Michael Gudinski
{{Short description|Australian music industry executive (1952–2021)}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Michael Gudinski portrait - Photo by Brian Purnell (Mushroom Creative House).jpg
| caption =
| name = Michael Gudinski
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AM}}
| alt =
| birth_name = Michael Solomon Gudinski
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|8|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Caulfield, Victoria, Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|3|2|1952|8|22|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/michael-gudinski-dies-68/ |title=Michael Gudinski dies at 68 [breaking] |work=The Music Network |date=1 March 2021 |access-date=2 March 2021 |author=Eliezer, Christie}}
| death_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| occupation = {{hlist|A&R executive|concert promoter|film producer}}
| years_active = 1960s–2021
| known_for = Mushroom Group founder
| children = Kate Alexa, Matt Gudinski
| spouse = Sue Gudinski
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Michael Solomon Gudinski AM (22 August 1952 – 2 March 2021) was an Australian record executive and promoter who was a leading figure in the Australian music industry. Born and raised in Melbourne, Gudinski formed the highly successful Australian record company Mushroom Records in 1972 through which he signed several generations of Australian musicians and performers ranging from MacKenzie Theory, Skyhooks, The Choirboys, Kylie Minogue, and New Zealand's Split Enz to newer artists such as Eskimo Joe, Evermore and others.
Gudinski was considered to be "one of the most significant and powerful players" in the Australian music landscape.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/australian-music-industry-icon-michael-gudinski-dies-aged-68-20210302-p5770i.html |title='Heart of Australian music ripped out': Michael Gudinski dies aged 68 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2 March 2021 |access-date=2 March 2021 |author1=Quinn, Karl |author2=Boulton, Martin}}
Early life and education
Gudinski was born in Caulfield, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, to Jewish Russian immigrants Kuba and Nina Gudinski, who had arrived in Australia in 1948.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/michael-gudinski-i-d-be-lying-if-i-said-i-thought-kylie-would-become-what-she-has-20190704-p523zi.html |title=Michael Gudinski: 'I'd be lying if I said I thought Kylie would become what she has' |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=7 July 2019 |access-date=2 March 2021|author=Rocca, Jane}}
He was educated at Mount Scopus College{{cite book |title=Who's Who in Australia |date=2019 |publisher=ConnectWeb}} and Melbourne High School.{{cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/michael-gudinski-member-am-of-the-order-of-australia-20060612-ge2i1d.html |title=Michael Gudinski Member (AM) of the Order of Australia |work=The Age |date=12 June 2006 |access-date=2 March 2021}}
Career
In his teenage years, Gudinski began promoting dance hall events around Melbourne. In 1970, Gudinski established the Consolidated Rock artist agency with Michael Browning,{{cite news |title=Australian music industry giant Gudinski dies at 68 |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/people-entertainment/2021/03/02/michael-gudinski-dies/ |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=The New Daily |date=2 March 2021}} managing artists including Chain and Healing Force. The pair later founded the short-lived music magazine Daily Planet.{{cite news |last1=Eliezer |first1=Christie |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/gudinski-is-back-for-a-second-act-19991112-kb5f2 |title=Gudinski is back for a second act |work=The Australian Financial Review |date=12 November 1999 |access-date=23 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523102446/https://www.afr.com/companies/gudinski-is-back-for-a-second-act-19991112-kb5f2|archive-date= 23 May 2023|url-access=subscription}}
Gudinski and fellow music agent Ray Evans formed Mushroom Records in late 1972. The company's first album was a triple-LP live recording of the 1973 Sunbury Festival. In its first few years Mushroom released albums and singles by some of the most significant Australian rock acts of the period, including Madder Lake, MacKenzie Theory, Matt Taylor, Ayers Rock, and the Dingoes.
Mushroom struggled to survive for its first two years, hampered by lack of airplay on commercial radio, and the company reportedly came close to folding on several occasions. But the label was dramatically pushed to the forefront of the Australian music scene in early 1975 with the massive success of Skyhooks, whose debut album Living in the 70's became the biggest-selling Australian LP ever released up to that time.
In 1977 Gudinski opened the music venue Bombay Bicycle Club in Bourke Street, Melbourne, soon moving it to Sydney Road Brunswick and renaming it Bombay Rock. This became one of the premier music venues of Australian and international rock bands in Melbourne.
Gudinski was convinced to sign expatriate New Zealand band Split Enz, who had recently relocated to Australia. Although they had only moderate success for the first few years, Split Enz scored huge success in 1980 with the release of their album True Colours and the hit single "I Got You", which marked the emergence of Neil Finn.
Through his ownership of Consolidated Rock, which later evolved into the Premier Artists/Harbour Agency group, Gudinski became the major player on the Australian east coast booking circuit, and enjoyed a virtual monopoly on rock music bookings in Melbourne for much of the 1970s. In partnership with others (including Frank Stivala, Philip Jacobsen and Ian James), he diversified his business interests to include most sections of the music industry including venues, concert promoting, merchandise, publishing and recording.
In 1988, Gudinski co-founded Melodian Records with Ian Meldrum.
In the early 1990s Gudinski sold 49% of Mushroom to News Ltd, who had owned Australia's largest record label, Festival Records since 1961. He sold his remaining 51% share to News in 1999 for a reported A$60 million, claiming that the sale was a protest against the changes to Australia's parallel record importation regulations.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
In November 2005, shortly after the sale of Festival Mushroom's recording division to Warner Music Australia, Gudinski purchased Festival's publishing division for an undisclosed sum.
In 2020, Gudinski created The Sound, a music show for ABC TV which was developed out of an online production called The State of Music, which was created to help Australian musicians during the COVID-19 lockdown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/02/michael-gudinski-australian-music-mogul-and-mushroom-records-co-founder-dies-aged-68|title=Michael Gudinski, Australian music mogul and Mushroom records co-founder, dies aged 68|date=2 March 2021|website=the Guardian}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/music-news/music-tv-show-abc-the-sound/12454232|title=Season one of ABC TV show The Sound ends this weekend|first=Dan|last=Condon|date=15 July 2020|website=Double J}}{{Cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/the-sound-abc-tv-season-two/#:~:text=The%20Sound%20is%20returning%20to,j%20Good%20Nights)%20as%20hosts.|title = Gudinski's 'The Sound' renewed by ABC TV for second season|date = 15 October 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://iview.abc.net.au/show/sound|title=The Sound|website=ABC iview}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/abcs-the-sound-announces-return-for-season-2-2786335|title=ABC's The Sound announces return for season 2 | NME Australia|website=NME|date=15 October 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/were-getting-season-two-of-abcs-the-sound-next-month/|title=We're Getting Season Two Of ABC's The Sound Next Month|date=16 October 2020|website=Music Feeds}}{{Cite web|url=https://amnplify.com.au/the-sound-season-two-the-critically-acclaimed-show-returns-sunday-1-november-6pm-on-abc-iview/|title=StackPath|website=amnplify.com.au|date=17 October 2020 }} He was also behind the Music from the Home Front concert, which was organised in nine days, so that artists could perform in the concert on ANZAC Day 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/music-from-the-home-front-to-be-rebroadcast-this-month-2688836|title=Music From The Home Front to be rebroadcast this month | NME Australia|website=NME|date=16 June 2020}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-02 |title=Vale Michael Solomon Gudinski AM 22 August 1952 - 02 March 2021 |url=https://www.aroundthesound.com.au/vale-michael-solomon-gudinski-am/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411212850/https://www.aroundthesound.com.au/vale-michael-solomon-gudinski-am/ |archive-date=2021-04-11 |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Around the Sound}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/music-from-the-home-front-live-album-announced-for-release-2678109|title=Music From The Home Front live album announced for release | NME Australia|website=NME|date=29 May 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://musicfromthehomefront.com.au/|title=Music From The Home Front | ANZAC Day 25 April 2020|website=Music From The Home Front | ANZAC Day 25 April 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/mushroom-group-founder-michael-gudinski-dies-aged-68-2891656|title=Bruce Springsteen, Kylie Minogue and more pay tribute to Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski, dead at 68 | NME Australia|website=NME|date=2 March 2021}}
Public image
A "larger-than-life figure",{{cite news |author=Swain, Sarah |date=2 March 2021 |title=Australian music industry icon Michael Gudinski dies |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/michael-gudinski-dead-mushroom-records-kylie-minogue/d5b291bb-3459-40bd-a414-b0cc241a189d |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=9News}} Gudinski was often referred to as the "father of the Australian music industry".{{cite news |date=2 March 2021 |title=Australian music legend Michael Gudinski dies, aged 68 |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6236493079001 |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=Sky News Australia}} Gudinski was a highly visible public figure throughout his career and is considered to be the only Australian record company executive whose name was known by the general public.{{cite web |author=Ford, Andrew |date=2 August 2015 |title=Michael Gudinski by Stuart Coupe |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/musicshow/michael-gudinski-by-stuart-coupe/6657776 |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=ABC Radio National}}
In 2023 a documentary about his life and career was released, Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story. Aaron Glenane portrayed Gudinski in the 2016 television miniseries Molly.{{cite web |author=Chrisfield, Bryget |date=2 February 2016 |title=Aaron Glenane channelled 'a bull in a china shop' to play Michael Gudinski in Molly |url=https://themusic.com.au/features/aaron-glenane-bryget-chrisfield/DmgBAAMCBQQ/02-02-16/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328085746/https://themusic.com.au/features/aaron-glenane-bryget-chrisfield/DmgBAAMCBQQ/02-02-16/ |archive-date=28 March 2021 |access-date=28 March 2021 |work=The Music}}
Personal life
Gudinski and his wife Sue had two children: daughter Kate, whom Gudinski signed to Liberation Music in mid-2004, and son Matt. Gudinski was also the godfather of Jimmy Barnes' daughter, Mahalia Barnes.{{cite web |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/barnes-stormed-20051124-ge1aol.html |title=Barnes stormed |work=The Age |date=24 November 2005 |access-date=24 March 2021 |author=Dwyer, Michael |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324125027/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/barnes-stormed-20051124-ge1aol.html |archive-date=24 March 2021 |url-status=live}}
Gudinski was a life-long supporter of the St Kilda Football Club, and once served as their vice president.{{cite web |url=https://www.triplem.com.au/story/leigh-montagna-reflects-on-michael-gudinski-s-impact-on-the-st-kilda-football-club-171882/ |title=Leigh Montagna reflects on Michael Gudinski's impact on the St Kilda Football Club |publisher=Triple M |date=2 March 2021 |access-date=4 March 2021 |author=Meldrum, Ethan}}
Death
On 2 March 2021, Gudinski died during his sleep at his home in Melbourne, at the age of 68.{{cite news |last= Burke |first= Kelly |date= 2 March 2021 |title= Michael Gudinski, Australian music mogul and Mushroom Records co-founder, dies aged 68 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/mar/02/michael-gudinski-australian-music-mogul-and-mushroom-records-co-founder-dies-aged-68 |work=The Guardian |access-date=3 March 2021}} A private funeral held in Melbourne was attended by numerous celebrity performers including Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran, Dannii Minogue, Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly and Archie Roach.{{Cite web|date=10 March 2021|title=Celebs turn out for music icon's funeral|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-photos/michael-gudinskis-funeral-looks-like-aria-awards-red-carpet/news-story/1812f83d8973596dd327fc3499630926|access-date=11 March 2021|publisher=News.com.au}} On 28 October 2021, a toxicology report revealed that he had died of mixed drug use, with 12 drugs including cocaine, oxycodone and morphine present in his body. The report additionally revealed that he had heart disease, cirrhosis, and had suffered recent vertebral compression fractures.{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/michael-gudinski-died-of-mixed-drug-use-20211028-p59420.html |title=Music promoter Michael Gudinski died of mixed drug use, existing heart condition |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=28 October 2021 |access-date=28 October 2021 |author=Brook, Stephen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028104204/https://amp.smh.com.au/national/michael-gudinski-died-of-mixed-drug-use-20211028-p59420.html |archive-date=28 October 2021 |url-status=live}}
The opening caption of the Bruce Springsteen video for his song "I'll See You In My Dreams" reads: "In Memory of Michael Gudinski". The video was released on 3 March 2021, the day after Gudinski's death.{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJkaZ8hQM60&ab_channel=BruceSpringsteen| title = Bruce Springsteen - I'll See You In My Dreams (Lyric Video)| date = 3 March 2021| accessdate = 1 July 2021| website = YouTube}} Shortly after his death, Triple J's programme Hack (in addition to Double J's Zan Rowe) paid tribute to Gudinski, discussing his contributions to the Australian music industry.{{Cite web |date=2 March 2021 |title=Why crystal sex toys are gaining popularity |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hack/13190220 |access-date=28 April 2021 |website=triple j |language=en-AU}} Australian Story also dedicated a segment towards him.{{Citation |title=Remembering Michael Gudinski {{!}} 7.30 |url=https://www.facebook.com/ABCAustralianStory/videos/remembering-michael-gudinski-730/443409936897159/ |access-date=28 April 2021 |language=en}} Sheeran dedicated his song "Visiting Hours" to Gudinski as a tribute, and he performed it at his memorial service.{{cite web |last1=English |first1=Laura |date=19 August 2021 |title=Ed Sheeran's New Album Is Dedicated To Michael Gudinski & He's Shared 'Visiting Hours' |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/ed-sheerans-new-album-is-dedicated-to-michael-gudinski-shares-visiting-hours/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=Music Feeds |publisher=Evolve Media}}{{Cite web |title=Ed Sheeran Releases Emotional Tribute Song For Michael Gudinski |url=https://www.triplem.com.au/story/ed-sheeran-releases-emotional-tribute-song-for-michael-gudinski-181654 |access-date=15 September 2021 |website=Triple M |language=en}} On 4 March 2022, during American rock band Foo Fighters’ final Australian concert before the death of their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, in Geelong, Victoria, the band dedicated their signature song "Everlong" to Gudinski.
On 24 March, a Gudinski memorial concert was held at Rod Laver Arena. It featured performances by artists including Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran, Jimmy Barnes and Paul Kelly, with appearances from artists around Australia and the world. It was live-streamed on Mushroom Group's YouTube channel and ABC Radio.{{Cite news |date=24 March 2021 |title=Michael Gudinski memorial to feature performances from Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran. |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-24/michael-gudinski-state-memorial-victoria/100026270 |access-date=11 March 2021|work=ABC |location=Australia |language=en}} Minogue and Sheeran performed together, fulfilling a wish by Gudinski.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/25/kylie-minogue-ed-sheeran-and-jimmy-barnes-perform-at-michael-gudinskis-state-memorial|title=Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran and Jimmy Barnes perform at Michael Gudinski's state memorial|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=24 March 2021|website=the Guardian}}
Awards and achievements
Gudinski received several awards for his work in the Australian entertainment industry. In 1992 he was awarded an ARIA Award for Special Achievement (as well as Mushroom Records),{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235813/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1992 |url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1992 |title=Winners by Year 1992 |publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |archive-date=26 September 2007 |access-date=31 December 2019}} while in 2013 he was acknowledged as the inaugural ARIA Industry Icon.{{cite web |url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2013 |title=2013 ARIA Awards Winners by Year |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |access-date=31 December 2019}}
At the 1998 APRA Music Awards he received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918020033/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History/1998Winners.aspx |url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History/1998Winners.aspx |title=1998 Winners - APRA Music Awards |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) |archive-date=18 September 2009 |access-date=4 August 2018}} Gudinski also received the JC Williamson Award in 2009,{{cite news |title=Helpmanns honour Guest for final role |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-07-28/helpmanns-honour-guest-for-final-role/1369372 |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=ABC News |date=28 July 2009}} and at the 2013 Music Victoria Awards was inducted into the awards' Hall of Fame, forty years after he founded Mushroom Records.{{cite web |url=https://musicvictoria.com.au/musicvictoriaawards/previous-winners |title=Previous Winners & Nominees |publisher=Music Victoria Awards |access-date=13 August 2020}}
In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gudinski was made a Member of the Order of Australia for "service to the entertainment industry", the promotion of Australian music and service to the community.{{cite web |title=The Queen's Birthday 2006 Honours |url=https://old.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/aaagazattes/2005-2015/Order%20of%20Australia%20-%20Queen's%20Birthday%202009%20(QB09)%20-%20Gazette%20S84.pdf |website=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=2 March 2021 |location=Government House, Canberra |page=6 |date=12 June 2006}}
Bibliography
=Books=
- {{Cite book |last=Coupe |first=Stuart |authorlink=Stuart Coupe |title=Gudinski: The Godfather of Australian Music |date=28 July 2015 |publisher=Hachette Australia |isbn=9780733633102 |edition=1 |location=Sydney}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Discogs artist|Michael Gudinski}}
- {{IMDb name|0345656}}
{{JC Williamson Award}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gudinski, Michael}}
Category:Australian people of Russian-Jewish descent
Category:Businesspeople from Melbourne
Category:Helpmann Award winners
Category:Members of the Order of Australia
Category:People educated at Melbourne High School
Category:People from Caulfield, Victoria
Category:Australian music industry executives