The University of New England (UNE) is heading backstage at the Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival, as the university lays the groundwork for new Music Business courses to be taught from Tamworth.
Tamworth Regional Council has announced UNE as the festival’s Official Education Partner.
As part of the deal, UNE will sponsor backstage at Toyota Park, turning the well-known artist space into the UNE Green Room.
The hub will give artists, industry representatives, and special guests a place to connect, collaborate, and recharge during the festival. It will also offer a national audience a backstage pass to engage with artists.
“Our partnership with the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival is a cornerstone of the proposed Music Business suite of offerings at UNE Tamworth,” said UNE Director Place Based Education and Research Professor Melanie Fillios.
Professor Fillios is leading the academic development of UNE’s new Tamworth campus. She has worked closely with industry, government, and community partners to shape the new Music Business offerings, which are set to launch in 2028 and will give students direct exposure to Australia’s country music industry.
“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,” Professor Fillios said.
“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.”
As Australia’s first regional university, UNE is also the only university to teach a Bachelor of Music completely online.
The partnership builds on UNE’s existing support for the Tamworth country music industry, including the UNE Indigenous CMAA Academy Scholarship.
Festival Executive Producer Peter Ross said the partnership would strengthen the festival’s commitment to professional development in the country music industry.
“UNE’s commitment to education, innovation and regional communities makes it an ideal partner for the Tamworth Country Music Festival,” Ross said.
“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, starting at 9am on Tuesday, 19 January and running until Friday, 22 January 2027.
The program is free for artists and music industry professionals and will focus on practical business strategies for building a sustainable music career.
Speakers will include representatives from the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA), the Australian Performing Right Association (APRA), UNE, Sound NSW, and MusicNSW.
Highlights include UNE’s Changing World of Music Business session, which will give an insight into the new Music Business courses to be delivered from Tamworth.
In How To Get The Gig, leading venue and festival bookers will share what they look for when booking artists.
The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) will also present two In Conversation sessions with award-winning artists Andrew Swift and Tyla Rodrigues, who will talk about navigating today’s music industry.
Festival-goers can also hear from Paul Krige, founder of Universal Music Australia, who has 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 its building at 24 Fitzroy Street.
The Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival runs from Friday, 15 January to Sunday, 24 January 2027, with the Toyota 55th Golden Guitar Awards on Saturday, 23 January.
To book and find out more, head to tcmf.com.au/whatson.
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