Martin Fabinyi

Martin Fabinyi is the Chief Executive Officer of Mushroom Pictures and the producer or executive producer of each of the company’s film and television projects. In 2001 he was named one of the top ten International Producers To Watch by Variety magazine and was similarly named one of the most influential people in the Australian Film Industry by Screen International magazine. He produced the feature films Gettin’ Square and Cut and executive produced the feature films Chopper and Horseplay. Prior to creating Mushroom Pictures with Chairman Michael Gudinski he and film composer Cameron Allan formed the independent record company Regular Records. The company launched the careers of numerous Australian artists including Mental As Anything, Icehouse, I’m Talking and Kate Ceberano, selling over two million albums both locally and internationally and winning many Australian Record Industry Awards. He is the author with Toby Creswell of the book “The Real Thing”, a personal history of Australian rock and roll music published by Random House. Fabinyi’s other production credits include the documentary on the indigenous Australian band Yothu Yindi, Tribal Voice, which was screened on the Discovery Channel and ABC-TV, the television specials Next To Nothing and Nothing To Hide which were screened on the National Geographic Channel and the Nine Network, and the music specials Kate Ceberano & Friends, The Singer & The Swinger and Counting The Beat.

Michael Gudinski

Michael Gudinski is, unquestionably, the most successful entrepreneur in the Australian Music Industry. Mushroom Records, which he founded in 1972, recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary from October 1997 to November 1998. Born in 1952, Michael Gudinski is the son of Russian immigrants who arrived in Australia in 1948. Michael had his first taste of the music industry whilst attending Melbourne High School when he initiated booking bands for school dances. He first came to prominence as the manager of Australian rock legends, Chain, who gave Michael his first ever number one single with the classic "Black & Blue". In early 1973, Mushroom released its first album, the triple album set "The Great Australian Rock Festival - Sunbury '73". Michael also managed the infamous band, Skyhooks, whose legendary "Living In The Seventies" album remained in the Australian charts for, a record breaking 56 weeks. Michael founded the Liberation Records label in 1985, having great success with a huge range of overseas artists including Joe Cocker, Coolio, The Bangles, Faith No More, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Signed to Mushroom Records in Australia, Kylie Minogue's phenomenal success paved the way for Mushroom to set up in the UK. Kylie has given Mushroom numerous chart topping singles and albums including her latest album "Impossible Princess" which achieved double platinum status in 1998. Kylie's vocal collaboration with Nick Cave on the Cave penned "Where The Wild Roses Grow", was an international hit. 1993 saw the Murdoch Group, News Limited, come on board as a shareholder, thus giving Mushroom the funds to open their UK office, in London, in April of that year. In June 1996, Mushroom enjoyed its first number one album in the UK charts, a debut delivered by Peter Andre with his "Natural" album, which spawned 3 chart toppers. Mushroom UK is also responsible for the development and success of Ash and Garbage (4 Grammy nominations). To date there have been over 400 local artists signed and recorded by the Mushroom Group Of Companies. There have been in excess of 8,000 releases over the twenty five years. On Saturday 14th November 1998, Michael created and staged a huge and highly successful concert at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Mushroom Records. Over 70,000 filled the MCG to watch more than 60 artists performing for nine hours to celebrate 25 years of great Australian Music. Michael, with help from his hand-picked production crew, overcame a logistical nightmare to ensure that the event was a smooth-running and enjoyable as possible for all concerned. The Mushroom 25th Anniversary Concert has gone down in the annals of Australian Music as one of the great events of all time. To coincide with Mushroom's 25th year, Michael decided it was time for him to sell his remaining share in Mushroom Records to News Limited and become its Non Executive Chairman. Mushroom Records, with the aid of the powerful News Limited group and its position as a worldwide media leader, will enter the new millennium ready to expand on a world-wide basis. Michael's Publishing Company Mushroom Music, also celebrated it's 25th Anniversary in 1999 and at the 1998 APRA Awards Michael Gudinski was presented with the prestigious "Ted Albert Award" for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. Mushroom Music is the largest independent publishing company in Australia and is the number one publisher of Australian Music. The catalogue contains the best current songwriters, such as Neil Finn, Tina Arena, Mark Seymour, Paul Kelly, Taxiride and also encompasses a significant part of Australian musical history. Mushroom Music has played and will continue to play a large role in the development and exploitation of works by leading Australian songwriters. Mushroom Music also sub publishes for Australia and New Zealand many of the larger independent publishing companies from around the world, representing Chrysalis, Mute Song, V2, & Hamstein. Mushroom Music also deals directly with artists and management sub-publishing acts such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Creed, Ani DiFranco Urge Overkill & Ric Ocasek. Mushroom Music licenses exclusively to "Home & Away" one of the most successful programmes in the history of Australian Television and has a close working relationship with the Australian Film Industry, supplying existing music copyrights and specifically composed music for film soundtracks. Michael Gudinski is the Managing Director of the Frontier Touring Company, which has twice been voted the #1 International Touring Company in the world by the prestigious Performance Magazine and is the leading concert promoter in Australia. Frontier has toured many International acts including Madonna, KISS, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli & Sammy Davis Jnr, Billy Joel on all of his own tours, as well as his tour with Elton John, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses, REM, Tom Jones, Chris Isaac, The Eagles, Pearl Jam, Bryan Adams, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Faith No More, The Tea Party and many others. Michael Gudinski is also a director of Premier Artists Talent (Melbourne), who, together with the Harbour Agency (Sydney), is now the biggest booking agency in the country, representing the cream of Australian live music nationally. In partnership with Philip Jacobsen and Frank Stivala, Michael Gudinski set up and runs Australia's hottest live club - The Mercury Lounge in Melbourne. With its state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and its technologically advanced acoustics The Mercury Lounge has played host to some of the biggest names in Australian music and as well as international artists. Opening night featured the multi Grammy award winner Sheryl Crow who was joined on stage by Elton John. Since opening, artists of the calibre of B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Richie Sambora, Bush, Julian Lennon, Matchbox 20 and Kylie Minogue have performed at The Mercury Lounge. Michael Gudinski has expanded into the visual arts with his latest undertaking, Mushroom Pictures. Their first venture was "Tribal Voice", a documentary on Australian indigenous group, Yothu Yindi. Mushroom Pictures first two feature films are "Chopper" about the notorious Melbourne criminal and underworld figure Mark "Chopper" Read, and "Cut" a teen thriller starring Molly Ringwald and Kylie Minogue. Other interests include Australian Tour Merchandising (ATM), the forerunner in its field of concert, major sporting and special event merchandising. Michael Gudinski has a wide ranging involvement in all facets of music and media, including his recent term as member on the board of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust. On the 20th October 1999 the AMI (Australian Marketing Institute), awarded Michael Gudinski the ultimate award for marketing excellence - "The Sir Charles McGrath Australian Marketer of the Year Award" - the highest accolade for personal achievement an individual can receive from the AMI. On the 19th January 2000 Michael Gudinski was officially elected as a Director of the St Kilda Football Club and on the 21st August was elected Vice President of the club.