As part of the partnership, UNE will proudly sponsor backstage at Toyota Park, transforming the iconic artist space into the UNE Green Room. The dedicated hub will provide artists, industry representatives and special guests with space to connect, collaborate and recharge throughout the Festival, while offering a national audience a backstage pass to engage with artists.
As Australia’s first regional university, UNE has a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality education and research that supports regional communities. It is also the only university to teach a Bachelor of Music completely online. Through strong industry and community partnerships, UNE creates opportunities for students to develop hands-on skills and build meaningful professional connections.
The partnership reinforces UNE’s commitment to regional engagement while showcasing the University’s growing investment in the creative industries. It also builds on UNE’s ongoing commitment to the Tamworth Country Music Industry, including its support for the UNE Indigenous CMAA Academy Scholarship.
Leading the academic development of UNE’s new Tamworth campus, Professor Melanie Fillios has worked closely with industry, government and community partners to shape UNE’s new Music Business offerings. These are set to launch in 2028 and provide students with direct exposure to Australia’s country music industry.
“Our partnership with the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival is a cornerstone of the proposed Music Business suite of offerings at UNE Tamworth.
“We’re incredibly excited to offer students unparalleled opportunities to get their hands dirty and gain practical, real-world experience working on a major national production. This isn’t just theory; it’s about direct immersion, with industry-led workshops connecting students with seasoned professionals and potential future employers from day one.
“It’s an investment in the next generation of creative talent, deeply embedded in the heart of Australia’s country music capital,” Professor Fillios said.
Festival Executive Producer Peter Ross says the partnership will strengthen the Festival’s commitment to supporting professional development within the country music industry.
“UNE’s commitment to education, innovation and regional communities makes it an ideal partner for the Tamworth Country Music Festival,” Mr Ross says.
“This partnership not only enhances the Festival experience for artists and industry professionals through the UNE Green Room, but also creates valuable opportunities for learning, networking and career development.”
The UNE Green Room will also host the official Country Music Industry Seminars from 9am Tuesday 19 January to Friday 22 January 2027. The seminar program is free for artists and music industry professionals and will offer practical business strategies to help build a sustainable music career, featuring insights from representatives of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA), Australian Performing Right Association (APRA), the University of New England, Sound NSW and MusicNSW.
Seminar highlights include UNE’s Changing World of Music Business, providing an insight into the University’s new Music Business courses to be delivered from Tamworth, and How To Get The Gig, where leading venue and festival bookers share what they look for when booking artists. The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) will present two In Conversation sessions with award-winning artists Andrew Swift and Tyla Rodrigues, exploring their experiences navigating today’s music industry.
Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from Paul Krige, founder of Universal Music Australia and a respected leader with more than three decades of experience in the global music business. Krige will present a free public session, Building a Career That Lasts, at UNE’s Tamworth Central facility.
UNE Tamworth will once again host the Sensory Space at UNE’s building at 24 Fitzroy Street.
The Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival will be held from 15 to 24 January 2027.
Tamworth Country Music Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
