Mushroom Group’s Warren Costello steps down

Music industry and Mushroom Group stalwart Warren Costello is stepping down, effective immediately, to focus on his health and spend time with his family.

Mushroom Group was emphatic in its support of the veteran, however asked that his privacy be respected. Instead, people wishing to contact Costello and wish him well, can send messages via Dean McLachlan, who will share them with the family.

Costello first joined Mushroom in 1990 and stayed on until the 1999 sale of Mushroom Records.

In March 2000, he founded Mushroom Group’s new label Liberation with Mushroom founder Michael Gudinski, and assumed the role of managing director as the group’s label interests continues to expand.

In 2017, he then co-founded the Bloodlines label with Gudinski, and as recently as last month he was said to be heading up Mushroom’s latest venture, a film distribution and production company known as Long Play Music Films.

Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski, who took over in the wake of his father’s untimely death earlier this year, quoted his father when farewelling Costello.

“We’re incredibly sad to see Waz leave, but as Dad always said ‘family and health comes first, and no one ever truly leaves Mushroom,'” he said.

He also paid tribute to Costello’s unique legacy.

“Waz’s unwavering loyalty, passion, and commitment to the great Mushroom culture over the past 40 years has been integral to Mushroom becoming the company it is today. I would also like to acknowledge that our two families are very close and that he and his wife Leith have always been confidantes of my Mother & Father so this special relationship is a cherished one. Mushroom being the family business that it is, Warren’s youngest brother Paul and all three daughters Caitlin, Alex and Hannah will always be part of the Mushroom family.”

You can send messages of support to Costello via Dean McLachlan here.