Michael Gudinski has taken his Liberation music label from Warner Music to Universal.
The move comes just weeks after John Watson took Eleven Records from EMI to Universal.Universal will now have, without a doubt, the biggest Australian roster with Liberation, Eleven, Dew Process and Modular.
The deal brings together Liberation acts like Jimmy Barnes and The Vines with Dew Process’ The Living End and Powderfinger, Modular’s Wolfmother and Cut Copy and Eleven’s Silverchair and Missy Higgins.
Michael Gudinski, Mushroom Group CEO said: “This is a unique relationship that came about through George Ash’s tenacity and from very exciting discussions in London with Universal Music Group International CEO Lucian Grainge and Executive Vice President Max Hole.
“While we’re looking forward, with great excitement, to working with Universal on our label acts, I also see this as the beginning of a greater strategic relationship between Universal and other divisions of the Mushroom Group.
“Already ATM Merchandising has an exclusive partnership with Universal’s merchandising arm Bravado, and The Frontier Touring Company tours many of Universal’s leading artists to our shores. This new partnership with Universal will provide new avenues to further develop these existing relationships as well as create new ones for the future good of both companies.”
Liberation had a six year association with Warner Music. Around that time, Warner had acquired Gudinski’s former company Mushroom Records but as a lot the contracts for Mushroom acts expired, Gudinski slowly built up his Liberation catalogue as the acts came back to him.
The Liberation catalogue features the labels Ivy League, Illusive Sounds, Liberator and Liberation.
Artists signed to Ivy League are The Vines, Josh Pyke, Sparkadia, Bridezilla, Youth Group, The Mess Hall, Snob Scrilla, Red Riders, and The Silents.
Illusive Sounds has Bliss N Eso, Downsyde, Lowrider, Paris Wells, X & Hell and The Winnie Coopers.
Liberator recently signed Kaiser Chiefs and also has Michael Franti & Spearhead, Armand Van Helden, The BPA (Fatboy Slim), Joan As Police Woman and The Futureheads.
Liberation acts include Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, The Temper Trap, Jimmy Barnes, Liam Finn, diesel, Ian Moss, Marcia Hines, TZU, Custom Kings, Kate Alexa, Howling Bells, The Vandas, Archie Roach, David Bridie, Mahalia Barnes, Hot Lies and The Holidays.
The deal is effective from October 1st.
