Faculty Profile: Michael Vaden

Mike Vaden, a principal of the regional accounting firm Decosimo and director of the firm’s entertainment business management practice Decosimo/Vaden, was recently recognized in Nashville Post’s 2011 InCharge issue as “the premiere music accountant in Nashville.”

For nearly 35 years, Vaden has applied his expertise in accounting, tax planning and financial management to all areas of the entertainment industry and often serves as a liaison between his clients and their bankers, lawyers and record executives. Vaden’s specialized services to music professionals include concert tour accounting, royalty audits, tax planning and compliance, investment analysis, business management assistance and catalog valuation. Vaden understands the complex tax transactions and estate planning issues that present challenges for high-net-worth individuals, particularly entertainers and entertainment industry professionals.

He serves on the Board of Directors for the Country Music Association, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation and Rocketown. Vaden is a member of many professional organizations, including the Country Music Association, Nashville Songwriters Association International, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA). He is also an alumnus of Leadership Music. Vaden consistently makes Nashville Post's InCharge listing for his significant involvement with the music industry.

Excerpt from Nashville Post: 
“The first artist Vaden served as a Big Four accountant was Johnny Cash. Then came Waylon Jennings and George Jones, helping Vaden become the premiere music accountant in Nashville. Opened his own firm that, for 15 years, existed as Crosslin Vaden. Split to form Vaden Group, which later aligned itself with Chattanooga-based regional accounting and business advisory firm Joseph Decosimo & Co.”