Applications will open Tuesday 1st July 2025 and will close Friday 1 August 2025 for our Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest!
We are looking for 12 individual musicians, amateur or semi-professional only who want to boost their career with a Talent Quest designed to kickstart your career.
The prize is valued at over $20, 000 and will include a range of career opportunities for the winner!
Please make sure you have decent quality mp3 audio recordings to support your application as the initial judging is all based on your application.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 Information on how to enter and talent quest details form part of these conditions. Entry into this talent quest is deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions of entry.
1.2 The competition is run by Urban Country Music Fesitival on behalf of 121 Networks ltd ABN 77 666 662 102 of Morayfield Qld, 4506 (“UCMF”).
1.3 The competition starts and ends on the dates set out in the Key Competition Dates section below (“Competition Period”).
1.4 The terms Eligible Entrant/s, Entrant/s, and Finalist/s all refer to the person or people performing under ‘Act Name’ on the application form.
ENTRY CONDITIONS
2.1 Entry into the Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025 is open to Queensland Residents only.
2.2 Members, management, employees, and contractors of UCMF and their immediate family members (spouse, children, parents or siblings), including the suppliers of prizes are not eligible to enter.
2.3 Individuals must be an amateur or semi-professional artist only. UCMF defines semi-professional artists as one who earns money as a performer but is not dependent on such income for a living or has an exisiting music publishing / recording contract.
2.4 All costs associated with travelling to and participating in the Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025 is exclusively at the expense of the entrant. Entrants will be provided with festival tickets as outlined in Section 9.
2.5 The $50 fee for entry must be paid within two business days of the application being submitted. There will be no refund available for entrants who don’t become a finalist.
CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
3.1 The Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025 will consist of ONE competition category and will have one prize.
3.2 Entrants must be at least 18 years of age by 03/10/2025 or they will be ineligible to participate in the competition. Entrants are only for those over 18 years old.
3.3 Entrants may choose songs from these genres: alternative country, pop country, rock country, traditional country, indie country, blues & roots, Australiana, or folk music. Entrants are encouraged to present their original compositions.
KEY COMPETITION DATES
4.1 The Key Competition Dates listed below are set out by UCMF and form the Competition Period for Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025.
4.2 Applications open via the UCMF website at 12:00am AEST on Tuesday 1 July 2025 and Applications will close at 11:59pm AEST on Friday 1 August 2025. Applications must be fully completed, paid, and documents submitted before the above closing date and time to be considered an eligible entry to the competition.
4.3 Judging of eligible applications will commence in August. Entrants selected to compete in the live finals will be notified via email by 15 September 2025 . Unsuccessful entrants will also be notified via email on or after 15 September 2025.
4.4 Selected Semi-Finalists will be announced via UCMF social media posts scheduled for Wed 17 September 2025. This date may be subject to change to coincide with UCMF Marketing schedule.
APPLICATIONS
5.1 To enter the competition, entrants must submit a valid application by the UCMF website.
5.2 A valid application means:
a) The Entrant has completed the online entry form in full.
b) The Entrant has emailed stardust@urbancountrymusicfestival.com.au one (1) clear and presentable photograph of the Entrant, in high definition JPEG format, with the application, which is to be no larger than 20MB in size.
c) The Entrant has emailed stardust@urbancountrymusicfestival.com.au all five charts or chord charts.
d) the Entrant has paid the $50 entry fee.
e) the Entrant has included a maximum of two (2) audition performances or audio recordings. Each performance or audio recording submitted must:
(i) be provided via a working YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, Instagram or Facebook URL Link, and not be blocked by firewalls or requiring passwords to access;
(ii) be no longer than 4 minutes in duration per performance or audio recording;
(iii) be a performance of and by the Entrant; and
(iv) be a song which is eligible and can be defined as country or a subgenre of country limited to: alternative country, pop country, rock country, traditional country, indie country, blues & roots, Australiana, or folk music. Entrants are encouraged to present their original compositions.
5.3 Incomplete, incorrect, and illegible entries, entries containing illegal, offensive, or defamatory content, or entries which breach any law or infringe any third-party rights (including intellectual property rights) may be deemed by UCMF, at its discretion, to be ineligible entries.
5.4 Incomplete or late applications will only be accepted by UCMF at its absolute discretion.
5.5 Applications will be viewed as they are received to determine if an application is eligible and valid. UCMF may, at its discretion, request that entrants correct or complete an ineligible entry so that it may subsequently become eligible.
5.6 Applications close at 11:59pm AEST on Friday 1 August 2025 after which all valid applications will be assessed by a selected panel of judges.
5.7 If UCMF considers that an Entrant has not complied with the Terms and Conditions, does not respond to competition organisers in a timely manner, or does not adhere to deadlines set by competition organisers, UCMF in its absolute discretion may disqualify the Entrant or Finalist from the competition.
PERFORMANCE RULES
6.1 Finalists are to perform with the supplied live backing band. When using the official backing band, one additional musician may join the band or replace a band member.
6.2 An accompanying musician is not permitted to sing lead vocals and must provide their own instruments and
leads.
6.3 Contestants must supply five copies of chord charts for the band within 3 days of being announced a finalist.
6.4 Contestants are not permitted to use backing tracks or special effects in their performance.
6.5 No harmonies or backing vocals will be permitted.
6.6 Finalists must adhere to dress code of neat and respectable attire must be worn. Offensive or derogatory attire will not be accepted.
6.7 All material performed must be one of the 5 nominated songs, submitted with the application.
6.8 All Finalists must report to the Festival Admin office / Stardust Talent Quest Green Room / Backstage office on arrival.
6.9 Finalists must present themselves to the Backstage Coordinator at least 20 minutes before their on stage call and remain available until called to the stage. It is the responsibility of the Finalist to be ready for their section.
6.10 If the Finalist is not backstage at the required time, they may be excluded from the talent quest.
6.11 All Entrants selected to compete in the Finals must be available to attend the Urban Country Music Festival event and are personally and solely responsible for ensuring they are onsite by 10 am on Saturday 4 October 2025 and are fully
prepared for their performance.
6.12 If any Finalist is unavailable to attend, is late to, or acts in an inappropriate manner, UCMF has absolute discretion to disqualify the Finalist from the competition.
JUDGING AND SELECTION
7.1 Judging of all valid applications will commence Monday 18th August 2025 and will finalise Sunday 15 September 2025.
7.2 A judging panel of industry specialists will be selected to view and score valid applications based on criteria developed by UCMF. Identity of judges may be disclosed at UCMF’s discretion, however GML reserves the right to keep the identity of any judge confidential to maintain the integrity of the competition.
7.3 Judges will select twelve (12) Entrants to compete in the live Finals held onsite at the Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025 event.
7.4 All selected Finalists will be contacted via email notifying them of their selection as per the dates outlined in Section 4.
7.5 Selected Semi-Finalists will be announced on UCMF social media as per the dates outlined in Section 4.
7.6 Judging is based on vocal and musical ability, stage presence and audience response.
7.7 Judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Entrants may request feedback from Judges however Judges are under no obligation to provide any feedback or comments in respect of a performance.
7.8 UCMF reserves the right to either use the same judges for each round of judging, select a new panel for each round of judging, or change the existing panel of judges from one round to the other.
FESTIVAL ENTRY
8.1 Entrants selected to compete in the Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025 will receive the necessary tickets to enable them to gain entry to the festival to perform.
8.2 Finalists will receive one (1) Talent Quest entry pass (Day/Night general admission) for themselves, plus one (1) x Adult Day/Night General Admission ticket to be allocated to an adult guest nominated by the finalist.
8.3 Complimentary tickets will NOT be provided to accompanying friends or supporters of the finalists.
8.4 Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025 Finalists competing in the 2025 competition will ONLY have backstage access prior to their performance and ONLY at the designated Talent Quest venue. Accompanying guests will not have access to backstage unless performing with the finalist as a band member.
FINALS
9.1 The Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025 will be held on site during the Urban Country Music Festival at the Caboolture Showgrounds, 140 Beerburrum Rd, Caboolture QLD 4510.
9.2 Finals will be held on Saturday 4 October.
9.3 A judging panel will be selected for the Finals. The judging panel will remain confidential until the day of the event.
9.4 Winner selection is based on vocal and musical ability, stage presence and audience response.
9.5 One winner will be chosen from the Final.
9.6 Judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Entrants may request feedback from Judges however Judges are under no obligation to provide any feedback or comments in respect of a performance.
PRIZES
10.1 The total prize pool is $20,000. Value of prize pool is accurate as of 5 May 2025.
10.2 UCMF accepts no responsibility for any variation in the value of a Prize.
10.3 Prize products provided by event sponsors or partners, may be substituted with similar products of same/similar style and value, at the discretion of the prize provider.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & RECORDING CONSENT
11.1 By submitting an application for the Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest 2025, an Entrant acknowledges, consents and agrees with regards to performances submitted as part of a Valid Application, UCMF may, at its sole discretion and in good faith, use or broadcast part or full finalist performances of the Entrant, through any medium it deems appropriate, for the purpose of promoting the Urban Country Music Festival or Queensland Urban Stardust Talent Quest without further reference or payment or other compensation to the Entrant.
11.2 Entrants acknowledge, consent, and agree to UCMF, through its sponsors, media partners, employees or contractors capturing still or video photographic images of the Finalists during the Urban Country Music Festival, including candid activities and during any performances.
11.3 All Eligible Entrants consent and agree to UCMF using any captured material solely for the use and purpose of promoting the Urban Country Music Festival or Urban Queensland Stardust Talent Quest event in perpetuity, provided that the material is used in good faith and does not seek to bring the Entrant’s reputation into disrepute or ridicule.
11.4 All Entrants acknowledges that media may capture, record and broadcast photos, audio recordings and video recordings as they see fit during the Urban Country Music Festival. UCMF is not responsible for the broadcasting discretion of attending media.
11.5 All Entrants fully indemnify UCMF from any action, claim or proceedings arising from the use of images or recordings captured for any purpose other than archival and promotional purposes of UCMF.