Ridin’ Starts 2026 gives emerging Australian country artists a chance to develop their careers through industry mentorship, creative opportunities and a Sydney-based prize experience.
Country music has always had a strong connection to place. Its songs carry stories of regional towns, long roads, family histories and the ordinary experiences that shape people's lives. Across Australia, a new generation of country musicians is finding fresh ways to tell those stories, drawing on traditional influences while developing sounds and identities of their own.
For many of these artists, however, the journey from writing songs at home to establishing a sustainable music career is not straightforward. Recording costs, industry contacts, professional representation and opportunities to reach new audiences can all present significant obstacles.
It is against this backdrop that Ridin’ Starts returns for 2026.
The emerging artist initiative, presented by Ridin’ Hearts and supported by APRA AMCOS and music industry professionals, will once again provide an independent Australian country artist with access to a collection of professional development opportunities.
There is an important distinction this year. While the Ridin’ Hearts Festival takes a break in 2026, its commitment to supporting Australian country music continues through Ridin’ Starts. Rather than gathering audiences for a weekend of performances, the initiative turns its attention towards the people who may shape the country's country music scene in the years ahead.
Entries are now open and close on Sunday 6 December 2026 at 11.59 pm AEDT. For eligible musicians, the coming weeks offer an opportunity to put original work in front of an industry panel and take a meaningful step towards a professional career.
The initiative is not simply about discovering another promising voice. It is about providing the practical support, knowledge and connections that can help an emerging artist move forward.
Ridin’ Starts And The Future Of Australian Country Music
Australia's country music landscape has changed considerably over the past decade.
The genre has expanded beyond its traditional boundaries, with younger performers drawing on pop, folk, rock and contemporary Americana influences. Digital platforms have also made it easier for independent musicians to release their work and reach listeners outside their immediate communities.
Yet access to the wider music industry remains an important part of building a career.
A strong song and a compelling live performance are valuable starting points, but emerging artists also need to understand distribution, publicity, management, publishing and the business decisions that surround releasing music.
Ridin’ Starts was developed with these challenges in mind.
The initiative provides one emerging Australian country artist with a structured collection of professional opportunities, bringing them into contact with people who work across different areas of the music business.
The 2026 programme includes individual meetings with industry professionals, music distribution guidance, artist development, songwriting opportunities and professional photography.
It also includes travel to Sydney, with return flights, accommodation and transfers provided through APRA AMCOS.
For an independent musician, particularly someone working outside the major music centres, this kind of access can be valuable. It creates an opportunity to spend time with people who understand the industry, ask questions and develop a clearer sense of what the next stage of a career might involve.
The emphasis is on development rather than overnight success.
That distinction is important. Music careers rarely follow a predictable path, and the people who build lasting work often do so through a combination of persistence, practical knowledge and relationships developed over time.
A Platform Built On Previous Success
Ridin’ Starts first launched in 2024, establishing a pathway for emerging Australian country artists to gain greater industry exposure.
Its inaugural winner was singer-songwriter Michael Honan, whose selection helped introduce the programme to the wider Australian country music community.
The initiative returned in 2025, attracting its largest number of submissions to that point. Victorian musician Ruby Jane was selected as the winner, bringing experience from the independent country music scene and a strong connection with live performance.
Her experience illustrates the value of opportunities that extend beyond a single announcement or competition result.
As part of her prize, Ruby Jane performed on the Lone Spur Stage at the 2025 Ridin’ Hearts Festival. She has since released her single Lucky, toured extensively around Australia and continued working on new music.
For independent artists, opportunities to perform in front of unfamiliar audiences can be an important part of building confidence and developing a following. Equally valuable are the professional relationships and experience that can continue to contribute to a career long after a particular event has finished.
Ruby Jane has spoken about the exposure and connections she gained through the programme, highlighting the importance of having a platform where independent musicians can share their work and meet people within the industry.
Her experience provides a useful example of what Ridin’ Starts hopes to achieve with its 2026 recipient.
The next winner will come from a new group of artists, each bringing a different musical background, perspective and understanding of Australian country music.
What The 2026 Ridin’ Starts Prize Includes
The 2026 prize package has been designed to address several of the practical challenges faced by independent musicians.
Rather than offering a single cash award, Ridin’ Starts brings together professional advice, creative development and opportunities to build relationships across the Australian music industry.
One of the central elements is a series of one-on-one meetings with established professionals.
The 2026 participants include:
- Katie Rynne, from Wheelhouse Agency, bringing experience in artist representation and the wider music business.
- Kaylee Bell, an established country artist who can offer insight into the realities of building a career as a performer.
- Natalie Waller, from ABC Music, with extensive experience in the Australian recording industry.
- The Ridin’ Hearts Marketing and Communications Team, offering guidance on artist identity, publicity and audience development.
- Frontier Touring's Legal Team, providing an opportunity to better understand the contractual and legal considerations involved in a music career.
For an emerging songwriter, these conversations can be particularly useful. Understanding how to approach an agency, prepare for a release or protect original material is often knowledge that takes years to acquire through experience.
The package also includes music distribution and release strategy support through G.Y.R.O.
Getting a recording onto streaming platforms is only one part of releasing music. Artists must also consider timing, promotion, audience engagement and how individual releases contribute to a longer-term creative direction. Access to experienced advice in this area can help musicians approach their next project with greater confidence.
Another element is an artist development session with True South, providing further opportunity to examine musical direction, professional goals and the steps required to build a sustainable career.
Inside The Lock In: A Songwriting Opportunity In Sydney
Perhaps one of the more distinctive elements of the Ridin’ Starts prize is access to The Lock In, the songwriting room associated with Mushroom Music.
For songwriters, the opportunity to spend time in a professional creative environment can be significant.
Writing music is often a solitary activity. Ideas begin in bedrooms, rehearsal spaces and home studios, sometimes taking shape over months before becoming finished recordings. A dedicated songwriting environment introduces a different atmosphere, with the possibility of approaching ideas in a more focused and collaborative setting.
The Lock In offers the 2026 winner a day in Mushroom Music's songwriting room to develop ideas and bring new material to life.
The experience is particularly relevant for artists interested in exploring professional songwriting processes and understanding how creative collaboration works within the recording industry.
The prize also includes a professional press photography package.
In the contemporary music business, visual identity has become an important part of how artists present themselves. Photographs are used across streaming profiles, publicity materials, promotional campaigns and social media. Having access to professional images gives an emerging performer material that can be used consistently as their profile develops.
There is also a $500 Love Police merchandise creation voucher, allowing the winner to explore the possibilities of developing merchandise that reflects their music and identity.
For an independent artist, merchandise can become another way of connecting with listeners, particularly through live performances and direct fan engagement.
Finally, the package includes two double passes to Frontier Touring country music concerts, giving the winner and a guest the opportunity to experience established performers live.
Together, these elements create a prize that extends beyond a moment of recognition. The intention is to give one musician practical resources and industry exposure that can continue to prove useful well after the competition concludes.
How To Enter Ridin’ Starts 2026
The entry process is designed to give emerging musicians an opportunity to demonstrate their original songwriting and performance ability.
Artists are required to upload a video of themselves performing an original song to one of three social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.
The post must tag the official Ridin’ Hearts account, @ridinheartsfest.
Once the video has been published, entrants must visit the official competition page and complete the online entry form with the required details.
Entries are currently open and close on Sunday 6 December 2026 at 11.59 pm AEDT.
The competition is open to eligible emerging Australian country artists who meet the following requirements:
- Applicants must be Australian residents aged 18 years or older.
- Entrants must be current APRA members. Free membership is available to eligible applicants.
- Participants must have a valid public Facebook, Instagram or TikTok account.
- Entries must be submitted by the artist themselves.
- Applicants must be independent and unsigned, including bands whose members are not contracted to a record label, music publishing company, talent or band management arrangement, or talent development programme.
These conditions are important, particularly for musicians who work independently or as part of a band. Artists should review the full eligibility requirements and official competition terms before submitting their work.
The video component is an opportunity to present an original composition rather than simply demonstrate technical ability. Songwriting, performance and the ability to communicate an idea through music are all part of what makes an artist distinctive.
There is no need to approach the submission as an elaborate production. The central requirement is to share an original song in a way that allows the music to speak for itself.
Ten finalists will be selected and announced through the Ridin’ Hearts and Frontier Touring social media channels. The overall winner will then be determined following a selection process involving an expert judging panel.
The announcement date for the winner has not yet been specified.
Why Industry Connections Matter For Independent Artists
The music industry can appear relatively accessible from the outside. Digital recording equipment, distribution platforms and social media have made it possible for musicians to release music without the backing of a major record label.
But accessibility does not necessarily mean opportunity is evenly distributed.
An artist may have a collection of well-written songs and a growing local following while still finding it difficult to understand the next steps. Questions around publishing, recording agreements, marketing and touring can quickly become complicated.
For musicians outside major cities, access to industry professionals can be even more limited.
This is where programmes such as Ridin’ Starts can make a practical difference.
By bringing together people from different areas of the music business, the initiative gives its winner an opportunity to develop a broader understanding of how the industry operates.
The value is not necessarily measured in immediate commercial success. A conversation with an experienced artist might help clarify a musical direction, while advice from a legal professional could help prevent costly mistakes later in a career.
Similarly, an introduction to a distribution or release strategy specialist may help an independent musician approach their next recording with a more considered plan.
These are the kinds of experiences that can influence a career gradually, rather than through one defining moment.
For a genre with such a strong tradition of storytelling, the ability to support the people creating those stories is an important part of maintaining its future.
The Continuing Influence Of Ridin’ Hearts
Although the Ridin’ Hearts Festival takes a break in 2026, the broader initiative remains connected to a festival that has quickly established a place within Australia's contemporary country music calendar.
Since its debut in 2023, Ridin’ Hearts has brought international and Australian performers together, creating a space for established names and emerging musicians to share the stage.
Previous editions have featured artists including Bailey Zimmerman, Sam Barber, Alana Springsteen, Riley Green, Cooper Alan, Mackenzie Porter and Megan Moroney.
The 2025 programme also included Australian performers Sara Berki, Lane Pittman and Lewis Love, alongside international artists Nate Smith, Avery Anna, Waylon Wyatt, Blake Whiten and Karley Scott Collins.
The festival's wider purpose has been to create an all-round country music experience, bringing together live performances, community and opportunities to discover new artists.
Ridin’ Starts extends that approach beyond the festival weekend.
By focusing on one emerging musician each year, the programme provides a more concentrated opportunity to invest in local talent. It also acknowledges that the development of a music scene depends on more than the performers already attracting large audiences.
It requires new voices, new songwriting perspectives and the professional networks that allow artists to continue making music.
The decision to maintain Ridin’ Starts during the festival's 2026 break reflects that longer-term perspective.
A Sydney Opportunity With National Reach
Although Ridin’ Starts is open to eligible artists from across Australia, Sydney plays an important role in the 2026 prize.
The winner will receive return flights, accommodation and transfers to Sydney, courtesy of APRA AMCOS.
This arrangement means the opportunity is not limited to musicians who already live in the country's major music centres. An artist based in regional Australia or another capital city can access the same professional development experience without having to independently organise the travel.
Sydney's position within the Australian music industry makes it a natural setting for these meetings.
The city has a long-established network of record companies, music publishers, promoters, recording professionals and creative businesses. It also offers a range of spaces where songwriters and performers can develop ideas and connect with others working in the industry.
For the successful entrant, the visit will provide an opportunity to step outside their usual creative environment and spend time considering the wider possibilities of a music career.
The exact dates and venues for the winner's individual meetings and development sessions have not yet been announced. These arrangements will form part of the prize coordination following the selection process.
For artists considering an entry, the important point is that the opportunity is designed to be accessible nationally, rather than being reserved for those already connected to the Sydney music scene.
Supporting The Next Chapter Of Australian Country Music
The strength of Australian country music has always been closely tied to the people making it.
From regional singer-songwriters to contemporary performers working across pop and Americana influences, the genre continues to develop through individual voices and the stories they choose to tell.
Ridin’ Starts provides one of those voices with an opportunity to move forward.
The 2026 initiative does not promise an instant recording contract or a guaranteed touring career. Instead, it offers something arguably more useful at an early stage: access to experienced people, professional knowledge, creative resources and opportunities to build meaningful industry relationships.
For the successful artist, the benefits may continue well beyond the initial prize experience. A new songwriting connection, a better understanding of music distribution or a clearer sense of professional direction can all become part of a longer creative journey.
For the wider Australian country music community, the programme offers a reminder that the next generation of performers is already writing, recording and finding audiences.
The entry period remains open until 6 December, giving eligible artists a little more time to prepare an original performance and put their work forward.
Somewhere across Australia, a songwriter is likely developing a song that has yet to find its audience. Ridin’ Starts offers one opportunity to help that music travel further, opening a door between an independent creative practice and the wider industry.
Event Details
Initiative: Ridin’ Starts 2026
Presented By: Ridin’ Hearts and Frontier Touring
Industry Partner: APRA AMCOS
Entries Open: October 2026
Entry Closing Date: Sunday 6 December 2026
Closing Time: 11.59 pm AEDT
Location: Australia-wide online competition
Winner Experience: Sydney, NSW
Winner Announcement: To be announced
Number Of Finalists: 10
Prize: Industry mentoring, professional development, music distribution support, songwriting experience, professional photography, merchandise voucher, concert passes and travel to Sydney.
How To Enter: Upload a video performing an original song to Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, tag @ridinheartsfest and complete the official online entry form.
Official Competition Information: https://www.ridinhearts.com/ridinstarts
Official Announcement: https://media.frontiertouring.com/ridin-hearts-festival-announces-the-return-of-ridin-starts-for-2026-championing-the-next-generation-of-aussie-country-music-talent