At the 71st Ivor Novello Awards (The Ivors) with Amazon Music, 16 songwriters and composers collected Ivor Novello Awards across 14 categories. Established in 1956, The Ivors is presented by The Ivors Academy, the leading organization representing songwriters and composers, and is the most prestigious awards ceremony celebrating songwriting and screen composition. The awards were announced in London last week.
George Michael was awarded Fellowship of the Ivors Academy, one of the most prestigious honours in songwriting, a decade after his passing. Longtime friend and Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley collected the award on behalf of the singer.
Elton John was presented with an Ivors Academy Honor in recognition of his outstanding work in service to songwriters, composers and creativity across the music industry. The honor also recognized his longstanding commitment and advocacy for creative rights and artistic freedom, including his recent conversations around AI and the protection of human creativity and supporting emerging talent.
The Ivors Academy also announced that John would become its first-ever President, a newly created role that will see Elton John represent The Ivors Academy’s global community of songwriters and composers, championing the value of music creation and advocating for the rights and recognition of music creators worldwide.
The position is reserved for individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their songwriting or composing profession, and are committed to giving back by supporting the community and advancing the Academy’s mission to protect the future of music.
The Ivors were presented in association with Amazon Music. Following her performance at the awards, Amazon Music will release an exclusive of Skye Newman’s cover of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” paying tribute to the late singer after his induction to the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy.
See the full list of award recipients here.
–Rich Lopez