Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story traces five decades of one man's deep involvement in the music world, following his rise from an ambitious independent label founder to a figure with international reach. The film pieces together archival footage, interviews and concert moments to show how he built close relationships with artists, launched memorable tours and helped shape Australia’s music scene. Rather than a linear biography, it moves between eras, highlighting key turning points, the hectic backstage reality and the personal qualities that kept him at the center of major projects. The tone balances celebration with critical detail, letting musicians and industry peers explain why he mattered without revealing private surprises or the final outcomes.

Created and produced by Sara Edwards, Paul Goldman and Bethany Jones, the documentary premiered in 2023. It strings together firsthand recollections and rare material to form a portrait that privileges voices from inside the business.

Box office totals were limited and not widely reported, the film earning its audience mainly through festivals, specialty releases and streaming rather than blockbuster theatrical runs.

The movie underscores Gudinski’s cultural footprint, showing how his name became shorthand for big Australian concerts and breakthrough careers. Viewers will see familiar faces from the music world, including Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly and Dave Grohl, reflecting on moments that entered public memory and helped define modern Australian popular culture.

Critical reaction leaned positive, with reviewers praising the access to artists and the film’s energetic pacing, reflected in an 8.0 vote average on one rating source. It focuses on ambition, the mechanics of the music business, loyalty between promoters and performers, and the costs that come with building an industry legacy, offering a thoughtful look at influence, compromise and the friendships that keep live music alive.