Entries For The 2025 Toyota Star Maker Are Now Open

Entries for the 2025 Toyota Star Maker competition - going into its 45th edition - are now open, with sights set on finding Australia’s next country music talent set to win the prize pool valued at over $100,000.

Not only will Toyota Australia be celebrating its 30-year sponsorship of the Star Maker competition in January 2025, but it continues to support country music by sponsoring the Country Music Awards and supporting festivals like the Gympie Music Muster.

Toyota Australia’s Chief Marketing Officer, Vin Naidoo, said of the milestone of supporting the Star Maker competition for the 30th year: “As the longest and most respected country music talent search, the Toyota Star Maker competition continues to unearth talented newcomers and provide them with enormous career opportunities following the commencement of the competition.” 

Naidoo described the competition as a “stepping stone” for up-and-coming artists and encouraged all emerging country music artists in Australia to enter.

“The substantial prize package and competition experience will fully immerse the winner into the industry and provide a potential platform to launch their career,” Naidoo said.

Toyota Star Maker Manager Cheryl Brown added, “Star Maker is a launch pad designed for individuals who’ve already begun their journey as a country music artist and who are ready for a long and successful career in the music business.

“We believe that due to its reputation, Star Maker should be the last of the talent quests an artist should enter, so if you’re passionate, determined and ready to make your mark in this industry, then I encourage you to get your entry in.”

This year’s Toyota Star Maker competition was won by Winton-based country artist Wade Forster, who was just in Nashville as part of CMA Fest and has amassed over 20 million streams to his name.

In a statement, Forster said of the impact winning the Toyota Star Maker competition has had on his career, “Star Maker has introduced me to the Australian fans and industry where I’ve had a year of firsts, including my first sold out show, first national tour support, first time played on national radio, first time heading to Nashville’s CMA Fest, first time performing and touring with my own band and my first music video for the song Off The Drugs.

“I’m just so grateful for the prize pool offered, which includes the fully serviced Toyota and fuel card to get me around the country, and to all the media and fan support. I’m not sure how Toyota feels, but I’m aiming to beat whoever drove the most kilometres in their Star Maker year!”

Previous Star Maker winners include Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell, Beccy Cole, Lyn Bowtell, Travis Collins, Kirsty Lee Akers, Kaylee Bell, Brad Cox, Max Jackson, Loren Ryan, and more.

You can apply to participate in next year’s Toyota Star Maker competition here before entries close on Friday, 6 September.