# Liberator Music

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{{Short description|Australian record label}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox record label <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Music -->
| name        = Liberator Music
| image       = 
| parent      = [Mushroom Group](/source/Mushroom_Group)
| founded     = {{start date|2006}}
| defunct     = {{end date|2024}}
| founder     = Nick Dunshea<br/>[Michael Gudinski](/source/Michael_Gudinski)
| distributor = [Universal Music Australia](/source/Universal_Music_Australia)
| genre       = Various
| country     = [Australia](/source/Australia)
| location    = [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), [Australia](/source/Australia)
| website     = {{URL|liberatormusic.com.au}}
}}
'''Liberator Music''' was a [record label](/source/record_label) owned by the [Mushroom Group](/source/Mushroom_Group). It was founded in 2006 by Nick Dunshea and [Michael Gudinski](/source/Michael_Gudinski) in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne).<ref name=Liberatorfounded>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1356902/gudinski-sets-up-liberator-to-tap-global-acts|title=Gudinski Sets Up Liberator To Tap Global Acts|last=Eliezer|first=Christie |date=8 March 2006|magazine=Billboard |accessdate=20 August 2019}}</ref> The label was the international recording division of the company<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mushroomgroup.com/company/liberator/|title=Liberator|work=Mushroom Group|accessdate=23 August 2019}}</ref> and is home to artists such as [Childish Gambino](/source/Childish_Gambino), [CHVRCHES](/source/CHVRCHES), [alt-J](/source/alt-J), [Andy Grammer](/source/Andy_Grammer), [FIDLAR](/source/FIDLAR), [Steve Aoki](/source/Steve_Aoki), [Garbage](/source/Garbage_(band)), [AJR](/source/AJR), [We The Kings](/source/We_The_Kings), [Wolf Alice](/source/Wolf_Alice), [Kylie Minogue](/source/Kylie_Minogue), [Gengahr](/source/Gengahr), [Faith No More](/source/Faith_No_More), [Day Wave](/source/Day_Wave), [Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs](/source/Totally_Enormous_Extinct_Dinosaurs), [Fontaines D.C.](/source/Fontaines_D.C.), and [IDLES](/source/IDLES).

Liberator Music was merged into [Mushroom Music](/source/Mushroom_Music) in 2024.

==History==
Liberator Music was founded in March 2006 by ex-[Shock Records](/source/Shock_Records) employee, Nick Dunshea, and Mushroom Group founder & chairman, Michael Gudinski as the international recording division of the Mushroom Group.<ref name=Liberatorfounded />

Liberator Music went on to set up joint ventures and distribution deals with international labels such as [[PIAS Group|[PIAS]]], [Glassnote Records](/source/Glassnote_Records),<ref name=ListOfARIALicensors>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/ListofARIALicensors1.03.10.pdf|title=Licensing Copyright Owners|work=ARIA|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> [Infectious Music](/source/Infectious_Music),<ref name=ListOfARIALicensors /> [S-Curve](/source/S-Curve_Records),<ref name=ListOfARIALicensors /> [Norman Cook's](/source/Norman_Cook) [Southern Fried Records](/source/Southern_Fried_Records),<ref name=ListOfARIALicensors /> [Partisan Records](/source/Partisan_Records),<ref>[https://themusicnetwork.com/liberator-music-partisan-records/ "Liberator Music announces partnership with Partisan Records"], The Music Network (24 June 2020). Retrieved 30 July 2020.</ref> as well as direct artist signings (for Australia & New Zealand) such as [CHVRCHES](/source/CHVRCHES),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/chvrches-love-is-dead-feature/9821218|title=Love Is Dead: Chvrches are a cathartic pop beacon in confusing times|last=Newstead|first=Al|date=1 June 2018|work=triple j|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/230865988?selectedversion=NBD62775845|title=2018, English, Sound, Recorded music edition: Love is dead / Chvrches.|date=2018|work=National Library Of Australia|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> [Garbage](/source/Garbage_(band)),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a361596/garbage-to-self-release-comeback-album-on-new-label/|title=Garbage to self-release comeback album on new label|date=23 January 2012|work=Digital Spy|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://themusic.com.au/article/itOdnJ-egYA/garbage-announce-release-of-sixth-studio-album/|title=Garbage Unveil Track List, Artwork & Release Details For Sixth Studio Album|date=11 March 2016|work=The Music|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> [Dizzee Rascal](/source/Dizzee_Rascal),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oztix.com.au/news/archive/2014/02/15/dizzee-rascal-tickets--info/|title=Frontier Touring, The Bump, Take 40, Channel [V], Scene, Music Feeds & Spotify Present DIZZEE RASCAL Headlining Tour & Album Announcement!|date=2013|work=Oztix|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> [Kaiser Chiefs](/source/Kaiser_Chiefs)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/kaiser-chiefs-releasing-greatest-hits-compilation/|title=Kaiser Chiefs Releasing Greatest Hits Compilation|last=Langlands|first=Alex|date=27 March 2012|work=Music Feeds|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> and [Childish Gambino](/source/Childish_Gambino)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/childish-gambino-this-is-america-no-1-australia-singles-chart/|title=Childish Gambino Earns First No. 1 on Australia's Singles Chart With 'This Is America'|last=Brandle|first=Lars|date=22 May 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref>

As part of a restructure of the Mushroom Group in July 2024, Liberator Music and other labels were consolidated into a new division called Mushroom Music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=2024-07-25 |title=Chris Maund, Linda Bosidis Talk Mushroom Music (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/mushroom-music-chris-maund-linda-bosidis-talk-exclusive/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=The Music Network}}</ref>

===[PIAS] joint venture===
In 2007, the company entered into a 50/50 joint venture deal with European record company, [[PIAS Group|[PIAS]]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1325207/pias-heads-down-under|title=PIAS Sets Up Down Under|last=Eliezer|first=Christie |date=21 April 2007|magazine=Billboard |accessdate=23 August 2019}}</ref> In early 2013, [PIAS] acquired [Cooperative Music](/source/Cooperative_Music) (and the Coop-owned [V2 Records](/source/V2_Records) label) from [Universal Music Group](/source/Universal_Music_Group), forming the new business division [PIAS] Cooperative<ref>[http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/pias-buyout-of-co-op-cleared-by-ec-regulators/054100 "PIAS buyout of Co-Op cleared by EC regulators"], Music Week (25 March 2013). Retrieved 23 August 2019.</ref> thus giving Liberator Music the exclusive rights to the catalogue in Australia & New Zealand. After almost 10 years, [PIAS] and Liberator Music's partnership came to an end on 23 January 2017 when [PIAS] acquired Australian record label, Inertia Music.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/pias-acquires-inertia-music-in-australia/|title=[PIAS] ACQUIRES INERTIA MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA|last=Ingham|first=Tim |date=23 January 2017|magazine=Billboard |accessdate=23 August 2019}}</ref>

===The return of Garbage to Mushroom===
{{Main|Garbage (band)}}
[Garbage](/source/Garbage_(band)) had originally signed to Gudinski's [Mushroom Records](/source/Mushroom_Records) for the release of their debut single, "Vow" in 1995, and subsequent albums.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wQkEAAAAMBAJ&q=garbage+%22mushroom+uk%22&pg=PA60|title=With Murdoch's Stake, A Changing Mushroom Grows|last=White|first=Adam|date=14 September 1996|magazine=Billboard |accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> In 2003, Mushroom Records was sold to [Warner Music](/source/Warner_Music) and absorbed by the label East West, which was headed up by former Mushroom Records executive, Korda Marshall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.musicweek.com/news/read/marshall-builds-for-future-as-east-west-absorbs-mushroom/024622|title=Marshall builds for future as East West absorbs Mushroom|date=19 May 2003|work=Music Week|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> With the sale, Warner Music also gained the rights to Garbage's catalogue.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.garbagediscobox.com/2003/06/warner-acquires-mushroom-records-uk/|title=Warner acquires Mushroom Records UK|date=15 June 2003|work=Garbage Disco|accessdate=24 August 2019}}</ref> On 18 November 2011, after an "indefinite hiatus",<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=320 |title=Dear worried and confused |publisher=Garbage.com |accessdate= 24 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080210010426/http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=320 |archivedate= 10 February 2008  }}</ref> the band tweeted that they had "Just signed in Australia with Liberator Music. Our career started in Oz. Twenty years on  we are still loving Michael Gudinski."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.garbagediscobox.com/2011/11/garbage-sign-record-deal-down-under/|title=Garbage sign record deal down under|date=18 November 2011|work=Garbage Disco|accessdate=3 June 2024}}</ref> With this deal, Liberator Music took control of the band's catalogue, as well as future recordings. The first album of new material released via Liberator Music was ''[Not Your Kind Of People](/source/Not_Your_Kind_of_People)''.

===Childish Gambino===
{{Main|Childish Gambino}}
On 15 November 2011, Liberator Music released [Childish Gambino](/source/Childish_Gambino)'s debut album ''[Camp](/source/Camp_(album))''.<ref name="albumrelease">{{cite web|url=https://allaussiehiphop.com/2014/05/11/niche-live-nation-present-childish-gambinos-only-australian-headline-show/|title=Niche & Live Nation present Childish Gambino's only Australian headline show |work=All Aussie Hip Hop|date=11 May 2014|accessdate=5 June 2024}}</ref> This was the start of a long-standing and successful collaboration between Liberator Music and Childish Gambino. Childish Gambino released his second album, ''[because the internet](/source/Because_the_Internet)'' on 10 December 2013, once again via Liberator Music in Australia/New Zealand.<ref name="albumrelease" /> On 2 October, he released a mixtape titled ''[STN MTN](/source/STN_MTN_%2F_Kauai)'' and the following day an EP titled ''[Kauai](/source/STN_MTN_%2F_Kauai)''.<ref name="Awaken" /> 2 December 2016 saw the release of ''["Awaken, My Love!"](/source/%22Awaken%2C_My_Love!%22)''.<ref>{{cite web|author= Strauss, Matthew|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/69717-donald-glover-details-new-childish-gambino-album-awaken-my-love/|title=Donald Glover Details New Childish Gambino Album "Awaken, My Love!"|work=Pitchfork|date=10 November 2016|accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Awaken">{{cite web|url=https://www.scenezine.com.au/childish-gambino-reveals-redbone-2nd-song-from-awaken-my-love/|title=CHILDISH GAMBINO Reveals 'Redbone' 2nd Song From "Awaken, My Love!"|work=Scenezine|date=21 November 2016|accessdate=5 June 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Record labels based in Melbourne
Category:Australian companies established in 2006
Category:Record labels established in 2006
Category:Australian companies disestablished in 2024
Category:Record labels disestablished in 2024

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Liberator Music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberator_Music) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberator_Music?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.