In the 69th year of The Ivors, 26 songwriters and composers collected Ivor Novello Awards across 14 categories in recognition of outstanding achievements in songwriting and composing for screen.
This year’s Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music went to RAYE. Described by the judges as having “the voice of a generation”, RAYE is one of the UK’s finest songwriters. This win caps off an incredible 12 months since the release of her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, and completes a full circle moment for RAYE, who has long been a vocal champion for songwriters. On top of the huge success achieved with her own music, she has also previously written for artists including Charli XCX, Little Mix, Beyoncé, John Legend, Ellie Goulding and Zara Larsson.
In a historic moment for The Ivors, Bruce Springsteen was in attendance to receive Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, presented to him by previous Fellow and close friend, Sir Paul McCartney. With this, Springsteen becomes the first ever international songwriter that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship in its 80-year history, recognising his outstanding contribution to the craft of songwriting and impact on the UK’s cultural landscape.
Best Album was awarded to Black Classical Music, written by Yussef Dayes, Rocco Palladino and Charlie Stacey. Representing a significant coup for the burgeoning London jazz scene, judges praised Black Classical Music for its narrative arc that propels the listener forward, using a modern lens to reframe the format of instrumental music.
This year’s Special International Award celebrated the career and influence of Lana Del Rey. With six UK number one records, her impact on the UK is undeniable, as is her outstanding songwriting talent. She is also a favourite of fellow honouree Bruce Springsteen, who has previously stated she is one of the best songwriters of modern times.
Celebrating outstanding originality in songwriting, Best Contemporary Song was claimed by Kwake Bass, Peter Bennie, Biscuit and Raven Bush of Speakers Corner Quartet alongside Kae Tempest for “Geronimo Blues”. Lyrically exceptional, this is the first Ivor Novello Award that these songwriters have received.
Having won the 2023 Rising Star Award, Victoria Canal’s rise as an artist and songwriter is marked with a win for Best Song Musically and Lyrically with “Black Swan”, alongside Jonny Lattimer and Eg White. Performed live at the awards ceremony by Canal, the judges praised the track’s beautiful balance of lyrical metaphors against a complex musical structure.
Dave, Central Cee, Jo Caleb and Jonny Leslie together win PRS for Music Most Performed Work for their collaboration on the UK’s biggest song of 2023, “Sprinter”. Dave and Central Cee have previously been nominated for Songwriter of the Year, with Dave claiming the award in 2022.
Rap legend Skepta was recognised with the Visionary Award with Amazon Music. Fearless in his creative approach, he is the custodian of a genre that has changed the face of popular music. Groundbreaking, multifaceted and visionary, Skepta’s influence is undeniable.
Now in its fifth year, the Rising Star Award with Amazon Music continues to champion Britain and Ireland’s most promising songwriting talents. Claiming the prize this year is Master Peace, whose songwriting was praised for its intelligent blend of genres whilst demonstrating his ambition and promise as a songwriter.
Esteemed songwriter Bernie Taupin was recognised with the Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. It is the ninth Ivor Novello awarded to Bernie Taupin, 50 years on from his first win for “Daniel” with Sir Elton John in 1974. Known for his longstanding and hugely successful songwriting partnership with Elton, he has also written for artists as diverse as Starship, Heart, Willie Nelson, Courtney Love and Brian Wilson.
KT Tunstall received the Outstanding Song Collection with PRS for Music award, recognising her creative trail across a 20-year career, marked by her exceptional ability as a songwriter. It comes 18 years since she claimed her first Ivor Novello Award for “Suddenly I See”, which won Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2006.
In the screen composition categories, Jerskin Fendrix’s debut film score for the critically acclaimed Poor Things starring Emma Stone took home Best Original Film Score, praised as an outstanding example of creative collaboration between composer and director.
Arthur Sharpe won Best Television Soundtrack with his inventive and expressive original composition for The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies. This is the second time the British composer has won the award, also claiming it in 2022 with his score for Landscapers.
The award for Best Original Video Game Score went to Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Exceptionally executed, with an emotional and nostalgic thread that runs through the score, it was praised for staying true to John Williams’ original music while moving into its own authentic world.
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said: “On behalf of The Ivors Academy and all the songwriters and composers we represent, it’s an honour to recognise extraordinary work and brilliant individuals behind it. We know that, because they are chosen by our peers, our awards are incredibly meaningful to their recipients. Ultimately, everyone knows that The Ivors define exceptional craft so a huge congratulations to all our winners.”
Title sponsor Amazon Music scaled up The Ivors’ reach by livestreaming from behind the scenes at the awards ceremony on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. Hosted by Zach Sang and Ayamé, the broadcast featured exclusive performances from METTE and Victoria Canal alongside a special backstage performance from viral sensation, Angelina Jordan with award-winning songwriter Toby Gad, plus exclusive interviews with The War on Drugs and KT Tunstall.
In celebration of The Ivors 2024, Amazon Music have released three new Amazon Music Original tracks. METTE and The War on Drugs have covered iconic songs from some of this year’s awards recipients. American singer-songwriter METTE has covered “Bennie and The Jets (Amazon Music Original)” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, with the latter picking up the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. The War on Drugs, hailed by the New Yorker as ‘the best American rock band of this decade,’ have paid tribute to Fellow of The Ivors Academy, Bruce Springsteen, with two brand new covers of his classic tracks; “Dry Lightning (Amazon Music Original)” and “Highway 29 (Amazon Music Original)”.
In addition to these special Amazon Music Original tracks, Amazon Music listeners can access hundreds of Amazon Originals, featuring both emerging and established artists across numerous genres, available to stream only on Amazon Music. The official playlist for The Ivors 2024 on Amazon Music showcases songs by the winners and nominees of this year’s awards. Listen here.
The 2024 winners:
BEST ALBUM
Black Classical Music
written by Yussef Dayes, Rocco Palladino and Charlie Stacey
performed by Yussef Dayes
music published in the UK by YD Music-Kobalt Music Publishing and Sentric Music
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG
“Geronimo Blues”
written by Kwake Bass, Peter Bennie, Biscuit, Raven Bush and Kae Tempest
performed by Speakers Corner Quartet feat. Kae Tempest
music published in the UK by Warp Publishing and Domino Publishing Company
BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY
“Black Swan”
written by Victoria Canal, Jonny Lattimer and Eg White
performed by Victoria Canal
music published in the UK by Second Songs-Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Ltd and Universal Music Publishing
PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK
“Sprinter”
written by Central Cee, Dave, Jo Caleb and Jonny Leslie
performed by Dave & Central Cee
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Ltd and Kobalt Music Publishing
RISING STAR AWARD WITH AMAZON MUSIC
Master Peace
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Poor Things
composed by Jerskin Fendrix
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
BEST ORIGINAL VIDEO GAME SCORE
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
composed by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing
BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies
composed by Arthur Sharpe
music published in the UK by BDi Music obo Sister Pictures and Rights Worldwide
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
Bruce Springsteen
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR WITH AMAZON MUSIC
RAYE
SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL
Lana Del Rey
VISIONARY AWARD WITH AMAZON MUSIC
Skepta
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BRITISH MUSIC
Bernie Taupin
OUTSTANDING SONG COLLECTION WITH PRS FOR MUSIC
KT Tunstall
