Warren Costello steps down from Mushroom Group to focus on health, family

Mushroom Group veteran Warren “Waz” Costello has left the company.

The indie label veteran has been an important part of the Mushroom family since the dawn of the 1990s, before departing at the end of the decade following the sale of Mushroom Records.

In March 2000, he founded Mushroom Group’s Liberation label with the late chairman Michael Gudinski, and went on to lead the group’s blossoming label interests as Managing Director.

In 2017, Costello co-founded the Bloodlines label with Gudinski. The venture provides a full range of creative services outside of the standard record label format, and has released recordings by the likes of Vika & Linda, Jimmy Barnes, The Church, Richard Clapton and more.

Just last month, Costello was named Director of Long Play Music Films, Mushroom Group’s new film distribution and production arm, which launched with Emer Reynolds’ award-winning Phil Lynott: Songs For While I’m Away.

According to a statement issued late Monday, Costello steps down from his roles within the business, effective immediately, to focus on his health and spend time with his family.

“We’re incredibly sad to see Waz leave,” says Matt Gudinski, CEO of Mushroom Group, “but as Dad always said ‘family and health comes first and no one ever truly leaves Mushroom.’”