U2, Robbie Williams, Charli xcx and Lola Young were among the artists celebrated at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday (May 22) at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.
Awards were handed out to 22 songwriters and composers across 14 categories, with more than 70% of the honorees winning an Ivor Novello for the first time.
Songwriter of the year with Amazon Music was presented to Charli xcx in recognition of her zeitgeist-busting Brat record. The LP topped the Official Albums Chart in the U.K. and hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
She was bested in the best album category by Trinidad-born musician BERWYN, who collected the prize for his emotive debut album, Who Am I, released on Sony Music Entertainment. The record, which reflects on the Romford-based rapper’s heritage and upbringing as an immigrant in the U.K., was also nominated for the Mercury Prize in September 2024.
U2 was inducted into the Ivors’ Fellowship Academy, becoming the first Irish act to do so. Previous inductees include Paul McCartney (2000), Elton John (2005), Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees (2006), Andrew Lloyd Webber (2012) and Kate Bush (2020). Bruce Springsteen became the first U.S. musician to enter the fellowship in 2024.
Following the announcement of his forthcoming album Britpop, Robbie Williams was awarded the PRS for Music Icon Award in honor of his extensive songwriting catalog. The former Take That star is currently tied with The Beatles with 15 No. 1 albums on the Official U.K. Charts, and with his 18 BRIT Awards, he is the most successful artist in that show’s history.
New names, including Lola Young and Myles Smith, also enjoyed success. The former collected the rising star award with Amazon Music following the breakout success of her song “Messy,” which held the No. 1 spot on the Official Singles Chart for four weeks. Smith, alongside co-writers Peter Fenn and Jesse Fink, earned the PRS for Music Most Performed Work prize for their megahit “Stargazing.”
Best song musically and lyrically was presented to Irish singer-songwriter Orla Gartland for her track “Mine,” while the San Soucis collected best contemporary song for its release “Circumnavigating Georgia.”
There were winners across the arts in film, television and video games. The soundtrack for The Substance by Raffertie won best original film score; John Konsolakis triumphed in best original video game score for Farewell North; and Vince Pope won in the best television soundtrack category for his work on True Detective: Night Country.
Bloc Party were on hand to be awarded the prize for outstanding song collection, though original members Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes (who left in 2013 and 2015, respectively) were not in attendance alongside frontman Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack.
The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers earned the special international prize, and Self Esteem, who recently issued her third LP, A Complicated Woman, won the Visionary Award with Amazon Music.
The Ivor Novello Awards were streamed live on Prime Video, continuing a partnership that began in 2023. See the full list of winners below.
Best Album
WINNER: Brat written by Charli xcx, A. G. Cook and Finn Keane; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing obo Alias Guild and Universal Music Publishing; Performed by Charli xcx
On Purpose, With Purpose written by Ghetts and TenBillion Dreams; Published in the UK by BMG Rights Worldwide UK; Performed by Ghetts
The Loop written and performed by Jordan Rakei; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway written by William Brown, Conor Dickinson, Jared Solomon and Lola Young; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Day One Songs, Sony Music Publishing – Solomon Gouda and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Lola Young
Who Am I written and performed by BERWYN; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
Best Contemporary Song
“Allergy” written by Felix Joseph, Alastair O’Donnell and Pa Salieu; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Pa Salieu
“Angel of My Dreams” written by Pablo Bowman, JADE, Steph Jones and Mike Sabath; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing obo Hipgnosis Hits-Steph Jones Who Music-Vistaville Music; Performed by JADE
WINNER: “Circumnavigating Georgia” written and performed by Sans Soucis; Published in the UK by Sentric Music
“Double Standards” written by Ghetts, EMIL, Sampha Sisay and R-Kay; Published in the UK by BMG Rights Worldwide UK, Ditto Plus Music Publishing and Sony Music Publishing – Young Songs; Performed by Ghetts feat. Sampha
“How Black Men Lose Their Smile” written by Bashy, Toddla T and Linton Kwesi Johnson; Published in the UK by Downtown Music obo DLJ Songs, BMG Rights Worldwide UK and Universal Music Publishing obo L-K-J Music Publishers; Performed by Bashy
Best Song Musically and Lyrically
“Child of Mine” written and performed by Laura Marling; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing
“Genesis.” written by Rodney Jerkins, RAYE and Toneworld; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music and Kobalt Music Publishing obo Mohemmusic-Songs by Seventy 7 Music; Performed by RAYE
“In the Modern World” written by Grian Chatten, Conor Curley, Conor Deegan, Thomas Coll and Carlos O’connell; Published in the UK by Domino Publishing Company; Performed by Fontaines D.C.
“Messy” written by Conor Dickinson and Lola Young; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Day One Songs and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Lola Young
WINNER: “Mine” written and performed by Orla Gartland; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing obo San Remo Music
PRS for Music Most Performed Work
“As It Was” written by Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson and Harry Styles; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing and Concord Music Publishing obo These Are Pulse Songs; Performed by Harry Styles
“Houdini” written by Caroline Ailin, Danny L Harle, Tobias Jesso Jnr, Dua Lipa and Kevin Parker; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Viking Jamz Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music obo Radical 22 Publishing; Performed by Dua Lipa
“Last Christmas” written by George Michael; Published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music obo WHAM! Music Limited; Performed by WHAM!
“Prada” written by D-Block Europe, Obi Ebele (Da Beatfreakz), Uche Ebele (Da Beatfreakz), Jahmori “Jaymo” Simmons and RAYE; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Bucks Music Group Ltd obo Armada Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing obo Fat Pigeon (Publishing) Limited and Warner Chappell Music; Performed by Cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe
WINNER: “Stargazing” written by Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink and Myles Smith; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing obo Songs by 308 Publishing-Where Da Kasz At, Lyric Global Copyright Services Crescendo obo Arcade Artists Publishing-Jesse Fink Publishing-Spirit One Music Crescendo and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Myles Smith
Rising Star Award With Amazon Music
Bea and her Business
Liang Lawrence
WINNER: Lola Young
LULU.
Nia Smith
Best Original Film Score
Fly Me to the Moon composed by Daniel Pemberton; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Apple
Hard Truths composed by Gary Yershon; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo Thin Man Films
Kneecap composed by Michael ‘Mickey J’ Asante
WINNER: The Substance composed by Raffertie; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo Universal Pictures Music
The Zone of Interest composed by Mica Levi; Published in the UK by Domino Publishing Company
Best Original Video Game Score
Empire of the Ants composed by Mathieu Alvado and Mark Choi
WINNER: Farewell North composed by John Konsolakis
Flock composed by Eli Rainsberry
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II composed by David Garcia Diaz
The Casting of Frank Stone composed by Boxed Ape
Best Television Soundtrack
Black Doves composed by Martin Phipps; Publishing in the UK by BMG Rights Management UK obo Maisie Anthems
Mary & George composed by Oliver Coates; Published in the UK by SATV Publishing
Rivals composed by Jack Halama and Natalie Holt; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo Walt Disney Music Company
WINNER: True Detective: Night Country composed by Vince Pope; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo T-L Music Publishing
Until I Kill You composed by Carly Paradis; Published in the UK by BMG Rights Management UK obo Veti Music Publishing
PRS for Music Icon Award
Robbie Williams
Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music
Charli xcx
Outstanding Song Collection
Bloc Party
Special International
Brandon Flowers
Visionary Award with Amazon Music
Self Esteem
