Author: Anna Brown
The month of June marks the anniversary of the Stonewall riots which took place in New York City in 1969. This is a global celebration and focus on the gay experience throughout society and the fight for gay rights. Our LGBTQI+ Working Group Chair, Will Davenport, pauses to reflect on some of the UK based […]
Ivor Novello Award winner Renell Shaw writes on behalf of the Ivors Academy. “You cannot know where you are going until you know where you have been.” Windrush Day honours the legacy of a determined, talented, and inventive community of people, whose profound influence on our music industry and society in the UK can be […]
The anniversary of the murder of George Floyd is a time that we must reflect and recognise the part we all play in allowing racism, injustice, inequality, hate, and intolerance to take hold in our lives, society and industries. When I think about it, and I mean really think about it, it is terrifying to […]
Marcel was my boss at Decca Records during the 1970s, and without doubt the best boss I ever had. He was the international manager overseeing all Decca’s overseas releases, but also had his own little empire within our small offices, as a part-time songwriter who provided lyrics or translations for innumerable artists, of which the […]
Barry Mason was one of the finest and most popular songwriters in the UK. Principally a lyricist, Barry co- wrote with many of our best known composers, but it was his long partnership with Les Reed which produced some of his best known works including Delilah for Tom Jones, I Pretend for Des O’Connor, The […]
With the passing of Simon Bainbridge, the UK has lost one of its most distinguished and influential composers and educators. Born in 1952, Simon studied with John Lambert at the Royal College of Music (1969-72) and Gunther Schuller at Tanglewood, receiving two major commissions whilst still at college: Spirogyra for small ensemble from the Aldeburgh […]
Jane Manning was a soprano who put her artistry at the service of the living composer: she was a key figure in new music in Britain for nearly sixty years. Her wonderful voice and superb musicianship – perfect pitch and accurate rhythm – made her the most sought-after singer for all of us in contemporary […]
Hannah V is a pioneering new generation of entrepreneurial female producer/songwriter, who has worked with some of the most in-demand major label artists including Stomzy, JP Cooper and TOBi. Alongside her undeniable skills as a songwriter and producer, Hannah V has also balanced a stunning performance career with tours and stadium gigs with artists including […]
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Today also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness against bias, and rally for women’s equality. The Ivors Academy is proud […]
PRS for Music has launched a new licensing portal for anyone wanting to stage and livestream small-scale gigs, DJ events, classical concerts and theatrical events online. The portal was launched in response to the huge rise in livestreamed concerts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, however PRS will not be seeking to retrospectively license […]
Gerry Marsden MBE was a member of The Ivors Academy for many years, who in 1991 was presented with a Gold Badge Award to recognise his extraordinary contribution to British songwriting. In a personal tribute, Gerry and the Pacemakers writer and friend Mitch Murray CBE shares memories of working with the songwriter: I’ll always have […]
Despite the challenges we face I would like to wish you a happy new year. I know that this is not the start to 2021 that we all hoped for, and we are facing greater restrictions and challenges than we expected, but the new year also brings hope. We are committed to supporting you and […]
In this personal tribute, Mitch Murray CBE reflects on the multi Ivor Novello Award winners extraordinary career. Geoff Stephens, like many of us who started out in the early sixties, was a songwriter – not a ‘singer-songwriter’, but a professional and gifted specialist who crafted both words and music for the pop market, aimed at […]
Associate Music Director of the Bristol based Paraorchestra, Lloyd Coleman is a fearless and unapologetic champion for disabled creators and performers. We are delighted to have the opportunity to dip into Lloyd’s creative journey… …’I count myself extremely lucky’… I’m often asked if my hearing and visual impairments, both of which I’ve lived with since […]
Although still a student composer, Xia has several outstanding achievement to their name, a highlight of which is their award as winner of the 2018 BBC Young Composer Competition. These are reflections on their lived experiences as a Brailist composer – …’labels can simplify things we do not understand…’ I have always been resistant to […]
The winners of these prestigious Ivor Novello Awards were revealed earlier tonight as part of a two-hour ceremony broadcast exclusively on BBC Radio 3, hosted by Kate Molleson and Tom Service. Ivor Novello Awards were presented to eleven composers for categories covering classical, jazz and sound art compositions, in addition to three ‘Gift of The […]
UK Disability History Month is an annual platform which creates a focus on the history and current lived experiences of disabled people. It is a celebration of achievement and positive influence as well as an acknowledgment of the many struggles for recognition, equality, and genuine inclusion within our communities and society. 2020 is the 11th […]
The deadline to submit written evidence to the DCMS Select Committee inquiry on streaming has now passed. This follows five months of campaigning by The Ivors Academy and Musicians’ Union, and may be the biggest opportunity we will collectively get to make the case for a fairer deal for songwriters, composers, and performers. Have your […]
The deadline to submit written evidence to the DCMS Select Committee inquiry on streaming has now passed. What does ‘giving evidence to the Select Committee inquiry’ mean? A Select Committee is a cross-party group of MPs who can run inquiries to research a specific topic and make recommendations to Government. As part of their research, […]
The deadline to submit written evidence to the DCMS Select Committee inquiry on streaming has now passed. The idea of giving evidence to a Select Committee can be daunting – especially when it’s about something as important and complex as streaming. But it doesn’t have to be. Here we run through what we believe will […]
