Country Music Showdown

Meet our judge - Dan Biddle

With a music industry career spanning over twenty-six years, Dan Biddle has managed some of Australia’s most successful country artists including The McClymonts, Fanny Lumsden, Graeme Connors and Adam Eckersley, along with current rising star, Sara Berki.

Dan’s career started in record labels, having worked in various sales, promotions and marketing roles at BMG Australia, Universal Music Australia and Sony Music Australia between 1998 to 2014, before launching Dan Biddle Artist Management.

To date, his roster of managed artists have received nineteen Golden Guitar Award wins from over seventy nominations, six ARIA Award nominations, nine APRA Award nominations and eight #1 ARIA Country Album chart debuts.

Dan held the position of Chairman of the Country Music Association of Australia from 2018 to 2022, worked as Associate Producer of the Golden Guitar Awards from 2016 to 2024 and is a current member of the CMA (Country Music Association) Australasian Task Force.

Meet our judge - Emma Irene

Emma Irene is a versatile performer with talents spanning singing, acting, show announcing, and vocal teaching. For five years, she has starred as "Sarah" in Village Roadshow's Australian Outback Spectacular: Heartland, singing and riding horses while sharing stories of rural life.

With a Masters in Music (Vocal Pedagogy) from Queensland Conservatorium, Emma combines a thriving performing career with teaching, and enjoys nurturing and supporting her students, aged from 5-17, in developing their technique and performance craft.

Emma has been a lead vocalist at Sydney Royal Easter Show and Queensland's Ekka, singing on horseback to stadium crowds. Across the styles of pop, jazz, soul, and country music, from solo gigs to fronting bands, Emma’s performing journey has taken her around Australia from Hobart to Hayman Island, spanning corporate events, weddings, agricultural shows, and festivals. 

Emma is thrilled to be joining the judging panel for the 2025 Country Music Showdown at the Ekka, and can’t wait to see the amazing talent showcased by the next generation!

meet our judge - Justin Thomson

Justin Thomson is the National Content Director and leading presenter for Australias largest country music radio network, KIX Country. He also programs iHeartCountry Australia.

KIX Country operates 50 radio stations around Australia. iHeartCountry Australia operates in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide on DAB+.

Justins media career spans 23 years covering radio, television and online.

In 2001 at the age of 17 he began as a television presenter for GWN7 in Western Australia, a popular Saturday program he presented for 8 years. While still hosting television, Justin began his radio journey in 2003 seeing him cover multiple genres and formats over the last 2 decades. In 2014 Justin noticed a gap in the promo of contemporary country music in Western Australia and created a two hour weekly country music radio program which was eventually syndicated around Australia.

In 2016 Justin Thomson started at KIX Country as the National Content Director and began his quest to turn the network around to be the most popular country music media brand in Australia, in which it is now known. He has been programming iHeartCountry Australia since April 2024.

In the last 12 months Justin has executed KIX broadcasts around the world including CMA Fest Nashville 2023, C2C London 2024, and CMA Fest Nashville 2024.

meet our judge - Megan Hopkins

Megan Hopkins is the Content Director of Countrytown, Australia’s leading country music platform, and a driving force behind the genre and its exponential growth locally. Formerly the Digital Content Manager at KIX Country, Australia’s #1 country radio network, she has played a pivotal role in promoting homegrown and international talent.

In 2023, Hopkins was selected for the prestigious Rob Potts International Exchange Program, working with the Country Music Association’s (CMA) International Relations & Development team during CMA Fest. Her contributions were so impactful, she was invited back in 2024 to help run the international program events once again.

Meet a judge - Michael Turner

Michael Turner has enjoyed a long career within the music industry having been involved across many of its working parts. Originally a paid for hire musician, Michael has spent years working and living in both Australia and the USA based in Nashville, Tennessee. Michael is head of Mothertone which has its core business workings in Nashville and Australia. Mothertone is a high end musical instruments agent and builder, an Events Organiser and Talent Developer.

Mothertone co-ordinates and runs The Gympie Music Muster Talent Search program, including sponsoring, designing and delivering the Nashville experience first prize.

Michael remains an active songwriter and musician working and recording with artists.

Meet a judge - Oz Bayldon

Oz Bayldon is a multi-award-winning venue operator, musician, and social innovator whose career spans continents and causes. He was recognised as the highest-awarded live venue operator in London over two decades, with accolades including Best Live Venue in Britain and two Evening Standard Pub of the Year awards.

A trip to Nepal in 2002 inspired a deep commitment to humanitarian work. Since then, Oz has set three world records for music performances — including the iconic World’s Highest Gig in the Everest region — raising funds to build shelters, support education, and empower at-risk youth in both Nepal and the UK.

In London, he created a charity music venue and creative school for homeless families, leading to national acclaim and invitations to speak at the House of Commons and had a reception at  Downing Street for educating youth on no public purse.

He is the founder of the Come Together festival series across the UK, Nepal, and Australia, combining live music with social purpose. After relocating to Australia, Oz transformed the Gympie Music Muster as its Operations and Program Director, leading it to record-breaking crowds.

Currently, Oz is working on a bold new chapter: a series of extreme world record musical performances aiming to raise global awareness through art, adventure, and action.

These include the longest performance of 65 hours while jamming on a raft down remote Amazon river

Highest gig mark 3 - 8000m

Caziest gig - on top of an air balloon and jumping off and continuing to gig.