Welcome to the Cloud Machine podcast! Your all-access pass to the music industry, brought to you by Eights, the innovative agency behind some of your favourite live concerts and tours.

In this episode, host Mat Landry sits down with Chris Mermer, a CPA, bookkeeper, and the creative mind behind Vertigo Blue. Chris shares his journey in the accounting world, the launch of his new artist-services venture, Gemini, and the importance of financial literacy in the music industry. He also dives into financial advice for all creatives and how his artistic side influences his professional endeavours.

🔍 Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

1:50 - Wakes a good live show, The 1975 & Turnstile

6:40 - Looks and cooperation vs talent (quote segment)

9:20 - Where is the industry is going? Labels, publishing, artist transparency, quality vs quantity

17:50 - Chris’s journey in accounting in music & Gemini

23:40 - Indicators of financial health in a business

25:30 - importance of budgeting in the music industry

28:00 - taxes in the creative industry

31:40 - how creative businesses navigate financial regulation and tax laws

35:00 - how Chris is balancing accounting with creative work

37:10 - saving money vs reinvesting into your creative business

42:20 - advice for young creatives dealing with debt

44:40 - diversifying income streams in the music business

47:30 - advice for accounting in the creative industry

54:30 - staying updated on trends in finances for the music industry, using AI

59:10 - Chris’s top financial advice - cash is king & start investing young

1:01:20 - Chris’s goals, Vertigo Blue, balancing creative projects with accounting

1:08:30 - The Dreamfest Game

1:13:16 - Outro

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Cloud Machine is produced by Eights Creative - https://www.eightscreative.com/

Many thanks to LMDSolutions for their support & resources.