WINNERS OF THE IVORS 2023 WITH AMAZON MUSIC ANNOUNCEDSONGWRITER OF THE YEAR GOES TO WET LEG’S RHIAN TEASDALE AND HESTER CHAMBERSRAYE’S UK #1 SINGLE ‘ESCAPISM’ WINS BEST CONTEMPORARY SONGSTING, CHARLI XCX, DEBBIE HARRY & CHRIS STEIN (BLONDIE), JAMES AND KAMILLE RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS ‘GIFT OF THE ACADEMY’ AWARDSOFFICIAL PRESS RELEASENEWS PROVIDED BY LD Communications SAULT WIN BEST ALBUM FOR 11 HARRY STYLES & KID HARPOON, FLORENCE WELCH, VICTORIA CANAL & MORE RECOGNISED FEATURING LIVE PERFORMANCES AT THE IVORS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES FROM STING, RAYE AND MATILDA MANN HENRY MOODIE, MATILDA MANN AND KURT VILE RELEASE AMAZON ORIGINAL TRACKS TRIBUTING BLONDIE, STING AND CHARLI XCX Thursday 18 May 2023 – The Ivors Academy has announced the winners of this year’s Ivor Novello Awards with Amazon Music at Grosvenor House, London, on Thursday 18th May. In the 68th year of The Ivors, 30 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 Award with Amazon Music went to Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers. Wet Leg’s debut album took the music industry by storm on its release last year, topping the charts and spawning the hit singles ‘Wet Dream’ and ‘Chaise Longue’. The Ivors judges described Teasdale and Chambers’ writing as fresh, unapologetic and direct, with surprising melodies that demand attention. Best Contemporary Song went to Raye, 070 Shake and Mike Sabath for ‘Escapism’ – which Raye performed live at the awards ceremony. Described by the judges as daring, brave and empowering songwriting, the track found huge success after going viral on TikTok, marking Raye’s first ever number one single in the UK, where it was also certified platinum. In recognition of the massive impact her musical vision has made on her fellow songwriters, hyper-pop trailblazer Charli XCX is awarded the Visionary Award with Amazon Music. Harry Styles, Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, together win PRS for Music Most Performed Work for their collaboration on the UK’s biggest song of 2022, ‘As It Was’. This marks the third Ivor Novello Award each for the fruitful partnership of Harry Styles and Kid Harpoon, who won both PRS for Music Most Performed Work for ‘Adore You’ and Songwriter of the Year in 2021. With over 40 million records sold worldwide, the Special International Award celebrates the outstanding career and influence of Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. Emerging from the New York new wave scene in the mid-seventies, the group have written a huge number of celebrated songs throughout their illustrious career and remain one of the world’s most influential bands. Best Album goes to 11 by SAULT, written by Dean “Inflo” Josiah Cover, Jamar McNaughton, Cleopatra Nikolic and Jack Peñate. Drawing from Afrobeat and blues influences, 11 was one of five critically acclaimed albums released for free simultaneously by SAULT in November 2022. Dean “Inflo” Josiah Cover’s win marks the significant achievement of his fourth Ivor Novello Award. Best Song Musically and Lyrically goes to ‘King’ by Florence + the Machine, written by Florence Welch and Jack Antonoff. Considered a standout from the group’s last album, Dance Fever, the song discusses Welch's conflict in choosing between her career and starting a family as well as gender expectations for women in society. KAMILLE’s impressive body of work was recognised with the Outstanding Song Collection award. KAMILLE has built a career as one of Britain’s most successful songwriters, working with artists such as Mabel, The Saturdays, Dua Lipa and, most famously, Little Mix, for whom she wrote over 30 songs including the number one hits ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Shout Out To My Ex’. On top of her songwriting achievements, she has also launched a career as an artist in her own right. The PRS for Music Icon Award goes to Tim Booth, Saul Davies, Jim Glennie, Larry Gott and Mark Hunter for James. From their original breakthrough in the ‘Madchester’ scene of the early nineties, James have become an enduring gem of British music, selling over 25 million albums over their 39-year career. The Rising Star Award with Amazon Music has been awarded to singer-songwriter Victoria Canal, who counts legendary names in Chris Martin and Jon Hopkins amongst her admirers and mentors. She is the fourth consecutive female songwriter to pick up the award since it was introduced in 2020, with The Ivors judges complementing her powerful songwriting and compelling sound. Sting received the Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, the highest honour the Academy bestows. With over 100 million albums sold throughout his career from his combined work with The Police and as a solo artist, Sting is one of Britain’s most successful, accomplished, and pioneering songwriters. Among his countless accolades, he has won seven Ivor Novellos, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. He joins an illustrious list of Fellows that includes Sir Paul McCartney, Kate Bush CBE and Joan Armatrading MBE. Hannah Peel won Best Television Soundtrack for her work on The Midwich Cuckoos. Hannah’s innovative approach and electronic sensibilities saw her using analogue synthesisers, tape manipulations, drones and woodwind in an imaginative and otherworldly way. John Powell wins Best Original Film Score for Don’t Worry Darling, a film which featured fellow Ivor Novello winner Harry Styles in an acting role. Directed by Olivia Wilde, the film yearns for romance despite its dark overtones, with a compelling and subversive score that marks John Powell’s fifth Ivor Novello Award. The award for Best Original Video Game Score goes to Gareth Coker, Grant Kirkhope and Yoko Shimomura for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. Each composer is renowned for their work including Nintendo classics such as Donkey Kong 64 and Super Mario RPG. Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said “On behalf of The Ivors Academy of songwriters and composers I wholeheartedly congratulate all of our winners. When we choose to reward one of our number, when we recognise and validate their work, we are saying that as an Ivor Novello award winner, you represent the very best of us.” LIVE PERFORMANCES
Title sponsor and collaborator Amazon Music scaled up The Ivors’ reach with the first ever livestream from the event. Presented by +44 Podcast hosts Zeze Millz and Sideman, as well as radio DJ Zach Sang, the livestream featured live coverage direct from The Ivors red carpet, plus the award show performances, and backstage interviews with the winners. In a special edition of The Zach Sang Show, Amazon Music Breakthrough UK: Artist to Watch 2023, Henry Moodie, performed his songs ‘pick up the phone’ and ‘drunk text’, as well as a cover of the classic ‘Every Breath You Take’, originally penned by this year’s Fellow of The Ivors Academy, Sting, for The Police. Finally, Matilda Mann, Henry Moodie and Kurt Vile will today each release new Amazon Original tracks tributing three of the 2023 Ivor Novello winners. Matilda Mann covers Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” [listen here] which she performed during the awards, Henry Moodie covers Sting’s “Every Breath You Take” [listen here] which he performed during the Amazon Music livestream, and Kurt Vile covers Charli XCX’s “Constant Repeat” [listen here]. In addition to these special Amazon Original tracks tributing three of the 2023 Ivor Novello winners, 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 2023 winners:Academy FellowshipSting Best Album11 Best Contemporary Song'Escapism' Best Original Film ScoreDon’t Worry Darling Best Original Video Game ScoreMario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Best Song Musically and Lyrically'King' Best Television SoundtrackThe Midwich Cuckoos Outstanding Song CollectionKamille PRS for Music Icon AwardTim Booth, Saul Davies, Jim Glennie, Larry Gott and Mark Hunter for James PRS for Music Most Performed Work'As It Was' Rising Star Award with Amazon MusicVictoria Canal Songwriter of the Year with Amazon MusicRhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers Special International AwardDebbie Harry and Chris Stein Visionary Award with Amazon MusicCharli XCX AboutAbout The IvorsThe Ivors is one of the most respected awards in music. Established in 1956 to recognise songwriters and composers for their craft and achievements, each winner receives an iconic Ivor Novello statuette and joins a roll call of greats. The categories are judged by acclaimed songwriters and composers from The Ivors Academy’s membership. The following categories recognise British or Irish songwriting and composing for music commercially released in the UK between 1st January and 31st December 2022; Best Album, Best Contemporary Song, Best Song Musically and Lyrically, Best Original Film Score, Best Original Video Game Score and Best Television Soundtrack. The Rising Star Award with Amazon Music honours under-25, British or Irish songwriting talent who demonstrate exceptional potential, ambition and have begun to capture the imagination of the music creator community. About The Ivors AcademyThe Ivors Academy is the UK’s professional association for songwriters and composers. We represent, support, champion and celebrate a diverse, talented community of songwriters and composers. Our mission is to put songwriters and composers centre stage, where they belong. To do this we provide advice, connections and knowledge through membership of the Academy; opportunities to start a career in the creative industries with our diploma, TheWRD from The Ivors Academy; and celebrate the craft and achievements of songwriters and composers by bestowing Ivor Novello awards. About Amazon MusicAmazon Music is an immersive audio entertainment service that connects fans, artists, and creators through music, podcasts, and culture. Amazon Music brings fans closer to what they love, with curated and personalised playlists, artist livestreams, artist merch, and Amazon Exclusive podcasts. Prime members get access to over 100 million songs in shuffle mode, All-Access playlists, plus the largest catalogue of top ad-free podcasts, included with their membership. Customers can upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for full, on-demand access to 100 million songs in HD and a growing catalogue of Ultra HD and Spatial audio. Anyone can listen to Amazon Music by downloading the Amazon Music app for free, or wherever they listen to music including Alexa-enabled devices. Learn more at https:// In February, Amazon Music were announced as the new title sponsor of The Ivors in a collaboration that will amplify and scale the awards’ recognition and celebration of songwriters globally. As a part of this, Amazon Music will offer its cross-category capabilities to bring both iconic and emerging music creators to the forefront through exclusive content offerings, as well as presenting and broadcasting inaugural live performances and an immersive red carpet and backstage interviews from the 2023 event on the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel to honour the craft of songwriting. An unheard Amazon Original demo of Sting’s 2021 single ‘If It’s Love’ has been released exclusively on Amazon Music [for Amazon Music customers], available to listen to below.
Source LD Communications
May 18, 2023 12:00pm ET by LD Communications |