Singers Charli XCX, Robbie Williams, Myles Smith, and rapper Berwyn were among the major winners at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards, Britain’s prestigious celebration of songwriters and screen composers. The ceremony also marked a milestone for Irish rock legends U2, who were honoured with an Ivors Academy Fellowship, the highest accolade granted by the UK-based institution. U2’s Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. became the first Irish recipients of the fellowship, joining the ranks of Paul McCartney, Sting, Kate Bush, and Bruce Springsteen.
Reflecting on the band’s beginnings, bassist Adam Clayton shared, “When we gathered in Larry Mullen’s kitchen in 1976, this was unimaginable. We had the most basic of talents but believed that songs could take us anywhere, because we’d already been to so many places—we just had to tell our story.”
Charli XCX took home the coveted Songwriter of the Year award in recognition of her album Brat, which sparked a strong cultural resonance and affirmed her position as a pop innovator. However, the Album of the Year prize went to rapper Berwyn for Who Am I, praised for its powerful storytelling that bridges cultural and social divides, giving voice to underrepresented experiences.
Other winners included Sans Soucis, who received Best Contemporary Song for “Circumnavigating Georgia,” and Orla Gartland, whose track “Mine” won Best Song Musically and Lyrically. Myles Smith’s breakout hit “Stargazing,” which went viral across platforms, earned the Most Performed Work award, cementing his place in the mainstream music scene.
Robbie Williams, best known for iconic hits like “Angels” and “Let Me Entertain You,” was named Music Icon of the Year. Reflecting on his creative journey, he expressed his enduring passion for songwriting and the pursuit of the perfect pop tune. “I’m just compelled to keep searching,” he said. “It’s about expressing what’s inside and getting it out.”
Brandon Flowers, the frontman of The Killers, received the Special International Award, recognised for his influential songwriting both as a solo artist and with the band. Rising star Lola Young, who had led the nominations, was awarded the Rising Star Prize for her raw, emotive style and growing impact on the industry.
Established in 1956 and named after Welsh composer and entertainer Ivor Novello, the Ivors continue to shine a spotlight on the creators behind the music that moves the world.
READ MORE: