Winners of The Ivors with Amazon Music 2025 announced 22 May 2025
CHARLI XCX AWARDED SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR WITH AMAZON MUSIC
U2 PRESENTED WITH FELLOWSHIP OF THE ACADEMY BY ED SHEERAN
BRANDON FLOWERS PRESENTED WITH SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL AWARD BY IVORS ACADEMY FELLOW BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
ROBBIE WILLIAMS RECEIVES THE PRS FOR MUSIC ICON AWARD
'GIFT OF THE ACADEMY' AWARDS ALSO PRESENTED TO SELF ESTEEM AND BLOC PARTY
LOLA YOUNG NAMED WINNER OF THE RISING STAR AWARD WITH AMAZON MUSIC
BERWYN WINS BEST ALBUM FOR WHO AM I
MYLES SMITH, ORLA GARTLAND, SANS SOUCIS, RAFFERTIE & MORE RECOGNISED WITH IVOR NOVELLO AWARDS
Today, the winners of The Ivors with Amazon Music were revealed at the annual awards ceremony held at Grosvenor House, London, recognising and celebrating exceptional achievements in songwriting and screen composing.
In the 70th year of The Ivors, 22 songwriters and composers collected Ivor Novello Awards across 14 categories, with 73% of all winners and award recipients receiving recognition for the first time. Established in 1956, The Ivors is presented by The Ivors Academy, the leading organisation representing songwriters and composers, and is the most prestigious awards ceremony celebrating songwriting and screen composition.
This year's Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music was awarded to Charli xcx, whose groundbreaking songwriting on 2024 album BRAT redefined the pop landscape. The record became a cultural phenomenon that resonated far beyond the charts, with the term 'brat' even being named the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year. In a year of bold collaborations, global acclaim and artistic evolution, Charli xcx cemented her status as one of the defining songwriters of her generation.
U2 were in attendance to receive one of songwriting's highest honours – Fellowship of the Ivors Academy – presented to them by close friend and multi-Ivor Novello Award winning songwriter, Ed Sheeran. Known for their fearless innovation and emotional depth, U2's songwriting has united generations and shaped modern music through a singular, influential partnership. With this, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. become the first-ever Irish songwriters that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship during its 81-year history.
Best Album went to BERWYN for his 2024 album WHO AM I, marking his first Ivor Novello Award. The judges praised the album's vivid storytelling that transcends generations, race and social differences, offering a voice to those often unseen by society.
The PRS for Music Icon Award was presented to Robbie Williams – his fifth Ivor Novello Award – in recognition of a songwriting career that has touched millions and defined a generation. From the heartfelt power of "Angels" to the swagger of "Let Me Entertain You", Robbie's music blends wit, vulnerability and showmanship in equal measure. With 15 UK number one albums, countless chart-topping hits, and an enduring connection with fans, he remains one of Britain's most iconic and influential songwriters.
Lola Young was the latest under-25 songwriter to be awarded the Rising Star Award with Amazon Music, following in the footsteps of Victoria Canal, Naomi Kimpenu and 2024's winner Master Peace. Lola Young's songwriting reflects her authenticity and charm, writing that almost feels like a stream of consciousness that touches an audience spanning generations.
Brandon Flowers was honoured with the Special International Award, presented in a landmark moment by Fellow of The Ivors Academy Bruce Springsteen, reflecting the deep artistic bond between the two esteemed songwriters. As frontman of The Killers and a solo artist, Flowers has crafted anthems that fuse poetic melancholy with widescreen pop ambition – evidenced by an unbroken run of UK number one albums. A singular talent with an extraordinary bond to the UK, he stands as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation.
Celebrating outstanding originality in songwriting, Best Contemporary Song was claimed by Sans Soucis for their track "Circumnavigating Georgia", marking their first Ivor Novello Award. Recognising its deep level of originality and careful selection of words, the song was praised by judges for leaving a lasting effect on the listener.
Best Song Musically and Lyrically was awarded to Orla Gartland for "Mine", off her sophomore album Everybody Needs a Hero. Described by Gartland as her most vulnerable work to date, the judges praised the track's ability to handle heavy subject matter in a gentle, expressive manner.
This year's Visionary Award with Amazon Music went to Self Esteem, in recognition of her fearless, genre-defying songwriting that is reshaping the sound and substance of modern pop. From her bold solo debut Compliments Please to the Mercury-nominated Prioritise Pleasure and her latest work A Complicated Woman, she has consistently delivered songs that are emotionally raw, unapologetically feminist, and musically adventurous.
Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink and Myles Smith together win PRS for Music Most Performed Work for their collaboration on"Stargazing". This is the first Ivor Novello Award for all three songwriters for a track that resonated with the public, enjoying huge commercial success and leading to Myles Smith supporting, Ed Sheeran on tour.
As previously announced, The Ivors Academy awarded Ivor Novellos for Outstanding Song Collection to the original members of Bloc Party – Kele Okereke, Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes and Matt Tong – in recognition of their genre-defining songwriting across a prolific 25-year career.
In the screen composition categories, Raffertie's score to body horror phenomenon The Substance claimed Best Original Film Score, praised for its ability to seamlessly blend with the sound design to create an immersive and textured experience that captures the movie's bold, graphic insanity.
Best Original Video Game Score went to composer John Konsolakis for his work on Farewell North. The judges noted that the game's soundtrack flows intuitively with the gameplay, feeling like an additional character that breathes life into the world.
Best Television Soundtrack went to Vince Pope's score to True Detective: Night Country. Original and absorbing, Pope's music is powerful, cinematic, and emotive, creating an atmosphere that aligns seamlessly with the cinematography, while the instrumentation offers a bold yet subtle presence. Notably, the inclusion of Inuit throat singing adds depth and soul, enhancing the landscape and world it inhabits.
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said, "Congratulations to every Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter and composer. On behalf of The Ivors Academy, it is a privilege to recognise their craft and achievements. Their lyrics and melodies are the most important foundations of music and there is no greater recognition than an Ivor Novello Award, judged by fellow songwriters and composers."
Roberto Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, said, "A massive congratulations to all of our winners. From the UK we're creating the global recognition that songwriters and composers deserve. Whether it's fair pay, safe working environments or ensuring meaningful opt-in consent in the age of AI, The Ivors Academy exists to protect, empower and celebrate the most vital creative force in the music industry. I'm proud to lead an organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and earnings of our members."
The 2025 winners join a roll of songwriting and composing greats who have received an Ivor Novello Award over the past seven decades, including Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Adele, RAYE, Stormzy, Cathy Dennis, Bruce Springsteen, Annie Lennox, Amy Winehouse, Dave, Sting and Joan Armatrading.
In celebration of the awards, Amazon Music has released two brand-new Amazon Original songs from Myles Smith and Darren Kiely. In tribute to U2, nominee Myles Smith has covered their iconic anthem "Beautiful Day". Irish singer-songwriter Darren Kiely also pays homage to another legendary act with a heartfelt rendition of The Killers' classic, "When You Were Young". Both tracks are available to stream now, exclusively on Amazon Music.
The 2025 winners:
BEST ALBUM
WHO AM I written and performed by BERWYN
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG
CIRCUMNAVIGATING GEORGIA written and performed by Sans Soucis
music published in the UK by Sentric Music
BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY
MINE written and performed by Orla Gartland
music published in the UK by San Remo Live-Kobalt Music Publishing
PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK
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
RISING STAR AWARD WITH AMAZON MUSIC
LOLA YOUNG
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
THE SUBSTANCE composed by Raffertie
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo Universal Pictures Music
BEST ORIGINAL VIDEO GAME SCORE
FAREWELL NORTH composed by John Konsolakis
BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY composed by Vince Pope
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo T-L Music Publishing
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. for U2
OUTSTANDING SONG COLLECTION
Kele Okereke, Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes and Matt Tong for BLOC PARTY
PRS FOR MUSIC ICON AWARD
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR with AMAZON MUSIC
CHARLI XCX
SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL
BRANDON FLOWERS
VISIONARY AWARD with AMAZON MUSIC
SELF ESTEEM
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THE HEADLINES
Streaming is both retail and radio – it shouldn’t be (see Comment)
Impala’s Helen Smith on UMG's planned Downtown acquisition (see Comment)
Retiring Arista CEO David Massey shares his top 10 career highlights (see Features)
Budweiser’s royalty loophole ad: How AI and social have changed the value of creators (see Comment)
When did making music get so lonely? (see Comment)
How will Taylor Swift’s masters ownership saga be remembered? (see Audio&Visual)
The copyright war between the AI industry and creatives (see Comment)
Interview: Lyor Cohen, the head of YouTube Music (see Features)
The ‘pure’ songwriter is disappearing – and it’s everyone’s problem (see Comment)
What 20 years of YouTube reveals about creativity’s future (see Features)
Welcome to entertainment’s ‘Mad Max’ era. Here’s where it leads (see Comment)
Did Sony’s Rob Stringer just hand regulators the case to tank Universal’s Downtown dreams? (see Comment)
Is the Sabrina Carpenter album art really that offensive? (see Features)
Mid-year analysis of the live business (see Analysis)
Sony Music's Rob Stringer talks catalogues, free streaming, AI and more (see News)
Calls on the EC to conduct an investigation into proposed acquisition of Downtown by Universal (see Opinion)