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News

2025 GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
26 January 2025

Artists honoured at the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards 2025

 Troy Cassar-Daley cleans up at Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards, with 5 accolades, while Max Jackson takes home 2 awards including Female Artist of the Year.

Keith Urban honoured as 2025 inductee of the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown and awarded a Golden Guitar in Top Selling Australian Country Album of the Year for HIGH.

Australia and New Zealand’s most acclaimed country music artists have been recognised tonight at the Toyota 53rd Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth, NSW.

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2025 COUNTRY MUSIC CENSUS
16 January 2025

Country Music Census 2025

 

In 2019, the CMAA conducted landmark sector research which resulted in a comprehensive report, β€˜The Economic and Cultural Value of Country Music in Australia 2018'.

 

That report was the first in 20 years focused specifically on country music.

 

We are delighted to report that the CMAA has been awarded significant funding to document the current state-of-play in our industry.

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VALE - CHAD MORGAN 01.01.2025
02 January 2025


VALE CHAD MORGAN OAM – 11.2.1933 – 1.1.2025
By π€π§π§πš π‘π¨π¬πž

π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝐢𝑀𝐴𝐴 π‘€π‘–π‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘  π‘‘π‘œ 𝑒π‘₯𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑑𝑠 β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘“π‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘˜π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘—π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘ π‘‘, π‘Žπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘Ÿ, π‘π‘–π‘œπ‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ πΆβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘”π‘Žπ‘›, Anna Rose π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘“π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘€π‘’π‘™π‘™ π‘‘π‘œ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π΄π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘Ž'𝑠 π‘šπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘ π‘’π‘›π‘–π‘žπ‘’π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿ.

After a remarkable 72-year career in Australian country music, the legend that was Chad Morgan OAM has taken his final curtain call.


The Sheik of Scrubby Creek passed away peacefully at Gin Gin Hospital in the final hours of New Year’s Day, 2025.

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And the 2025 Golden Guitar Awards Nominees Are...
21 November 2024

Congratulations to all the nominees in the 2025 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and good luck for the big night on Saturday 25th January 2025 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre.

 **  Order your Golden Guitar Awards tickets HERE  **

 

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2024 CMAA Achiever Awards Recipients Announced!
15 November 2024

  The Country Music Association of Australia Announces 2024 CMAA Achiever Awards Recipients!

 

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THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCE REBOOT OF CMAA ACHIEVER AWARDS
14 October 2024

The Country Music Association of Australia is proud and excited to announce the rebooting of the CMAA Achiever Awards. These awards are non-competitive acknowledgements of individuals or groups, both contemporary and legacy, who have made a significant contribution to the Australian country music scene.

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53rd Golden Guitar Awards 2025 Entries Open Tomorrow!
27 August 2024

 

Important Note on information you'll need for your entries, plus some handy hints and tips!

 

Entries in the 53rd Country Music Awards of Australia will commence at 9am Wednesday 28th August 2024

and closes at 5pm on Tuesday 1st October 2024.


BEFORE YOU START:  PLEASE READ THE HANDBOOK

Before you start this process make sure you have downloaded and thoroughly read the

 

 53rd Country Music Awards Of Australia 2025: Awards Handbook

 

If you have any questions regarding your entry, please don't hesitate contact our GG Awards Help Desk via email goldenguitars@country.com.au
or call 0491 108 657.

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NEW - CMAA AFFILIATE PROGRAM
12 August 2024

 

The board of the Country Music Association of Australia Inc is very pleased to announce a new initiative that we hope will help drive your music dollars a little bit further!

 

The CMAA AFFILIATE Program

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Special message from the CMAA Board
31 May 2024

Reflections on IDAHOBIT and the culture of country music in Australia

On May 17th the CMAA and many of our members joined thousands of Australians in celebrating IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia). The date marked the 34th anniversary of The World Health organisation’s removal of homosexuality from the classification of diseases. 

 
Supporting IDAHOBIT is just part of the CMAA’s One…but many campaign, an initiative of our Diversity Committee. We are delighted by the overwhelmingly positive and supportive response from our membership so far, and we believe that One…but many can achieve its goal of stamping out sexism, racism, discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, ageism and bullying within the country music community. 

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Allan Caswell 2024 Australiasian Roll of Renown Recipient
30 January 2024

 

Allan Caswell elevated to the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in Tamworthβ€―β€―

 

One of Australia’s most recorded songwriters and multi-Golden Guitar winning performers was tonight elevated to the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown, at the 2024 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth, NSW.

 

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2024 GOLDEN GUITAR AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
30 January 2024

The Wolfe Brothers, Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham and Brad Cox top the night, each taking home three Golden Guitar Awards.

Kaylee Bell named Female Artist of the Year; Max Jackson named New Talent of the Year.

 Allan Caswell honoured as 2024 inductee of the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown.

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And the 2024 Golden Guitar Awards Nominees Are...
23 November 2023

 

Congratulations to all the nominees in the 2024 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and good luck for the big night on Saturday 27th January 2024 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre.

 

**  Order your Golden Guitar Awards tickets HERE  **

 

Read More
WINNERS CROWNED AT THE 51st GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS
22 January 2023

 

Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley top the night, taking home three Golden Guitar Awards including Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year

Casey Barnes claims Toyota Album of the Year and Top Selling Country Album of the Year

Andrew Swift crowned Male Artist of the Year; Amber Lawrence named Female Artist of the Year

Colin Buchanan honoured as 2023 inductee of the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown

 

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And the 2023 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Nominees Are...
22 November 2022

Congratulations to all the nominees in the 2023 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and good luck for the big night on Saturday 21st January 2023 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre.

 

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2023 GG AWARDS NOMINATION ANNOUNCEMENT EVENT - ON NOW!
22 November 2022

2023 GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT EVENT

 

YOU'RE INVITED!


To view the official nominations announcement of the
2023 Toyota 51st Golden Guitar Awards

 

8am (AEDT) today!

 

Watch:  www.tcmf.com.au/live

or Tamworth Country Music Festival | Tamworth NSW | Facebook

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2022 CMAA Winners Album OUT NOW!
06 May 2022

THE 2022 CMAA WINNERS ALBUM OUT NOW

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) compilation returns for another year, showcasing finalists from the 50th annual Country Music Awards (the Golden Guitars); the very best of Australian country music.

Out now through ABC Music, the β€˜Winners 2022’ compilation contains a massive 40 songs across a double album set. Featured artists include Troy Cassar-Daley, Catherine Britt, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Shane Nicholson, Amber Lawrence, Darlinghurst, Ashleigh Dallas, Michael Waugh, Andrew Swift, Jayne Denham and many more!

 

Available from all good retailers online and in store!

 

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Winners crowned at Toyota 50th Golden Guitar Awards
21 April 2022

 

Shane Nicholson tops the night, taking home four Golden Guitar Awards including Toyota Album of the Year

Troy Cassar-Daley claims three Awards, including Male Artist of the Year, taking his career tally to 40 Golden Guitar Awards – the most ever won by an individual artist

Beccy Cole honoured as 2022 inductee of the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown

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2021 CMAA Winners Album OUT NOW!
27 January 2021

THE 2021 CMAA WINNERS ALBUM OUT NOW

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) compilation returns for another year, showcasing finalists from the 49th annual Country Music Awards (the Golden Guitars); the very best of Australian country music.

Out now through ABC Music, the β€˜Winners 2021’ compilation contains a massive 39 songs across a double album set. Featured artists include The McClymonts, Brad Cox, Adam Brand, Travis Collins, Morgan Evans, John Williamson, The Wolfe Brothers, Luke O'Shea, The Weeping Willows and more.

BUY YOUR COPY HERE:  https://abcmusic.lnk.to/CMAAWinners2021

 

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2021 ROLL OF RENOWN ANNOUNCED
27 January 2021

Bushwackers named the 2021 Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown recipients

 

The Bushwackers, who are this year celebrating their Golden Jubilee were honoured for their energetic writing, performing, recording, and celebration of Australian heritage.

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2021 TOYOTA GOLDEN GUITAR AWARD WINNERS!
26 January 2021

The best of Australian country music celebrated at the 49th Toyota Golden Guitar Awards

- Fanny Lumsden takes home five Toyota Golden Guitar Awards including Toyota Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year

-          The McClymonts and Luke O’Shea awarded two Golden Guitar Awards each.

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2021 TOP SELLING COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
15 January 2021

 Keith Urban's THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1 announced as Top Selling Australian Country Album of 2020
 

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And the 2021 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Nominees Are...
19 November 2020

Congratulations to all the nominees in the 2021 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and good luck for the big night on Saturday 23th January 2021 at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre.

 

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2021 TOYOTA GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS TO PROCEED LIVE FROM TAMWORTH - WITH A TWIST
26 October 2020

 
Tamworth Regional Council, together with the Country Music Association of Australia Inc. (CMAA) has today announced that the 49th annual Country Music Awards of Australia, the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, will proceed as a LIVE event from the capital of country music in Australia, Tamworth NSW.

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2020 Golden Guitar Award Winners!
29 January 2020

The winners of the 48th Country Music Awards of Australia – The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards.

 

Felicity Urquhart was the night’s big winner with six Golden Guitars including Toyota Album Of The Year and Female Artist of the Year.

Morgan Evans named Male Artist of the Year and Blake O’Connor, Qantas New Talent of the Year.

Australian country music’s night of nights, the 48th Country Music Awards of Australia – The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, shined a light on the industry tonight, as it came together to celebrate the best in Australian country music from the past year.

Felicity Urquhart was the night’s big winner taking out six awards from her ten nominations including APPLE MUSIC SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Chain Of Joy), APRA AMCOS SONG OF THE YEAR (Chain Of Joy), FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR, TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Frozen Rabbit), and TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Frozen Rabbit).

Urquhart performed her award-winning song Chain Of Joy β€“ an ode to the many joys to be found in daily life during the show, cementing her place as one of Australia’s best-loved singer-songwriters.

International chart-topping singer-songwriter Morgan Evans took out MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR and CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR for Things That We Drink To.

Brad Butcher collected the Golden Guitar for ALT COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR with Travelling Salesman.

Rounding out the album awards was Lee Kernaghan, who was presented with the previously announced TOP SELLING AUSTRALIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR for this latest album, Backroad Nation, taking his career tally to 38 Golden Guitars, equalling the record set by the great Slim Dusty.

The evolution of Australian country music was on show at the Awards tonight with The Buckleys, Brad Butcher, Blake O’Connor, Sinead Burgess, Casey Barnes, Busby Marou and Andrew Farriss making their debut Golden Guitar Awards performances alongside Awards mavens Lee Kernaghan, Sara Storer, Gina Jeffreys, Felicity Urquhart, Amber Lawrence, Jeff Brown, The Wolfe Brothers, Brad Cox, and Luke O’Shea & Lyn Bowtell whose song Sing Me A Story awarded them VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR and HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR.

COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR went to Kevin Bennett & The Flood, while BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR went to one of Australia’s most recorded songwriters Allan Caswell for Country Copper co-written with Manfred Vijars.

First-time finalist, 2019 Toyota Star Maker Blake O’Connor took home his first Golden Guitar for the hotly contended QANTAS NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR.

Rod McCormack with his song Timeless Traveller was the recipient of COCA-COLA INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR, Kristy Cox received tonight’s award for BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR (Yesterday’s Heartache), and Fanny Lumsden & Dan Stanley Freeman received the CMC VIDEO OF THE YEAR award for their clip Real Men Don’t Cry (War On Pride).

Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia Mr Dan Biddle said, "Country music is enjoying a new golden era in Australia, and tonight's show has been an incredible showcase of emerging talent and industry legends.

"The combination of captivating performances, emotional tributes, and wonderful celebrations shows the remarkable spectrum of country music that we have here in Australia and, on behalf of the board of the Country Music Association of Australia, I would like to congratulate all the winners tonight."

To close out the show, guests at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre, and the fans watching on the live-stream, were treated to a very special tribute performance to country music legend Joy McKean to honour her 90th birthday, and in recognition of her elevation to the Australiasian Country Music Roll of Renown.

It was a fitting climax to a spectacular night of celebration, and in making the presentation to Joy, Troy Cassar-Daley, said she is an inspiration to multiple generations.

Toyota Australia’s Chief Marketing Officer, Wayne Gabriel said: "On behalf of Toyota Australia, we'd like to congratulate all of the finalists and winners of the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards for their outstanding musical achievements and contributions."

Toyota has been a proud partner of the Country Music Festival in Tamworth for 28 years, and we are thrilled to be able to continue our commitment to supporting country music in Australia from a grassroots level and beyond."

The 48th Toyota Golden Guitar Awards was hosted by Caitlyn Shadbolt, Sinead Burgess, and Melanie Dyer. The Red Carpet hosted by ABC New England North West Chief of Staff Anna Moulder and two-time Golden Guitar winner Andrew Swift.

The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are proudly presented by Tamworth Regional Council and supported by Toyota, the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, APRA AMCOS, Apple Music, Country Music Capital News, CMC, ABC, QANTAS, Coca-Cola, and the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA).

The Toyota Golden Guitar Awards are the only industry affiliated country music awards in Australia and the greatest celebration of Australian country music talent. The awards are the pinnacle event of the Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth.

Listen to the Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Finalists playlist on Apple Music here: Apple Music 2020 Golden Guitar Awards Finalist Playlist.

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And the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Finalists Are...
20 November 2019

Congratulations to all the finalists in the 2020 Golden Guitar Awards and good luck for the big night on Saturday 25th January, at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre.

 

Read More
VALUE OF COUNTRY MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA HAS DOUBLED IN 20 YEARS.
21 August 2019

COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INC RELEASE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE BOOMING GENRE

 

Download:    Executive Summary    Key Findings    Full Report

 

Twenty years after it conducted the first study into country music in Australia, the Country Music Association of Australia Inc has released an in-depth update – β€˜The Economic and Cultural Value of Country Music in Australia 2018’.

The report is the result of nine months of industry research including detailed responses from 4,329 country music fans and 582 artists. The key findings reveal that the genre is in robust health and experiencing sustained growth which has seen the sector double in value to a conservative $574 million since 1997.

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Vale Glen Hannah
05 June 2019

The Country Music Association of Australia is saddened and shocked by the passing this week of one of our most beloved sons, Glen Hannah.
 
Glen was truly one-of-a-kind. Not only was he a gifted multi-instrumentalist, he was an exceptional artist in every sense of the word: with incredible talents as a photographer, graphic artist and producer.  Most of all he was a devoted husband and father and a friend and inspiration to so many.
 

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CMAA News Update
05 June 2019

INCLUDING:

APRA AMCOS Song of the Year AU/NZ Songwriter Vote Result..

Board Appointments..

Update your profile and renew your membership on the CMAA Website..

The Academy Junior Course..

Country Music Census..

 

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2019 GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS WINNERS!
07 February 2019

 

The 2019 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards celebrated a remarkable year for the Australian country music industry, with a line-up of standout performances by this year’s nominated artists at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on Saturday 26 January 2019.

The Wolfe Brothers were the big winners of the night. Taking home four awards from their five nominations, Nick and Tom Wolfe, together with Brodie Rainbird collected the coveted TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR award for their highly acclaimed fourth studio album, Country Heart, along with CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR, COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR and APRA AMCOS SONG OF THE YEAR for Ain’t Seen It Yet, co-written by the band with Erik Dylan.

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The 2019 Winners Album available now!
07 February 2019

The Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) compilation returns for another year, showcasing finalists from the 47th annual Country Music Awards (the Golden Guitars); the very best of Australian country music.

 

The album is available now from: https://lnk.to/Winners2019

 

Out now through Universal Music Australia, the β€˜CMAA: Winners 2019’ compilation contains 32 songs across a double album set. Featured artists include Morgan Evans, The Wolfe Brothers, Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples feat. Alan Pigram, Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont, Travis Collins, Missy Lancaster, Fanny Lumsden and much more, representing a broad stylistic range.

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Nominees Announced for 2019 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards
20 November 2018

Tamworth Regional Council and the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) today announced the nominees for the 2019 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, and officially launched the 47th Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth.

 

Held at ABC’s Sydney studios, the high calibre event hosted some of the biggest names in Australian music to celebrate the success of the country music industry and Australia’s largest music festival.

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ARIA Week Country Showcase
09 November 2018

The CMAA and ARIA present the first ever ARIA Week Country Showcase to be held in the lead up to the ARIA Awards on November 28. The event will feature 2018 ARIA award nominees Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont, Fanny Lumsden, The Wolfe Brothers & Travis Collins sharing songs & stories in a writers round showcase. 

 

2018 has been a landmark year for country music in Australia with airplay & media support stronger than ever, streaming numbers growing, sold-out festivals and tours and more Australian artists & writers succeeding on an international level than ever before.

 

Check out these great artists & more on the A-List: Country on Apple Music.

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Grab your Toyota Golden Guitar Awards tickets!
29 October 2018

The Toyota Golden Guitars Awards are at the heart of it all - at the heart of the journey for both artists and fans alike. The awards night gives fans the opportunity to rub shoulders with the biggest names in country music and see all of their favourite artists perform in one huge show.

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Country Music Census 2018
25 October 2018

We need your help ! It’s been 20 years since our industry compiled comprehensive statistics on the size and economic and cultural significance of the music we love... 

Read More
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