Mushroom Music Publishing

Mushroom Music started in Melbourne, Australia in the early 70’s and it wasn’t long before it took notice of what was happening across the Tasman and began signing New Zealand songwriters, the first being Mother Goose closely followed by Split Enz. Tim Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Bros) and Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Bros)) are still a significant force in the international music world and their relationship with Mushroom Music has continued uninterrupted for more than 30 years.

Other significant works include songs in the legendary Flying Nun catalogue which have been an important part of the Mushroom Music catalogue for 20 years. International respect for this catalogue of music has built a well deserved awe for songs that may not have had commercial success at the time of their release but are now so much a part of NZ culture that they are regularly turning up in advertising campaigns, television shows and feature films, and not just on our own shores. Chris Knox’s “It’s Love” is currently in the North American advertising campaign for the Dutch beer Heineken.

Mushroom Music’s good relationship with New Zealand songwriters has continued possibly due to the NZ ‘number 8 wire’ do it yourself mentality blending well with Mushroom Music being fiercely independent thanks to owner Michael Gudinski. There is also a family feel –not only do the writers remain with Mushroom but so do the employees. Jackie Dennis first joined Mushroom Music in 1981, learning the business before computers were a part of the everyday function. Although she left for many years, Jackie returned to the Mushroom Group in 1993 and in 2004 returned to her home country New Zealand to open up an Auckland branch of Mushroom Music and Mushroom Pictures.

A new breed of New Zealand songwriters are being signed and making their mark on history. Getting out of New Zealand and taking their music to the world is a big feature. We are a nation of 4 million people, New Zealanders are loving New Zealand music, it’s first rate and first choice, but the world is beckoning. Meantime, Mushroom Music NZ looks after our New Zealand resident writers and maximises their opportunities and income by placing their music in ads, films, corporate DVD’s, television shows and whatever else is on offer. Over an above that we have held one of the famous Mushroom Music Writers Bloc’s here, putting Australian and New Zealand songwriters together to co-write which has resulted in a many commercial releases, all in Australia, see the Writers Bloc pages. It’s a healthy and happy music scene.

Contacts:

Paul McLaney A&R and Music Licensing
paulm@themushroomgroup.co.nz

Jackie Dennis Managing Director
jackied@themushroomgroup.co.nz

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