The Ivor Novello Awards are all about celebrating human creativity in the form of songwriting, and for 70 years, they have quietly commended the geniuses behind the music that articulates universal emotions and shape popular culture.
But now, in its 71st year (and now known officially as the Ivors with Amazon Music), the very premise of human creativity is under threat from AI and low streaming payments, as noted by much of the talent on stage at this year’s awards.
You could feel it as the industry assembled at the pre-awards drinks reception and executives debated the latest AI moves.
You could see it in the warnings given by Ivors bosses Tom Gray and Roberto Neri about how tough it remains for songwriters to be heard and be paid.
And you could hear it, loud and clear, during the ceremony itself, as a string of artists and songwriters queued up to criticize AI companies, the music industry and pretty much anyone else perceived to not have songwriters’ very best interests at heart.
