Mushroom Group promotes Dean McLachlan to run Bloodlines label

Mushroom Group’s imprint Bloodlines has a new managing director.

Dean McLachlan, formerly the label’s general manager, has been promoted to the role, effective immediately.

The label was co-founded by the late Michael Gudinski and Warren Costello in 2017. It boasts artists including Jimmy Barnes, Hunters & Collectors, Archie Roach and Yothu Yindi.

Costello stepped down from the label and the wider Mushroom Group for health reasons last month.

McLachlan, meanwhile, joined Mushroom as promotions manager in 1997 and worked on Kylie Minogue’s Impossible Princess and Hunters & Collectors’ Juggernaut. 

He’s since worked at roles across Mushroom Music Publishing, Mushroom Pictures and Liberation Music. He became GM of Bloodlines in 2017.

McLachlan paid tribute to the company, the late Gudinski and Costello when commenting on his appointment.

“The Mushroom Group is my home. It’s a privilege and honour to be part of the family and work for one of the truly great independent music companies in the world. Warren Costello has been my close friend and mentor for the past 25 years. I owe so much to him and Michael Gudinski.

“Rest assured – the passion, fierce loyalty and drive of both will remain. I’m excited to work alongside Matt Gudinski, Chris Maund and the incredible team we have at Bloodlines. We will continue to do the absolute best for our artists and make the Mushroom family proud,” he said.

Mushroom CEO Matt Gudinski said Bloodlines has never been in safer hands.

“My dad and Warren Costello have made Bloodlines the home of some of Australia’s most important and iconic artists, and I’m thrilled to promote Dean to the role of MD to carry on their legacy,” he said. “There cannot be anyone in the industry who has more energy or is more passionate about Mushroom, Bloodlines and its incredible roster of Australian artists, than Dean McLachlan.”

McLachlan will continue to act as an A&R consultant to Mushroom Publishing alongside his role at Bloodlines.