine Frontain Bryant and Eli Lehrer to take on expanded roles for the network as former Lifetime EVP and head of programming Amy Winter announced her exit on Wednesday. Move is the latest in a series of consolidations in basic cable as the linear business faces continued declines.

Winter joined Lifetime in 2020, having previously worked at Discovery and later Up TV as exec VP and Gm. At Lifetime, Winter filled a gig that had been vacant since Liz Gateley exited in 2018. Now that job will once again be retired as Frontain Bryant takes on oversight of all of Lifetime and Lmn programming in addition to her current role overseeing original programming for the flagship A&e brand.

Winter revealed in a memo to staff that she’s “decided to embark on a new path” that will combine “my passion for the creative aspects of entertainment with the business side of our industry.

Exclusive: A+E Networks is the latest entertainment company to undergo a shake-up.

Deadline understands that the company has made a small number of cuts to its programming team.

Amy Winter, EVP and Head of Programming at Lifetime, is leaving the company with Elaine Frontain Bryant, who is EVP and Head of Programming at A&e, now overseeing the Married At First Sight broadcaster.

Tanya Lopez, who is Executive Vice President of Scripted Content at Lifetime, is also leaving and will be transitioning into a production deal with A+E Networks, where she will continue to package and produce Lifetime Original Movies.

Elsewhere, we hear that John Verhoff, an exec producer at History, is also exiting.

Eli Lehrer is also adding music services to his job as EVP and Head of The History Channel Programming Genres and Music Services

Winter joined in 2020, from UpTV, where she was EVP and General Manager. In her three year tenure,...

In the end, was Spotify’s acquisition of Gimlet and Parcast all a waste?

That’s how unionized staffers at Gimlet and Parcast described Spotify’s decision on Monday to begin shuttering the two podcast studios that the audio giant had purchased in 2019 for 221 million euros. “When Spotify purchased Gimlet and Parcast for nearly $300 million, they acquired an incredible group of talented people with specific and marketable skills. Then, they wasted that opportunity: canceling shows with dedicated audiences, leaving half-finished projects to die on the vine, and giving teams little direction as to what they actually wanted to see produced,” the Gimlet and Parcast unions said. “Gimlet and Parcast were studios with vision that helped shape our industry. Whether Spotify Studios has a vision remains to be seen.”

Four years after their acquisitions, Gimlet and Parcast will sunset this summer as they combine to make Spotify Studios, an in-house studio division led by Julie McNamara.

San Francisco, June 5 (Ians) Music streaming platform Spotify on Monday announced it was sacking 200 employees, 2 per cent of its workforce, from its podcast division as part of a corporate reorganisation.

Sahar Elhabashi, Spotify’s head of podcast division, announced that the company is expanding partnership efforts with leading podcasters from across the globe with a tailored approach optimised for each show and creator.

“However, doing so requires adapting; over the past few months, our senior leadership team has worked closely with Hr to determine the optimal organisation for this next chapter,” said Elhabashi.

Those impacted in layoffs received emails from Hr. The company said it will support these individuals with “generous severance packages, including extended healthcare coverage and immediate access to outplacement support”.

As part of the next phase, the company will combine Parcast and Gimlet into a renewed Spotify Studios operation that will continue to produce a wide range of original shows.

Updated with statement from WGA East and workers: Spotify is cutting 200 jobs, about 2% of its workforce, in a revamp of its podcast business.

Sahar Elhabashi, VP, Head of Podcast Business, outlined the plans in a blog post.

“We are expanding our partnership efforts with leading podcasters from across the globe with a tailored approach optimized for each show and creator,” the exec explained. “This fundamental pivot from a more uniform proposition will allow us to support the creator community better. However, doing so requires adapting.”

WGA East members at Gimlet and Parcast said in a statement: “We’re heartbroken — again — for our coworkers who have lost their jobs. And we’re frustrated by the mismanagement that led us here.” left the company. One prominent departure amid those layoffs was Dawn Ostroff,...

Check out the trailer and key art for Hulu Original unscripted series “RapCaviar Presents.” All six episodes will premiere March 30, only on Hulu. Synopsis: “RapCaviar Presents” is a compelling new documentary series that tackles some of today’s most provocative issues through the stories of hip-hop visionaries and emerging stars currently ruling the charts and influencing our culture, from City Girls to Tyler, The Creator, Polo G, Roddy Ricch, Coi Leray and more. Based on the influential Spotify playlist, launched in 2015, this six-part series is a deep dive into current events that untangles important subjects and offers a view of the world from an artist’s perspective. Credits: The series will be Executive Produced by Karam Gill, who will also serve as Creative Director; Steve Rivo, who will also serve as showrunner; Carl Chery and Liz Gateley, who are overseeing creative on the show for Spotify; and Eli Holzman and...

The first teaser for Season 5 of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ dropped Thursday, featuring a chilling cover of Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.” The season premieres on Sept. 14 on Hulu, with new episodes each Wednesday.

In Season 5, Elisabeth Moss’ June faces consequences for killing Commander Waterford as she simultaneously attempts to redefine her identity and purpose. Serena, now widowed, is trying to raise her profile in Canada while Gilead’s influence makes its way to Canada. Commander Lawrence teams up with Nick and Aunt Lydia while he attempts to reform Gilead and gain power. June, Luke and Moira fight Gilead from a distance as they continue trying to save Hannah.

Alongside Moss, the series also stars Bradley Whitford, Yvonne Strahovski, Max Minghella, O-t Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel and Sam Jaeger.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” is produced by MGM Television and executive produced by Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss,...

Hip hop changemakers are about to get their closeup on Hulu. The streamer has ordered RapCaviar Presents, a new documentary series from Spotify and The Intellectual Property Corporation (Ipc), a part of Sony Pictures Television.

The eight-episode series will “tackle some of today’s most provocative issues through stories of the hip hop visionaries currently ruling the charts and influencing our culture,” Hulu said.

The series will be Executive Produced by Karam Gill, who will also serve as Creative Director; Steve Rivo, who will also serve as showrunner; Carl Chery and Liz Gateley, who are overseeing creative on the show for Spotify; and Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman on behalf of Ipc. Av Accius and Marcus A. Clarke serve as Co-EPs. Karam Gill, Keith McQuirter, Peter J. Scalettar, Farah X and Mandon Lovett will also serve as episodic Directors. The show will premiere later this year on Hulu.

Early episodes include Tyler,...

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Hulu has ordered RapCaviar Presents, a docuseries from Spotify and Sony Pictures Television’s Ipc studio that will explore major cultural topics from the perspectives of some of today’s top hip-hop artists.

RapCaviar Presents takes its name from the influential playlist on Spotify, which has a fan base of more than 14 million users. The RapCaviar playlist first launched in 2015 and is often credited with elevating the careers of rising artists whose songs are selected to appear in the mix alongside other established artists.

Premiering later this year on Hulu, RapCaviar Presents will feature artists like Tyler, the Creator, Jack Harlow, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Saweetie and Roddy Ricch.

Karam Gill (Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine) serves as executive producer and creative director alongside co-EPs Av Accius (Murder in the Thirst) and Marcus A. Clarke (Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad...

Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, Doja Cat, Roddy Ricch, Saweetie and Tyler, the Creator are just some of the big names in music that are set to appear in the new Hulu docuseries “RapCaviar Presents,” a joint venture from Spotify and The Intellectual Property Corporation (Ipc), a part of Sony Pictures Television.

Taking its name after RapCaviar — the incredibly popular hip-hop playlist on Spotify that boasts over 14 million listeners — the show is billed as a “compelling” docuseries that explores “today’s most provocative issues through stories of the hip hop visionaries currently ruling the charts and influencing our culture.”

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Karam Gill (Showtime’s “Supervillian: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine”) will serve as executive producer and creative director. Showrunner Steve Rivo is also an EP, alongside Carl Chery and Liz Gateley (who are overseeing creative for Spotify) and Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for Ipc.

Exclusive: MTV is bringing back one of its most popular reality franchises, The Hills, with a new incarnation. The Paramount network has given a series order to The Hills: Next Gen, from MTV Entertainment Studios.

The Hills: Next Gen will feature a brand new cast which is expected to be more diverse than the original. The series will follow close group of 20-something friends and aspiring entrepreneurs who are coming of age in a very different L.A. They will navigate realities of race, class, identity, addiction, family drama along with the thrills of romance and becoming self-made amidst the exclusive enclave of the hills in Malibu.

Created by Adam Divello and executive produced by Liz Gateley and Sean Travis, the original The Hills, starring Audrina Patridge, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt and Brody Jenner, was a spinoff of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. The series ran on MTV for six seasons,...

The Critics Choice Association (Cca) announced that Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer will co-host the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, which air on The CW and TBS on Jan. 9, 2022 at 7 p.m.

Diggs is known for starring as Sam Bennett in the ABC medical drama “Private Practice.” Other prominent credits include appearing in the film “Brown Sugar” and the original Broadway production of “Rent.” Currently, he stars on The CW drama “All American.”

Byer first broke out with her appearance on MTV’s “Girl Code” and has since become known for hosting the competition series “Nailed It!” and “Wiped Out!,” the podcast “Why Won’t You Date Me?,” and appearing in supporting and recurring roles in comedy series such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Tuca & Berie.” Most recently, she debuted her Netflix comedy special “Nicole Byer: Bbw (Big Beautiful Weirdo).” Up next, she stars on NBC’s “Grand Crew.”

“This is...

A group of rappers are heading into the deserts and swamps of nature in a new unscripted series for HBO.

The network has ordered Chillin Island, which is exec produced by Uncut Gems director Josh Safdie and his production partner Sebastian Bear-McClard as well as DreamCrew, the management company and entertainment group set up by Drake and Adel Future Nur.

The series is based on a radio show, described as “Howard Stern if he was on K” and variety web series set up by Alec Reinstein, otherwise known as Despot, Aleksey Weintraub, otherwise known as Lakutis and Ashok Kondabolu of Das Racist.

It will launch on December 17.

The six-part series sees the trio invite their friends to join them at the edge of nature. To commune in deserts and swamps in a valiant effort to reveal unknowable truths from the dreamstate of the shared human existence. The series features music industry icons including Young Thug,...

Spotify has completed casting on its upcoming Batman Unburied scripted podcast series.

Jane the Virgin and Diary of a Future President star Gina Rodriguez will join the cast to voice Barbara Gordon.

The actor, who has featured on Netflix’s animated series Big Mouth, will play the daughter of former police commissioner Jim Gordon and star detective for Gotham Pd. Throughout the series, Barbara will grapple with her own ethics, as she tries to keep within the lines of police work yet is finding herself drawn to Batman’s self-styled method of justice.

She said she was excited to be going on this “sonic adventure” with the “iconic” role.

She joins a cast that already includes Winston Duke as Bruce Wayne and Jason Isaacs as Wayne’s loyal butler and right-hand man, Alfred.

Rounding out the cast of David S. Goyer’s take on the Caped Crusader is Sam Witwer...

Announced earlier today, Winston Duke is our next Batman. The actor, best known for his role as M'Baku in Black Panther, has signed on to voice Bruce Wayne in Batman Unburied, the upcoming Spotify podcast from The Dark Knight screenwriter David S. Goyer. Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter's Lucius Malfoy) has also joined the cast as Bruce's butler Alfred Pennyworth. No additional names have yet been announced for the voice cast.

Batman Unburied is described as a "psychological thriller that dives into the mind of Bruce Wayne and features dark twists and classic Batman villains." The project comes as part of an expansive 2020 deal between DC and Spotify with other DC characters expecting to get their own stories told in new podcasts of Spotify as well, including Lois Lane, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Riddler, and Batgirl.

The logline for Batman Unburied reads: "When audiences meet Bruce Wayne he is a forensic pathologist,...

Winston Duke is moving from the Marvel universe to the DC universe in Spotify’s upcoming Batman Unburied podcast series.

Black Panther and Avengers star Duke will voice Bruce Wayne in the series, which is exec produced by David S. Goyer. He will be joined by Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs as Wayne’s loyal butler and right-hand man, Alfred.

The series, which marks one of the highest profile scripted podcasts to date, is a psychological thriller that takes listeners deep into the mind of Bruce Wayne introducing a slew of dark twists and turns with a number of classic Batman Super-Villains.

When audiences meet Bruce Wayne he is a forensic pathologist, working in the bowels of Gotham Hospital and tasked with examining the victims of The Harvester, a gruesome serial killer preying on Gotham’s citizens. Not only will the Super-Hero be forced to face his own mental demons,...

A+E Networks executive Gena McCarthy is stepping down as head of programming for Lifetime’s unscripted department and sister network Fyi, TheWrap has confirmed.

Her exit comes after more than a decade with the company, having previously worked on shows like “Project Runway,” “Dance Moms” and “Married at First Sight.” McCarthy has served as head of programming for Fyi since 2013, adding oversight of Lifetime’s unscripted slate in 2018 following the departure of then-programming boss Liz Gateley.

Per Lifetime, McCarthy is exiting to “pursue new creative adventures.” No replacement has been named.

“It’s been a true pleasure serving as a teammate and team leader in two successful chapters of the Lifetime story,” McCarthy said in a statement. “And launching fyi remains a collaborative, joyful and inventive milestone. I thank A+E Networks for both opportunities, and thank Paul Buccieri for his vision and guidance.”

“Gena is an exceptional person and creative executive,...

Liz Gateley will transition from her role as a podcast executive at Spotify to a creative consultant with the audio streaming giant next year, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The veteran television executive, who joined Spotify in 2019 to lead its push to create more original podcasts, will continue to work closely with the company on projects she’s been developing, including those from partners DC Comics and Mark and Jay Duplass. In her role as a consultant, she will also continue to help shepherd Spotify projects to film and TV. She is listed as a producer, for instance, on Hulu’...

Liz Gateley will transition from her role as a podcast executive at Spotify to a creative consultant with the audio streaming giant next year, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The veteran television executive, who joined Spotify in 2019 to lead its push to create more original podcasts, will continue to work closely with the company on projects she’s been developing, including those from partners DC Comics and Mark and Jay Duplass. In her role as a consultant, she will also continue to help shepherd Spotify projects to film and TV. She is listed as a producer, for instance, on Hulu’...

Exclusive: Wind of Change, the wild podcast that asks whether the CIA wrote the 1990 Scorpions hit song, is being adapted for television at Hulu.

Deadline understands that the streamer has landed the project, which is being developed by Alex Karpovsky, in a competitive situation.

The Patrick Radden Keefe-hosted podcast, which launched in May and became one of the buzziest audio series of the year, is produced by Pod Save America producer Crooked Media, Pineapple Street Studios, which produces podcasts such as The Clearing and The Catch and Kill Podcast with Ronan Farrow, and Spotify.

It is being written and exec produced by Karpovsky, who starred in Amazon’s television adaptation of Homecoming and wrote and directed Oh Jerome, No — which was part of Fxx comedy Cake — and exec produced by Single Parent and Life in Pieces EP Jason Winer. 20th Television is the studio and is producing in association...

Mark and Jay Duplass, creators of HBO’s Room 104 and Netflix’s Wild Wild Country, are the latest creatives to sign up to Spotify to create original podcasts.

The pair, who also created HBO’s Togetherness and produced Netflix’s Evil Genius, have struck a first-look development deal via their Duplass Brothers Productions (Dbp) banner. They will produce both scripted and unscripted podcast series.

They are in good company, joining the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama, who recently unveiled The Michelle Obama Podcast as their first Spotify original podcast via their Higher Ground Productions, as well as Joe Rogan.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Spotify for our first foray into podcasting. Also terrified because making a truly engaging narrative podcast seems really, really difficult. Was this a mistake? Maybe we should pull out of this deal before they announce?” said Mark and Jay Duplass.

“As Spotify...

We all know the CIA runs the music industry. Didn’t The Simpsons leak that years ago? If not a new podcast series will follow the idea to its logical conclusion. If CIA hitman and Gong Show host Chuck Barris could write “Palisade Park,” why couldn’t other agents come up with a catchy tune. Spotify’s latest original podcast documentary series Wind of Change will explore whether the Scorpions’ 1990 song was Cold War propaganda, according to Deadline.

The no longer secret project will be produced by Spotify, along with New Yorker investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, “Pod Save America” producer Crooked Media, and Pineapple Street Studios, which produced Missing Richard Simmons.

Sung by Klaus Meine, “Wind of Change” was the song which played during the Glasnostic end of the Cold War. Its music video featured the building and dismantling of the Berlin Wall, the most visible symbol of the...

Exclusive: Did the CIA write Scorpions’ hit song Wind of Change? This is the wild story of Spotify’s latest original podcast documentary series.

The audio platform has teamed up with New Yorker investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, Pod Save America producer Crooked Media and Missing Richard Simmons producer Pineapple Street Studios for Wind of Change.

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The eight-part series, which debuts May 11, follows Keefe as he explores a rumor he heard from a source within the CIA: The CIA was behind the 1990 international hit. He will look at spies doing the unthinkable, a secret history of propaganda hidden in pop music, and a maze of government secrets as he...

Lifetime has tapped UPtv Evp and General Manager Amy Winter as Evp and Head of Programming. Based in New York, she will oversee all programming for the network inclusive of movies, scripted and unscripted for Lifetime and Lmn, reporting to Rob Sharenow, President of Programming at A+E Networks. Winter will start her new job in March.

With Winter’s hire, Lifetime is reinstating the Evp/Head of Programming role, which was phased out in 2018 following the exit of Liz Gateley. At the time, her duties were split between Gena McCarthy, who was named Evp, Head of Programming, Lifetime Unscripted & Head of Programming, fyi, and Tanya Lopez, who was promoted to Evp, Movies, Limited Series & Original Movie Acquisitions, Lifetime and Lmn. McCarthy and Lopez are staying on and now will report to Winter.

“I’ve long admired Amy and all of the success she’s had throughout her career, and I...

Exclusive: Spotify has struck a podcast deal with Audity, the audio division of Steve Michaels’ Asylum Entertainment Group. This comes as the nascent company hires former Legendary Digital Networks exec Frank Hajdu to oversee its audio slate.

The deal will see Audity, which launched last year, produces podcasts across all scripted and unscripted genres for the subscription service. It is Spotify’s latest move to ramp up its podcast arm, following its acquisition of Gimlet Media, and deals with the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions.

Hajdu, who becomes Executive Vice President of Audity, will be responsible for building the company’s content slate, business operations, and partnerships, while also working Asylum’s video producers to turn certain audio IP into television series and films.

Hajdu (left) was previously Executive Vice President of Operations for Legendary Digital Networks where he oversaw The Nerdist Podcast Network (Npn...

Although fans of the Lakewood Six may never see what happens next after the violent events on Shallow Grove Island (and the shocking teases back on the mainland), a new season of the Scream TV series is on the way, and VH1 has surprised horror fans with the first trailer for the new season that's titled Scream: Resurrection and features the return of Ghostface.

The first trailer for Scream: Resurrection premiered on The Hollywood Reporter, and you can watch it below. Initially slated to air on MTV like the first two seasons, THR reveals that all six episodes of Scream: Resurrection will now air on VH1 (which is also owned by Viacom) over the course of three nights, from Monday, July 8th–Wednesday, July 10th, beginning at 9:00pm and airing for two hours each evening.

Instead of the Brandon James mask from the first two seasons, the latest season...

The long-gestating third season of the “Scream” series is finally debuting–but not on its original network.

Variety has confirmed that the series will air on VH1 instead of MTV as originally planned. “Scream” will debut on VH1 on July 8 and air two one-hour episodes back-to-back for three straight nights.

The third season of the series based on the horror movie franchise of the same name was first announced in 2016. Since then, both VH1 and MTV have largely moved away from scripted programming.

This marks the latest instance of Viacom shuffling properties around its cable portfolio. Most recently it was announced that Tracy Oliver’s “First Wives Club” series would find its fourth home on the upcoming streaming service Bet+ after having previously been set up at TV Land, Paramount Network, and Bet.

Season 3 revolves around Deion Elliot (Rj Cyler), a local star running back whose tragic past comes back...

Veteran TV exec Liz Gateley has joined Spotify to help broaden its podcast horizons.

Gateley, who previously headed up programming for Lifetime, is now Spotify’s new head of creative development, where she’ll manage original development teams in New York and Los Angeles. In an update on her LinkedIn profile, Gateley said she’ll be guiding the teams as they expand into developing comedy, sports, news, documentaries, young adult, and scripted podcasts, as well as adding more music podcast formats.

“I am excited to be back in the music/culture world to tell loud stories with my incredible team and to help invent new executions as I always have,” she wrote, “but, most importantly, to join at such a transformative time at Spotify on the heels of the Gimlet and Anchor acquisitions.”

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Liz Gateley, the veteran TV executive served as Evp and Head of Programming at Lifetime until exiting the company a year ago, has been hired as Head of Creative Development at Spotify. It’s the latest move as the streaming music service dives into the entertainment business.

Gateley joins a team headed by veteran TV executive Dawn Ostroff, who became the company’s chief content officer in August. Ostroff and Gateley worked together at Lifetime; the former was head of programming from 1996-2002.

In her new role, Gateley said Thursday via a LinkedIn post, she will oversee Spotify’s “original content development teams on both coasts and their expansion into Comedy, Sports, Ya Fiction & Scripted, News/Docs and obviously more Music formats in the podcast space.”

Spotify most recently purchased podcast biggie Gimlet Media, which is behind the popular “Homecoming,” “StartUp,” “Reply All” and “Crimetown” which are now being seen...

Veteran television executive Liz Gateley is making the jump to podcasts. 

The former Lifetime programming executive has joined Spotify as head of creative development. She is expected to help shape the company's original podcasting strategy under a new mandate to offer listeners broader audio programming. 

In her new role, Gateley will oversee the original content development teams in both New York and Los Angeles as they develop projects in the comedy, sports, Ya Fiction, scripted, news and documentary and music genres.

"I am excited to be back in the music/culture world to tell loud stories with ...

We’re getting a first look at Gretchen Carlson: Breaking The Silence, the first of three documentary specials to air as part of Carlson’s production deal with A+E Originals; A+E’s in-house nonfiction division. The two-hour docu special airs January 14 at 8 Pm on Lifetime.

In Gretchen Carlson: Breaking the Silence, Carlson travels the country uncovering untold stories of sexual harassment and abuse, from an exclusive look into the alleged abuse with fast-food giant McDonald’s to the work environment of a county fire department. Along the way, Carlson peels back the layers of her own story, reliving the emotional days following her lawsuit against Roger Ailes, CEO and Chairman of Fox News, and the toll it took on those closest to her, including her family.

In the special, Carlson meets with Tanya Harrell, Kim Lawson and Kristi Maisenbach, who are at the center of the on-going and...

Oscar nominee and Grammy winner Mary J. Blige will join the third season of MTV’s Scream, which will premiere later this year.

Blige joins the previously announced ensemble cast for the rebooted new season, including Keke Palmer, Tyler Posey, Tyga, Giorgia Whigham, Jessica Sula, Rj Cyler, C.J. Wallace and Giullian Yao Gioiello.

Season 3 is set in Atlanta, with a new cast of characters destined to fall prey to the mysterious killer known as “Ghostface.” The series centers on Deion Elliot, a local star football running back, whose tragic past comes back to haunt him and threaten his hard-earned plans for the future… and the lives of his unlikely group of friends. Blige plays Deion’s mother, Sherry Elliot.

Brett Matthews will serve as Season 3 showrunner and executive producer. Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere and Yaneley Arty executive produce for Flavor Unit Entertainment. Wes Craven, Tony Disanto, Liz Gateley, Marianne Maddalena...

Gretchen Carlson has signed an overall deal with A+E Networks to create and host a series of documentary specials for A+E Originals, the recently launched non-fiction content development company.

The first special under the pact is The Brave with Gretchen Carlson (working title) for Lifetime. It will focus on how Carlson’s actions to confront sexual harassment in the workplace has served as a catalyst for other women to come forward.

“It has now been confirmed that our voices are amplified and actually get heard when we stand together, and I am proud to partner with Lifetime to make change happen by presenting the heartbreaking, but previously untold, stories of everyday working women,” said Carlson. “We need to shine a light on the predators and their enablers, rather than ostracizing and blacklisting the innocent victims whose dreams and careers have been destroyed. I’m grateful for the opportunity to...

Gretchen Carlson has inked a deal with A+E Originals to produce documentary specials, starting with a look at the national reckoning over the scourge of sexual harassment in the workplace.

The pact calls for Carlson to host at least three specials to be produced by A+E Originals, the unscripted production arm of the cable group that is home to Lifetime, A&E Network and History.

The project on deck is “The Brave with Gretchen Carlson” for Lifetime, a two-hour study of what is needed to combat sexual harassment. The focus will be on telling the stories of women from all walks of life who have suffered unwanted sexual advances in the workplace and the steps that need to be taken to prevent such behavior.

“The most crucial thing to me is to move the ball forward. How do we tell everybody’s stories, not just those of relatively famous people,...

Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley is making his return to TV in a new Lifetime drama series that sounds like a complete 180 from the role he played on the hit CW drama series.

It follows a writer who becomes obsessed with a woman named Beck (Elizabeth Lail), who works at a bookstore. In his quest for love, he realizes that he will stop at nothing to get her.

That means stalking her on social media, and strategically planning ways in which he can remove all of the obstacles for him to get close to her and have her fall in love with him.

Related: Lauralee Bell Loves Her Upcoming Movie Mistress Hunter - You Will Too!

Lifetime has handed the series a later summer premiere, and it will kick off Sunday, September 9 at 10/9c.

“‘You’ is the most twisted love story ever,” said Liz Gateley, Lifetime’s Evp and head...

Lifetime’s head of programming Liz Gateley has stepped down after three years, the network announced on Thursday. Citing personal issues, Gateley announced in a memo to staff that she would be leaving the network to focus on her family, but will remain on board for a few “exciting passion projects” which have yet to be announced. In her place, Lifetime has promoted Tanya Lopez to executive vice president, giving her oversight of movies, limited series and movie acquisitions at Lifetime and Lmn. Gena McCarthy, currently executive vice president of programming at sister network Fyi, has expanded her role to include head of unscripted...

Liz Gateley, who had served as Lifetime’s Evp and head of programming for the past three years, is leaving the company. She had taken a temporary leave to deal with personal issues and outlines the reasons for her permanent exit so she can focus on her family in a note to the company staff, in which she also reflects on her time at Lifetime and the female-centered network’s mission in the #MeToo era. (you can read it under the post.) “I would like to thank Liz for her…...

Lifetime is planning on creating a TV movie about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship called Harry & Meghan: The Royal Love Story. According to Deadline, which broke the news, Lifetime's head of programming Liz Gateley mentioned the film at the Television Critics Association event on Sunday. The media outlet claimed the film will give a timeline of the couple's relationship—portraying everything from the moment they met, to the early stages of their courtship to the global media attention surrounding their romance. As for who will play Markle and Harry, Deadline wrote that the film is still casting. It also reported that Menhaj Huda will direct the movie and that Merideth Finn and...

There is another British royal wedding coming and another Lifetime TV movie on the way about the romance that led to it. The cable network is prepping Harry & Meghan: The Royal Love Story, a film that chronicles the relationship between Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle, who announced their engagement in November. The project was mentioned briefly Sunday by Lifetime head of programming Liz Gateley during the cable network’s portion of TCA. Harry & Meghan…...

Fans of the Lakewood Six received the surprising news back in April that MTV would be rebooting their Scream TV series for its third season, introducing a new cast of characters and creative team behind the scenes. The big changes for the series continue to take shape, as Tyler Posey from Teen Wolf has now joined the cast.

The news of Posey's casting comes from THR, who reveal that the Teen Wolf star will play Shane, "a high school dropout... drug dealer and party promoter who is always hustling in order to make money. But beneath that exterior, there's more to Shane than anyone realizes." After six seasons, the final episode of Teen Wolf just aired on MTV.

Posey joins a cast for the rebooted third season that includes Keke Palmer, Rj Cyler, Jessica Sula, Giorgia Whigham, Giullian Yao Gioiello, Tyga, and C.J. Wallace.

As previously reported, season 3 of Scream,...

Gather round, lords and ladies, for a special decree from Lifetime.

RelatedOnce Upon a Time Actress Joins Greg Berlanti Lifetime Thriller You

The network has bestowed a straight-to-series order upon American Princess, a one-hour scripted series about a “socialite who runs off to join a Renaissance Faire after her wedding goes awry,” TVLine has learned.

American Princess, of which 10 episodes have been ordered, hails from from Orange Is the New Black‘s Jenji Kohan, Jamie Denbo, and Tara Herrmann.

RelatedGossip Girl‘s Penn Badgley to Star in Greg Berlanti Lifetime Thriller You

“Jenji has always taken interesting and unconventional...

Lifetime is giving a vote of confidence to “UnReal,” giving the show a fourth season renewal, even as the show’s third season premiere is still several months away.

The network also renewed drama “Mary Kills People” for a second season, and greenlighted two new made-for-tv movies: “Faith Under Fire,” starring Toni Braxton, and “The Simone Biles Story.”

Read MoreHow ‘UnREAL’ Is Really Helping Female Filmmakers Break Into TV

“UnReal” Season 3, which was originally scheduled to air this summer, has been pushed to early 2018, as previously announced. Production on Season 3 has already wrapped, but the delay will allow Lifetime to pair it with “Mary Kills People” next year.

Season 4 of “UnReal” is the first to be produced under new showrunner Stacy Rukeyser. In Season 3, Rachel (Shiri Appleby) and Quinn (Constance Zimmer) must deal with a new feminist “suitress,” Serena (Caitlin FitzGerald), on their dating competition show-within-a-show, “Everlasting.”

Besides “UnReal” and “Mary Kills People,...

A+E Networks has promoted Robert Sharenow to president of programming, the company announced on Thursday. Sharenow will oversee all content for the entire A+E Networks channel portfolio, including A&E, Lifetime and History. He has served as executive vice president and general manager of A&E and Lifetime since 2015.  The exec will work closely with Paul Buccieri, who runs the business and commercial side of the A+E channels. Reporting to Sharenow will be Elaine Frontain Bryant, Evp of A&E programming, and Liz Gateley, Evp of Lifetime. Also Read: A&E's 'Live Pd' Lands 100-Episode Order Additionally,...

Fans of the Lakewood Six received the surprising news back in April that MTV would be rebooting their Scream TV series for its third season, introducing a new cast of characters and creative team behind the scenes. The big changes for the series continue to take shape, as new cast members and character details have now been revealed.

According to THR, Tyga (Michael Ray Stevenson) and C.J. Wallace will co-star in Scream Season 3, which will consist of only six episodes that will air over three nights in March of 2018. Production on the series is moving out of Louisiana and setting up shop in Atlanta, with Brett Matthews (The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural) taking over as showrunner (the third time the showrunner position has been changed in the series' three-season run).

Season 3 will focus on a yet-to-be-cast character named "Deion Elliot, a local star running back whose tragic past comes back...

With Terror Films recently unleashing Night of Something Strange on digital platforms, we've been provided with an exclusive clip and digital trading card (one of eight that are being revealed online) to share with Daily Dead readers. In today's Horror Highlights, we also have DVD release details for Teen Wolf Season 6, Part 1, and information on Cthulhu: the Musical's Portland performances.

Night of Something Strange Exclusive Clip & Digital Trading Card: Press Release: "Los Angeles (July 6, 2017) Terror Films is releasing the Std infected zombie movie Night Of Something Strange across multiple worldwide digital platforms beginning on Friday, July 7. To celebrate, they are also releasing 8 digital trading cards and 8 movie clips that will be available on select Horror Blogs and Websites.

It’s Spring Break! Five teenage friends – (who are lucky enough to have Scream Queen Brinke Stevens as their high school teacher!) - set out for the beach only to have...

Lifetime has hired Bet Networks’ Brie Miranda Bryant as Svp Unscripted Development and Programming. Based in New York, Bryant will be responsible for development and oversee production of nonscripted projects for Lifetime, reporting to Liz Gateley, Evp, Head of Programming for the network. Bryant replaces Los Angeles-based Svp Unscripted Development Mariana Flynn, who has left the network. Bryant comes to Lifetime after a little over a year at Bet, where she was Svp…...