Staying in Australia for a short moment, the Mushroom Group has announced it has formed an alliance with Aussie independent Ivy League Records, with the aim of combining the two companies' A&R teams, and turning Ivy League into one of the big guys in the country's independent sector.
As you'll remember, the Mushroom Group no longer counts Mushroom Records among its assets, and hasn't done for a while. Through various acquisitions the Mushroom Records brand is now owned by Warner Music Australia, who last month announced they would be relaunching the label as a new Warner imprint.
The Mushroom Group, still run by original Mushroom Records founder Michael Gudinski, has been working closely with Ivy League for a while, and the more formal partnership is an extension of that working relationship.
Confirming the new partnership, Ivy League bosses Pete Lusty, Andy Cassell and Andy Kelly released a joint statement which reads thus: “We started Ivy League in 1997 to give our favourite bands the opportunity to release music because we felt that people had to hear their talent and creative excellence, and that philosophy is what continues to drive the label. Working with Michael is in turn inspiring, hilarious, great fun, and never, ever dull, and we look forward to a really exciting future with him and his great team".
Gudinski added: "The team at Ivy League possess the same passion and dedication for Australian music that has defined the Mushroom Group for the past three decades. I love working with Pete, Andy & Andy and our combined talents will ensure Ivy League becomes one of the world's hottest independent labels."