Civilians (record label)

Iindependent record label based in Melbourne, Australia

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

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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

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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

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### Current

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* Baroness
* Ceres
* Civic
* Eliza & the Delusionals
* Emma Donovan & the Putbacks
* Fanny Lumsden
* Hands Like Houses
* High Tension
* Jebediah
* Jenny Mitchell

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

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### Past

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* 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

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## See also

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* Cooking Vinyl UK (UK, 1886–); founded by former manager and booking agent Martin Goldschmidt and business partner Pete Lawrence in Acton, London, England in 1986.
* List of record labels
* Sony Music Australia (Australia, 2004–); operated by American parent company Sony Music Entertainment
* The Orchard (US, 1997–); founded by Scott Cohen and Richard Gottehrer in New York City. A subsidiary of Sony Music, the company specialises in media distribution, marketing and sales across music and entertainment.

## References

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1. ^ "Cooking Vinyl opens own Australian office in Melbourne". Beat Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
2. ^ Dale, Jessica (4 May 2020). "The Power 50: Leigh Gruppetta & Stu Harvey". the music. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
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.
6. ^ a b 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.
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.
10. ^ a b Brandle, Lars (2024-09-10). "Cooking Vinyl Australia Rebrands as Civilians (EXCLUSIVE)". The Music Network. Retrieved 2024-09-10.