Industry Icon Mary Bainbridge To Step Back From Full Time Role At Frontier Touring

Music industry legend Mary Bainbridge has announced that she will be stepping down from her full time role at Frontier Touring at the end of the year.

Bainbridge is the definition of an unsung hero within the Australian music industry, with a near 50-year career rarely seeing her in the spotlight, but providing integral services to the industry which couldn’t have flourished without.

Initially from England, Bainbridge began her career at Mushroom’s Premier Artists in 1977 before moving into a role with Mushroom founder Michael Gudinski.

She began to work across Frontier Touring as a result, adding her talents to a myriad record-breaking tours in Australia and New Zealand’s history such as Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran, Madonna, Foo Fighters, Bryan Adams, Paul McCartney, The Police, Guns N Roses, the Eagles, Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, and more.

Though responsible for numerous areas within the touring business, Bainbridge had most recently acted as Frontier’s senior ticketing and marketing lead and as a mentor to staff within the business.

“Mary Bainbridge is as legendary as the most iconic of artists that Frontier tours,” said Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant. “With close to 50 years of experience she has arguably seen and done it all.

“Always reluctant to put herself out there she often refers to herself as Frontier’s chief bottle washer, but everyone in the industry knows that Mary has been integral in developing the live music industry in Australia to where it is today and was Michael Gudinski’s right-hand woman up until his passing."

“She’s not quite rid of us yet, but I’d like to take this opportunity to recognise and thank her for everything she has done for Frontier Touring and the broader industry to date,” he added.

“I’ve known Mary for literally my entire life – she is an icon of our business who has contributed considerably to the cultural identity of both Mushroom and Frontier,” echoed Mushroom Group CEO and Frontier Touring Director Matt Gudinski. “Mushroom has always been about family and Mary has been a pivotal part of our family for close to five decades.

“It’s impossible to fully recognise her contribution over the years but on behalf of everyone at Mushroom I would like to thank her and wish her all the best for the future.”

Bainbridge will step back from full time duties at the end of 2024, and will consult with Frontier Touring through to June 2025, continuing to share her years of knowledge and experience with the business.

“Frontier and Mushroom have been a major part of my life and while I’m incredibly sad to be leaving, this does feel like the right time,” Bainbridge said in a statement. “Thank you to everyone for the many memories – some that can never be shared of course!”