Record Label
Label formed by [[artist:Michael Gudinski]] and [[artist:Ray Evans (2)]] in Melbourne, Australia in 1972. Note: For the publisher, see [[label:1167079]], for (unofficial) releases, use [[label:Mushroom (6)]]. Its earliest signings included [[artist:Skyhooks]] and [[artist:Split Enz]] and by the mid Seventies it was Australia's leading independent label, in partnership with [[label:Festival Records Pty. Ltd.]] The company entry associated most to this label is [[label:Mushroom Records Pty. Ltd.]] Mushroom went from strength to strength in the 1980s as Split Enz had substantial international success and they signed [[artist:Kylie Minogue]]. Subsidiary labels like [[label:Liberation Records]] & [[label:White Label Records]] were also set up, as well as branches in London and Auckland. In 1993 half the company was sold to Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp and the remainder in 1998. Murdoch merged it with his [[label:Festival Records Pty. Ltd.]] and Mushroom Distribution Services ([[label:MDS]]) to form the company [[label:Festival Mushroom Records Pty. Ltd.]] in 1999. When FMR was sold to Warner Music in 2005, they revived the Mushroom Records name as an imprint. Label history: variations in label designs and text displayed on both vinyl and CD **1972-1980** The original "Mushroom anti-Rip Off" label design was replaced in 1973 by a black label featuring a white-spotted red mushroom. A new design, with a cream background and the word "Mushroom" around the top edge, was introduced in early 1975. Type: "Australian Recording", "Mushroom Records". Displayed on logo where "Australian Recording" is bordered by an outline map of Australia **1980-1992** A new label design, featuring a logo with "Mushroom" in white on stripes and arrow-heads in pink, yellow and blue on a black background, was introduced in mid-1980. This logo was placed at the top of the label on the first few releases, but was quickly moved to the bottom of the label. Type: "Aust. Recording", "Mushroom Records, Aust." Displayed on logo, where "Aust. Recording" is written across overlaying triangles **1992 onward** A new logo was introduced, featuring a stylised mushroom formed by a horizontal arc over an M, on a square. Type: "Mushroom", "Mushroom Records, Pty Limited, Australia", "Mushroom Records International", "Mushroom Records P/L"