The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) has changed its name to The Ivors Academy, effective today (March 25).
Following the appointment of Graham Davies as Interim CEO for a further year, among other senior hires, the organization is now uniting all its activities under the name of the Ivor Novello Awards.
Coinciding with the relaunch, The Ivors Academy is welcoming high profile writers including Ed Sheeran as new members, joining figures such as Joan Armatrading MBE, Django Bates, Mira Calix, Anne Dudley, George Fenton, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Jonny Greenwood, David Arnold, Annie Lennox OBE, Sir Paul McCartney, Thea Musgrave CBE, Dizzee Rascal and Orphy Robinson MBE.
The annual Ivor Novello Awards has been staged since 1956 and has seen 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 Academy has also presented the classical and jazz focused British Composer Awards since 2003 which will now become The Ivors Composer Awards.
Previous winners have included Julian Anderson, Sally Beamish, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Helen Grime, Sir James MacMillan, Judith Weir and Jason Yarde.
Meanwhile, the BASCA Trust, which has awards bursaries to up and coming writer-producers, will become The Ivors Academy Trust and will expand its work further in the months ahead to develop and support UK talent.
“Becoming The Ivors Academy is an important step in our history. We are becoming true champions of music creators.”
Graham Davies, The Ivors Academy
CEO of The Ivors Academy, Graham Davies (pictured left) said: “Becoming The Ivors Academy is an important step in our history. We are becoming true champions of music creators.
“Music starts with the creator and without their contribution to recordings, videos, games, TV, film, radio and live, the riches enjoyed across the media and technology industries would not exist.
“Riches should be shared fairly so that creators can make a living from their art and craft. Creators should not have to constantly fight to retain their rights, fight to be paid and fight for fair access to work.”
Added Davies: “Ours is an amazing community of songwriters and composers. But the pipeline of our future talent faces an uncertain future as music is removed from education and opportunities to play and rehearse dry up. We are launching The Ivors Academy Trust to raise funds and work to safeguard the future of our industry.”
“In the past the industry has spoken on behalf of creators, but The Ivors Academy will empower creators to raise their voice and speak up for themselves.”
“The Ivors Academy of Music Creators is the future-facing, fit-for-purpose evolution of BASCA’s great legacy.
Crispin Hunt, The Ivors Academy
Songwriter and Chair of The Ivors Academy, Crispin Hunt (pictured right), added: “The future needs a powerful collective voice for music writers.
“The Ivors Academy of Music Creators is the future-facing, fit-for-purpose evolution of BASCA’s great legacy.
“Our mission is to innovate, inspire, inform, empower and celebrate musical creativity: connecting a global membership towards a flourishing musical future for every genre and every future genre.”
Songwriter and recipient of the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection Joan Armatrading MBE said: “Recognition for my songwriting, especially from my peers, is extremely important to me.
“Being part of an organisation that stands up for our rights, and protects the value of our craft, is invaluable in today’s industry and I’d encourage every songwriter and composer to add to our collective voice.”
Composer and recipient of the PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music Ivor Novello Award, Anne Dudley says: “Music says so many different things to different people, and it’s a true joy to be able to create it.
“The work of The Ivors Academy to celebrate music creators and support their art is invaluable in allowing our industry to keep growing and innovating.”Music Business Worldwide
