Emerging artists given more time to enter Toyota Star Maker competition
Pictured: 2020 winner Sammy White
Budding country music stars now have until October 7 to enter the Toyota Star Maker competition.
The two-week deadline extension gives artists more time to put together their entries which must include two tracks, a biography and a list of their career achievements.
To give artists more opportunity to sell themselves to the judging panel, 20 semi-finalists will then be interviewed individually via Zoom.
From there, 10 finalists will be invited to perform at the Toyota Stat Maker Final at the opening weekend of the Tamworth Music Festival in January 2022, where the winner will also be crowned.
The prize includes a recording session with top musicians and producers, as well as the recording, distribution and promotion of a four-track EP and the production of two professional video clips.
The winner will also receive 12 months of access to a brand new fully serviced Toyota vehicle, a fuel card for the length of their reign, return air fares for one four nights accomodation for the CMA Festival in June 2022, a photographic portfolio, an acoustic guitar, a recording session and media promotion.
The competition has already been the launchpad of artists including Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Sam McClymont, Lyn Bowtell, Kirsty Lee Akers, Kaylee Bell, Brad Cox and Blake O’Connor.
Star Maker coordinator, Cheryl Brown, urged emerging artists who are ready to take the next step to enter now.
“We’ve already had a number of great entries, and now those who want to take their music career to the next level have two extra weeks to apply,” she said.
“We appreciate the current COVID-19 situation has had a huge impact on people’s lives and we want to ensure anyone who wants to enter, has that opportunity.
“Not only will the Star Maker winner become an ambassador for the Australian country music industry, but they will also receive a prize package worth $100,000.”
This year’s iteration of the competition was stalled by COVID, giving 2020 winner Sammy White an extended reign. Despite COVID’s disruptions, she has released an album, Undone, and three singles ‘Lay It On Me’, ‘Home (Feels Like You)’, and ‘Running Away Tonight’.
Toyota Australia’s chief marketing officer, John Pappas, said the brand was proud to support such a successful competition.
“For 28 years, Toyota has supported Star Maker and it has been proven to give talented musicians a real boost for their careers, as is evident by the incredible lineup of Star Maker alumni that have gone on to become Australian and international country music stars,” he said.
“This fantastic prize package will give the winner a unique opportunity to record, perform and immerse themselves in the industry to help keep driving their career forward.”
The competition is organised and promoted by Tamworth Regional Council, the publishers of Country Music Capital News and the Official Guide to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.