Country Stars Australia Founder Honoured with Small Business Award

Australian country music Artist Col Finley and Country Stars managing director has been recognised with a prestigious Sunshine Coast Small Business Award for his outstanding work in developing and supporting emerging talent through the highly successful Country Stars Australia 2026 program.

The Sunshine Coast award acknowledges Finley’s ongoing dedication to building opportunities for country music artists and strengthening the Sunshine Coast region’s entertainment communities through live music, mentorship, and artist development initiatives. With more than three decades in the music industry, Finley has continued to invest his experience and passion back into the next generation of performers.

Country Stars Australia has rapidly grown into one of the nation’s most exciting country music talent searches, attracting artists from across Australia and overseas. The 2026 event showcased exceptional emerging talent while creating strong community engagement, tourism opportunities, and national industry attention.

“This award is not just for me — it belongs to every artist, volunteer, sponsor, judge, musician, and supporter who believed in the vision of Country Stars,” said Finley. “We created Country Stars to give real opportunities to rising performers and to help keep country music and regional live entertainment thriving.”

The success of Country Stars 2026 has further cemented Finley’s reputation as one of Australia’s most passionate advocates for grassroots country music. Through his leadership, the event has become a platform where aspiring artists gain valuable industry exposure, performance experience, and career pathways.

As Country Stars continues to expand, Finley says the mission remains the same — to discover, mentor, and celebrate authentic talent while creating unforgettable live music experiences for audiences and artists alike