A quartet of Australian figures have been ranked among the world’s most powerful music industry players in an internationally polled Top 50.
Compiled by iconic American music institution Billboard in association with the MIDEM global music exhibition, the ‘International Power Players’ list has this year, for the first time, included “leaders from the international music business.”
Among the 50 people honoured in the 2014 International Power Players list, which “highlights the achievements of executives who drive our business forward with their artistic and business vision,” is three Australian movers and shakers: Mushroom boss Michael Gudinski, Sony Music Australia’s Denis Handlin, Live Nation Australia exec Michael Coppel, and Merlin CEO Charles Caldas.
“I’m honoured to be included in such illustrious company,” said Michael Gudinski. “2013 was both a massive year for the Mushroom Group and myself personally, with the Group enjoying its 40th year in the business.”
Indeed, the Billboard recognition follows a long list of accolades for the Mushroom mogul and Frontier Touring boss. “2013 was both a massive year for the Mushroom Group and myself personally.”
Following being named the 2012 Melburnian of the Year and celebrating Mushroom’s 40th birthday with a rebrand and naming his son Matt Gudinski as Director for the Australian music company, Gudinski has been inducted into The Age Music Victoria’s Hall Of Fame, given the inaugural ARIA Industry Icon Award, earned a Rolling Stone Award, and a GQ Award for Lifetime Entrepreneur.
His Frontier Touring company has also engineered more high-profile concerts at Hanging Rock after the multi-million success of touring Bruce Springsteen, bought into one of Australia’s biggest festivals: Future Music,
All which has eked out the international touring division of the Mushroom Group into being named the #1 Australasian promoter for 2013 (#20 overall) in Pollstar’s recent poll, capping Frontier’s back-to-back success from 2013.
That success is likely to continue, with Gudinski currently on the road with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band as part of their return Australian tour this month. In the next months, Frontier is also presenting mammoth Australian tours for Queens Of The Stone Age & Nine Inch Nails, The Rolling Stones, Phoenix, Thirty Seconds To Mars, plus Future Music Festival and Good Life.
Also cracking the International Power Players list is titanic US tour company Live Nation, which includes Aussie promoter Michael Coppel, whose company Michael Coppel Presents was acquired by Live Nation in 2012. He helped engineer the 46-date Aussie leg of The Truth About Love Tour – the third highest grossing tour of 2013 – by one of last year’s ‘Hardest Working’ artists, Pink.
Also in the Australian contingent is Denis Handlin, the Chairman/CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia & New Zealand, a leader for the major label for 30 years. The Sydney-based, Brisbane-born Handlin is also the veteran chairman of ARIA and had a hand in Pink’s huge Aussie success, including the 8x Platinum The Truth About Love named the #1 best-selling album of 2013, and for the second year running. “Success with local artists very much defines us as record labels and in my 43 years in the company.”
He’s also found major success with promoting Australian artists, including pop majors like Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy, as well as electro indie act RÜFÜS (that’s RÜFÜS DU SOL to you Americans), Sydney hip hop duo Jackie Onassis, and Triple J Next Crop 2014 pick, the recently Universal-signed Gang Of Youths.
“Success with local artists very much defines us as record labels and in my 43 years in the company, the drive to develop artists with global appeal has never been greater,” Handlin tells Billboard.
Rounding out the list of Aussie-associated figures is Charles Caldas, the one time CEO of Shock Records, now based in London as the CEO of Merlin – the global representative for independent labels and musicians’ digital rights and licensing. In 2013, Merlin scooped more than $75 million in royalties from music streaming and subscription services.
The 2014 International Power Players list was compiled through “numerous sources with international perspective and experience,” according to Billboard, “who have had the most power to drive change in their area of business.” View the full Top 50, which includes reps from IFPI, Deezer, Spotify, Kobalt music Group, Universal, and more here.
