Liberator Music
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | March 2006 |
| Founder | Nick Dunshea, Michael Gudinski |
| Defunct | July 2024 |
| Fate | Merged into Mushroom Music |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Parent | Mushroom Group |
Liberator Music functioned as a record label under the ownership of the Mushroom Group. Established in 2006 by Nick Dunshea alongside Michael Gudinski in Melbourne, it operated as the company's international recording branch. The label's roster included artists such as Childish Gambino, CHVRCHES, alt-J, Andy Grammer, FIDLAR, Steve Aoki, Garbage, AJR, We The Kings, Wolf Alice, Kylie Minogue, Gengahr, Faith No More, Day Wave, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Fontaines D.C., and IDLES.
In 2024, Liberator Music was integrated into Mushroom Music.
History
Founded in March 2006 by Nick Dunshea, formerly with Shock Records, and Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski, Liberator Music was created to serve as the group's international recording arm.
The label established joint ventures and distribution agreements with international companies including PIAS, Glassnote Records, Infectious Music, S-Curve, Norman Cook’s Southern Fried Records, and Partisan Records. Additionally, it signed artists directly for the Australian and New Zealand markets, such as CHVRCHES, Garbage, Dizzee Rascal, Kaiser Chiefs, and Childish Gambino.
As part of a reorganization within the Mushroom Group, Liberator Music was merged into Mushroom Music in July 2024.
[PIAS] partnership
In 2007, the company established a 50/50 joint venture with the European label [PIAS]. Early in 2013, [PIAS] acquired Cooperative Music along with the Coop-owned V2 Records imprint from Universal Music Group, resulting in the formation of the [PIAS] Cooperative division. This agreement enabled Liberator Music to secure exclusive rights to the catalogue within Australia and New Zealand. After nearly ten years, the collaboration concluded on 23 January 2017 when [PIAS] purchased the Australian label Inertia Music.
Garbage's renewed association with Mushroom
The band Garbage originally signed with Gudinski's Mushroom Records for their debut single "Vow" in 1995 and subsequent albums. In 2003, Mushroom Records was sold to Warner Music and integrated into East West, headed by former Mushroom executive Korda Marshall, transferring ownership of Garbage’s catalogue. Following a prolonged hiatus, on 18 November 2011 Garbage entered into a deal with Liberator Music in Australia, regaining control over their catalogue and future projects. Their first album released under Liberator was Not Your Kind Of People.
Childish Gambino
Liberator Music introduced Childish Gambino’s debut album Camp on 15 November 2011, initiating a fruitful collaboration. His sophomore album, because the internet, was subsequently released on 10 December 2013 through Liberator in Australia and New Zealand. On 2 October 2014, he unveiled the mixtape STN MTN, followed by the EP Kauai the next day. His fourth studio album, "Awaken, My Love!" debuted on 2 December 2016, further enhancing his commercial appeal and critical acclaim.