POWER 50 2025: Sebastian & Michael Chase (MGM Distribution)

BACKGROUND CHECK: 

Sebastian and Michael Chase are key figures in the Australian independent music scene, and sit together at the top of music distribution company MGM Distribution (Metropolitan Groove Merchants). Sebastian Chase, the founding CEO, established the company in April 1998. He has had a long and influential career, starting as a manager for iconic bands like Rose Tattoo and Dragon in the 1970s and founding several record labels, including Chase Records and rooArt. A co-founder of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), Sebastian's contributions were recognised when he received the ARIA Icon Award in 2016.

Michael Chase serves as the Director of Operations for MGM Distribution, continuing the family's legacy within the company. His focus has been on expanding the company's global reach and supporting its roster of independent artists. In 2015, Michael moved to Nashville to establish the company's first US office. More recently, in 2023, he spearheaded the launch of MGM's first European office, further solidifying the distributor's international presence.

THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC:

MGM had several big successes in 2025, including Hayley Jensen’s Country Soul, John Butler’s Prism, Slowly Slowly’s Forgiving Spree and many more. They also continued their work with Sons of the East, releasing their sophomore album SONS, taking the band to an incredible 1.6 million monthly listeners. 

The business also consolidated its 2024 warehouse move, not only expanding their roster of artists, but also becoming one of the country’s leading physical music logistics businesses. 

THE MUSIC SPEAKS: 

Sebastian and Michael Chase are the quiet achievers of the Australian music industry, but their power truly lies in the ability to shift the market norms. While 2025 is all about distribution and label services for Australian music, the model was pioneered by the elder Chase nearly three decades ago. 

A true visionary who can see where the industry is heading before most, Sebastian is still the first to offer advice and time to young artists and has an uncanny knack for tapping into audiences and creating business models to generate cashflow for young artists. Michael is picking up the baton, taking MGM into a new era and establishing international bases to create export opportunities for Australian artists, using his hard-won international contacts to open independent pathways for his artists.