advertisement
Management

Canada's Paquin Artists Agency Announces U.S. Expansion

American agent Brian Swanson is joining the Canadian company as a Senior Agent. He brings with him popular acts like Smash Mouth, Spin Doctors and Mike Dawes.

Smash Mouth, one of agent Brian Swanson's clients coming to Paquin

Smash Mouth, one of agent Brian Swanson's clients coming to Paquin

Facebook

A major Canadian agency is making moves south of the border.

Paquin Artists Agency, which represents 250 international artists, has announced that American agent Brian Swanson is joining the agency's ranks as a Senior Agent.


The California-based agent is bringing his whole client list, including popular acts like Smash Mouth, Spin Doctors and Mike Dawes. Swanson comes to the company from Northstar Artists and has previously worked with Paquin on shared clients including Alan Doyle and Matt Andersen.

“I’ve worked in conjunction with Paquin over the last 15 years, handling touring across the USA for many of the artists on the Paquin roster,” says Swanson. “It’s very exciting knowing my entire roster will now have the same support behind them as our shared clients."

advertisement

The announcement indicates Paquin Artists Agency, a division of Paquin Entertainment Group, is looking to expand into the U.S., following a series of recent ventures that have boosted Paquin's business within Canada. The company already has an office in Nashville, spearheaded in 2020 by artist manager Michelle Szeto. [Paquin Entertainment Group is an agency partner of Billboard Canada.]

Last fall, the agency announced a partnership with Quebec talent agency Preste Spectacles & Tours, giving it a stronger foothold in the Francophone space. Earlier in 2023 Paquin acquired competitor APA Canada. The company has also developed its Exhibition & Theatrical division, with internationally touring shows like Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet.

Paquin, which also has offices in Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal and Vancouver, represents some of Canada's best-known artists, including Jann Arden, BadBadNotGood, The Reklaws, Tanya Tagaq, Bryan Adams and more.

advertisement
Executive of the Week: Meet Darren Gilmore, the Canadian Manager Behind the Scenes of Hilary Duff's Chart-Topping Comeback
Management

Executive of the Week: Meet Darren Gilmore, the Canadian Manager Behind the Scenes of Hilary Duff's Chart-Topping Comeback

Working with artists like Mother Mother and Boy Golden, the president of Watchdog Management has used his veteran experience in the Canadian music industry to help orchestrate the comeback of the year so far with the No. 1 success of Duff's new album Luck... Or Something.

Hilary Duff is back, and her comeback is one of the best-executed in years — especially in Canada.

Her new album, Luck… Or Something, debuted last week at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, a feat she hadn't achieved in more than two decades. Building on the buzz of her intimate show at History in Toronto earlier this year that had the whole country buzzing, she's now coming to 10 different Canadian cities on her Lucky Me World Tour in 2026 and 2027.

keep readingShow less
advertisement