Accounting 101
The two guarantees in life are death and taxes. At what point in your career do you need to level up and get a proper accountant or business manager? What’s the difference between the two? How do you avoid double taxation when every country has its own tax rules and everyone seems to want a piece of the pie? Is a bullet belt or corpse paint a tax write-off? What about merch sales? Most of those sales are done by card these days, which incur their own additional fees. There's also the concession side of things where there is no denying that merch sales have occurred. The days of cold hard cash money are over.
It's a tough field to navigate on your own. The rules change seemingly from one day to the next. Our panel of experts is here to make things as clear and upfront as possible so you can avoid penalty fees and an audit by navigating the minefield that is associated with doing business abroad.
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Sandra Pezold (NL)
Doomstar Bookings
Sandra works behind the scenes at Doomstar Bookings handling around 2.000 shows a year. While bands bring the volume on stage, she deals with withholding tax, cross-border compliance and double taxation - keeping international touring financially tight and built to last.
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Fredrik Andersson (SE)
Pace Management
Fredrik Andersson is the founder, Business Manager, and Entertainment Accountant at Pace Management AB, a Gothenburg-based firm dedicated to empowering musicians and creative enterprises with specialized business management, accounting, and advisory services. With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and hands-on experience in artist management, Fredrik bridges the gap between financial expertise and the realities of a career in music - especially in the heavy music industry.
At Pace Management, Fredrik and his team support a diverse roster of clients, including touring metal bands, producers, songwriters, independent labels, management companies, and road crews. Their services cover everything from accounting and tour budgeting to cross-border VAT, withholding taxes, and royalty accounting. By managing day-to-day finances, paying bills, planning budgets, and coordinating business operations, they help artists and industry professionals focus on what they do best: creating and performing.
Beyond his work at Pace Management, Fredrik is also co-owner of Welfare Sounds & Records, a Gothenburg studio and label renowned for its work in alternative music, rock, indie, and metal. His deep passion for heavy music drives his mission to demystify the business side of the industry, helping artists turn their passion into sustainable, thriving careers.
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Andy Farrow (UK)
Northern Music
Having worked in the industry for over 40 years Andy Farrow is a well respected figure in the world of rock and metal music, particularly when it comes to management.
Andy began his career whilst still in high school where he booked bands and set up the punk label Apathy Products. After completing a degree at Sheffield Hallam University he formed AMF Music where he promoted gigs, booked bands and ran rehearsal rooms in West Yorkshire. This later led to a merger with Far North Music to become what is now known as Northern Music Co.
After signing his first band to WEA at just 21, Andy has worked tirelessly to see Northern Music Co. evolve into a prominent group of companies (Northern Music Group Holdings) covering many aspects of the industry, from publishing (AMF Music Publishing), live booking (NMC Live) and Merchandising (Omerch) to label services through independent record label Graphite Records. Andy's main focus is management and he looks after rock/metal acts such as Opeth, Devin Townsend, Paradise Lost, Bloodbath, Katatonia to name but a few. Through strategically planned management, aided by careful attention to detail and financial planning, Andy assists these bands in maintaining long term, successful international careers.
Unusually for the British music industry, Andy continues to be based outside of London, more specifically, in the greener West Yorkshire area. Operating internationally, with globally touring acts, Andy continues to explore new territories and develop his business throughout the world. Recently, he became a consultant and shareholder in Prognosis festival in Holland and is also a director at Versity Music in Sweden.
With a vast amount of experience in the industry, Andy is keen to share his knowledge with others. He has been involved in many panels and conferences including discussing tips for success at Australian website: Musicbusinessfacts.com and in interviews for magazines such as Heavy Magazine and Music Week. Andy also set up an online music industry tuition course in conjunction with Rodney Holder at Music Business Facts.
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Mod: Nathan Carson (US)
NANOTEAR
Nathan Carson was raised on a goat farm in the backwoods of Mid-Valley Oregon, but has called Portland home since 1997. He is an accomplished horror/science fiction author, music journalist, FM radio DJ, and a Moth StorySLAM Champion. Carson has toured and recorded internationally as a drummer and co-founder of the long-running doom metal band Witch Mountain. By day, he is the owner of the renowned boutique booking agency Nanotear, with roster artists including Agalloch, YOB, Oranssi Pazuzu, etc.