Michael Gudinski Launching Mushroom Named Most Iconic Australia Music Moment of All Time

The beautiful cover, the work of illustrator Bianca Bosso, features the late Olivia Newton-John, Tina Arena and Hinewehi Mohi, All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu, and bands Yothu Yindi and AC/DC, with Bosso hailing it as a “nostalgic and heartwarming experience.”

The prestigious number one spot went to the late, great Michael Gudinski, for launching Mushroom Group all the way back in 1972.

From humbling beginnings Gudinski rose to become one of the biggest figures in the Australian music industry. As Rolling Stone AU/NZ noted, his eventual impact was immense. “When Gudinski passed in 2021, aged sixty-eight, the company he created was active in every conceivable area of music, from concerts and touring, publishing, agencies, merchandise, neighbouring rights, film and TV, creative services and, of course, labels.

“Frontier Touring is a juggernaut, recognised at times as the world’s leading independent concert promoter, and the engine room for Ed Sheeran’s Divide Tour of 2018, the all-time box office blockbuster with more than one million tickets sold.”

It’s testament to Gudindski’s position upon his death that tributes poured in from luminaries like Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen and, obviously, his dear friend Sheeran. “A permanent statue of MG stands outside Rod Laver Arena, with the chairman giving his familiar one-finger salute: Number One Forever,” Rolling Stone AU/NZ‘s tribute concluded.

Other momentous moments included on the Australian list are ARIA introducing Australia’s first official music charts, Yothu Yindi becoming trailblazers for First Nations music, Kylie Minogue’s transition into the country’s Queen of Pop, and INXS’s unforgettable Wembley Stadium concert. The New Zealand list, meanwhile contains Bob Marley, Pātea, Māori Club, Flying Nun, and, of course, Lorde.

To see the full lists, the latest issue of Rolling Stone AU/NZ is out now. Music fans can subscribe to the magazine here.