PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Trevor Horn
Trevor has been one of the most influential figures in music since heralding the video age with his band Buggles and the groundbreaking record Video Killed the Radio Star. He went on to join the supergroup Yes and his signature is all over their international hit Owner of a Lonely Heart. He produced hits for ABC, Dollar, Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, Simple Minds, Seal and of course Frankie Goes to Hollywood, whose Relax, Two Tribes, The Power of Love and Welcome to the Pleasuredome represent to many, THE sound of the eighties.
Trevor has been one of the most influential figures in music since heralding the video age with his band Buggles and the groundbreaking record Video Killed the Radio Star. He went on to join the supergroup Yes and his signature is all over their international hit Owner of a Lonely Heart. He produced hits for ABC, Dollar, Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, Simple Minds, Seal and of course Frankie Goes to Hollywood, whose Relax, Two Tribes, The Power of Love and Welcome to the Pleasuredome represent to many, THE sound of the eighties.
Special International Award: Neil Sedaka
Having helped create the famous Brill Building Sound, Neil sold 40 million records within four years of his first hit. Classically trained at New York’s Juilliard School of Music, he began writing songs with his friend and neighbour Howard Greenfield. Oh Carol, Calendar Girl, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen were among many hits on both sides of the Atlantic, while there have been countless covers of his songs, such as Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Love Will Keep Us Together and Is This the Way to Amarillo. A major point in his career was working at Stockport’s Strawberry Studios in the seventies and signing to Elton John’s Rocket label.
Having helped create the famous Brill Building Sound, Neil sold 40 million records within four years of his first hit. Classically trained at New York’s Juilliard School of Music, he began writing songs with his friend and neighbour Howard Greenfield. Oh Carol, Calendar Girl, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen were among many hits on both sides of the Atlantic, while there have been countless covers of his songs, such as Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Love Will Keep Us Together and Is This the Way to Amarillo. A major point in his career was working at Stockport’s Strawberry Studios in the seventies and signing to Elton John’s Rocket label.
Songwriters of the Year: Lily Allen and Greg Kurstin
There’s no question that 2009 was Lily’s year. Second albums are never easy, especially when your first has gone triple platinum. For the follow-up she made a deliberate choice to work with a single collaborator and hooked up with American Greg Kurstin. The album shows a maturing of her songwriting and stands as a more unified piece of work than her first. It delivered five singles: The Fear, Not Fair, Fuck You, 22, and Who’d Have Known. Lily has been widely quoted as saying she’s taking a break from performing, but after the Ivors she confirmed that she would continue writing.
There’s no question that 2009 was Lily’s year. Second albums are never easy, especially when your first has gone triple platinum. For the follow-up she made a deliberate choice to work with a single collaborator and hooked up with American Greg Kurstin. The album shows a maturing of her songwriting and stands as a more unified piece of work than her first. It delivered five singles: The Fear, Not Fair, Fuck You, 22, and Who’d Have Known. Lily has been widely quoted as saying she’s taking a break from performing, but after the Ivors she confirmed that she would continue writing.
Lifetime Achievement: Paul Weller
From The Jam’s 1977 debut single In the City on his new album released this April, Paul has explored every area from punk to jazz to psychedelia with energy, integrity and total commitment. Of his 10 solo albums, eight have reached either number one or number two. The Jam became the biggest band in the UK, while subsequent projects such as The Style Council have their own place in pop history. Wild Wood, You Do Something to Me, Walls Come Tumbling Down, That’s Entertainment, Going Underground and Wake Up the Nation.
From The Jam’s 1977 debut single In the City on his new album released this April, Paul has explored every area from punk to jazz to psychedelia with energy, integrity and total commitment. Of his 10 solo albums, eight have reached either number one or number two. The Jam became the biggest band in the UK, while subsequent projects such as The Style Council have their own place in pop history. Wild Wood, You Do Something to Me, Walls Come Tumbling Down, That’s Entertainment, Going Underground and Wake Up the Nation.
Academy Fellowship: Sir Tim Rice
Being 50% of one of the most successful teams in the history of musical theatre would be enough for most lyricists, but after writing Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita with Andrew Lloyd Webber, he went on collaborate with Abba’s Benny and Bjorn on Chess, Alan Menken on Aladdin, John Barry on a song for Octopussy, and Elton John on The Lion King.
Being 50% of one of the most successful teams in the history of musical theatre would be enough for most lyricists, but after writing Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita with Andrew Lloyd Webber, he went on collaborate with Abba’s Benny and Bjorn on Chess, Alan Menken on Aladdin, John Barry on a song for Octopussy, and Elton John on The Lion King.
