Ivors Academy Honours launched to celebrate exceptional service in the UK music industry

06 September 2023 - Press release

 

Kevin Brennan MP, Carla Marie Williams, Crispin Hunt and Rupert Hine have been named as the first recipients of an Ivors Academy Honour. The new award brings back the tradition of the Academy's Gold Badge Awards, which recognised exceptional people from the music industry who create positive change and champion music creators.  
 
The Gold Badge Awards were founded in 1974 and last presented in 2019.The roll call of illustrious past recipients includes Joan Armatrading, Janice Long, Peter Gabriel, Beverley Knight, Bob Geldof, Trevor Nelson, Paulette Long and Michael Eavis.  

Joan Armatrading, acclaimed songwriter and Fellow of The Ivors Academy, will present recipients with Ivors Academy Honours on Wednesday 20th September at Tanners Warehouse in Bermondsey, London. The awards reception follows The Ivors Academy's sold-out Global Creators Summit on AI in music, supported by PRS for Music. Book tickets for the Ivors Academy Honours. 
 
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy said, "Ivors Academy Honours is our opportunity as a community of songwriters and composers to recognise the innovators, the trailblazers, the leaders and unsung heroes who inspire and champion us. Kevin, Carla, Crispin and Rupert have made a real difference to music creators, and we are proud and humbled to celebrate their achievements." 

Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy said, "With the Ivors Academy Honours we are able to give due public attention and thanks to people from across the music who have worked, often behind the scenes, to make our industry better. We look forward to giving our further awards over the coming year." 
 
Welsh Labour politician Kevin Brennan has served as the MP for Cardiff West since 2001. A passionate advocate for music he has repeatedly worked towards meaningful change for creators and championing the importance of music to society. In 2014, he led a campaign with musician Billy Bragg to lift a blanket ban on prisoners having access to guitars as a means for rehabilitation. As a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee he was a driving force behind a report in 2021 that called for a "complete reset" of the economics of streaming to benefit creators. Kevin followed the report with a Private Members Bill in 2022 that proposed a series of reforms to the ways that music creators are remunerated. A member of the world's only Parliamentary rock band, MP4, Kevin is Chair of the Music All Party Parliamentary Group which provides a valuable cross-party forum for discussion between the music industry and parliamentarians. 
 
Ivor Novello nominated songwriter, mentor and entrepreneur Carla Marie Williams founded GIR (Girls I Rate) in 2016. The movement provides females with a voice and platform, uniting women to create opportunities within the music and creative industries. GIR initiatives include Future Hitmaker, a safe space for women artists, songwriters and producers to come together, collaborate and gain access to commercial work with major labels and publishers and Mentor Me, an inspirational programme dedicated to female creatives aged 16-30. Carla's exemplary leadership has created an impactful movement for change within the music industry. 

Multi-platinum selling songwriter and producer Crispin Hunt began his career as lead singer of the Longpigs and has since worked with Jake Bugg, Florence and The Machine, Lana Del Ray, Ellie Goulding, and Luke Sital-Singh. Alongside his creative work, Crispin has dedicated much of his professional life to campaigning on behalf of music creators including roles on the Boards of the Featured Artists Coalition, PRS for Music and PPL. The Academy wishes to recognise the immense contribution Crispin made when elected as Chair of The Ivors Academy from 2016 to 2022.  
 
Spanning a 50-year career Rupert Hine was a trailblazing producer, songwriter and musician. A founding member of the British Record Producers' Guild (the frontrunner of the MPG) he was acclaimed for his contributions to production, which included the development of MIDI, collecting the APRS Sound Fellowship from Sir George Martin in 2011. An active Director of The Ivors Academy, he dedicated much of his latter career to supporting creators and encouraging innovation across the music industry, particularly in technology. Rupert passed away on 4 June 2020. His Ivors Academy Honour is awarded posthumously.