Australians are banned from watching Michael Gudinski’s state funeral

Michael Gudinski spent his life championing Australian music, but now his fellow countrymen can’t even watch his state funeral on YouTube.

The memorial at Melbourne‘s Rod Laver Arena was livestreamed via Mushroom Records’ official YouTube channel on Wednesday, but now it’s been blocked on copyright grounds.

The event included performances from the likes of Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran and Jimmy Barnes, and it’s possible one of their songs caused the copyright issue. 

Shortly after the livestream ended, YouTube made it ‘unavailable’ to view in Australia.

An error message now reads: ‘Video unavailable. This video contains content from SME, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.’

SME refers to Sony Music Entertainment, which is considered one of the ‘Big Three’ record companies, alongside Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. 

While many fans will be disappointed they can’t watch Gudinski’s memorial, the video’s removal was in fact planned. 

Mushroom Records, the record company Gudinski founded in 1972, announced on Facebook earlier this week the memorial would only be livestreamed on YouTube but would not be available to watch afterwards.

‘The State Memorial will be live streamed on YouTube – please note that the video will not be viewable once the event concludes,’ the company said.

Sony Music did not actively seek to take down the video, even though YouTube’s error message looks like a response to a copyright complaint.

In fact, the CEO of Sony Australia and New Zealand, Denis Handlin, paid tribute to Gudinski following his sudden death on March 2. 

‘It is unequivocal that Michael’s passion was breaking Australian artists and putting them on a world stage, and he had a proud history of success in doing so,’ he said.

‘Following personally discussing this with Michael’s family, this is the most appropriate honour for ARIA to bestow as it recognises Michael’s profound impact on Australian artists, and the memories and legacy he created.’

On Wednesday, Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran and Jimmy Barnes took to the stage to pay tribute to Gudinski in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena. 

Sheeran sang Castle on the Hill and later broke down in tears as he performed a new song, Visiting Hours, which is about his daughter, Lyra. 

The British singer, 30, was visibly emotional and at one point had to stop singing, before saying ‘sorry’ and returning to the microphone.

He told the audience beforehand: ‘I never get this nervous, I’m really f**king nervous. So apologies if I mess up the lyrics or anything.’

Sheeran revealed he’d penned the song during his 14 days of mandatory quarantine upon arriving in Australia earlier in the month.

He said: ‘So I’m extremely, extremely grateful to be here. I know it’s a difficult thing to get into this country and I don’t take it for granted for all the hard work getting me here and I really, really just appreciated the opportunity to get here.

‘In lockdown I was able to have a guitar for quarantine I always find the best way to process stuff is to write songs, be it good news, bad news and here’s a song I finished last week.’

Visiting Hours is about Sheeran’s late grandfather Bill, who died in 2013, and how he would like to ask him for advice on raising his own child, who was born in August. 

Minogue also performed her 2010 hit All The Lovers as a duet with Sheeran.

‘Michael had long talked about his love for Ed and how we should meet, and now we finally have met properly,’ she said.

Afterwards, they then delivered on a rousing rendition of Kylie’s 1987 hit The Loco-Motion – the song which kick-started her career. 

Gudinski, who was widely regarded as the ‘father of the Australian music industry’, died suddenly in Melbourne on March 2. He was 68.

He is survived by his wife Sue, children Matt and Kate, and two grandchildren.

He founded record company Mushroom Records at just 20 years of age. 

Gudinski went on to sign and launch the careers of local artists such as Kylie Minogue, who is now one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

In 1979, he established concert promoter Frontier Touring and stayed at its helm until his death.

Mushroom Group said in a statement at the time of Gudinski’s death: ‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Michael Gudinski AM overnight.

‘The much-loved Australian music legend died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Melbourne, Australia. Michael Gudinski was a key figure in shaping the Australian music industry.’