Tamworth Country Music Festival is the beating heart of Australian country music — from rising stars busking on Peel Street to headline acts lighting up the stage. It’s where artists and fans come together in a celebration of the genre’s past, present, and future.
But Tamworth isn’t just about the gigs — it’s also a chance for the industry to connect, learn, and grow. That’s why we created the Country Music Futures Forum: a dedicated space for artists and industry professionals to share insights, build networks, and explore opportunities in Australia and beyond.
With panels tailored to every stage of an artist’s journey — whether you’re heading to Nashdale or Nashville — CMFF is your chance to gain the tools and knowledge to take your career further. It’s also a moment for the broader industry to tap into the momentum of country music and help shape its future.
Join us on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January 2026 at the Tamworth Community Event Centre to listen, learn, and leave inspired.
WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY
9:30am Registration Opens
10:00am The Future of Country: Understanding the Music Industry (APRA AMCOS / CMAA Academy)
11:15am Making Noise – Promoting Yourself in a Crowded Market (Panel Session)
12:15pm Light lunch served
1:00pm Not My First Rodeo: How Aussie Country Music Artists Manage Mental Health & Wellbeing (Support Act)
2:15pm Opportunities, initiatives, and programs (Music Australia)
3:30pm APRA Songcraft Session with Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley
THURSDAY 22 JANUARY
9:30am Registration Opens
10:00am In Conversation with Henry Wagons (AIR)
11:15am Get to know Sound NSW: insights, artists and action (Sound NSW)
12:10pm Sound Advice: Tales from the Road (MusicNSW)
1:00pm Light lunch served (supported by AAM)
1:30pm From the Ground Up: Managing Success in Country Music (AAM)
2:40pm Gettin’ Gone: A Country Music Export Workshop (Sounds Australia)
5:30pm Strong Country Spirits: Social Emotional Wellbeing and Country Music Culture (Support Act)
PANEL DESCRIPTIONS
APRA AMCOS & CMAA
The Future of Country: Understanding the Music Industry
Join APRA AMCOS and the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) for an engaging one-hour session designed for aspiring and emerging musicians. This session will cover essential topics, from registering your songs with APRA to exploring career pathways in country music.
The CMAA will share insights into careers in country music and introduce their Senior and Junior Academy of Country Music programs for emerging artists — including singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists. APRA AMCOS will cover who they are, what they do, and how to make the most of your membership, including key topics such as copyright, royalties, registering your songs, songwriting splits, and the programs and opportunities available to you. There will also be time for your questions.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts and take the next step in your music career!
APRA SONGCRAFT SESSION
APRA AMCOS will host a one-off SongCraft in Conversation event featuring an in-depth and inspiring conversation with Aussie songwriter/producers Kasey Chamber and Troy Cassar-Daley. They’ll discuss their recent collaboration including the experiences, opportunities and obstacles they’ve encountered, both individually in their respective roles and together, within the current contemporary music industry climate.
ASSOCIATION OF ARTIST MANAGERS (AAM)
From the Ground Up: Managing Success in Country Music
As part of this year’s Country Music Futures Forum (CMFF), the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Australia will present an engaging session exploring the vital role of artist managers in driving artist success. With a membership of 400+ artist managers, representing over 1,000 artists — including names like Paul Kelly, Tones and I, and Tame Impala — the AAM champions and supports managers across Australia’s contemporary music industry.
Bringing together four special guests – breakout Country star Denvah, her manager Melita Hodge (Six Boroughs Management), artist manager Dan Biddle (Dan Biddle Artist Management), artist manager and AAM Chair Jess Keeley (AAM, Wonderlick, Music She Wrote) – and hosted by Sounds Australia’s Glenn Dickie, this panel will unpack the fundamentals of artist management, navigating local and international opportunities, and knowing when to find or become a manager.
The session will conclude with a Q&A, offering attendees the chance to connect directly with industry leaders and gain real-world insights.
AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT RECORD LABELS (AIR)
AIR will be holding an in conversation with Australian Alt-Country legend, Henry Wagons.
AIR’s CEO Maria Amato will also be available to speak to anyone wanting to find out more about AIR.
MUSIC AUSTRALIA
Opportunities, initiatives, and programs
Learn about Music Australia – it’s purpose and the funding programs and initiatives they invest in, all aimed at supporting the Australian contemporary music industry.
In the last two years, Music Australia has provided funding support to artists such as Amy Sheppard, Bek Brooks, Brad Cox, Brittany Elise, Ella Hooper, Emily Barker, Garrett Kato, Georgia Delves, Grace and Hugh, Hannah Crofts, Hayley Jensen, Imogen Clark, Kirsty Lee Akers , Lane Pittman, Minor Gold, Rachel Lincoln-Gomm and Wade Forster. Come along, armed with questions to see where you might be eligible to apply for funding opportunities in the future.
MUSIC NSW
Sound Advice: Tales from the Road
Interested in hitting the wide-open road? Don’t miss this opportunity to hear advice & stories from some of NSW’s most prolific touring artists. These self-managed artists from regional NSW will spill on how they get it done – from different tour models and finding the best tour routes, to how to use touring to promote new music, how to find your audience, and how to make touring sustainable, rewarding and fun. Panellists to be announced.
Panel Session: Making Noise – Promoting Yourself in a Crowded
Featuring Clayton Doughty (Director, Marketing at Sony Music Australia) and Frank Varrasso (Varrasso PR) with more panellists to be confirmed.
In today’s music landscape, talent is just the beginning. Whether you’re a rising star or a seasoned performer, knowing how to promote yourself effectively can be the difference between playing to a packed house or an empty room. This panel will dive into the art and strategy of self-promotion—covering everything from building a compelling brand, navigating media and PR, leveraging social media, and creating buzz both nationally and internationally.
Hear from publicists, media professionals, artist managers, and artists who’ve done it all—learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to make your voice heard in a crowded market. Whether your goal is to dominate the local scene or break into Nashville, this session will give you the tools to amplify your presence and grow your audience.
SUPPORT ACT
Not My First Rodeo: How Aussie Country Music Artists Manage Mental Health & Wellbeing
Working in music can be rewarding, unpredictable and demanding. The pressures and uncertainty of the industry can contribute to elevated levels of psychological distress – particularly for younger artists and those from rural and regional areas. In this live panel discussion, two passionate, established country music artists (TBA) chat to Support Act’s wellbeing lead about what they’ve learned about grit, self-care and support-seeking as ways to understand and support their own mental health and wellbeing. They’ll also explore what they’d do differently if they had to do it all over again.
Strong Country Spirits: Social Emotional Wellbeing and Country Music Culture
For First Nations music communities, Country music is a way of life. It’s storytelling pride and joy. Grounded in truth, shaping identity and strengthening connection to each other and Country. This yarn will explore how the genre lifts artists and community like no other.
SOUND NSW
Get to know Sound NSW: insights, artists and action
Join Sound NSW to discover how it’s supporting the state’s music scene. From the NSW Government’s Contemporary Music Strategy to various grants, projects, and policy initiatives, the team will provide updates, highlight opportunities to get involved, and celebrate the incredible work across the NSW music industry. You’ll hear from the Sound NSW team as well as previous grant recipients on how funding has helped elevate their work.
SOUNDS AUSTRALIA
Gettin’ Gone: A Country Music Export Workshop
The growth in country music over the past few years has seen it become one of the most popular genres in the world. The opportunities for Australian country artists to build an international career are becoming more accessible – but at the same time, there have never been more challenges: whether it’s shifting trends, increasing costs of doing business, or an abundance of musical competition. Hosted by Sounds Australia, and featuring a panel of experts, this export workshop will help to put you, your artist or your music business in the best position to grow your international presence.