Michael Gudinski’s death raises questions about what lies ahead for the Mushroom Group

After the sudden loss of music pioneer Michael Gudinski, all eyes are on the iconic family-owned company he created and who will lead it into the future.

“If any other prick asks me if I’m retiring tonight they can f … off.’’

Michael Gudinski must have uttered this mock outrage at least a dozen times as he greeted friends and his extended music family at Mushroom’s 40th anniversary celebrations at a Melbourne warehouse in 2013.

The indefatigable record label boss and concert promoter chose to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his iconic family-owned music group with a relaunch of the Mushroom brand and the promotion of his son Matt to the position of executive director.

He had no desire to retire – then or now – but he had a succession plan long before he needed one.

Matt and Michael Gudinski. Picture: Supplied

MG, as he was mostly known among friends and associates, was extraordinarily proud of his son who had followed his gargantuan footprints straight out of high school, but chose to make his own way initially with his touring company and label Illusive Presents.

The DNA for spotting the Next Big Thing or touring opportunity was clearly strong in Matt, who identified the growing market for hip hop and R & B in Australia and promoted the first tour by Bruno Mars and signed Australian hip hop trio Bliss N Eso.

Matt Gudinski identified the growing market for hip hop and promoted the first Australian Bruno Mars tour. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The quietly-spoken younger Gudinski prefers to let his artists do the talking but it was always entertaining – and often heartwarming – to watch father and son at work, Matt desperately trying to get his bouncing, vibrating, effervescent human cyclone of a dad to stay focused on one thing at a time. An impossible mission.

For the past eight years, Matt has been heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of the multi-tentacled Mushroom Group’s labels and touring arms and also launched their first dedicated management agency Role Model Artists in 2016.

Michael Chugg partnered with Michael Gudinski in recent years. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

In recent years, Michael had reunited with his “brother” Michael Chugg, whose concert company Chugg Entertainment joined the Mushroom fold as the Australian touring industry became dominated by multinational companies.

Chugg is committed to rejuvenating the Australian touring business once it can fully emerge from the ravages of the global pandemic shutdowns.

“I am so proud of what he did for the music industry last year – he kept hundreds of people in work – and the way he stood up I believe will inspire the rest of the Australian music industry to kick every door in the world down once we get over COVID,” Chugg said.

“He put everything he had into Australian music last year and I am proud to have been a part of it and his legacy will keep going.”

Michael Gudinski celebrating the 40th anniversary of Mushroom Records in 2013. Picture: Supplied

Gudinski was renowned for his fierce loyalty to his staff and relished the opportunity to mentor his team and promote from within.

Mushroom is full of people who have worked with him for decades, with the family business often jokingly referred to as Hotel California: “You can check out any time you like but you can never leave.”

He was always a champion of women in the industry and empowered them at executive level to help run the various arms of the business including the successful independent publishing company, Mushroom Music headed by respected talent-spotter Linda Bosidis.

While the Mushroom Group will never be the same without his singular vision and relentless drive, Gudinski has left it in the very good hands of the people he nurtured and identified as future leaders in Australian music.

Originally published as Michael Gudinski’s death raises questions about what lies ahead for the Mushroom Group