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FYI

Paquin Opens Nashville Office, Hires 3 New Agent Execs

Power US talent agencies such as United Talent, Paradigm, WME and CAA have seen devastation in their ranks as the pandemic crushed revenue from live, but here in Canada, Paquin Entertainment Group

Paquin Opens Nashville Office, Hires 3 New Agent Execs

By FYI Staff

Power US talent agencies such as United Talent, Paradigm, WME and CAA have seen devastation in their ranks as the pandemic crushed revenue from live, but here in Canada, Paquin Entertainment Group is in expansion mode with the opening of a Nashville office and the hiring of three big-ticket executive agents:


“Like all our peers we have spent the last months navigating the challenges presented by the pandemic–but we have also set our eyes firmly on the future; to a time when we are able to bring people together again,” says Paquin Artists Agency President, Julien Paquin.

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To this end, Paquin announced Tuesday the opening of its first office south of the Canada-US border. Artist Manager, Michelle Szeto, is heading up the opening of Paquin Entertainment Group’s Nashville office to serve as home base for the growth of Szeto’s management roster that includes singer-songwriter Donovan Woods, indie-folk quartet Wild Rivers, songwriter/producer Logan Wall, and pop artist Devan. 

“My very first trip to Nashville was back in 2013, and it very quickly became my home away from home,” Szeto says. “Our company, as well as our many artists, have built lifelong relationships in this town and establishing our first US office here is among a long list of global goals we're setting out to achieve over the next few years. I'm beyond thrilled to finally make it official with Music City, and we're thankful to our industry allies who've been generous and welcoming from the very beginning."

Paquin Entertainment Group’s Agency division, Paquin Artists Agency (PAA), has also hired Vesna Pejkovic, one of the most successful and highly regarded booking agents in Canada, as well as André Guérette and Jason Furman, who are joining the team as Vice Presidents.

“The hiring of Vesna, Andre, and Jason further solidifies our already strong domestic operation, but each also brings knowledge of the international marketplace, allowing us to broaden our reach outside this country,” says Paquin. “With these new agents, we believe we will come out of the pandemic a stronger and more dynamic agency, ready to bring live music back to audiences all around the world.”

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About Paquin Entertainment Group: Paquin Entertainment Group is one of Canada’s premier arts and entertainment companies with offices in Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Nashville. Established in 1985, Paquin Entertainment Group was founded based on Artist Management and Concert, Theatrical, and Film Production. In 1990, it established the Paquin Artists Agency, which has become one of the largest and most respected independent agencies in North America. Since its inception, Paquin Entertainment Group's core vision remains unchanged: build a culture and a company that works hand-in-hand with our clients to create successful and sustainable careers.

About Michelle Szeto: Michelle Szeto got her first taste of the entertainment industry at an early age in her hometown of Hong Kong, working in concert production for international superstars such as Oasis, Celine Dion, Boyz II Men, Sean Lennon, and Prodigy. Since joining Paquin Entertainment Group over 15 years ago, Michelle has held various roles throughout the company including publicity, tour marketing and management. Today, in her role as Artist Manager / Tour Marketing Director, Michelle personally manages award-winning artists and songwriters Donovan Woods, Wild Rivers, Logan Wall, and Devan; continues to lead global marketing and press initiatives for management clients, including iconic artist Buffy Sainte-Marie; and works alongside the Agency division in international talent acquisition and tour marketing support for its roster of artists. Contact: michelle@paquinentertainment.com

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About Vesna Pejkovic: Vesna Pejkovic has more than 20 years of experience spanning concert promotion, event production, and artist representation. Vesna got her start in the music business in the late ’90s working for independent concert promoter Paul Mercs Concerts. As a promoter representative, Vesna toured Canada with countless artists, including Bryan Adams, George Jones, Savage Garden, Harry Belafonte, and Tom Jones. She has also booked and produced private and corporate events with international performing artists, such as Sting, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Brooks and Dunn. In 2003, Vesna joined the Feldman Agency. During her tenure, she was the responsible agent for an extensive roster, including Chris Botti, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Colin James, and Raffi. In addition to her Canadian bookings, Vesna has worked tirelessly on the development and expansion of bookings for her clients in international markets such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and South America. Contact: vesna@paquinartistsagency.com 

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About André Guérette: Established and recognized as a leading agent for over a decade, André Guérette's career has been fueled by a love of music, a strategic vision and a dedication to helping artists achieve lasting success.  Based in Canada, he has worked as an artist manager, promoter, and talent agent for several years, with a focus on building careers for his artists both domestically and internationally. André spent the past six years at Paradigm Talent Agency and UTA, and prior to that, he successfully ran his own agency. His unique position as a leading agent established in the United States, as well as in his native French Canada, led him to represent several of the biggest artists from the French-speaking world. Today, André represents an eclectic roster of culturally significant artists from around the globe, bringing with him dozens of clients to Paquin Artists Agency, including Aya Nakamura, Shabaka Hutchings, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Patrick Watson, Pink Martini, Bobby Bazini, Nakhane, Damso, Loud, Lou Doillon, The Barr Brothers, Matt Holubowski, and Martha Wainwright, among others. Contact: andre@paquinartistsagency.com 

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About Jason Furman: Jason Furman began his career in politics after graduating with an honours degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. While working as a youth co-chair for the former Deputy Prime Minister, John Manley, he realized he was not completely satisfied with his path. Jason shifted gears and enrolled in the Harris Institute for the Arts in 2005 where he graduated with a certificate in Recording Arts Management. In 2006, he joined The Feldman Agency as an agent where he spent 14 years supporting and building the careers of musicians and entertainers at every level of their careers, including Sum 41, grandson,, Tyler Shaw, Delaney Jane, and many more. He brings with him to Paquin Artists Agency: Straight No Chaser, BADBADNOTGOOD, Good Charlotte, grandson, Matt Dusk, Chris Hadfield, Shaun Majumder, Morgan James, Eric Ethridge, and Dan Davidson. Contact: jason@paquinartistsagency.com 

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SOCAN Music Revenue Hits a Record Half-Billion Dollar High
Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash
Business News

SOCAN Music Revenue Hits a Record Half-Billion Dollar High

While the live music industry recovered from the pandemic, the Canadian rights management association achieved record revenues in 2023 and distributed $442 million to music rights-holders — a 22% jump from the previous year.

Music revenues for Canadian rights-holders are hitting record highs.

SOCAN, the Canadian rights organization that collects and distributes publishing royalties for musicians and rights-holders, has announced that for the first time, it collected over half a billion dollars in revenue in 2023. The organization estimates that revenues grew to $523 million last year, with $442 million distributed to writers and publishers. That marks a distribution growth of 22% from 2022, which SOCAN attributes to increased revenues from digital and international sources.

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