Paul Haagenson, former Live Nation President of Canada, is joining management firm Bruce Allen Talent as President.
The move sees Bruce Allen, the legendary Canadian manager and the company’s namesake founder, transition to the role of Chairman, 50 years after the company was founded.
Haagenson will join Bruce Allen Talent on October 6, 2025.
Bruce Allen Talent is the management company behind superstar Canadian acts like Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Loverboy, Bryan Adams, and Michael Bublé. The company also helped to guide Kansas-born Martina McBride to become a major country artist.
“I always saw the way Bruce managed careers, and the level of detail, and the care, and thought that went into it.”
Paul Haagenson
In a statement issued by the company about the appointment of Haagenson and Allen’s transition to the role of Chairman, the firm said that its founder “has positioned the company for long-term success by being hands-on, and being incredibly loyal and supportive of his staff, giving them space to evolve”.
The statement added: “Haagenson looks forward to creating new opportunities with the talented leadership team.”
Commenting on the restructuring, Allen said: “The company has a tremendous roster of talented artists, and I want to make sure they continue to get the best service we can offer.
“Paul is going to add so much. He has a big reputation and he understands the business incredibly well.”
Bruce Allen
Haagenson added: “For me to be able to walk into this company with these people that I respect, trust and even enjoy, is the best situation for me. I always saw the way Bruce managed careers, and the level of detail, and the care, and thought that went into it.
“Bruce and I have a 25-year relationship which evolved from him being a friend and mentor to becoming colleagues and now business partners.”
Haagenson joins Bruce Allen Talent during a banner year for the company’s roster:
Superstar Michael Bublé hosted the 54th Annual JUNO Awards in his Vancouver hometown on March 30. He is currently taping his third season of NBC’s ‘The Voice,’ and will soon begin preparations to record his 12th studio album with a global tour to follow.
The Offspring’s 11th studio album, 2024’s SUPERCHARGED, produced by Bob Rock, includes their No.1 singles Okay But This Is The Last Time and Make It All Right. That led to the SUPERCHARGED Worldwide in ’25 Tour, which, after a sold-out arena tour in Australia, is wrapping up a 34-date run in America with upcoming sold-out European and UK dates starting this month.
After Jann Arden released her 16th studio album MIXTAPE of ’90s cover songs at the beginning of 2025 she extensively toured Canada. She is now working on her second novel slated for release in 2026 following Christmas tour dates.
At 80 Anne Murray has just released her 33rd album Here You Are featuring 11 previously unreleased tracks recorded between 1978 and 1995.
Alberta producer Dave Pierce recently finished producing the forthcoming new album for the Grammy award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix.
The company also noted that, after helming albums by The Offspring, The Damn Truth, and Anne Murray, superstar producer Bob Rock is “taking a well-deserved hiatus, writing songs, and rediscovering his love of guitar”.
Speaking with MBW in 2018 during an interview for our World’s Greatest Managers series, Bruce Allen discussed working with Michael Bublé, Martina McBride, and other stars, and commented on the biggest lessons he’d learned in his career.
“When someone who’s been in the game a while takes time to talk to you, just listen,” he told us, commenting on the advice he’d give to a young manager today.
“Also, you gotta trust each other. I have never, never, never had an act under contract. When I left Martina McBride, there were no lawsuits, no nothing, I was gone. I’ve had acts, like Tom Cochrane, where I just couldn’t work with this person anymore. No contract is gonna hold that together. I don’t need to sign a contract with anyone.
“I don’t have side deals, I look after my people and I’ve never had any complaints. Listen, if I wasn’t able to do the job, I’m sure I’d be fired. But I don’t care what anybody says, my track record speaks for itself.
“I’ve been here a long time, I’ve broken five acts, I don’t need to sign a contract, I shake your hand and that’s good enough for me.”
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