Mushroom & Festival Anniversary Archives
Three special Billboard features tracing the story of Mushroom Records and Festival Records at landmark moments in Australian music history - contemporary snapshots of the artists, people and independent spirit behind two names that became inseparable in the Australian record industry.
Historical date reference:
Festival Records was incorporated in Australia and New Zealand on 21 October 1952. Billboard’s 12 October 2002 Anniversary Supplement explicitly says Festival Mushroom Records traced its roots back 50 years to Festival’s founding. This is the correct basis for the “50 Years” designation.
Source: Billboard archival issues. Original text, photography, artwork, advertisements, trademarks and logos remain the property of their respective copyright holders. Presented by Analog Archaeology for historical and archival reference.
Reseach Notes:
Verified against Mushroom Group history, National Film and Sound Archive material on Michael Gudinski, Billboard’s Anniversary Supplements and historical references concerning Mushroom Records.
Mushroom Records History
From Mushroom Records’ beginnings in Melbourne in 1972, these Billboard anniversary features capture three milestones in Australian recording history. The Dingoes were among Mushroom’s significant early signings, linking this archive directly to Michael Gudinski’s formative years at the label. The 2002 feature celebrates 50 years from the founding of Festival Records in 1952, not Mushroom’s 50th anniversary.
