We are delighted to announce that The Ivors Academy has teamed with Apple Music to bring greater awareness, within and outside the UK, of our organisation, its activities and its incredibly talented members.
For the next three years, The Ivors Academy together with Apple Music, will bring wider exposure and development opportunities for our members – all with the goal of strengthening our community of music creators.
Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy, says: “2020 marks the 65th year that the Academy has presented Ivor Novello Awards and this new relationship with Apple Music marks an exciting evolution for us. We’re thrilled about bringing The Ivors to the fore for a new audience through the Apple ecosystem, as well as evolving the expertise and benefits we’re able to offer our members with the new programme of skills workshops we’re developing with them.”
The Ivors 2020 will be presented in association with Apple Music. Apple Music will support the Academy’s mission to cultivate the next generation of Ivor Novello Award winners through the introduction of the Rising Star Award with Apple Music at The Ivors next year, as well featuring content from the event across their platform, including its global livestream Beats 1.
The newly introduced Rising Star will honour young British or Irish songwriting and composing talent who demonstrate exceptional potential and ambition. In addition to receiving an Ivor Novello Award, the winner will also receive ongoing support and mentorship from the Apple Music team. Further details of the new Rising Star Award will be announced in due course.
As part of the collaboration, Apple Music will also create a new series of workshops and events for The Ivors Academy members – part of the Academy’s strategy to cultivate the next generation of talent. The workshops will give members a deeper insight into how to best access and use the creative tools at their disposal to make music, as well as how their music is distributed and consumed.
Crispin Hunt, Chair of The Ivors Academy, says: “Working with Apple Music will bring even greater awareness within and outside the UK and Ireland for The Ivors Academy, the Ivor Novello Awards and our activities in campaigning for, inspiring and empowering music creators throughout the industry. Apple Music have demonstrated their knowledge, resources and a commitment to paying music creators over many years, and are a fantastic addition to the support we can offer all songwriters and composers across every genre.”
PRS for Music will retain their longstanding relationship with The Ivors as sponsors of two awards: the Most Performed Work and Icon Award (Icon being the new name for the Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award). The organisation has played a pivotal role in supporting The Ivors Academy over many years and will continue to work closely with the Academy in areas of campaigning, education and award sponsorship.
As well as sponsor of two Ivor Novello Awards, PRS for Music will continue its sponsorship of The Ivors Composer Awards and The Ivors Academy Gold Badge.
Past Ivor Novello Award recipients include a roll call of the greatest names in music over the past 60 years, with accolades collected by the likes of Jazzie B, Kate Bush, Stormzy, PJ Harvey, Sir Elton John, Brian Eno, Gary Barlow, George Michael, Annie Lennox and Amy Winehouse.
The Ivors 2020 will take place on Wednesday 2 September at the Grosvenor House in London, hosted by Paul Gambaccini. Nominations announcements TBC.
There are no changes to the entry or judging process for The Ivors, which are run entirely independently by The Ivors Academy.
