This award has significance as an illustration of the Festival Records success in generating sales of Australian artists who recorded for locally-owned independent labels. Usually these independent labels contracted and recorded the artists while Festival manufactured the records and handled their distribution, promotion and marketing.

ATA was an important independent label aligned with Festival. Founded in 1966 by Col Joye and his brother Kevin Jacobsen, ATA became home to members of the 'Bandstand family', including Judy Stone and Sandy Scott. Col Joye had a huge comeback hit on ATA in 1973 with 'Heaven is my Woman's Love'. Little Pattie recorded for ATA throughout the 1970s.

Like his older brothers the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb's recording career began when Col Joye saw his potential. In fact Joye produced Andy's first single 'Words and Music'. After an apprenticeship in the pub venues of Australia, Andy Gibb signed with Robert Stigwood's RSO label. He recorded his first album in Miami with Barry Gibb. In Australia his records were licensed to the ATA label, manufactured and distributed by Festival. The single 'I Just Want to be Your Everything' was awarded gold record status in 1978.

Festival Records manufactured vinyl discs in Sydney for 40 years. At the height of production in the 1980s Festival's factory was buzzing with 26 record presses pumping out 25,000 records per day. In addition there was a cassette duplicating plant, an art department, a printing department for album covers, plus a huge warehouse for packing and distribution.

Festival Records provided a home to a vast array of musical styles and many independent labels, not readily identified with the Festival brand. For over fifty years its existence as a major independent record company, competing with the multinationals, helped to create a healthy environment for Australian music.

The first gold record awards were presented by American record companies to their artists to acknowledge sales of 1,000,000 records. Various measurements have been used at different times around the world for album and single awards. Some were based on the value of retail sales and others on units sold. The Recording Industry Association of America established a standard for an official gold record in 1958. This was based on wholesale shipments to retail outlets, rather than actual retail sales. Australia follows a similar system. In Australia ARIA awards gold records for 35 000 sales and platinum records for 70 000 sales.

Made by Festival Records at their factory in Miller St Pyrmont.

When Festival Records prepared gold and platinum awards to present to its recording artists, the company sometimes made duplicates to display in the board room and the reception area of its premises. This award was also displayed in the Museum's exhibition 'Spinning Around: 50 Years of Festival Records', from 2001 to 2003.

Music award, gold record, 'I Just Want to Be Your Everything' by Andy Gibb, laminated board / metal / paper, made and used by Festival Records, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1978

Gold record award mounted on wooden board with laminated wood veneer. Gold 45rpm seven inch single disc with ATA label. Gold plaque in the shape of Australia with the text: 'Presented to Col Joye / Kevin Jacobsen by the directors of Festival Records for the outstanding achievement of attaining an Australian gold award for the single 'I Just Want to Be Your Everything', May 1978'. Two metal hooks on reverse.

Made: 1978

2007/50/17

1978

354 mm

254 mm

20 mm