Civilians (record label)

Civilians is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 2013 by co-managing directors Leigh Grupetta and Stu Harvey in partnership with Martin Goldschmidt,^[1]^[2] Civilians was originally known as Cooking Vinyl Australia.

After eleven years operating as Cooking Vinyl Australia, they unveiled a new name in September 2024, one that removed any lingering confusion about their connection with Martin Goldschmidt’s lauded U.K. label Cooking Vinyl.

Civilians boasts a diverse roster including the likes of Fanny Lumsden, Emma Donovan, King Stingray, Eliza & The Delusionals, Windwaker and Luca Brasi and supplies label services to various partners, including Thirty Tigers, Run For Cover, Resist, Greyscale and Dine Alone.

History

After working together at Shock records,^[3] Leigh Gruppetta and Stu Harvey founded Civilians (formerly known as Cooking Vinyl Australia) in 2013, in a partnership with Martin Goldschmidt, the London-based Cooking Vinyl Group Founder & CEO.

In 2016, Civilians launched a music publishing division based in Sydney, Australia. Reporting directly to Goldschmidt, Cooking Vinyl Publishing is a standalone company overseen by Matthew Donlevy, the former managing director of Peermusic.^[4]^[5]

In 2018, Civilians partnered with Sony Music Australia with Sony making "a significant investment" in the Indie label.^[6]^[7] As part of the arrangement, Cooking Vinyl Australia's recordings would be distributed globally through Sony's distributor and label services company The Orchard.

"We are thrilled about what the future holds as we enter this next phase of the business"^[6] - Leigh Gruppetta, The Music Network, 2018

From 2022 - 2024 Civilians signed numerous Australian acts including the likes of Melbourne/Naarm based band CIVIC,^[8] alternative rock band, Jebediah,^[9] and latest signing, The Southern River Band.

After eleven years as Cooking Vinyl Australia, the Melbourne-based label launched a rebrand, unveiling a new name and look to remove any confusion regarding their association with Cooking Vinyl UK.^[10] Now known as Civilians, the independant label continues to grow with new signings said to be on the horizon.

“It’s a new name, a renewed focus but the same us,” says Gruppetta of Civilians, in a statement. “We remain committed to everything that has driven our growth over the past 11 years.”^[10]

Label partners

Civilians works with a variety of international and domestic label partners to release and promote music in Australia and New Zealand. These include:

Bargain Bin
Dine Alone Records
Greyscale Records
Resist Records
Run For Cover Records
Thirty Tigers

Artists

Current

King Stingray
Luca Brasi
Parkway Drive
PUP
Stumps
The Southern River Band
Tyler Richardson
Windwaker

Past

Boydos
Calling All Cars
Elizabeth Fader
Endless Heights
Ivan Ooze
Johnny Hunter
Kate Miller-Heidke
Mike Noga
Sarah Wolfe

The Chats
Tracy McNeil & the Goodlife

References

^ "Cooking Vinyl opens own Australian office in Melbourne". Beat Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
^ Dale, Jessica (4 May 2020). "The Power 50: Leigh Gruppetta & Stu Harvey". the music. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
^ Dale, Jessica (4 May 2020). "The Power 50: Leigh Gruppetta & Stu Harvey". the music. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
^ "Cooking Vinyl Australia Launches Music Publishing Division". The Music. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
^ Reid, Poppy (31 March 2016). "Cooking Vinyl Australia launches publishing division". The Music Network.
^ ^a ^b Eliezer, Christie (13 February 2018). "Sony Music makes "significant investment" in Cooking Vinyl Australia". The Music Network. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
^ Malt, Andy (14 February 2018). "Sony invests in Cooking Vinyl Australia". Complete Music Update. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
^ Billy, August (2 November 2022). "CIVIC Announce New Album, Sign with Cooking Vinyl Australia". Music Feeds. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^ "Jebediah release 'Gum Up the Bearings' their first single in 12 years". OutinPerth. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b Brandle, Lars (2024-09-10). "Cooking Vinyl Australia Rebrands as Civilians (EXCLUSIVE)". The Music Network. Retrieved 2024-09-10.

[1] "Cooking Vinyl opens own Australian office in Melbourne". Beat Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2022.

[:0-2] Dale, Jessica (4 May 2020). "The Power 50: Leigh Gruppetta & Stu Harvey". the music. Retrieved 20 September 2022.

[:02-3] Dale, Jessica (4 May 2020). "The Power 50: Leigh Gruppetta & Stu Harvey". the music. Retrieved 20 September 2022.

[4] "Cooking Vinyl Australia Launches Music Publishing Division". The Music. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 2022-10-03.

[5] Reid, Poppy (31 March 2016). "Cooking Vinyl Australia launches publishing division". The Music Network.

[:1-6] Eliezer, Christie (13 February 2018). "Sony Music makes "significant investment" in Cooking Vinyl Australia". The Music Network. Retrieved 20 September 2022.

[7] Malt, Andy (14 February 2018). "Sony invests in Cooking Vinyl Australia". Complete Music Update. Retrieved 20 September 2022.

[TBF-8] Billy, August (2 November 2022). "CIVIC Announce New Album, Sign with Cooking Vinyl Australia". Music Feeds. Retrieved 6 December 2022.

[9] "Jebediah release 'Gum Up the Bearings' their first single in 12 years". OutinPerth. Retrieved 27 November 2023.

[:2-10] Brandle, Lars (2024-09-10). "Cooking Vinyl Australia Rebrands as Civilians (EXCLUSIVE)". The Music Network. Retrieved 2024-09-10.

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