MUSIC WEEK OCTOBER 4, 1980

Lending a hand to Meteoric rise to success help local talent for Mushroom artists pnoRABLY ONE of the most exciting aspects of Mushroom Music P .htktdnp is the establishment and encouragement of strong local songwriters Martin Armiger of The Sports, Tim and Neil Finn of Spm Enz and Paul Kelly of The Dots are among the most prolific at was formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans ^Mushroom Music Publishing is growing, and follows the policy of almost eight years ago. At interaction between artists and placing songs with overseas as well as that time they were running companylocal recording leans strongly artists. towardsLike Mushroom the needs of Recordsthe artist. (he publ.shmg band agencies in Melbourne Many artists on the Mushroom label are strong songwriters, and the and Sydney and promoting nublishing arm looks after their songs as well as being affiliated with Australian bands — firstly ma^y dominant labels. Publishing for The Police, Joe Jackson The T W* Romantics Ian Dury, The Pretenders, Iggy Pop, The Members, in halls and clubs and then Graham Parker, Deio, XTC, Magazine, Wreckless Eric and in the hotels. Christopher Cross is controlled in Australia by Mushroom, and the The inception of the hotel market opened up huge liaison with the relevant record companies involved is a close one. opportunities for a large number of Mushroom Music Publishing has a firm stronghold in the market. Australian bands to work Publishing contracts were signed early in the piece with Virgin, Stiff consistently and to make a living. haveand Albionlopped inthe England, charts in aand big artistsway in likeAustralia. Joe Jackson and Ian Dury Mushroom Records was set up to look after some of these bands The Police on A&M through Mushroom Music Publishing have from the word go, from the work sold in excess of 100,000 units with their Regatta De Blanc , situation to the recording aspect. r and WEA's The Pretenders have followed The Police's track record Early artists included Madder with an expert launch into the market gaining a No 1 single with Brass Lake, whose Slillpoinl album was In Pocket and (he LP achieving platinum status. Recent successes the first gold album on the include Christopher Cross' album which peaked at No 26 nationally, Mushroom label. AH Mushroom and The Romantics' single What I Like About You which reached No product is distributed by leading 3. Australian company, Festival MICHAEL GUDINSKI, managing CHRISTIE ALLEN — Perfect top Martha And The Muffins, Jona Lewie, and The Espressos are Records. director of Mushroom Records and 40 and AOR artist. several relatively unknown acts who are currently benefiting from a In August 1979, Mushroom Publishing. strong push from Mushroom Music, which has the faith to put effort Records sold its millionth album in The Dingoes, Split Enz, The The Falcons' Screaming Targets into the unknown as well as the tried and true. Australia, which was Jo Jo Zep Sports, Renee Geyer, Mother has been released by those and the Falcons' Screaming Goose, OL'SS (platinum success) companies in all territories and it Targets, an album which in itself is Stars and now Christie Allen, who has been receiving healthy airplay now close to double gold. The has had two gold singles within the especially in the US. company has also sold well over last six months for Goose Bumps July saw The Falcons touring I'A million singles. and He's My Number 1. briefly in London, Europe After less than 18 months in the (Montreux Jazz Festival) and in the music industry, Christie has this US their concerts obtained m. year received the greatest accolade maximum benefit by being Releases possible in Australian rock — that broadcast through FM stations in of Best Female Artist award and most cases and reaching many £ However, between the first and she is now in heavy demand for more people than if they had just the millionth album a lot of water touring. played different venues every day. has passed under the bridge. Christie is one of the Mushroom Also, their concerts were oriented Mushroom to date has released artists to sign an overseas recording to accommodate the media and over 80 and 150 singles or deal. She is signed to WE A record company people in each over 10 albums and 20 singles per International for all territories area, so they could become familiar year and the success rate has been outside Australia, the US and with the band they are promoting. . ,\ very high. Canada, and to Polydor The single Shape I'm In is Split Enz had the Number One International for the US and released in the US and Canada in single (I Got You) and the Number Canada. Her debut album, Magic late September, which will give One album (True Colours) Rhythm, was recorded in London further mileage to the Screaming simultaneously on the national Kent by expatriate Australian Terry Targets album,"though in Australia chart in Australia and also in New Britten, and has recently been it is from their second Mushroom Zealand. The album is still top 15 released in all territories. album (just out) and already gold after seven months in the charts Christie is a perfect Top 40 and called Hats Off Step Lively. V and still top 10 in New Zealand. AOR artist, and Mushroom is very And Skyhooks, who in 1976 had excited about her overseas their Living in the 70*5 album in prospects. Christie has just [ THE POLICE, published in Australia by Mushroom. excess of four times platinum returned from London, where she World famous status (200,000), still hold the recorded her second album in record for the largest selling Mayfair Studios with producer Australian album to dale. John Hudson. Her single from this it has become the practice of Omega: settling itself Splitz Enz have been signed to album, Baby Get Away, is just out Mushroom Records to import Mushroom Records for five years, in Australia and already is set to be producers for an act if no local and had two gold albums before another top 10 monster. producer is suitable. Englishman the enormous True Colours which The Sports, who have two gold Peter Solley is now becoming world down in the TV field is now on the way to surpassing the albums in Australia, have also renowned for his recent success sales record set by Skyhooks — a loured the UK and the US where with Sieve Forbert and The OMEGA RECORDS has been as a fully operational record mammoth effort. The Enz's True their Who Listens To The Radio Romantics. Solley has worked operating in Australia in the company and not just a TV Colours was produced by 20-year- single made the top 50 in Billboard. extensively with Mushroom TV marketing field for a little package operation, and it intends old Englishman David Tickle, who Their success to date has been Records for The Sports' Don't over 12 months. to secure and promote repertoire has worked with Blondie, Suzi meteoric, and their signing with Throw Stones and Suddenly From a small beginning in not only from Australia but also Quatro and The Knack before Arista for the US in September albums, and twice for Jo Jo Zep Adelaide, it has now developed from overseas sources. masterminding Split Enz and other 1979 verifies that statement. Their and The Falcons on Screaming to include a head office Omega has also established its own Mushroom acts The Aliens third Australian album. Suddenly, Targets and their now gold album publishing division, Omega Music. and recent signing from is just being released in the US Hals Off, Step Lively, operation in Sydney, To back up its development and New Zealand The Swingers. through Arista after reaching an Mushroom Records operates at a employing 10 people, its own expansion, Omega needs new Split Enz are currently jumping over gold sales status in Australia. fast pace, all-systems-go basis, but sales office in Brisbane, repertoire for both divisions and its into and topping charts all over the Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons are the emphasis is on the artist and Queensland and Melbourne, managing director Ted Standfield world as a result of a deal the next Mushroom artists to take his or her individual needs from a Victoria, and also distribution will be attending Midem 81 to consolidated by Mushroom the leap and to release overseas record company. agents in South Australia and make contacts, which will help in managing director, Michael product. And their future looks set Michael Gudinski, through his Western Australia. Omega's growth as well as meeting Gudinski and A&M's Jerry Moss. for security with WEA working in all aspects of the Omega utilises TV markets many friends already dealing with Mushroom Records is famous International for all territories entertainment business, pulls throughout Australia, and to date and releasing their product In for its successful spawning of new outside the US. Canada and together the various strands of his has released 12 TV compilation Australia through Omega Records. bands and its aggressive marketing Australia, and with Michael organisations into one efficient Omega has released an album of tactics. Skyhooks are the prime Klcfner and Irving Azoff's Full entity, and has an excellent track albums, three of which have dance music by the West German example of both the above achieved gold sales. Moon label through CBS in the US record in picking bands and artists Omega's first 12 months have group. Arabesque; an album by categories, but the same bug bit and Canada. with hit potential. been very successful, and have Dutch rock band, Carlsberg, and established the company's position an album by the Fifties harmony in the heavily competitive TV group Stardust, (Dutch). Mushroom is famous for its successful spawning of new business. Forthcoming releases Include two It Is actively developing Its own albums by the Australian group bands and aggressive marketing tactics and last year sold catalogue of artists and groups, 1901, who in their first two years commencing with three new have won consecutive awards at in® releases in October/November. Australasian Country Music its millionth album This is part of Omega's philosophy Awards and an album by the ol developing and establishing itself Australian gospel music singer Robert Coleman. 4 AUSTRALIAN SUPPLEMENT