Paxahau grows up, hires staff in time for Movement

Paxahau is showing its age a little bit these days, and that's a good thing for the electronic music promotion company.

The roots of Paxahau trace back to when its three founders began taking part in the electronic music raves of the 1990s. The company took over Movement (formerly the Detroit Electronic Music Festival) in 2006 and is now starting to really feel its oats. It's doing that by filling out a year's worth of electronic concert schedules and offering other products, such as music podcasts.

"The company has become a little more adult in that it has become more organized," says Jason Huvaere, president and co-founder of Paxahau. "We're growing up without growing old."

Its staff is growing, too. Paxahau employs six people on a full-time basis and two part-timers, which is up from a 4-4 split when we last checked in in late 2008. It also has 34 interns today. The company's payroll will grow to 150-200 strong for Movement this weekend, and there is plenty of room for growth after that.

"We have a strong desire to hire at least one more person," Huvaere says. "We have several people here who wear several hats. I'd love to have 1-2 more people by the end of the year."

The Ferndale-based firm is also looking to sink some roots into Detroit. The company plans to maintain its office on the north side of 8 Mile Road and to set up another for its founders in the greater downtown Detroit area in order to facilitate the Movement weekend and all of the summer festivals taking place in the city.

"This is just a wild time for us right now," Huvaere says. "We're really put to the test during these next few weeks."

Source: Jason Huvaere, president and co-founder of Paxahau
Writer: Jon Zemke
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Related Company

  • Paxahau
    326 Hilton
    Ferndale, MI 48220 Website
    With its record label, booking agency and music Web site, Paxahau has become one of metro Detroit's leading promotions groups for the electronic music industry. The company also has taken over organizing the annual Detroit Electronic Music Festival. ...