Roberto Neri has hailed U2 as "era-defining songwriters" ahead of the band's imminent induction into the Fellowship of The Ivors Academy.
You can see the full list of nominees here including nods for Lola Young, Raye, Ghetts, Charli XCX, Jade, Dua Lipa and Lola Young collaborator Conor Dickinson.
The Ivors' landmark 70th edition, the 2025 ceremony with Amazon Music at London's Grosvenor House on May 22 will see the rock legends become the first-ever Irish songwriters that the Academy has inducted into the Fellowship during its 81-year history.
U2's induction will bring the total number of Fellows to 32, placing U2 alongside songwriters such as Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading and Bruce Springsteen – who became the first international songwriter to receive the accolade last year.
“It’s an incredible honour," Neri told Music Week's May issue. "Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr are era-defining songwriters whose bold, politically charged and deeply human music has influenced generations. Their legacy reinforces the irreplaceable role of songwriters and composers."
U2 have previously won four Ivor Novello Awards – the Special Award for International Achievement in 1994, Best Song Musically and Lyrically for Walk On in 2002, Outstanding Song Collection in 2003 and International Hit Of The Year for Vertigo in 2005.
"Last year, we saw Bruce Springsteen as a songwriter. It was incredible to see him in that light," said Neri. "I sat between him and Paul McCartney for 20 minutes, that was entertaining! People should always see these prominent artists as the songwriters they are.
"This year will be of equal importance and significance, it’s going to be an incredible year as our 70th edition of the awards. It is the Oscars of music, a pinnacle that everyone celebrates.”
There have been some incredible songs written by British songwriters
Roberto Neri
Neri has more than 20 years’ experience working in senior roles across the music industry and was most recently CEO of the publishing arm of Believe. He tooked over from interim Ivors Academy CEO Charlie Phillips in April last year after former chief executive Graham Davies moved to the US to become president and CEO of DiMA (Digital Media Organisation).
He has also served on a range of music industry boards, including as chair of the Music Publishers Association and director on UK Music, PRS For Music, MCPS and PPL/PRS boards.
“Having been on these various boards, I learned the business practices around what the industry is doing to better cater for the needs of songwriters and composers,” said Neri. “I feel very privileged to be in this position now to put all that value into one place and actually provide a better world for songwriters and composers.”
Notwithstanding the well-documented issues around creators' rights, Neri said it had been strong year for the UK songwriting sector.
"You get the amazing Lola Young come out with a song like Messy, or Jon Shave and others writing the Brat album with Charli XCX," he said. "There have been some incredible songs written by British songwriters, so I think it's been a good year."
In conjunction with the awards, the Ivors is staging a new flagship summit for songwriters and composers during Ivors Week at BFI IMAX in London on May 20.
Featuring podcast-style conversations, keynotes, and interactive sessions, the event will tackle issues from royalties and rights management to mental health and wellbeing, along with AI. Confirmed speakers include Neri, Black Lives In Music CEO Charisse Beaumont, songwriter and Ivors Academy chair Tom Gray, National Music Publishers’ Association president and CEO David Israelite and PRS For Music CEO Andrea Czapary Martin.
“We will have incredible speakers coming in to help our community understand exactly how to navigate the music industry," explained Neri. "It is about empowering them with choices, showcasing companies in the space and leaving them with a toolkit that they can go away with and make informed choices. A lot of work is going into it and it’s something that we want to continue.”
We need more Adeles, Ed Sheerans, acts who have been global success stories. Now, I think with Lola Young, we have got another one on our hands
Roberto Neri
Neri also talked about diversifying the talent pool at the Academy.
“We have an incredible, diverse talent pool," he said. "The backbone of the organisation is split between songwriters working across multiple genres. We have screen composers, an incredible classical composer community doing extraordinary things.
"It’s the recorded side where maybe there’s been an overemphasis on certain genres, which have had a little bit of a hiatus over the last year, and we haven’t seen much global penetration from some of the songs released. But again, incredible artists have come out over the last 12 months: The Last Dinner Party, Myles Smith and others. We need more Adeles, Ed Sheerans, acts who have been global success stories. Now, I think with Lola Young, we have got another one on our hands.”
The Ivors Academy, in partnership with YouTube Music, has also launched its second annual songwriting camp, hosted at Qube Elephant & Castle in London on May 28-29, following last year’s inaugural event.
The camp offers Ivors Academy members an opportunity to write, collaborate and network with songwriters, producers and artists, while learning from creatives including Carla Marie Williams MBE, who has written for the likes of Beyoncé, Craig David, Britney Spears, Girls Aloud, Sean Paul and more.
“We’ve [also] got the Ivors Academy Honours on October 2, which is a kind of reboot of the Gold Badge Awards that ran for 40 years," added Neri. "The idea is to recognise creators or executives that have put themselves out for songwriters and composers and made a difference. I really want the industry to get better. I want the industry to recognise songwriters and composers, and equally, to get better recognition of songwriters and composers outside of the industry.”
The Ivors Academy has also unveiled a new brand and website as part of a major relaunch of its membership offer.
Discovery membership offers music creators a new way to engage with the Academy’s work and support its campaigns for a stronger future for music. Free to join, Discovery members receive curated content, campaign updates and early access to pay-as-you-go benefits.
A new Patron membership has also launched, giving established music creators the opportunity to give back and help fund new initiatives that support the community.
In addition, individuals who value songwriting and composing can become a friend of The Ivors Academy, supporting the organisation’s work to protect rights, celebrate excellence and influence cultural policy.
