Michael Gudinski helps promote budding musicians in The State of Music streamed show
He’s worked with the best — and biggest — in the industry and knows what it takes to have a hit but Michael Gudinski says the coronavirus crisis has shut down the music industry. So the Mushroom Group founder has come up with a way to ensure budding musicians can be seen and heard during lockdown.
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One of the most powerful names in Australian’s music industry is giving budding musicians a chance to make a name for themselves online during coronavirus restrictions.
Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski has launched an online series to help bolster talented but little-known Victorian acts who can’t get a gig during the lockdown.
He says the show, The State of Music — INTRODUCING, is “like Triple J’s Unearthed, but with pictures” and is designed to give unsigned musicians a change to perform and be seen.
“Melbourne is the music capital of Australia and one of the major live music cities in the world no one can play at the moment and performers are struggling,” he said.
He said the four-episode series, developed in partnership with the Victorian Government, championed developing artists, while also providing a new platform for music lovers to tune into.
While he said the show may lead to some major record deals for artists, for Gudinski it’s about giving back to the industry which has served him so well.
“This industry has been so good to me for almost my whole working life so to be able to give back during this time has been a good feeling,” he said.
“I spent about two weeks feeling down at the start of this lockdown and then woke up one day and went, ‘right, what’s next? What can I do to help?’.
“This is sort of a way to provide a bright spark and inspiration to musicians out there doing it tough.
“There’s some amazing talent on show and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was international interest in some of these artists.”
As part of the streamed event, artist curators Andrew Mackie and Louis Schlaghecke researched more than 100 acts across the state to select the 12 featured musicians.
Each act will perform a cover version as well as an original song, and each will be introduced by respected and established performers including Tim Rogers, Alex Lahey and Vika and Linda Bull.
Gudinski said there was “definitely scope” to continue the series after coronavirus restrictions had lifted.
The series kicked off on August 21 with episodes available to stream on the Victoria Together Facebook page, YouTube channel and website on Fridays from 7.30pm.
Episode three airs this Friday on together.vic.gov.au
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