Ivors 2025 Winners: Highlights from Charli XCX, Brandon Flowers, U2 and More

The Ivors 2025 celebrated songwriting excellence with fresh faces and legends like Charli XCX, Brandon Flowers, and U2 shining bright.

A Night Honoring Songwriting Brilliance

The 2025 Ivor Novello Awards, marking a monumental 70 years of celebrating songwriting and composition, wrapped up with 22 talented songwriters and composers recognized across 14 categories. Impressively, over 70% of the winners were first-timers, highlighting a wave of fresh creativity in the music scene.

Held on May 22 at London's Grosvenor House, the ceremony was a vibrant celebration of musical artistry. The spotlight shone brightly on Charli XCX, who scooped the prestigious Songwriter of the Year award. Her album Brat, acclaimed for its cultural impact and global reach, was praised as a defining work of 2024.

Charli XCX received the Songwriter of the Year award, celebrating her influential album 'Brat'. Photo Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Celebrating New Voices and Legendary Icons

Berwyn earned his first Ivor Novello Award for Best Album with Who Am I, an album hailed for its “vivid storytelling that transcends generations, race, and social differences, offering a voice to those often unseen by society.”

Emerging talents were also celebrated: Lola Young took home the Rising Star Award, while Self Esteem was honored with the Visionary Award for pushing musical boundaries.

Music icons didn’t go unnoticed either—Robbie Williams earned the Music Icon Award, and The Killers’ frontman Brandon Flowers was presented with the Special International Award. The legendary U2 was bestowed the Academy Fellowship, recognizing their enduring contribution to music.

Full List of Ivor Novello 2025 Winners

Best Album
Who Am I – Berwyn
Published by Sony Music Publishing

Best Contemporary Song
Circumnavigating Georgia – Sans Soucis
Published by Sentric Music

Best Song Musically and Lyrically
Mine – Orla Gartland
Published by San Remo Live-Kobalt Music Publishing

PRS for Music Most Performed Work
Stargazing – Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink, Myles Smith
Published by Kobalt Music Publishing and others
Performed by Myles Smith

Rising Star Award with Amazon Music
Lola Young

Best Original Film Score
The Substance composed by Raffertie
Published by Universal Music Publishing

Best Original Video Game Score
Farewell North – John Konsolakis

Best Television Soundtrack
True Detective: Night Country – Vince Pope
Published by Universal Music Publishing

Academy Fellowship
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr for U2

Outstanding Song Collection
Kele Okereke, Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes, Matt Tong for Bloc Party

PRS for Music Icon Award
Robbie Williams

Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music
Charli XCX

Special International
Brandon Flowers

Visionary Award with Amazon Music
Self Esteem

The Ivors: A Tradition of Excellence

Since its inception in 1956, the Ivor Novello Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements in songwriting and composition. These honors are presented by The Ivors Academy, made up of award-winning artists and composers.

Past recipients include huge names like Little Simz, Harry Styles, Wet Leg, Sault, and Florence + The Machine — a testament to the award’s prestige and its commitment to recognizing true musical talent.

"Berwyn’s album offers a voice to those often unseen by society, transcending generations, race, and social differences." – Award Judges

Engaging the Music Community

The Ivors 2025 truly showcased the vibrant blend of fresh and veteran talent, proving that songwriting is alive, evolving, and more important than ever in music today.

Are you inspired by these winners? Which category do you think sparks the most creativity? Share your thoughts!

Five FAQs About The Ivors 2025

• What makes the Ivor Novello Awards special compared to other music awards?
  The Ivors focus exclusively on songwriting and composition, judged by fellow songwriters and composers, highlighting the craft behind the music.
• Who won the Songwriter of the Year award in 2025?
  Charli XCX took home this coveted title for her influence and songwriting on the album Brat.
• Which album won Best Album at the 2025 Ivors?
  Berwyn’s Who Am I was honored for its storytelling and social impact.
• Are there any awards recognizing new talent?
  Yes, the Rising Star Award went to Lola Young, celebrating emerging artists with exceptional promise.
• Who received the Academy Fellowship this year?
  U2’s iconic members—Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr—were recognized for their outstanding career achievements.

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