Laurie Lee Boutet, founder of Wednesday Management, had a career-defining 2023 with a mainstream breakthrough for Toronto band The Beaches, as they left their major label deal and released their sophomore album Blame My Ex independently. The success story demonstrates that independent acts can carve their own path in the big leagues — if they’ve got the right people to help steer. The Beaches went viral with “Blame Brett” and performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, but it takes a strong team to know how to make the most of online traction. Boutet helped the band maintain momentum, selling out a worldwide tour including at-capacity nights at Toronto’s Massey Hall (5400 tickets). They also charted on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay, their first break on a U.S. Billboard chart, and took home the 2024 Juno for group of the year.