In a restructuring touted as one of the most significant changes to the Mushroom Group in more than two decades, the Australian independent music powerhouse is unveiling Mushroom Music, a new division that integrates its recording, publishing and neighboring rights operations.
Unveiled on Thursday July 25 with a new website and social media accounts, Mushroom Music is said to be the biggest music collective of its kind in the region, representing Vance Joy, Kylie Minogue, The Teskey Brothers, Jimmy Barnes, Childish Gambino, Kehlani, Julia Jacklin, Archie Roach, Wolf Alice, Amy Shark, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Missy Higgins, Confidence Man and many more.
Mushroom Music has been several years in the making, explains Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski. “This transformation,” he says, “is about leveraging the collective strengths and experience of our individual record companies, publishers and neighboring rights.
Leading Mushroom Music as co-CEOs are Chris Maud (former COO Mushroom Labels & Publishing) and Linda Bossidis (former CEO of Mushroom Music Publishing), reporting to Gudinski.
Under the new structure, Bosidis will remain primarily focused on publishing and Maund on recordings, neighboring rights and new opportunities, while the neighboring rights specialist Susan Cochin continues to lead Good Neighbor as CEO.
With the changes, Mushroom's Liberation Records, Ivy League Records, Bloodlines, Liberator Music, Soothsayer and 100s + 1000s are part of the Mushroom Music pot and will no longer exist “outside” explains Maund. “We had expanded to eight separate labels, which doesn't make sense strategically or efficiently for a single independent music label.” I OH YOU and Valve Sounds will remain independent partners of Mushroom Music.
Mushroom Music's restructured executive team includes; Damian Slevison (managing director, A&R and commercial), Dan Baker (chief executive officer, strategy and audience), Julia Hill (director, media and artist relations), Dean McLachlan (senior director, iconic artists and catalog), Korda Marshall (managing director, global ex-ANZ), Errol Jurdagul (senior manager, A&R and creative), Lane Buckley (manager, A&R), Johann Ponniah (founder, group I OH YOU), Nick Dancy (senior manager, international & business) and Madeline O'Gorman (general manager, UK/Europe).
By consolidating the labels, it allowed the new department to bring A&R under a single team led by Slevison. The media, streaming, marketing and audience functions are being merged into a single, fully aligned department under Baker's leadership. and the social media and audience team is expanding with new hires and an enhanced global marketing team is being created across Mushroom's Australian, UK and US offices. “It will make a big difference,” says Maund.
Adds Bosidis, “the new facility aims to streamline our operations and expand the exchange of ideas within the company. As co-CEOs, Chris and I will have separate roles: I will focus on publishing, Chris on recordings, neighboring rights and other strategic areas.” And despite their separate responsibilities, “we will work closely together on the vision, strategy and corporate culture for Mushroom Music.”
The release of Mushroom Music follows the group's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2023, which along the way have included a number of releases, both musical, visual and branded merchandise, culminating in an all-star concert at the Rod Laver Arena. Fittingly, a life-size statue of Michael Gudinski, the legendary late businessman who formed the Mushroom Group over the years, stands across from the arena.
“It's been a long journey to actually get to this point,” says Matt Gudinski of Mushroom Music. “A big part was bringing everyone together, aligning everyone's priorities and strengths and also creating a bigger pathway for people and a bigger organization to attract the best people to be part of the Mushroom infrastructure” .
This new arrangement is the “most significant change to the way Mushroom supports Australian artists since the sale of Mushroom Records in 1998”.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/mushroom-group-restructures-forms-mushroom-music/
