Michael Gudinski, the founder of Mushroom Records and a towering figure in Australian entertainment, died on Mar. 1 at the age of 68. Mushroom Group, the entertainment company founded by Gudinski when he was only 20 years old, confirmed he died in his sleep at his home in Melbourne. Founded in 1972, Mushroom Group has become the largest independent entertainment group in Australia, covering publishing, booking agencies, touring, film and television production, and creative services. Frontier Touring, founded in 1979 by Gudinski under the Mushroom brand, is now one of the biggest concert promotion companies in Australia and New Zealand. “A larger-than-life figure, Michael was widely respected for his unwavering passion for all music—in particular Australian music,” a Mushroom statement said. “Michael was renowned for his loyalty and dedication. His ability to achieve the unachievable against unsurmountable odds was proven time and again and spoke to his absolute passion for …