Tamworth Country Music Festival has always been about more than packed pubs and big chorus singalongs. While Peel Street buzzes with buskers and headline shows that roll late into the night, there’s another side to the festival quietly shaping what comes next for the genre. Enter the Country Music Futures Forum (CMFF), a two-day industry event designed to help country music’s next chapter take shape.
Running Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January at the Tamworth Community Centre, CMFF brings artists, managers, songwriters and industry professionals together for conversations that go beyond the stage. Think practical advice, honest insights and connections that can actually move careers forward. Best of all, entry is just a $5 donation, with all proceeds going to Support Act.
Why It Matters
Country music is having a moment - and not just in Australia. Streaming numbers are climbing, global audiences are paying attention, and more local artists are looking beyond our borders.
CMFF exists to help artists navigate that momentum. Whether you’re still finding your feet or already eyeing international opportunities, the forum offers tools, knowledge and straight-up advice from people who’ve been there.
Across two days, panels will dig into everything from songwriting and management to touring, promotion, funding and mental health. It’s not about theory - it’s about what actually works in today’s industry.
What’s On the Agenda
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The program is stacked with sessions led by some of the most respected voices in Australian music. APRA AMCOS and the Country Music Association of Australia kick things off by unpacking copyright, royalties and long-term career pathways. Songwriters get a rare, intimate conversation with Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley, who’ll talk collaboration, creativity and staying true in a fast-changing landscape.
Artist managers and musicians come together in a session hosted by the Association of Artist Managers, focusing on sustainable careers and international growth. There’s also a deep dive into alt-country with Henry Wagons, plus practical touring advice from MusicNSW and promotion insights from Countrytown, Lime Tree Music and leading PR professionals.
Mental health and wellbeing take centre stage in a candid session led by Support Act, while Sounds Australia guides artists through the realities of exporting country music globally. Music Australia and Sound NSW will also outline funding, grants and programs that have already supported artists like Amy Sheppard, Brad Cox and Hayley Jensen.
More Than a Panel Series
With a light lunch provided each day thanks to G.Y.R.O. and AAM, CMFF is as much about community as it is information. It’s a space to ask questions, swap stories and build connections that last beyond Tamworth.
At its core, the Country Music Futures Forum is an investment — in artists, in wellbeing, and in the future of Australian country music. For $5, it’s one of the smartest moves you can make this festival season.
Wednesday 21st January
9:15am Registration opens
9:50am Welcome to Country
9:55am Official welcome from Barry Harley OAM, Festival Manager of the TCMF
10:00am The Future of Country: Understanding the Music Industry presented by APRA AMCOS / CMAA Academy
11:15am Making Noise: Promoting Yourself in a Crowded Market presented by Countrytown
12:15pm Networking & Community Building - Light light presented by G.Y.R.O.
1:00pm Not My First Rodeo: How Aussie Country Music Artists Manage Mental Health & Wellbeing presented by Support Act
2:15pm Opportunities, initiatives and programs presented by Music Australia
3:30pm APRA Songcraft Session with Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley
Thursday 22nd January
10:00am In Conversation with Henry Wagons presented by Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR)
11:15am Get to know Sound NSW: insights, artists and action presented by Sound NSW
12:10pm Sound Advice: Tales from the road presented by Music NSW
1:00pm Meet the Managers Networking - Light lunch presented by the Association of Artist Management (AAM)
1:30pm From the Ground Up: Managing Success in Country Music presented by AAM
2:40pm Gettin’ Gone: A Country Music Export Workshop (Canada/USA focus) presented by Sounds Australia & CMA Fest
5:30pm Yarning Strong: Strong Country Spirits - Social Emotional Wellbeing and Country Music Culture presented by Support Act
