The 2025 Ivor Novello Awards Brochure

2025

CONGRATULATIONS
On being inducted as Academy Fellows.
The terms trailblazers, legends, and disruptors simply don’t do you justice.
It continues to be an absolute honour and privilege working with you.
One Love.
Island Records
Ivor Novello Awards
celebrate the craft
and achievements
of songwriters and
composers
Presented by The Ivors Academy
for creative excellence.
Judged by songwriters and composers from
The Ivors Academy to honour their peers.

Contents
7 Welcome to The Ivors 2025
Congratulations Robbie
on receiving the
PRS For Music
Icon Award
from everyone at
AWARDS
17 Academy Fellowship, U2
25 Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music, Charli xcx
29 PRS for Music Icon Award, Robbie Williams
33 Visionary Award with Amazon Music, Self Esteem
37 Special International Award, Brandon Flowers
43 Outstanding Song Collection, Bloc Party
49 Best Album
53 Best Contemporary Song
57 Best Song Musically and Lyrically
61 PRS for Music Most Performed Work
67 Rising Star Award with Amazon Music
79 Best Original Film Score
83 Best Original Video Game Score
87 Best Television Soundtrack
AND MORE
92 The Judges
97 70 years of The Ivors
107 Thank you
109 Officers of The Ivors Academy
111 At The Ivors Academy
Inside back cover
TODAY’S ORDER OF EVENTS
5

(L-R) Roberto Neri, Chief Executive Officer of The Ivors Academy with
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy
Every Ivor Novello Awards ceremony makes an impression, but 2025 –
as the 70th iteration of what The Ivors Academy CEO Roberto Neri calls
“the equivalent of the Oscars in music” – promises to be truly special.
Congratulations
Brandon Flowers
on receiving
THE IVORS SPECIAL
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
One love from your
Island Records &
EMI family
“It’s always been a special room to be in,” says Neri, who attended
The Ivors multiple times in his previous music publishing roles and
last year found himself sat chatting between Bruce Springsteen
and Sir Paul McCartney. “We’ve seen the greats and the
greatest new talent come through and shine in that room.”
“It’s always had this extraordinary place in people’s hearts,” agrees
re-elected Ivors Academy Chair Tom Gray, a man who once
almost became entangled in both Robert Smith’s and Shakira’s
hair when navigating the narrow backstage corridors. “Since we
got live music in the room and started having more fun with who
was giving out the awards, it’s entered into a different phase. It’s
got an energy to it now that means it takes care of itself.”
Neri is also marking an anniversary, having joined as CEO just
over one year ago.
“It’s been great,” he says. “Whether they work on the awards
side or not, the whole team is fully behind all three of our
functions; to protect, empower and celebrate our members.
It’s been great to see that come to proper fruition.”
7

Neri has restructured the Academy’s membership tiers and formed
a formidable partnership with Gray as they campaign for songwriters
and composers on a number of fronts, including improved streaming
remuneration; the introduction of master points, per diems and
expenses for songwriting sessions; and the sector’s approach to AI.
“With Roberto in place, it’s led to a real shift in terms of professional focus
on achieving the stuff we talk about,” says Gray. “Nobody needs more
fine words, songwriters need to see change – and having an organisation
that’s match fit to push through on many different goals is vital. It’s been
years in the making, but we’re driving forward now in a very clear way.”
“There’s a lot that we’ve delivered already,” says Neri. “But songwriters are still
in the position they were in 12 months ago, so there’s more to be done. Over
the next year, we’re going to see tangible benefits from all the hard work.”
But first there’s the small matter of The Ivors, again boosted by a
partnership with Amazon Music that means the 70th edition promises
to hit greater heights than even last year’s hugely memorable event.
“The work with Amazon puts it on a much bigger platform,” says Gray,
who took the first call about this year’s Academy Fellows, U2, on the
day after last year’s ceremony. “People can see who’s showing up and
what’s happening, and that makes conversations much easier, because
people are excited about getting into that room and being part of it.”
“We are a global awards show, we reach out from London and
there’s more to come in terms of the appreciation of songwriters
globally,” concludes Neri. “We’re in a unique position; this is the
awards show you want to attend and the award you want to win.”
9

For over six decades, the Ivor Novello Awards has stood as
the pinnacle of excellence in songwriting and composing,
honouring those whose words and melodies have shaped the
cultural and emotional fabric of our lives. Judged by fellow
songwriters and composers, The Ivors remain a singular
recognition of artistry — celebrating not the metrics of
success but great writing. Whether crafting an anthem that
unites stadiums or penning an intimate ballad that reaches a
single soul, songwriters bring truth to sound and life to language.
Tonight, we gather not only to recognise extraordinary talent,
but to pay tribute to the individuals behind the music.
Too often their brilliance is heard but not seen, felt but not
acknowledged. In partnership with The Ivors Academy, Amazon Music
is committed to changing that by celebrating the art of songwriting and
composing to the extent it truly deserves and empowering emerging
songwriters and composers with the right support at the right time.
In 2023 and 2024, Amazon Music brought the awards to a global
stage — livestreaming from the ceremony for the first time and
offering exclusive music acclaimed by tastemakers globally
that reached several millions of music fans. This year, we have
curated performances by global, chart-topping creators that
showcase multi-generational collaboration. We are proud to
extend our partnership with The Ivors Academy through 2027,
reaffirming our commitment to songwriters and composers.
To the nominees, winners, and honourees, we salute your skill,
achievement, and courage to create and inspire. And, to say, with
conviction and gratitude: your work matters. It always has. It always will.
James Duffett-Smith
Global Head of Music Publishing
Tom Winkler
Head of Publisher, Songwriter and Society Relations
11

It gives us great pleasure to celebrate the 70th edition of The
Ivors – a truly iconic ceremony that recognises British and
Irish songwriting and composition. For seven decades, these
awards have honoured the creators behind the music that
defines generations, shapes culture, and connects us all.
Since the very first ceremony in 1956, PRS for Music has proudly
supported The Ivors, championing the creative excellence that
lies at the heart of every award presented today. It is a privilege to
maintain this legacy, and to once again sponsor the PRS for Music
Most Performed Work and PRS for Music Icon Award – honours that
recognise both contemporary impact and enduring influence.
Today’s nominees reflect the extraordinary breadth of talent
across the UK and Ireland. Whether emerging or established,
each creator represents the power of music to tell stories,
capture emotion, and connect people across time and place.
At PRS, we exist to ensure that songwriters and composers are fairly
rewarded for their work and empowered throughout their careers.
Last year, we paid out more than £1 billion in royalties, representing a
remarkable doubling of royalty payments in just nine years.
In a world that continues to shift – creatively, technologically and
economically – our commitment to protect and grow the value of
rights that have been entrusted to us has never been stronger.
Congratulations to all those recognised today.
We celebrate your artistry, your dedication, and the vital
role you play in shaping the sound of our world.
Andrea Czapary Martin
CEO, PRS for Music
Julian Nott
Chair of the PRS Members’ Council
15

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL DESERVED
IVORS ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
U2
Academy Fellowship

The Ivors Academy Fellowship represents the peak for
any songwriter, but everyone has to start somewhere.
And, indeed, when U2 were announced as the 32nd Academy
Fellows – and the very first Irish honourees – frontman Bono
noted that, back in the late ‘70s, it was the band’s “inability to
play other people’s songs that kicked off our own songwriting”.
So, U2 found inspiration in others, but it was always their own
aspiration – and no small amount of perspiration – that propelled
them to their oft-touted status as ‘the best band in the world’.
The band’s incredible success – 175 million albums sold,
22 Grammys won – has been built on many things, but the central
pillar has always been the songs. All four members – Bono, guitarist
The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr –
contribute to a catalogue that has echoed through the decades.
From the early rush of 11 O’Clock Tick Tock and I Will Follow
through classics such as Pride (In the Name of Love), I Still
Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With or Without You,
One, Beautiful Day and Vertigo, to modern day standards
such as Ordinary Love and Atomic City, U2’s writing has never
stood still, comprising ballads and bangers, protest songs
and love songs, pop hits and underground anthems.
Photo: Olaf Heine, previous page: Ross Stewart
They are one of the most successful touring acts of alltime,
and continue to operate at the highest level in their
songwriting and recording career, with 21st century albums
such as How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, No Line On The
Horizon, Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience all
soaring to chart summits around the world, just as Achtung
Baby, The Joshua Tree, Pop, All That You Can’t Leave Behind
and their other magnum opuses did back in the day.
Because whenever, wherever or however you hear them,
U2 songs always deliver – from start to finish.
19

DEAR
LARRY,
EDGE,
ADAM &
BONO,
What a great achievement,
congratulations to you all!
Your amazing songs weave, with beauty,
with inspriation and with hopeful notes,
through the sound tracks of all our lives.
Le grá mór
Mise, Molly, John, Byron, Lorraine
and everyone here at TAG
Charli xcx
Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music

There are many ways to measure the impact of a group
of songs. Chart positions, of course. Their influence
on other musicians and songwriters, no doubt. And
their impact on the wider culture, for sure.
It is vanishingly rare to find a collection that ticks all of the boxes
above. But that’s what has been achieved by Charli xcx’s Brat
album, one of the true pop phenomena of recent times.
After all, how many other musicians have had an entire
season named after their latest record, as Charli did with
the whole Brat Summer trend? How many album covers go
viral, as the lime green Brat sleeve did following its release?
How many album titles go on to become the Word Of The
Year, as Brat did in the Collins English Dictionary?
Such accolades have been racking up ever since Charli
xcx – aka Charlotte Aitchison – released her sixth studio
album in June 2024. But they wouldn’t have happened if
the record wasn’t under-pinned by songwriting even more
impactful than the album’s marketing campaign.
Charli has been making great music since she was a teenager,
enjoying huge success as both songwriter and artist with songs such
as I Love It, Boom Clap, Fancy, 1999, Senorita, Speed Drive and Boys.
But everything came together on Brat, which bursts
with irresistible hitmaking, from club bangers such as
360 and Von Dutch to more esoteric numbers such
as Girl, So Confusing and Sympathy Is A Knife.
As well as massive chart success, Brat cleaned up
at awards ceremonies everywhere, picking up three
Grammys before turning the BRITs into the Brats.
Photo: Harley Weir
Where Charli goes next will be the most hotly anticipated pop
moment of the next few years. But for now, let’s revel in a careerdefining
collection of songs that has become a way of life.
27

Robbie
Williams
PRS for Music Icon Award

As you’d expect of someone who’s spent 35 years in the public
eye, Robbie Williams is many things to many different people.
He started as a charisma-drenched member of Take That, helping
to elevate them from boy band to pop phenomenon. And he
became the greatest showman, the man whose live performances
take tens of thousands of people to new heights every night.
But, today, The Ivors turns the spotlight onto
his songwriting, illuminating one of the most
consummate catalogues in the business.
It was his sparky songwriting on debut album, Life Thru
A Lens, including Angels, Let Me Entertain You and Lazy
Days, that enabled him to find his way to solo success.
And it was state-of-the-art pop anthems, including No
Regrets, Millennium and Strong, on follow-up I’ve Been
Expecting You that turned Williams into one of the most
successful solo stars the UK has ever produced.
He has won more BRIT Awards than anyone else and,
with seven No.1 singles and 15 No.1 albums in the UK
alone, is one of the biggest-selling stars of the era.
And, over the years, the hit albums (Sing When You’re Winning,
Escapology, Intensive Care, The Heavy Entertainment Show) and
brilliant songs (Rock DJ, Kids, Feel, Come Undone, Advertising
Space, Candy, Love My Life) have just kept on coming.
2025 finds him in a very good place indeed. His recent biopic,
Better Man, may have portrayed him as a chimpanzee, but there
has been little monkeying around when it comes to his career.
So, he’s touring in stadiums again and is at the top
of his game when it comes to creating songs that
connect with millions all around the world.
So, whichever iteration of Robbie Williams is your favourite,
it’s time to add ‘consummate songwriter’ to the list.
31

Rebecca - congratulations on your Fucking Wizardry
Love from Jeremy, Laura, Emma and your friends
at Blue Raincoat Music Publishing
Self Esteem
Visionary Award with Amazon Music

F Scott Fitzgerald may have observed that there are
no second acts in American lives, but Rebecca Lucy
Taylor is living proof that great British songwriters
can always enjoy a spectacular second chapter.
Taylor first emerged in the 2000s as one half of indie band
Slow Club. But it is her reinvention as solo star Self Esteem
that has given full rein to her creative vision as a songwriter.
Over three albums – 2019’s Compliments Please, 2021’s
highly acclaimed Prioritise Pleasure and the brand new
A Complicated Woman – Taylor has perfected the art of
combining important messages with irresistible pop music,
becoming one of the country’s most vital stars in the process.
Prioritise Pleasure saw her become a phenomenon. Nominated
at the BRITs and Mercury Prize, she thrived everywhere
from the Later… studio to Graham Norton’s sofa to the
support slot at Blur’s Wembley Stadium reunion show.
And no wonder – songs such as I Do This All The Time
(which broke all the rules of pop songwriting and came up
trumps), Moody, Prioritise Pleasure and I’m Fine addressed
difficult topics, combining raw, honest lyrics with a groundbreaking
approach that made them even more impactful.
There remains an inherent theatricality to Self Esteem that allows
her to go to places other pop stars cannot reach. Taylor had a
successful West End run as Sally Bowles in Cabaret and
A Complicated Woman, featuring powerful new songs such as If
Not Now, It’s Soon and Focus Is Power, was launched in a unique,
theatrical presentation at London’s Duke Of York Theatre.
It’s another piece of pioneering pop that confirms Self
Esteem as one of the UK’s great musical visionaries.
Photo: Carlos Clarke
So, while Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s triumphant second act
continues to hit new heights, you know she’s just getting started
– and the whole world is waiting to see what comes next.
35

Brandon
Flowers
Special International Award

The Killers’ remarkable career kicked off in Britain long
before they were appreciated back home in America. So,
after thrilling fans in all four home nations for over 20 years
now, it’s fitting Brandon Flowers should receive The Ivors’
Special International Award, given to songwriters who’ve
had a significant influence on the UK music industry.
Raised by the disparate sounds of 1980s heartland radio and British
post-punk cassette tapes, Brandon Flowers pays homage to both
lineages in his songwriting; working-class romanticism, mythic
Americana, and heart-on-sleeve storytelling intertwine with pulsing
synths, romantic melancholy, and theatrical flair. His impressive
solo work - UK chart-topping albums Flamingo and The Desired
Effect - could have been birthed on the rain-slicked streets of
Manchester, only rerouted through the neon-lit haze of Las Vegas.
Since the ubiquitous indie disco bangers of The Killers’ Hot Fuss,
Flowers’ songwriting has continued to evolve, making worldwide
hits of panoramic desert rock (When You Were Young), irresistible
pop (Human) and atmospheric synthwave (Boy). Deeply attuned to
the craft of songwriting, he has a rare gift for elevating the everyday
into the extraordinary - capturing provincial longing and existential
wonder in melodies that pulse with anthemic energy and sleek New
Wave sheen. Their most recent album, the internationally lauded
Pressure Machine, saw the band step back from the anthemic
in favour of plaintive Americana. Ostensibly a concept album
set in Flowers’ hometown of Nephi, Utah, the deeply personal
songs explored the psychological and cultural fabric of smalltown
life, revealing new depths to his narrative songwriting.
Almost at the quarter century mark, The Killers remain a
dominant force in rock, driven by Flowers’ heartfelt songwriting;
his evocative storytelling - both timeless and distinctly modern -
unfolds across the formidable catalogue, from Hot Fuss (2004)
to Sam’s Town (2006), Day & Age (2008), Battle Born (2012),
Wonderful Wonderful (2016), Imploding the Mirage (2020), and
Pressure Machine (2021). Remarkably, every one of his studio
albums - solo or with the band - has debuted at No. 1 in the UK.
39

TO ALL SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS
RECOGNISED AT THE 2025 IVOR NOVELLO AWARDS

THE IVORS
ACADEMY
HONOURS
TICKETS ON SALE
INTERCONTINENTAL
LONDON PARK LANE
02.10.25
Bloc Party
Outstanding Song Collection
Honouring champions of music creators

It’s now 20 years since Bloc Party released their classic
debut album, Silent Alarm, and became the most
stylish kids in the new UK alternative rock riot.
Bloc Party’s OG line-up – Kele Okereke (vocals/guitar), Russell
Lissack (guitar), Gordon Moakes (bass) and Matthew Tong
(drums) – proved themselves to be a superb songwriting
unit on that record, combining angular riffs with irresistible
choruses on classics such as Banquet and Helicopter.
Artist
image
Photo: John Marshall, previous page: Eleanor Jane
Thereafter, Bloc Party continued to spearhead the UK’s
guitar scene, making the so-called ‘difficult second album’
look easy with 2007’s A Weekend In the City, featuring
their biggest UK hit, the Top 5 smash The Prayer.
A third album, Intimacy, showcased their growing
versatility, before the band went on hiatus.
However, the lure of Bloc Party proved strong and
they regrouped for 2012’s Four album, which put them
back in the upper reaches of the UK charts.
Tong and Moakes subsequently left the band, but Okereke
and Lissack have continued to make wonderful music
together, with 2016’s Hymns and 2022’s Alpha Games keeping
them at the forefront of Britain’s alt-rock cohort.
But wherever in the timeline the songs come from, a Bloc Party anthem
will always push musical boundaries while pressing all the right buttons.
That’s why anthems such as Hunting For Witches, This Modern Love
and Two More Years sound as fresh today as they did back when
they were leading a new wave of guitar bands over the barricades.
That’s why the band continue to be in huge demand – packing out their
Glastonbury set last year and returning to Reading (& Leeds) Festival this
summer, where Okereke and Lissack first formed the band in 1999.
And that’s why, despite the band once famously singing “Three
out of five/Six out of 10/Better luck next time” on Helicopter,
this hugely deserved Ivor will acknowledge one of the true fivestar,
10-out-of-10 catalogues of the last 20 years. Party on.
45

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PHOTO ©HARLEY WEIR
Best Album
Advert
CONGRATULATIONS
CHARLI XCX
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Best Album recognises outstanding
songwriting within the album format,
celebrating creative consistency, lyrical
craft and musical vision. More than just
a collection of tracks, a great album
forms a cohesive artistic statement;
shaping mood, telling stories and forging
a deep connection with listeners. The
nominations recognise long-form albums
released in the UK in 2024, created by
British, Irish or UK resident songwriters.
Charli xcx’s sixth studio album Brat
delivered her second UK Number 1
and first-ever US Billboard 200 Top 5.
And now, alongside co-writers A. G. Cook
and Finn Keane, she receives her first Ivor
Novello nomination for Best Album.
A fearless and defining release, it
fuses deeply personal lyrics with
high-octane, club-focused hyperpop.
On Purpose, With Purpose, the fourth
album from Ghetts, earns him and
co-writer TenBillion Dreams
their second and first Ivor Novello
nominations, respectively. The record
is a collection of thoughtful and
impassioned songs that continue
Ghetts’ observational story-telling, with
bold production and creative clarity.
Jordan Rakei’s fifth studio album
The Loop explores vulnerability through
the cyclical nature of life - of being a
child, becoming a parent and staying
connected to the inner child. Centred
around Rakei’s vocal, the album is a joyful,
meticulously crafted journey, and earns
him his first Ivor Novello nomination.
Lola Young’s This Wasn’t Meant For You
Anyway, written with William Brown,
Conor Dickinson and Jared Solomon,
marks the first Ivor Novello nomination
for all four. The record delivers fierce,
funny, assertive songwriting, blending
lush soul with raw indie textures, all
driven by Young’s striking honesty.
BERWYN’s WHO AM I secures his debut
Ivor Novello nomination. A powerful and
intimate record, it explores faith, love,
addiction and the realities of immigration
and race. Its storytelling is rooted in
the pursuit, and sometimes the arrival,
of liberation and personal freedom.
49

Best Album
The Nominations
THE LOOP
written and performed by Jordan Rakei
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
BRAT
written by Charli xcx, A. G. Cook and Finn Keane
music published in the UK by Sony Music
Publishing, Concord Music Publishing obo Alias
Guild and Universal Music Publishing
performed by Charli xcx
THIS WASN’T MEANT
FOR YOU ANYWAY
written by William Brown, Conor Dickinson,
Jared Solomon and Lola Young
music published in the UK by Sony Music
Publishing obo Day One Songs, Sony Music
Publishing - Solomon Gouda and Sony
Music Publishing
performed by Lola Young
ON PURPOSE,
WITH PURPOSE
written by Ghetts and TenBillion Dreams
music published in the UK by
BMG Rights Worldwide UK
performed by Ghetts
WHO AM I
written and performed by BERWYN
published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
50 51

CONGRATULATIONS
FROM YOUR FRIENDS
AT BMG!
GHETTS
TODDLA T
Best Contemporary Song
Advert
MARTIN PHIPPS
DOUBLE STANDARDS -
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG /
ON PURPOSE, WITH PURPOSE -
BEST ALBUM
BLACK DOVES (NETFLIX) -
BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
BASHY – HOW BLACK MEN LOSE
THEIR SMILE -
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG
CARLY PARADIS
UNTIL I KILL YOU (ITV STUDIOS) -
BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
Best Contemporary Song celebrates
outstanding originality in songwriting;
bold, inventive work that pushes the
boundaries of modern music. It honours
songs that challenge convention,
reflect the times, and redefine what
contemporary songwriting can be. The
nominations recognise songs released
in the UK in 2024, created by British,
Irish or UK resident songwriters.
Allergy secures Pa Salieu and regular
co-writers Felix Joseph and Alastair
O’Donnell their third Ivor Novello
nominations. With its infectious energy
and vibrant sound, the song blends
genres effortlessly, spotlighting Salieu’s
versatility and distinctive off-the-wall flow.
JADE’s Angel Of My Dreams,
co-written with Pablo Bowman,
Steph Jones and Mike Sabath, bursts
with originality and showcases what
pop can be when boundaries are
pushed. A reflection on her love-hate
relationship with the music industry, it’s
a deeply honest and impressive debut.
Circumnavigating Georgia is the title
track from Sans Soucis’ debut album,
and secures their first Ivor Novello
nomination. Borrowing a colonial term
and repurposing it in the process
of decolonising their identity from
patriarchy and anti-Blackness, the song
becomes a metaphor for a spiritual, not
physical, journey of self-discovery.
Double Standards written by Ghetts,
Sampha, EMIL and R-Kay, is a powerful
showcase for Ghetts’ elegant fury.
Tackling hypocrisy, colourism, paedophilia
and prejudice with courage and
insight, it secures Sampha his fourth
Ivor Novello nomination, Ghetts his
third (and second this year) and marks
debut nods for EMIL and R-Kay.
Sampling Linton Kwesi Johnson’s Time
Come, Bashy’s How Black Men Lose
Their Smile, co-written with Toddla T,
earns their first Ivor Novello nominations.
The lyrics confront generational trauma
and systemic injustice with searing
honesty, before landing on a powerful
note of resilience and survival.
53

Best Contemporary Song
The Nominations
CIRCUMNAVIGATING GEORGIA
written and performed by Sans Soucis
music published in the UK by Sentric Music
ALLERGY
written by Felix Joseph, Alastair O’Donnell and Pa Salieu
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing
and Sony Music Publishing
performed by Pa Salieu
DOUBLE STANDARDS
written by Ghetts, EMIL, Sampha Sisay and R-Kay
music published in the UK by BMG Rights
Worldwide UK, Ditto Plus Music Publishing and
Sony Music Publishing - Young Songs
performed by Ghetts feat. Sampha
ANGEL OF MY DREAMS
written by Pablo Bowman, JADE,
Steph Jones and Mike Sabath
music published in the UK by Kobalt Music
Publishing, Sony Music Publishing and Universal
Music Publishing obo Hipgnosis Hits-Steph Jones
Who Music-Vistaville Music
performed by JADE
HOW BLACK MEN
LOSE THEIR SMILE
written by Bashy, Toddla T and Linton Kwesi Johnson
music published in the UK by Downtown Music obo
DLJ Songs, BMG Rights Worldwide UK and Universal
Music Publishing obo L-K-J Music Publishers
performed by Bashy
54 55

Best Song Musically
and Lyrically
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG
Angel of my Dreams
JADE
Nominee Pablo Bowman
Rodney
Jerkins
Advert
PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK
BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY
Child of Mine
Laura Marling
Mine
Orla Gartland
(San Remo Live)
Genesis
RAYE
Nominee Toneworld
(Seventy 7 Music)
Prada
Cassö, RAYE, D-Block Europe
Nominee Jay-Mo Dejon
(Fat Pigeon)
Stargazing
Myles Smith
Nominee Peter Fenn
Best Song Musically and Lyrically
celebrates exceptional songwriting;
where melody, lyrics and structure come
together in perfect harmony. Honouring
compositions that are both musically
accomplished and lyrically resonant,
these are songs that capture emotion
and meaning with precision and depth.
The nominations recognise songs
released in the UK in 2024, created by
British, Irish or UK resident songwriters.
Laura Marling secures her second Ivor
Novello nomination with Child of Mine,
an intimate portrait of maternal love.
Opening her eighth studio album Patterns
in Repeat, Marling’s signature delivery
showcases her songwriting craft and the
emotional depth of her desire to protect
and teach her daughter all she can.
Divided into three parts, RAYE’s Genesis.
is an epic, genre-spanning piece that
tackles social and personal struggles, from
depression and exhaustion to anxiety,
while ultimately conveying hope. It delivers
RAYE her fifth Ivor Novello nomination,
and marks the first for her co-writers
Rodney Jerkins, Shankar “shanks.”
Ravindran, Tom Richards and Toneworld.
Fontaines D.C.’s In The Modern World
possesses both immediacy and an
otherworldly quality, reflecting its dual
nature as part love song, part troubled
revelation. As the central track on their
fourth studio album Romance, its creative
vision is transporting, earning the band
their third Ivor Novello nomination.
Messy by Lola Young, co-written
with Conor Dickinson, became her
breakout single and first chart-topping
hit. Confronting a lover’s contradictory
and unacceptable expectations with
candid wit, its observational lyrics
soar over an anthemic melody.
Orla Gartland’s Mine secures her debut
Ivor Novello nomination. Strikingly
vulnerable lyrics are given space to
breathe against a beautifully haunting
melody, resulting in a song that is deeply
intimate yet universally empowering, as
she reclaims ownership of her own body.
57

Best Song Musically and Lyrically
The Nominations
IN THE MODERN WORLD
written by Grian Chatten, Conor Curley, Conor
Deegan, Thomas Coll and Carlos O’Connell
music published in the UK by Domino
Publishing Company
performed by Fontaines D.C.
CHILD OF MINE
written and performed by Laura Marling
music published in the UK
by Kobalt Music Publishing
MESSY
written by Conor Dickinson and Lola Young
music published in the UK by Sony Music
Publishing obo Day One Songs and Sony
Music Publishing
performed by Lola Young
GENESIS.
written by Rodney Jerkins, Shankar “shanks.”
Ravindran, RAYE, Tom Richards and Toneworld
music published in the UK by Universal Music
Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Wixen Music
obo Karousel Music and Kobalt Music Publishing
obo Mohemmusic-Songs by Seventy 7 Music
performed by RAYE
MINE
written and performed by Orla Gartland
music published in the UK by Kobalt Music
Publishing obo San Remo Music
58 59

PRS for Music
Most Performed Work
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ON RECEIVING THE PRESTIGIOUS PRS FOR MUSIC ICON AWARD
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LONDON SHOWS
FROM ALL AT METROPOLIS MUSIC
PRS for Music Most Performed Work
celebrates the songs by British or Irish
PRS members that resonated most
with the public in 2024. Based on
performance data across broadcast,
online and public usage, it recognises
the songs with the highest number of
plays in the calendar year ending 31
December 2024. A testament to their
wide reach and enduring appeal.
Originally released in 2022, Harry Styles’
As It Was, co-written with Kid Harpoon
and Tyler Johnson, secures Styles his
eighth Ivor Novello nomination and
his fourth for this song. Having topped
charts around the globe, its continued
inclusion in PRS for Music’s top five most
performed songs for a third consecutive
year cements its enduring appeal.
Dua Lipa’s Houdini, written with Danny
L Harle and international collaborators
Caroline Ailin, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Kevin
Parker, was the lead single from her charttopping
2024 album Radical Optimism.
With tongue-in-cheek flair, it explores the
pros and cons of a potential suitor over
Lipa’s signature disco-infused pop.
WHAM!’s Last Christmas, originally
released in 1984, topped the UK Christmas
charts for the second consecutive year
in 2024. It earns George Michael a
posthumous nomination as songwriter,
21 years on from his last PRS for Music
Most Performed Work nomination, and
stands as a testament to his enduring
influence and timeless songwriting.
Prada, Cassö’s remix of D-Block Europe’s
2021 single Ferrari Horses featuring
RAYE, went Top 5 across the UK and
Europe following its 2023 release. Its
sustained commercial success into 2024
secures debut Ivor Novello nominations
for Da Beatfreakz, D-Block Europe
and Jahmori “Jaymo” Simmons and
RAYE’s second nomination of the year.
Myles Smith’s Stargazing, the lead single
from his second EP A Minute, hit the Top 5
in the UK and Top 20 in the US. Dominating
the airwaves throughout 2024, it now
earns first-time Ivor Novello nominations
for Smith and his international
collaborators Peter Fenn and Jesse Fink.
61

PRS for Music
Most Performed Work
The Nominations
LAST CHRISTMAS
written by George Michael
music published in the UK by Warner Chappell
Music obo WHAM! Music Limited
performed by WHAM!
AS IT WAS
written by Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson
and Harry Styles
music published in the UK by Universal Music
Publishing and Concord Music Publishing obo
These Are Pulse Songs
performed by Harry Styles
PRADA
written by D-Block Europe, Obi Ebele (Da Beatfreakz),
Uche Ebele (Da Beatfreakz), Jahmori “Jaymo”
Simmons and RAYE
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing,
Bucks Music Group Ltd obo Armada Music Publishing,
Kobalt Music Publishing obo Fat Pigeon (Publishing)
Limited and Warner Chappell Music
performed by Cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe
HOUDINI
written by Caroline Ailin, Danny L Harle, Tobias
Jesso Jnr, Dua Lipa and Kevin Parker
music published in the UK by Sony Music
Publishing obo Viking Jamz Publishing, Sony Music
Publishing, Universal Music Publishing and Warner
Chappell Music obo Radical 22 Publishing
performed by Dua Lipa
STARGAZING
written by Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink and Myles Smith
music published in the UK by Kobalt Music
Publishing obo Songs by 308 Publishing-Where
Da Kasz At, Lyric Global Copyright Services
Crescendo obo Arcade Artists Publishing-Jesse
Fink Publishing-Spirit One Music Crescendo and
Sony Music Publishing
performed by Myles Smith
62 63

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13 X NOMINEE, RECIPIENT OF 6 AWARDS, GEORGE
REMAINS THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL SONGWRITER EVER
TO WIN SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR 3 TIMES.

ASCAP CONGRATULATES OUR
2025 IVOR NOVELLO AWARD
NOMINEES AND WINNERS
Bashy
Bea and her Business
BERWYN
Boxed Ape
Carly Paradis
Charli xcx
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Conor Dickinson
D-Block Europe
Daniel Pemberton
Danny L Harle
Dua Lipa
EMIL
Gary Yershon
Ghetts
Jared Solomon
John Konsolakis
Jordan Rakei
Liang Lawrence
Lola Young
LULU.
Martin Phipps
Myles Smith
Natalie Holt
Nia Smith
Orla Gartland
Pa Salieu
Pablo Bowman
R-Kay
SPECIAL HONOREES
Raffertie
Sampha
Steph Jones
Toddla T
Vince Pope
U2
Fellowship of the Ivors Academy
Robbie Williams
Music Icon
Charli xcx
Songwriter of the Year
William Brown
Rising Star Award
with Amazon Music
Whether in astronomy or music, there’s
nothing like a Rising Star when it comes to
brightening up dark skies.
After all, throughout a difficult few years for breaking UK
and Irish talent internationally, The Ivors’ award for young
British and Irish songwriters who demonstrate exceptional
potential and ambition has been a beacon of light, illuminating
the gloom with some magnificent musical discoveries.
And the Class of 2025 is no exception. This year’s
all-female list is, of course, filled with extraordinary
talent, but it’s also packed with musicians
perfectly positioned to take on the world.
Each of these stellar songwriters will receive tailored
year-long support for their creativity and careers
from Amazon Music and The Ivors Academy.
And, whoever picks up the big prize, you don’t
need to be a rocket scientist to know that
all five are destined for great things.
67

CONGRATULATIONS
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TO OUR NOMINEES AND RECIPIENTS AT THE IVOR NOVELLO AWARDS
BERWYN Best Album
CASSÖ, RAYE AND D-BLOCK EUROPE Most Performed Work
HARRY STYLES Most Performed Work
JADE Best Contemporary Song
MYLES SMITH Most Performed Work
ROBBIE WILLIAMS PRS for Music Icon Award
WHAM! Most Performed Work
Take Bea Wheeler, for example, aka BEA AND HER BUSINESS.
Her Business is writing killer songs – and this “landmark
moment” Ivors nod means business is very good indeed.
“I’ve always said from the get-go, as long as I’m known for my
songwriting, I’ll die happy, not to be dramatic or anything!” she laughs.
Indeed, the Londoner has built a formidable reputation for witty,
unfiltered empowerment anthems. She describes herself as a very
“lyric-driven” writer, and that’s paid off big time on the likes of Safety
Net (“It’s your turn to lie in bed and listen to Adele”) and Never Ever
Love A Liar (“I’m a chef’s kiss bitch, couldn’t you taste?”), putting
her in pole position to be Britain’s next breakout pop star.
“Reaching stadium level would be pretty damn cool, but you’ve
got to put the horse before the cart,” she says. “My focus now
is whipping the new music into shape and really doubling
down on the sonics and direction going forward.”
And that’s why Bea And Her Business are set to be booming this year.
69

PHOTO ©EMILY MARCOVECCHIO
LIANG LAWRENCE, meanwhile, knows all about the big, wide world out
there for songwriters.
She’d lived in eight different countries by the time she was 18 but, luckily,
glorious indie pop songwriting is an international language. And Lawrence
is certainly fluent; crafting songs that, in her own words, “find new-ish
ways to describe the fundamental human emotions we all go through”.
Hence, brilliant tunes such as Eulogy and Kiss My Apocalypse, that
have drawn support from BBC Radio 1. It’s the Ivors nomination that has
really given her “confidence in my abilities and gut instinct”, however.
“As a mixed race East Asian woman in folk and indie pop, sometimes I
feel this strange discrepancy between what I actually want to create and
what I think I’m allowed to, because of the narrow range of artists I’ve been
shown growing up,” she says. “I’m so glad I kept doing what’s true to me.”
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She plans to spend the future “exploring new bounds of my ability” and,
with ability like hers, expect this global citizen to go worldwide soon.
CONGRATULATIONS
BLOC PARTY
OUTSTANDING SONG COLLECTION
71

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risky business
but through it all we’ve provided
your protection, with a lot of love
and affection!
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Congratulations, Robbie!
From the Music team at
Howden insurance
People will surely also associate with LULU. – that full stop
is deliberate – who, while still only 21, is fast becoming
an important new voice in British music.
“I hope to create music that resonates deeply – the kind that
makes people feel seen and connected,” she says. “I want
to inspire my generation to heal, dream and hold onto their
aspirations and their faith, no matter the circumstances.”
Having learned to sing at church and initially come to prominence
on TikTok, her style of fusing laidback Afrobeats earworms with a
timeless-yet-modern soul sensibility has produced the “personal
and timeless” likes of Yesterdays, Home and Never Done.
LULU. approaches writing as “an internal monologue – a space to explore
the quiet, honest conversations we have with ourselves when we reflect”.
And there’s more to come – she’s already had support from Elton
John and now plans to build a “legacy rooted in honesty and
intentional artistry”, describing her Rising Star acknowledgement
as the “fuel that keeps me growing and striving to be better”.
LULU. is going places, period.
howdengroup.com
73

Meanwhile, in the delightfully ubiquitous Messy, LOLA YOUNG
has delivered the UK’s biggest international hit in a long time. Yet
Young’s songwriting has been on point throughout her route to
the top, she’s just been waiting for the world to catch up.
“Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I need songwriting to
get through life - it’s the most important thing to me,” she says.
Young has been releasing music since 2019 and says she usually writes
“in the moment – when I get an overwhelming urge to write a song.”
She’s certainly built up an impressive catalogue, from early
work such as Pick Me Up to current gems such as Conceited.
They illustrate her knack for real, raw, relatable songs and mean
Messy will surely be just the first of many global smashes.
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“I want to make music I actually care about for the rest of my life,
and never fake being someone I’m not,” she says. “I just want to
make what feels authentic and hopefully people can relate.”
75

South London’s NIA SMITH is also well on her way, even
if she was taken aback by Rising Star success.
“Being nominated for an Ivor was not on my bingo card for
2025!” she laughs. “I’ve seen some of my favourite artists be
nominated and following a similar path is just insane. It’s a
reminder I’m doing great, even when I don’t feel like I am.”
In fact, Smith, who describes her songwriting style as “feeling and
emotion-led”, has already mastered the art of the intimate, honest
confessional on songs such as Personal and Give Up The Fear.
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FOC
That authentic approach, plus her brilliant vocals, have won her an army of
fans and the professional admiration of A-list writers such as Jimmy Napes.
But she’s hoping for more, including a dream gig at Brixton Academy.
“A hometown show there would be a dream come true,” she says.
“But, ultimately, I hope I get to tour the world, create great music
with great people and wear a great outfit whilst doing it!”
And that’s surely the way forward for all of 2025’s Rising
Star musical astronauts – their destiny is to light up our
lives for years to come, in every sense of the words.
IVORS
77

Best Original Film Score
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c o n g r at u l at i o n s
f r o m ian, laura and
a l l at x-ray to u r i n g
x r ay to u r i n g.com
Best Original Film Score honours the
impact of original composition in feature
film, recognising how music deepens
storytelling and enriches the cinematic
experience. A compelling score shapes
emotion, heightens drama, and draws
audiences closer; placing composers
at the heart of the creative process.
The nominations celebrate music
composed for feature films released
in the UK in 2024, created by British,
Irish or UK resident composers.
Fly Me To The Moon unfolds during the
Apollo 11 mission, blending romantic
comedy with high-stakes ambition.
Daniel Pemberton’s score, his sixth
Ivor Novello nomination, sits seamlessly
alongside period needle drops while
asserting a distinct musical identity.
Gary Yershon receives his second
nomination for Hard Truths, continuing
a three-decade collaboration with
Mike Leigh. Scored for two flautists
and two viola d’amore players, later
joined by four violas, the music
brings emotional resonance rather
than direct narrative reflection.
Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante earns his first
nomination for Kneecap, a film rooted
in Belfast’s “ceasefire generation” and
the radical power of language. His score,
developed through an experimental
process, strikes a careful balance between
narrative drive and cultural expression.
Raffertie makes his Ivor Novello
debut with The Substance, crafting
a sound world that contrasts lush
orchestral textures with processed
electronics to mirror the duality of a
fading star and her synthetic double.
Mica Levi receives their third nomination
for The Zone of Interest. Working with
choral voices and electronic manipulation,
Levi’s score reflects the film’s detached
visual language, creating a soundscape
that is both haunting and precise.
79

Best Original Film Score
The Nominations
KNEECAP
composed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film
FLY ME TO THE MOON
composed by Daniel Pemberton
music published in the UK by Sony Music
Publishing obo Apple
THE SUBSTANCE
composed by Raffertie
music published in the UK by Universal Music
Publishing obo Universal Pictures Music
Music by Daniel Pemberton
HARD TRUTHS
composed by Gary Yershon
music published in the UK by Du Vinage
Publishing and Universal Music Publishing
obo Thin Man Films
THE ZONE OF INTEREST
composed by Mica Levi
music published in the UK
by Domino Publishing Company
80 81

CELEBRATING OUR
IVOR NOVELLO AWARD
NOMINEES
2025
Best Original
Video Game Score
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Best Album
PRS for Music n Most Performed Work
BRAT by Charli xcx
“As It Was” by Harry Styles
A. G. COOK
TYLER JOHNSON
Best Original Video Game Score
celebrates the unique craft of
composing for interactive storytelling.
Unlike linear formats, game music
must respond dynamically to player
choices; creating scores that are both
adaptive and immersive. It recognises
how original composition enhances
gameplay, deepens emotional impact
and plays a vital role in worldbuilding.
The nominations celebrate music
composed for video games released
in the UK in 2024, created by British,
Irish or UK resident composers.
Empire of the Ants is a real-time strategy
game following a red ant colony rebuilding
after hibernation. For their first Ivor
Novello nomination, Mathieu Alvado
and Mark Choi composed a fully organic
score using strings, woodwinds, harp
and piano to reflect the natural world.
Brass and percussion add weight, but
the tone remains rooted, textured and
alive to the insect scale of the story.
Farewell North, set on grey Scottish
islands, is told through the eyes of a
border collie helping their owner heal
from profound loss. John Konsolakis’
debut nomination recognises a score
that contrasts sorrow with joy. Grand
orchestral gestures evoke colour returning
to the world, while folk instrumentation
and playful rhythms reflect canine
movement and a deep emotional bond.
Flock invites players to explore a chain
of islands, documenting fantastical
flying creatures. Eli Rainsberry’s first
nomination honours a delicate, open
soundscape, quiet interludes, layered
ambiences and woodwinds capturing
the freedom of wind and field. Each
rare creature is scored with distinct
musical colours, grounding discovery in
an ever-changing sonic environment.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II sees
David Garcia Diaz receive his second
nomination. The music explores
psychological and physical extremes,
mirroring Senua’s lived experience
of psychosis. Improvised motifs and
detuned tones evoke her inner world,
while Norse and Celtic instruments root
the score in myth. It’s a sonic journey of
transformation, trauma, and survival.
The Casting of Frank Stone is a narrative
horror game set in the Dead by Daylight
universe. Boxed Ape, Alistair Kerley
and Frankie Harper, receive their first
nominations for a score built from
bespoke sounds, glitched synths,
distorted vocals, and vinyl textures,
layered with orchestral and choral
elements. The result is a soundscape that
is both cinematic and deeply unsettling.
83

Best Original Video Game Score
The Nominations
FLOCK
composed by Eli Rainsberry
EMPIRE OF THE ANTS
composed by Mathieu Alvado and Mark Choi
SENUA’S SAGA: HELLBLADE II
composed by David Garcia Diaz
FAREWELL NORTH
composed by John Konsolakis
THE CASTING OF FRANK STONE
composed by Boxed Ape
84 85

Best Television
Soundtrack
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Best Original Television Soundtrack
celebrates the role of original music in
shaping long-form narrative. In television,
music builds atmosphere, supports
character and plot development and
sustains emotional tone across episodes.
It is a cornerstone of the medium’s
creative fabric, with composers helping
define a series’ identity and impact.
The nominations celebrate music
composed for television, broadcast
in the UK in 2024, crafted by British,
Irish or UK resident composers.
Netflix’s Black Doves, a six-part spy thriller,
earns Martin Phipps his ninth Ivor Novello
nomination. Scored entirely with 1980s
synthesisers, accented by electric guitar
and ukulele, the music channels retro
momentum with a sleek, brooding edge.
Stylish and knowing, it plays into genre
tradition while keeping its own sly wit.
Sky Atlantic’s Mary & George explores
17th-century intrigue through Oliver
Coates’ richly textured score, his first
Ivor Novello nomination. Drawing from
late Renaissance and proto-Baroque
forms, Coates combines plucked strings,
winds, organs, and voices to create a
modular, layered soundtrack where
sacred and secular textures collide.
Jack Halama and Natalie Holt receive
their first and second nominations
respectively for Rivals, the Disney+
drama of ambition and love. Scored
around two central vocal lines, male
and female, the music embodies the
show’s tensions, shifting from harmony
to playful discord, blending operatic
influence with a bold 1980s twist.
Sky Atlantic’s True Detective: Night
Country marks Vince Pope’s debut
nomination. Set in the fictional town
of Ennis, Alaska, the score reflects
the show’s emotional and physical
landscapes. A central use of the human
voice, including a collaboration with Inuit
throat singer Tanya Tagaq, anchors the
expansive, atmospheric sound world.
Carly Paradis receives her second Ivor
Novello nomination for ITV’s true crime
drama Until I Kill You. Collaborating with
the London Contemporary Orchestra
and an all female string section, Paradis’
emotional score deepens the audience’s
connection to the central character
and the challenges they faced.
87

Best Television Soundtrack
The Nominations
RIVALS
composed by Jack Halama and Natalie Holt
music published in the UK by Universal Music
Publishing obo Walt Disney Music Company
BLACK DOVES
composed by Martin Phipps
music published in the UK by BMG Rights
Management UK obo Maisie Anthems
TRUE DETECTIVE:
NIGHT COUNTRY
composed by Vince Pope
music published in the UK by Universal Music
Publishing obo T-L Music Publishing
MARY & GEORGE
composed by Oliver Coates
music published in the UK by SATV Publishing
UNTIL I KILL YOU
composed by Carly Paradis
music published in the UK by BMG Rights
Management UK obo Veti Music Publishing
88 89

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Huge congratulations Robbie
on receiving the PRS for Music Icon
Award 2025 - your dedication has
truly earned you this recognition.
Best wishes Julie, Pat and the
entire OJK family.
ACADEMY
ACADEMY

The Judges
An Ivor Novello Award represents peer recognition.
The Ivors Academy would like to thank all
who sat on this year’s award panels:
Iain Archer • David Arnold • Mark Ayres • Claire Batchelor
Fiona Bevan • Sarah Blanchard • John Broomhall
Benjamin Kwesi Burrell • Dan Carey • Dyo • Chipzel • CMAT
Jessica Dannheisser • Tanera Dawkins • Jim Duguid • Ines Dunn
Lizzie Esau • Jamal Green • Gavin Greenaway • Tom Grennan
Nick Hodgson • Ash Howes • Nina Humphreys • Juliette Jackson • Kamille
Kwes • Jonny Lattimer • Kal Lavelle • Chris Loco • Alloysious Massaquoi
Shelly McErlaine • Charlie Mole • Stuart Murdoch
Eimear Noone • Obongjayar • Tom Odell • Dave Okumu
Martin Phipps • Anna Phoebe • Kojey Radical • Rationale
Ray BLK • Anna Rice • Orphy Robinson • Mark Rutherford
Kevin Sargent • Arthur Sharpe • David Sneddon • KT Tunstall
Tess Tyler • Imogen Williams • Ayanna Witter-Johnson
93

ROBBIE WILLIAMS
YEARS ON AND YOU JUST GET BETTER
SINCE THE YEAR 2000
x AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOURS
x # ARIA ALBUMS & x TOP ARIA ALBUMS
# BOX OFFICE & WINNER OF x AACTA AWARDS
(INCLUDING BEST FILM) FOR BETTER MAN
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR IVOR AWARD
YOUR FRIENDS CHUGGI, SUSAN
& THE TEAMS AT FRONTIER & CHUGG ENT.
PHOTO: BRETT SCHEWITZ

(L-R) Paul Mccartney and Bruce Springtsteen, 2024
Photo: Jill Furmanovsky
The Ivors Turns 70:
A Legacy Written in Song
1956 saw plenty of new arrivals in British life. Yellow lines debuted
on UK roads, as did Routemaster London buses and youth culture
began to take hold as Elvis Presley shot to superstardom.
But, over the years, surely nothing has made such a iconic
impact as the Ivor Novello Awards, which made its entrance on
the 11th of March at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London,
promising “a unique event in the history of popular music”.
BFI Southbank, London
11 November 2025
If anything, the hype rather undersold what has become an unmissable
date in the calendar for anyone who loves music. 1956 categories such
as The Year’s Outstanding Swing Composition (picked up by Brian
Fahey and Max Kaye for Fanfare Boogie) and The Year’s Outstanding
Comedy Song (Paddy Roberts and Jack Woodman for Got’n Idea) may
have fallen by the wayside, but the principles behind The Ivors remain
gloriously the same as they celebrate their 70th edition this year.
Entries open 27 May
97

George Michael, 1985
Photo: Joe Coomber
(L-R) Joan Armatrading with Eddi Reader, 1996
Photo: Doug McKenzie
Every year, the longest-running music awards ceremony in the
country brings us a celebration of the best songwriters and
composers and the pivotal role they play in our lives – uniquely
judged by fellow writers from The Ivors Academy.
In 1956, those people included Jack Payne (who picked up Outstanding
Services In The Field Of Popular Music) and Haydn Wood (winner of
A Special Personal Award), while this year’s contenders include the
very modern likes of Lola Young, Charli xcx, Ghetts and Fontaines
D.C. And, in the intervening years, The Ivors have consistently
charted the ever-changing face of British and Irish music.
So, it wasn’t long before 1950s stalwarts Lionel Bart and Johnny
Dankworth were joined by more rock ’n’ roll names such as Cliff Richard
And The Shadows and Joe Meek. The Beatles arrived in 1964, picking up
The Most Broadcast Work Of The Year and The ‘A’ Side Of The Record
Issued In 1963 Which Achieved The Highest Certified British Sales.
History does not recall if John Lennon and Paul McCartney were given
XL-sized Ivors so that engravers could fit that lengthy awards title onto
the Euterpe statuette. But it does report that McCartney turned up
late in 1965 after the ceremony slipped his mind. Lennon chose not to
attend that year, following the furore over The Beatles being awarded
MBEs, prompting Macca to quip, “Thanks, I hope nobody sends
theirs back now!” as he collected one of their five Ivors that year.
McCartney has been a stalwart of the ceremony, winning multiple times
with The Beatles, Wings and for his solo work, becoming a Fellow in 2000.
"I remember coming here the very first time with my mates John,
George and Ringo and sitting back there,” he said as he became
the Academy’s first Fellow. "It was just fantastic to be part of this
whole songwriting thing. It was always just the greatest award, the
greatest thing to get for songwriters and it still is many years later."
The Beatles’ friendly rivals, The Rolling Stones, were first nominated in
1970 and, as that decade dawned, the likes of Elton John, Marc Bolan
and Queen all featured. Glam rock was represented by Slade, hard
rock by Led Zeppelin, The Bee Gees for disco and, later, The Boomtown
Rats and The Police brought punk and new wave to the party.
Indeed, Sting has won multiple times for both Police songs
and his solo work, as well as Gift Of The Academy awards,
culminating in a unforgettable Fellowship in 2023, during
which he was roundly roasted by presenter Bob Geldof.
98 99

Sting, 2023
Photo: Dave Hogan
Adele, 2012
Photo: Mark Allan
RAYE, 2024
Photo: Jill Furmanovsky
“Of all the awards in the world of music, The Ivors are for me, the
most prestigious,” Sting said at the time. “Songwriting is a skilled
craft and The Ivors Academy are its guild. I am delighted and
honoured to be joining and acknowledging this extraordinary group
of fellow songwriters, and all of those who went before us.”
The Fellows are an impressive roll call, comprising the greatest musical
names across every genre and era, including everyone from David
Arnold and Peter Grabriel to Joan Armatrading and Kate Bush.
Bush first won in 1979 with The Man With The Child In His Eyes
and was also a hugely popular choice for the Outstanding
Contribution To British Music award in 2002.
“It’s so special to be thought of as a songwriter because mainly
I’m thought of as a singer,” she said, making a rare public
appearance to collect the prize. “I love being a singer, but the real
buzz is the writing, because everything serves the song.”
In the 1980s, The Ivors grew closer to popular music culture, while still
honouring the great work done by writers behind the scenes. From
Come On Eileen to Don’t You Want Me and Never Gonna Give You Up to I
Should Be So Lucky, the biggest and best hits were usually represented.
Even Frankie Goes To Hollywood, banned from Radio 1, found favour
with the Academy. And when George Michael won Songwriter Of
The Year in 1985, he declared it “the first proper sign from within
the industry that what I was doing was actually worthwhile.”
That sense of peer validation has driven The Ivors into the modern age. Here,
Blur (winners in 1995 and 1996) and Oasis (1996, 1997, 2003) are equally
beloved. Shakespears Sister announced their split at the 1993 ceremony, which
turned out to be news to the group’s singer Marcella Detroit, who found out
on stage as she was collected one of their awards. Amy Winehouse attended
the 2007 ceremony just a week after she got married and faced the full tabloid
glare, telling reporters The Ivors is “a very prestigious, important thing”.
The 21st century has brought less drama, thanks to a generation of writers
who – despite the proliferation of other awards ceremonies – know the
importance of The Ivors, which has become a melting pot of modern genres,
including rap, grime and multiple dance sub-genres. Where some music
awards are seething bearpits of clashing egos and opinions, The Ivors remain a
celebration, where everyone’s a winner, whether they make it on stage or not.
So, Adele wept at the 2012 ceremony, as she picked up the Songwriter
Of The Year award and Annie Lennox told her she was “the real deal”.
100 101

KEEP MORE OF
WHAT YOU EARN
Sam Fender, 2022
Photo: Mark Allan
Dave, 2024
Photo: Jill Furmanovsky
And Dave declared: “As a songwriter myself, this is my entire life”,
as he picked up PRS for Music Most Performed Work in 2024.
“The Ivor Novello is an award that recognises your pen and your art,
so I proper wanted to win this one,” noted an ecstatic Stormzy as he
picked up the Album Award in 2018.
And Sam Fender nailed the awards’ appeal after picking up Best Song Musically
and Lyrically for Seventeen Going Under in 2022. "This is a really special award
with it being creatives who decide it,” he said. “It really means a lot.”
Music creators and rights holders should be paid everything
they have earned. Since 2015, we have helped return over
£25million to the global music community by eliminating
unnecessary bank fees and charges on international royalty
payments.
We’re dedicated to making currency transactions faster and
more cost-effective, so you can keep more of what you earn.
Make more music. Make more art. Make more noise. Make more money.
And The Ivors is still more than capable of springing a headline-grabbing
surprise – as proved last year when RAYE made a hugely influential speech
championing songwriters as “the voiceless, beating heart of this industry”,
and Paul McCartney came out on stage to present Bruce Springsteen’s
Fellowship award and proceeded to rib his American friend mercilessly.
Springsteen didn’t mind a bit, telling the crowd: “Once it was only a dream I had,
today it’s real. I want to thank you for looking at me and seeing one of yours.”
And that is why, The Ivors lives on, as the most meaningful and prestigious
celebration of songwriters and composers, with even more great moments
to come, both this year and beyond. Here’s to the next 70 years!
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SESAC
CONGRATULATES
JAHMORI
“JAYMO” SIMMONS
PRS FOR MUSIC
MOST PERFORMED WORK NOMINEE
“PRADA”
PERFORMED BY
CASSÖ, RAYE AND D-BLOCK EUROPE
TOM
RICHARDS
BEST SONG MUSICALLY
AND LYRICALLY NOMINEE
“GENESIS.”
PERFORMED BY
RAYE

The Ivors Academy
wishes to thank
SUPPORTING MUSIC
CREATORS FOR 25 YEARS -
NOW WE NEED YOU!
As the charity dedicated to helping
composers and songwriters, your
£25 gift enables underrepresented
talent break ground in the music
industry at any level.
SUPPORT ACCESS. SUSTAIN INCLUSION.
SHAPE THE FUTURE.
Donate today and make your
impact last.
Amazon Music
our title sponsor
PRS for Music
for their category sponsorship
Lauren Laverne our host
This year’s award presenters
This year’s performers
Gene O’Connell and
Capitol House Productions
for the stage production
Annabel Fitzgerald,
Vicky Madden and team
for stage and floor management
Steam Motion and Sound
for the video production
Matt Everitt our voice over artist
Swindle for composing
The Ivors theme music
PPL and VPL for the kind permission
to use sound and video recordings
Everyone who granted permission
and contributed visual
material to the award films
Mike Wilson and Meltcharm
Products for our exquisite statuettes
Pete Compton our
independent adjudicator
Anna Bailey and team at
the Grosvenor House
Pace Prestige Services
Nathan Diamond, Henry Oliver
and team at LD Communications
Dave Hogan and team
for our official photography
Emanuel Kucbel
for filming our official interviews
John Marshall and team at
JM Enternational for the programme
design and production
Judith Rivers for our advertising sales
Mark Sutherland
for our programme editorial
Adapt or Die for our design
Fran Matthews,
Tilly Flynn and Kate Spiers
for awards management
and show production
All the teams working on the day
Charity number 1080325
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Congratulations
to Sans Soucis for their
Ivor Novello nomination
Officers of
The Ivors Academy
ACADEMY BOARD
Iain Archer • David Arnold • Fiona Bevan • Ines Dunn • Lizzie Esau
Paloma Faith • Tom Gray (Chair) • Eve Horne
Dru Masters • Orphy Robinson (Deputy Chair)
Mika Sellens • Tinie Tempah • Ayanna Witter-Johnson
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Roberto Neri
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG
Circumnavigating Georgia
ACADEMY SENATE
Rob Aitken • Ras Kassa Alexander • Iain Archer
David Arnold • Prof. Keith Ayling • Fiona Bevan
Xantoné Blacq • Esmeralda Conde Ruiz • Dr Gary Crosby OBE
Tansy Davies • Catherine Anne Davies • Nainita Desai
Ines Dunn • Louise Dodds • Lizzie Esau • Paloma Faith
Joe Galuszka • Tom Gray (Chair) • Gavin Higgins • Eve Horne
Ilà Kamalagharan • Kamille • Melpomeni Kermanidou
Jonny Lattimer • Kal Lavelle • Duncan MacLeod
Shelly McErlaine • Dru Masters • Anna Phoebe
Katie Richardson • Orphy Robinson • Cassell The Beatmaker
Emily Saunders • Mika Sellens • Andy Skinner
Jill Thomas • Tinie Tempah • Jonathan Vincent
Olli Wells • Ayanna Witter-Johnson
ACADEMY AWARDS COMMITTEE
Iain Archer • David Arnold • Lizzie Esau • Jonny Lattimer
Shelly McErlaine • Anna Phoebe • Orphy Robinson (Chair)
Imogen Williams • Ayanna Witter-Johnson
109

At The Ivors Academy
Chief Executive Officer, Roberto Neri
AWARDS
Director of Awards, Fran Matthews
Awards Manager, Tilly Flynn
Awards Coordinator, Kate Spiers
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Director of Marketing and Communications, Mark Taylor
MEMBERSHIP
Membership and Events Senior Manager, Grace Croucher
Membership Operations Manager, Will Davenport
Relations and Outreach Manager, Jévis Lawson
Membership Coordinator, Charlie Withers
OPERATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Chief Operating Officer, Laura Moreno
Governance and Policy Senior Manager, Maria McMillan
Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager, Paul Mortimer
Executive Personal Assistant to CEO, Amy Leadbetter
Membership Councils and Office Coordinator, Will Davenport
Head of Finance, Luisa Raimondo
Accounts Assistant, Alison Tickner
The Ivors and Euterpe (The Ivors Statuette, designed in 1955 by Hazel Underwood) are trademarks
belonging to the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, trading as The Ivors Academy.
Persons wishing to reproduce or use these marks must secure the written consent of The Ivors Academy
prior to use. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained
within this publication, The Ivors Academy cannot be liable for errors or omissions. No part of this
publication may be reproduced without the written permission of The Ivors Academy.
WHERE MAVERICKS MEET
45 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB | Tel +0044 (0) 20 7439 4685 | thegrouchoclub.com
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Presentation order
LUNCH 3.00pm
AWARDS CEREMONY 5.00pm
CREATED BY MEMBERS.
DRIVEN BY MUSIC.
PRS for Music Icon Award
Best Television Soundtrack
Rising Star Award with Amazon Music
Outstanding Song Collection
Best Album
Best Original Film Score
C
M
Y
IN MEMORIAM
CM
MY
Best Contemporary Song
PRS for Music Most Performed Work
Visionary Award with Amazon Music
CY
CMY
K
Best Song Musically and Lyrically
Best Original Video Game Score
Special International Award
Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music
Academy Fellowship
DEPARTURES 8:00pm
We are proud to sponsor the
PRS for Music Most Performed Work and Icon Awards,
honouring the songs that make an impact, and the
creators behind them.
PRS was built to protect the value of the music and
today we congratulate all the nominees for their
contributions to our industry.
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