The Power 50: Michael Chugg AM

Michael Chugg kicked off his career running dances and managing bands in Launceston from age 15. In 1969, he relocated to Melbourne and formed Frontier Touring Company in 1979 with Michael Gudinski and Phil Jacobsen. In 2000, he launched Michael Chugg Entertainment, with Chugg Music (a label and management company) coming along in 2012. 

2019 saw Michael Chugg at the helm of Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour; the legendary artist’s final-ever tour. The 40 shows across Australia and New Zealand, from late November 2019 to early March 2020, were sell-outs.

It was a big end to a big year, one that saw Chugg reunite with former business partner Michael Gudinski after a 20 year break. In late March 2019, it was announced that all Chugg Entertainment events would now be co-promoted by Frontier Touring. “Chugg Entertainment has had an incredible run of late and it’s the perfect time for us to take this step to strengthen our place in the market and keep growing while the industry changes and evolves,” said Chugg at the time. “Michael and I share so much history and so many stories, it feels right for us to move forward into the future with Frontier Touring.”

That certainly wasn’t it for the year though - Chugg Entertainment would also tour acts like Billie Eilish, Florence & The Machine, Florida Georgia Line, Leon Bridges, Morgan Evans and more throughout 2019, while CMC Rocks QLD would celebrate its biggest year yet. 

Label side, there was success for Lime Cordiale who sold out tours and ventured to Europe for the first time. The Sydney duo also landed themselves an impressive four tracks in the Hottest 100 (Robbery at #7, Inappropriate Behaviour at #13, I Touch Myself {triple j Like A Version} at #17 and Money at #32). The pair also earned fans in Post Malone and his manager Dre London, signing a joint management and label deal in September. Sheppard charted both at home and overseas with Die Young, while Casey Barnes and Mia Rodriguez both joined Chugg Music.  

Chugg was presented with the 2019 ARIA Industry Icon Award in November.

"Very honoured to receive the ARIA Industry Icon Award. We were amazed at the incredible worldwide reaction to Mr Gudinski and I getting back together after 20 years, it will be great for the industry. I am excited with the success of Chugg Music both in Australia and overseas; Sheppard continue to grow internationally, with #1 airplay in Holland with Die Young and three million streams a week. Lime Cordiale, with three #1 most-played singles on triple j, are fast becoming a huge live act. We are very excited with our new signings, Casey Barnes and Mia Rodriguez."