Keith Urban Picks Rising Star Ethan Calway

Ethan Calway has been recognized as the first recipient of the Keith Urban Rising Star Scholarship, an initiative designed to propel emerging Australian country artists onto the global stage. This collaboration with the Tamworth Country Music Festival aims to identify and nurture talent with international potential.

Selected from a competitive field, Calway's authentic artistry and emotive vocals impressed Keith Urban. The scholarship provides Calway with significant career-advancing opportunities in Nashville. These include performance, songwriting, recording sessions, and access to industry connections, alongside dedicated recording time at Urban's studio, The Sound.

Calway, originally from Warragul, Victoria, has a history of success in Australian talent competitions. His selection highlights the growing strength of country music in Australia, which is now the third-largest market globally. Recent Spotify data indicates an 115% increase in country music streams in Australia over the past three years, with nearly 80% of Australian music fans considering the genre mainstream.