TOYOTA STAR MAKER
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| Toyota Star Maker is Australia's most successful and prestigious country music talent search |
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Luke Austen 2010 Toyota Star Maker
Following in the footsteps of Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan and Beccy Cole, Queenslander Luke Austen has been crowned winner of Australia’s oldest and most successful country music talent search, 2010 Toyota Star Maker.
Luke was the judges’ number one choice from a pool of 19 finalists and six grand finalists who each performed at the event in Tamworth on Sunday, 17 January.
Luke said that he is excited by the prospects that lie ahead.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be awarded a prize that has started the careers of some of the biggest names in country music. It’s a huge opportunity and I intend to make the most of it,” he said.
Based in Margate, Queensland, singer-songwriter and guitarist Austen has a wealth of experience in the country music industry. Since winning the perpetual musicianship award at Charters Towers Country Music Talent Quest in 1997, Luke has since added to his trophy cabinet and broadened his horizons, touring with some of Australia’s best known country stars.
In 2000 and 2004 he completed four tours of Australia with legendary bush balladeer Brian Young and in 2004, he became a fulltime member of Troy Cassar-Daley’s touring band. In 2009 Luke released a five-track EP, No Stranger to the Rain.
Luke faced stiff competition in the 2010 Toyota Star Maker Grand Final from fellow Queenslander Cory Hargreaves, along with Chelsea Basham (WA), Mandi Jarry (NSW) and Tori Darke (NSW).
All 19 finalists were joined at the event by 2009 Toyota Star Maker winner Liam Brew who, testament to his success garnered through his Toyota Star Maker win, has been nominated for a Golden Guitar for New Talent of the Year at the 2010 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia.
General Manager Rural Press Events, Barry Harley, said that the quality of performers continues to grow in line with interest in the event.
“This year we are celebrating the 31st year of Star Maker. As the years go by we continue to enjoy a high standard of entrants which keeps taking country music to new heights. Toyota Star Maker is the number one benchmark in showcasing Australian country music’s best new talent,” he said.
“Last year’s winner, Liam Brew, has made fantastic use of this opportunity and I have no doubt that Luke Austen will do the same,” Mr Harley said.
Toyota’s Manager of Sponsorship and Promotions, Wayne Gabriel, said the finalists were of an extremely high standard and were all to be congratulated.
“The success of previous Star Maker winners has no doubt provided motivation for many of our finalists today. The title, as well as the prize package provides Luke with everything he needs to kick start his career in 2010,” Mr Gabriel said.
“The quality of the performances was excellent and all finalists have spent an incredible amount of time fine-tuning what they presented. The judges certainly had a tough job and I don’t envy them,” he said.
The 2010 Toyota Star Maker prize package is bigger and better than ever and includes:
Use of the title Toyota Star Maker 2010 winner;
A big budget recording session with one of Australia’s top producers;
An album recording contract with award-winning Compass Brothers Records;
Distribution and promotion of at least two tracks to radio and other media;
50 copies of the album for personal distribution;
A Maton acoustic guitar;
12 months use of a brand new fully serviced Toyota motor vehicle;
A fuel card for the 12 months after winning Toyota Star Maker;
Production of a professional video clip of one of the tracks by an award-winning director;
Media promotion including monthly exposure in Australia’s monthly country music magazine Country Music Capital News;
Photographic portfolio with Image Design Photography;
Guaranteed performance bookings at a designated list of events including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Perth Muster, Mud Bulls & Music, National Music Muster at Gympie and Penrith’s Museum of Fire plus a special performance at the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final Spectacular in 2011; and
A touring opportunity with the popular Sunny Cowgirls in early 2010.
For more information on Toyota’s commitment to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and other events please visit: www.toyotacountryclub.com.au
- ENDS -
Audio files from the 2010 Toyota Star Maker Grand Final available for download from: www.countrymusicradio.com.au
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Toyota Star Maker 2010 announces Top 20 Finalists
The top 20 finalists in Australia’s most prestigious country music talent search – Toyota Star Maker – have been announced for 2010.
The 20 hopefuls invited to travel to Tamworth this January are...
Amanda Halloran, Bribie Island Qld
Armstrong Brown, Glenbrook NSW
Chad Shuttleworth, Eumundi Qld
Chelsea Basham, Wongan Hills WA
Cory Hargreaves, Brisbane Qld
Craig Morrison, Sydney NSW
Fiona Fields, Sydney NSW
Jesse Emmanuel, Boambee NSW
John Flanagan, Melbourne Vic
Leila Fisher, Orange NSW
Luke Austen, Grafton NSW
Mandi Jarry, Sydney NSW
Megan Cooper, Brisbane Qld
Mickey Pye, Oberon NSW
Neil Douglas, Brisbane Qld
Rebecca Moore, Melbourne Vic
Rick Caballo, Wollongong NSW
Tiffney Stroh, Mount Barker SA
Tori Darke, Wollongong NSW
Vanessa Lea, Coffs Harbour NSW
Toyota Star Maker 2010 – “brought to you by the All New Prado” – will be staged in the Tamworth Country Theatre at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre (TRECC) on Sunday, January 17.
“The Top 20 will run through the day starting at 12.30pm,” said RPE General Manager Barry Harley. “The Grand Final Spectacular later that evening, at 7.30pm, features the six best new talents in Australian country music plus special appearances from past Star Maker winners.”
The Toyota Star Maker 2010 prize package is one of the Australian music industry’s biggest and most valued. It includes...
use of the title Toyota Star Maker 2010 winner
a big budget recording session with one of Australia’s top producers
album recording contract with award winning Compass Brothers Records
distribution and promotion of at least two tracks to radio and other media
50 copies of the album for personal distribution
a Maton acoustic guitar
12 months use of a brand new fully serviced Toyota motor vehicle
a fuel card for the 12 months after winning Toyota Star Maker
production of a professional video clip of one of the tracks by an award winning director
media promotion including monthly exposure in Australia’s monthly country music magazine Country Music Capital News
photographic portfolio with Image Design Photography
guaranteed performance bookings at a designated list of events organised by Laing Entertainment including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Perth Muster, Mud Bulls & Music, National Music Muster at Gympie and Penrith’s Museum of Fire plus a special performance at the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final Spectacular in 2011
touring opportunity with the popular Sunny Cowgirls in early 2010
In addition to this, all Toyota Star Maker Finalists receive a 12 month membership of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA).
Tickets for the Toyota Star Maker Final and Grand Final Spectacular are on sale now through Tamworth Visitor Information Centre on 02 6767 5300 or on-line via www.tamworthcountrymusic.com.au (follow the links to tickets).
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Keith features on Sunday Night
Seven Network's Sunday Night program caught up with Toyota Star Maker winner 1992 KEITH URBAN.
Click on the link below to view the segment.
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TORI TO RELEASE DEBUT EP
Tori Darke will release her debut EP in Sydney this week (Thursday March 19), 7pm at the ROOTY HILL RSL Club
Just months away from appearing in Canada as Australia’s Ambassador at the Merritt Mountain Country Music Festival, Tori Darke releases her debut self titled EP next week at Rooty Hill RSL.
Radio can’t get enough of the emerging artist. A 2009 Toyota Star Maker grand finalist, Tori’s new single Crawl has stormed radio stations, with many of Sydney’s radio and media personalities expected to attend next Thursday night’s launch.
The invitation only premiere also airs her video clip, produced by Duncan Toombes and shot on location at Menangle in New South Wales.
Screening across the historic music venue‘s walls after the official release, the clip to Tori’s pre-launch single which aired last month on NfS, will soon appear on the Country Music Channel.
Tori’s management cites the clip as ‘age appropriate, fresh, sassy and a great vibe’, and targets radio stations across the country, CMR Online, ABC Radio John Nutting’s Saturday Night Country, Cool Country 2KA Western Sydney, 2MCR Campbelltown, KIX FM Network, Monaro FM, 2GLF Liverpool, STAR fm Tasmania, Spectrum FM, WYN FM Melbourne, CBAA Good Morning Country, 94.1 FM Newcastle as amongst the top stations and many many more giving solid airplay to the new track.
Internationally it’s been picked up on a Canadian Network, Brave New Frontiers who broadcast among others, to eight New Zealand stations.
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Liam Brew – Toyota Star Maker 2009
Oh what a winner! Liam Brew declared Toyota Star Maker 2009
Following in the footsteps of Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan and Beccy Cole, Palmview, Liam Brew from Palmview on the Queensland Sunshine Coast hinterland, has taken the crown as winner of the Toyota Star Maker 2009 competition, Australia’s oldest and most successful country music talent search.
He was the judge’s number one choice from a pool of 10 grand finalists who each performed at the event and said that he is excited by the prospects that lie ahead.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be awarded a prize that has started the careers of some of the biggest names in country music,” he said. “It’s a huge opportunity and I intend to make the most of it.”
A contemporary country rock artist, 18 year old Liam has already collected a number of accolades, most noteworthy, his win of the 2007 Maton Talent Search at the Toyota National Gympie Music Muster.
He is a graduate of both the Tamworth Camerata (2007) and the CMAA College of Country Music (2008).
All 10 finalists were joined at the event by Toyota Star Maker 2008 winner Talia Wittmann who is a finalist for two Golden Guitars in the 2009 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia.
General Manager for Toyota Star Maker organisers Rural Press Events Barry Harley said that the quality of performers continues to grow, in line with interest in the event.
“This year we are celebrating the 30th year of Star Maker. As the years go by it is fascinating watching the ongoing high standard of entrants that continues to take country music to new heights. Toyota Star Maker is the number one benchmark in showcasing Australian country music’s best new talent,” he said.
“Last year’s winner, Talia Wittmann, has made fantastic use of this opportunity and I have no doubt that Liam will do the same,” Barry said
Toyota’s Manager of Promotions and Event Management, Wayne Gabriel, said the finalists were of an extremely high standard and were all to be congratulated.
“The success of previous Star Maker winners has no doubt provided motivation for many of our finalists today. The title, as well as the prize package provides Liam with everything he needs to kick start his career in 2009,” he said.
“The quality of the performances was excellent and all finalists have spent an incredible amount of time fine-tuning what they presented. The judges certainly had a tough job and I don’t envy them,” Wayne said.
The 2009 Toyota Star Maker prize package is bigger and better than ever and includes:
Use of the title Toyota Star Maker 2009;
A big-budget full album with Compass Brothers Records for a period of 12 months
Distribution and promotion of at least two tracks from the album to radio and other media;
50 copies of the album for personal distribution;
Production of a video clip for one track by an award-winning director;
Media promotion including monthly exposure in Country Music Capital News;
Guaranteed bookings at a designated list of events including country music festivals in Tamworth, Caboolture, Gympie and more;
12 month booking agency support from Artist Network;
A Maton acoustic guitar;
Photographic portfolio with Image Design Photography;
Invitations to a designated list of industry events;
A showcase performance at the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final in 2010;
A Toyota Star Maker winner’s jacket; and
Use of a fully serviced Toyota Rav4 CV Auto & petrol card for the 12 months following the award;
In addition, long term supporter of Toyota Star Maker and emerging country music talent, Maton Guitars, added to the prize pack with $500 presented to each of the 10 finalists at the start of the evening.
For more information on Toyota’s commitment to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and other events please visit: www.toyotacountryclub.com.au.
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| Toyota Star Maker Winners |
| Following is the complete list of Toyota Star Maker winners since the talent search commenced in 1979. |
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Toyota
Major sponsor of the Toyota Star Maker Quest
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Keith on Sunday Night
Star Maker KEITH URBAN features on Sunday Night... click on the image to view the segment.
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