Amazon Music has renewed its headline partnership with the Ivors for an additional three years ahead of today's landmark 70th edition of the Ivor Novello Awards.
The 2025 ceremony, which takes place this afternoon at London's Grosvenor House, will see U2 become the first-ever Irish songwriters that the Academy has inducted into the Fellowship during its 81-year history.
Tom Winkler, head of publisher and songwriter relations at Amazon Music, which took over as headline sponsor of The Ivors in 2023, told Music Week the company was "excited" to continue the link-up.
"It's been an amazing partnership," he said. "The Ivors is such a great organisation that celebrates the art of songwriting and composing to the extent it truly deserves, and empowers emerging writers and composers with the right support at the right time.
"The Ivors has done such a great job over its 70-year history of standing up and elevating songwriters, and we're honoured to come in and amplify that and try to grow its mission and message globally, which I think we've done in the first three years of this partnership."
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.
"Since we've been involved – probably throughout its history – I feel like each year The Ivors one-ups itself," added Winkler. "It always represents a full circle, multi generational moment. You're honouring the legends and the icons, but you're also rewarding and celebrating those emerging or breakthrough albums, songs and songwriters.
"It remains a singular recognition of songwriting, composing and artistry. Obviously, it celebrates success, but it celebrates great songwriting first and foremost. A few years back, Ed Sheeran said: 'It's voted for by your peers, it's the highest kind of award you can get for songwriting.' And I think that sums it up."
Working with Amazon Music allows us to celebrate songwriters and composers on a global stage with real impact
Roberto Neri
Winkler explained what his own role at Amazon entailed in terms of supporting the songwriter community.
"My mission on a macro level is to provide unique value and growth opportunities for songwriters beyond streaming economics," he said. "I know that everyone likes to talk about the streaming model and who gets paid what, but my role is to support songwriters beyond that. We do it through exclusive content and in partnerships that improve attribution, and we have development programmes that advance their craft and expand their collaborator network – one example being the Ivors Rising Star programme.
"Last year, we saw Victoria Canal go through that programme and then return to the stage and win an Ivor Novello in a nominated category [Best Song Musically And Lyrically], so I think that's proof in the pudding."
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.
Amazon Music will be broadcasting live from the ceremony on Twitch from 4pm, featuring behind the scenes interviews on the red carpet, plus reaction from the winners. In addition, the broadcast will include live performances by nominees Lola Young and Myles Smith from the awards stage and exclusive backstage performances from the Rising Star Award with Amazon Music nominee Bea And Her Business as well as Darren Kiely.
The streaming platform are also releasing two new Ivors-themed Amazon Original songs: a cover of U2's A Beautiful Day by Smith and a track by Kiely to be announced today.
Meanwhile, to commemorate Bloc Party's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection, an unheard demo of the band's breakthrough track Banquet is being released exclusively via Amazon Music.
"Working with Amazon Music allows us to celebrate songwriters and composers on a global stage with real impact," said Ivors Academy CEO Roberto Neri. "Together, we're showcasing the craft and creativity of music creators to new audiences in new ways, firmly reminding everyone that songwriters and composers are the originators of music, and the most important, yet historically undervalued, community in the industry.
"Our work with Amazon Music has significantly increased the visibility of The Ivors, and of songwriters and composers, especially internationally. It has played a key role in strengthening The Ivors’ position as the most prestigious and respected music awards in the world.
"Looking ahead, we will continue working together to create new international opportunities and further champion the talent and craft behind the music we all love."
The industry needs to take a page out of songwriters' books and really embrace collaboration
Tom Winkler
The pair also put forward their views on what the industry can do to better support songwriters and composers.
"I think that the industry needs to take a page out of songwriters' books and really embrace collaboration," he said. "The industry needs to work better in partnership with all stakeholders and I think if we can find that level of collaboration that songwriters, literally, live on a daily basis we will, in turn, be able to elevate their status in the creator value chain.
"I think our partnership with The Ivors over the last three years showcases how authentic collaboration between organisations that are aligned across many issues or concepts in the music industry can tangibly benefit songwriters and their publishers and representatives. It's more important than ever to understand that and – as an industry – amplify the value of songs. In doing that, you intrinsically will empower and take care of songwriters."
Neri added that the message from the inaugural Ivors Academy Summit, held this week at BFI IMAX London, was clear.
"Songwriters and composers must be recognised as the foundation of the music industry," he said. "Without them, there is no music.
"We need action not warm words. We need fair pay, including per diems from labels so that no songwriter loses money when working with an artist. We need to protect intellectual property. Creatives must have the right to give informed, opt-in consent if their work is to be used by AI models, and they must be paid fairly if they do.
"Above all, we need fairness, transparency and respect. We are at the table with government and industry, and we will continue to secure change for our community."
