- The Ivors Academy announce that The Ivors 2020 will be presented in association with Apple Music
- New Rising Star Award introduced by Apple Music for next year’s ceremony, honouring young British or Irish songwriters and composers
- PRS for Music renews its commitment to The Ivors
Friday 25th October 2019: The Ivors Academy, the body representing the UK’s songwriters and composers, has today announced that it has teamed with Apple Music to bring greater awareness within and outside the UK of the 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 its members – all with the goal of strengthening The Ivors Academy’s 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.”
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 in association with Apple Music at The Ivors next year, as well as 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, Songwriter and 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 as sponsors of two awards: the Most Performed Work and Icon Awards (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 Thursday 21st May at the Grosvenor House in London, hosted by Paul Gambaccini. Nominations will be announced in April.
There are no changes to the entry or judging process for The Ivors, which are run entirely independently by The Ivors Academy.
ENDS.
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For more information or interview requests, please contact:
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Notes to editors
About The Ivors Academy
The Ivors Academy exists to support, protect and celebrate music creators in the UK. We are the independent professional association representing songwriters and composers in all genres, whether they create song, symphony or sync. We can trace our history back over 70 years. And we are entirely self-funded, relying on the continued support of our members and partners to carry on our work.
Music is the most profound, enduring and popular of art forms. It crosses all borders, conveys all emotions, and touches all people. None of the music that the world loves exists until brilliant songwriters and composers create it. We represent, support, protect and celebrate the creators of music.
Our Ivor Novello Awards are the ultimate accolade for songwriting and composition in the industry. The Ivors mainly celebrate the talents of songwriters and screen composers, whilst The Ivors Composer Awards celebrate music creators in the classical, jazz and sound art fields. The Ivors Academy Gold Badge recognises those who have supported and inspired our community. Each of these celebrations has at its heart the power and brilliance of music creators.
We campaign together nationally and internationally to ensure that the rights of our members are protected, especially as our industry continues to rapidly change. And we cultivate talent, developing a community across the country in which our members share their valuable knowledge, creators cross-
pollinate and collaborate, and all voices are heard. We guide new talent entering the industry and continue to encourage our members as they progress to greater successes.
We are the champions of music creators.
We are The Ivors Academy.
