Cast & Crew Acquires Backstage Holdings

Cast & Crew Acquires Media Services

February 12, 2020

Media & Entertainment

Cast & Crew has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Media Services, a Los Angeles–based payroll and production management solutions provider for film, television, streaming and commercials. The deal, supported by Cast & Crew's parent EQT, will bring Media Services' Showbiz software and payroll expertise into the Cast & Crew platform to expand its product and service offering to entertainment clients.

Cast & Crew Acquires The TEAM Companies

November 18, 2021

Media & Entertainment

Cast & Crew, an EQT-backed provider of software and services to the entertainment industry, signed a definitive agreement to acquire The TEAM Companies, a payroll and production management solutions provider serving advertising, music and live events. The TEAM Companies was a portfolio company of TorQuest Partners; terms were not disclosed. TEAM will continue to operate as a distinct brand and its leadership will report into Cast & Crew.

Backstage Acquires FilmFreeway, Coverfly and Voice123

September 14, 2021

Media & Entertainment

Backstage, the freelancer marketplace and application suite for creators, announced the acquisitions of FilmFreeway, Coverfly and Voice123 — transactions supported by investor TA Associates. The deals expand Backstage’s creator tools and talent marketplaces by adding a film festival submissions platform (FilmFreeway), a writers’ discovery and data platform (Coverfly), and a global voiceover marketplace (Voice123).

Backstage Acquires StarNow and The Mandy Network; TA Associates Makes Strategic Investment

February 22, 2021

Media & Entertainment

Backstage has acquired New Zealand-based StarNow and UK-based The Mandy Network to expand its global talent marketplace, supported by a strategic growth investment from TA Associates. Backstage senior management invested alongside TA, with debt financing from Audax Private Debt, to accelerate product innovation, global expansion and further M&A activity.

Backstage Acquires ShareGrid, a Peer-to-Peer Marketplace for Production Equipment

January 12, 2022

E-Commerce

Backstage has acquired ShareGrid, a peer-to-peer marketplace for film and photography equipment rentals, expanding Backstage's suite of content-creation tools and entering the U.S. production rentals market. The deal was supported by TA Associates, which provides strategic investment guidance to Backstage.

Cuadrilla-Backed Chartbeat Acquires Lineup Systems and Tubular Labs

March 2, 2023

Cloud & SaaS

Chartbeat, backed by Cuadrilla Capital, has acquired Lineup Systems and Tubular Labs to build an end-to-end media operations SaaS platform combining content analytics, audience intelligence and revenue management. Terms were not disclosed; the Lineup sale represents an exit for NVM (Northern VCT stake) and expands Chartbeat’s offering to publishers, advertisers and agencies globally.