Country music star Casey Barnes scores big win with NRL theme song

NORTHERN RIVERS musicians had the chance to learn from award-winning country artist Casey Barnes when he joined a Regional Sessions workshop in Lennox Head last week.

Barnes appeared as a guest speaker and performer at the event, run by the Australasian Performing Right Association and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, sharing insights from more than two decades in the industry.

“It was one of the most rewarding days I’ve had in a long time,” he said.

“There was such a broad spectrum of talent, and a lot of people who don’t often get opportunities like that in regional Australia.

“Credit to APRA for the initiative. You don’t often see established artists going into communities and giving back.”

The visit came just days after Barnes landed the 2026 NRL season theme song, with his track Made for This selected by Channel 9 for its rugby league coverage.

“I wrote the song in Nashville last year and always felt like it was suited to something big like this,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity you would’ve done for free. Most bands would give their right arm for something like this.”

Barnes, who won Album of the Year and Top Selling Album of the Year at the 2023 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards for his album Light It Up, said country music’s current surge was creating new opportunities for Australian artists.

“The big international acts are touring, playing stadiums, and there’s a real demand for it, but Aussie music as a whole is in the best place it’s been in a long time.”