Live Nation Australia has announced a high-visibility expansion of its alternative talent development framework, launching Next On Presents: Everyone’s A Star!. The campaign gives a developing domestic artist the opportunity to claim the primary opening slot for 5 Seconds of Summer’s forthcoming stadium performance at Kings Park in Perth on Friday, 6 November 2026.
The activation represents a significant scaling up of Live Nation’s structured grassroots program, Next On. Initially conceptualized to alleviate structural overhead burdens for lower-tier acts by granting rent-free access to participating venues, the program has historically operated at the club and small-theatre level. Past participants include emerging domestic names like Peach Fuzz, Robbie Mortimer, and Jewel Owusu.
Under the framework of standard Next On showcases, artists retain 100 percent of ticket and merchandise revenue, while Live Nation absorbs production, venue staffing, and marketing expenses. This latest tour integration routes grassroots talent development directly into major stadium infrastructure, bypassing traditional booking-agency pipelines.
To secure the opening slot, artists must navigate a multi-channel submission pipeline. Entrants are required to submit an active application to the Next On database via Live Nation’s corporate portal, supplemented by a social media component requiring a recorded interpretation of a track from the 5 Seconds of Summer catalog on Instagram. The digital activation leverages social discovery metrics to amplify visibility before internal A&R and promoter panels finalize the selection.
“5 Seconds of Summer began as young Australian artists building their audience from the ground up, so this competition feels especially meaningful,” stated Michelle Lucia, Senior Vice President of Product & Innovation at Live Nation Australia & New Zealand. “Next On Presents: Everyone’s A Star! gives a developing artist the chance to step into a major live moment, connect with a passionate audience, and experience what it feels like to open a global tour. It’s about creating opportunity, visibility, and momentum for artists at a critical stage in their careers.”
The strategy arrives as 5 Seconds of Summer prepare to return to the Australasian territory for the home-leg of their EVERYONE’S A STAR! World Tour, following extensive international runs across North America and Europe. The tour cycle supports the commercial release of the group’s sixth studio album—their debut under UMG’s Republic Records banner, which landed late last year driven by lead singles “NOT OK” and “Telephone Busy.”
Submissions for the Next On stadium pipeline officially close on Sunday, 26 July 2026, at 5:00 PM AWST.
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