Stormzy, James Blake and Glastonbury Festival organiser Emily Eavis have been recognised at The Ivors Academy Honours, held at the Intercontinental London Park Lane on Thursday night.
Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, was honoured for his “impact on British music and culture and his commitment to creating opportunities for others”.
The Academy said his music “has resonated with audiences around the world and he has used his success to support access to education, to invest in emerging talent, and to broaden pathways into industries and institutions that have not always reflected the diversity of modern Britain”.
Recognition for artistry and advocacy
Blake was recognised for his “exceptional artistry and advocacy for songwriters and artists”.
“Widely respected for his independent approach, Blake has become one of the clearest voices in debates around fairness, ownership and remuneration, bringing greater attention to how music is distributed and valued while ensuring creators are represented in the conversations shaping the industry,” the Academy said.
Eavis was recognised for her impact on music and culture, and her commitment to championing emerging talent.
Speaking of her work, the Academy said that through Glastonbury Eavis has “created opportunities for songwriters across a variety of genres and backgrounds to connect with audiences on an extraordinary scale, consistently placing new and developing artists alongside globally recognised acts”.
Other honourees and the awards' purpose
Other honourees included singer-songwriter MNEK, Irish DJ Annie Macmanus (known as Annie Mac), Sentric chief executive Chris Meehan, and Irish Music Rights Organisation chief executive Victor Finn.
Introduced in 2025, the Ivors Academy Honours recognise creators and executives “setting higher standards” across the music sector, whose advocacy, leadership and innovation are working towards a better future for songwriters and composers.
Congratulating the honourees, The Ivors Academy chief executive Lord Neri said it was “proud to honour your achievements and how you’re making a positive difference to music and its creators”.
Addressing them, he said: “From establishing inclusive spaces and opening up the world’s biggest stages, to championing new music, meeting ambition with opportunity and getting creators the money they’re due, each of you shows what can happen when we lift each other up.”
The Ivors Academy chairman Tom Gray added: “Tonight is a moment to appreciate the people putting in the hard graft to make music a better place – supporting songwriters and composers, tackling inequality and exclusion, championing diverse voices and making sure creators get a fair deal.
“These are people who show up, see what’s wrong and have the resolve to do something about it. They use their position to make things better for others. And that deserves to be recognised.”
Previous honourees and legacy
The seven recipients join Sir Elton John, who received an Ivors Academy Honour at The Ivor Novello Awards in May. His award recognised “longstanding advocacy for creators’ rights, including his work around AI and the protection of human creativity”.
Last year’s winners included Raye, Kae Tempest, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, Sony Music Publishing chairman and chief executive Jon Platt, Mobo Group chief executive and founder the late Kanya King, MP and now Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant, and Manners McDade founder Catherine Manners.
Also receiving a posthumous honour was John Sweeney, vice president international at the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers, who died in June 2025.
Earlier this year, King also died aged 57 after “a courageous and characteristically determined battle with colon cancer”, the Mobo Organisation said. King, who played a major role in bringing black music and culture to the mainstream in the UK, established the awards ceremony in 1996.
