The UK’s Ivors Academy Elects New Senate to Champion Songwriters and Composers

The Academy members have selected a new senate including Paloma Faith, David Arnold, and Kal Lavelle, among others

Founded in 1944, The Ivors Academy is a not-for-profit organization supporting and empowering music writers, while ensuring they are fairly compensated and respected throughout their careers.

Members of the Academy have recently elected 40 songwriters and composers to its Senate, which represents the interests and rights of songwriters and composers. 

Through this Senate, the views and priorities of its members will be pivotal to the governance of The Ivors Academy as it works to make the music industry more accessible, fair, and sustainable.

The Senate will provide insight and feedback on matters in the music industry, including the shaping of policy, public affairs, and campaigns around topics such as Artificial Intelligence and fair creator remuneration.

Other topics will include improvements to works data and identifiers, addressing unfair commissioning practices, and the future of public arts funding. 

The new Senate members are:

• Andy Skinner
• Anna Phoebe
• Ayanna Witter-Johnson
• Cassell the Beatmaker
• Catherine Anne Davies
• Crispin Hunt
• David Arnold
• Dru Masters
• Duncan MacLeod
• Emily Saunders
• Esmeralda Conde Ruiz
• Eve Horne
• Fiona Bevan
• Gary Crosby
• Iain Archer
• Ilā Kamalagharan
• Ines Dunn
• Jill Thomas
• Joe Galuszka
• Jonathan Vincent
• Jonny Lattimer
• Kal Lavelle
• Kamille
• Katie Richardson
• Keith Ayling
• Lizzie Esau
• Louise Dodds
• Melpomeni Kermanidou
• Mika Sellens
• Nainita Desai
• Olli Wells
• Orphy Robinson
• Paloma Faith
• Ras Kassa Alexander
• Rob Aitken
• Shelly Mcerlaine
• Tansy Davies
• Tinie Tempah
• Tom Gray
• Xantoné Blacq

Additionally, the Senate will now meet and elect up to 11 of their members to the Academy’s Board of Directors.

“I am delighted with the outcome of the election and also the member engagement throughout the process,” said The Ivors Academy’s CEO Roberto Neri in the press release. “Alongside other issues, our new Senate will strengthen our voice  in addressing the potential threat of AI, with lobbying the new Government to fix streaming and ensuring media composers sign fairer contracts.

“Thank you again to the many songwriters and composers who put themselves forward in the election and for their continued commitment,” Neri added. “It has never been more important to effectively advocate for the crucial role of songwriters and composers — they are the backbone of the music industry, yet remain undervalued. The Ivors Academy and our new Senate will ensure we empower our whole community, address their key issues and continue to champion and protect them until we have a fairer and more sustainable music future.”