Michael Gudinski’s Rise To Success Explored In New Podcast Hosted By His Daughter

The late, great Michael Gudinski worked in the Australian music industry for some 50 to 60 years – launching his career in the 1960s (when he was in his teens) and blazing trails all the way up until he passed away in 2021 – yet his impact on the scene will be felt for generations to come.

• ‘How Could You Play Music That Loud?’ Michael Gudinski’s Life Story In 13 Songs

The iconic founder of the Mushroom Group has an incredibly rich and storied history, and in a new podcast launched today (August 1) by LiSTNR and hosted by Gudinski’s daughter Kate, that history will be explored in a way we’ve never heard before. It’s eponymously titled Gudinski, and runs over five 20-to-30-minute episodes – all of which are available to stream right now (scroll on to hear the first one).

Across the series, Kate Gudinski unpacks the key moments in her father’s journey to reshape the music industry, touching on his unique ambition and inimitable character, and detailing all the events, ventures and meetings that made him such a legendary figure.

Among the topics covered are the late Gudinski’s formative experience booking acts for the classic Sunbury Festival, the game-changing success of Skyhooks in the ‘70s (which saved Mushroom Records from likely going bankrupt), the media controversy that struck when Mushroom signed Kylie Minogue, and Gudinski’s decision to sell the record label to Rupert Murdoch, but crucially retain the publishing arm.

In addition to Kate’s engaging narration, the Gudinski podcast – all episodes of which were researched and produced by the duo of Cameron Adams and Jake Morcom – features archival dialogue from Michael himself, as well as newly recorded interviews with some of those closest to him, like Mushroom Records co-founder Ray Evans, Mushroom UK co-founder Korda Marshall, producer Mark Opitz and musician Ross Wilson.

Have a listen to the first episode of Gudinski below: