Lola Young & RAYE Lead Finalists for The Ivors 2025: Full Nominations List

Lola Young is the top nominee for The Ivors 2025, which celebrate achievements in songwriting and screen composing across eight categories. Young is nominated for three awards – best song musically and lyrically for “Messy,” best album for This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, and rising star.

Young, 24, has had success on both sides of the Atlantic this year. “Messy” logged four weeks at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart and has climbed as high as No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, her sophomore album, reached No. 16 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart and No. 64 on the Billboard 200.

RAYE – the winner of last year’s songwriter of the year award – Ghetts, and Conor Dickinson each received two nominations. Both of Dickinson’s nods are for writing with Young.

In the PRS for Music most performed work category, Wham!’s 1984 holiday classic “Last Christmas” is one of the five nominees, a remarkable sign of its staying power. The song’s writer, George Michael, was nominated in the category 21 years ago for “Amazing.” Harry Styles’ 2022 smash “As It Was” was also nominated. This is the third year in a row that that global smash, which Styles cowrote with Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, has been nominated in this category. Also in the running are “Houdini” by Dua Lipa, “Stargazing” by Myles Smith, and “Prada” by Cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe. 

This year marks the 70th year of the Ivors, also called the Ivor Novello Awards, with the winners set to be revealed at the ceremony taking place at Grosvenor House, London, on Thursday May 22. Amazon Music sponsors the awards.

This year, 74 individual British, Irish or U.K. resident composers and songwriters, and their international collaborators, have received Ivor Novello nominations – 66% of them for the first time.

The rising star award celebrates British, Irish or UK resident songwriters aged 18-24 who are “at the tipping point of greatness,” in the Ivors’ phrase. Each nominee receives year-long, tailored support for their creativity and career from Amazon Music and The Ivors Academy. The 2025 nominations celebrate five female rising stars – Bea and her Business, Liang Lawrence, LULU., Nia Smith and Lola Young.

Pa Salieu is nominated in best contemporary song with “Allergy,” four years on from his last nomination in the same category for “Energy.”

The Ivors also celebrates Britain and Ireland’s finest composers across film, TV and video games. Daniel Pemberton nominated for best original film score for a second successive year, this time with Fly Me to the Moon. He was nominated last year for Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse. Also nominated is Mica Levi’s score to The Zone of Interest. Levi previously won this award in 2018 for Jackie.

Martin Phipps was nominated for best television soundtrack for the second successive year for Black Doves. He was nominated last year for the final season of The Crown.

Also, Ivor Novello Awards will be presented for the songwriter of the year with Amazon Music, outstanding song collection, visionary award with Amazon Music, special international award, and PRS for Music icon award.

Roberto Neri, chief executive of The Ivors Academy, said in a statement: “An Ivor Novello Award holds a unique place in music, as it is judged by fellow songwriters and composers, making it the most respected acknowledgement of creative excellence. We are proud to welcome and celebrate the nominees’ achievements and look forward to honouring their work at the 70th edition of The Ivors in May.”

As previously announced, U2 are the latest songwriters set to become Academy Fellows, in recognition of their enduring influence and impact on the craft of songwriting. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. will become the first Irish songwriters that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship in its 81-year history.

The Ivors, presented by The Ivors Academy, is one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in music. Judged by songwriters and composers, the awards recognize excellence in craft and creativity. For more information visit www.ivorsacademy.com/theivors

Here’s a full list of nominations for The Ivors 2025.

Best Album

Brat written by Charli xcx, A. G. Cook and Finn Keane; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing obo Alias Guild and Universal Music Publishing; Performed by Charli xcx

On Purpose, With Purpose written by Ghetts and TenBillion Dreams; Published in the UK by BMG Rights Worldwide UK; Performed by Ghetts

The Loop written and performed by Jordan Rakei; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing

This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway written by William Brown, Conor Dickinson, Jared Solomon and Lola Young; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Day One Songs, Sony Music Publishing – Solomon Gouda and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Lola Young

Who Am I written and performed by BERWYN; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing

Best Contemporary Song

“Allergy” written by Felix Joseph, Alastair O’Donnell and Pa Salieu; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Pa Salieu

“Angel of My Dreams” written by Pablo Bowman, JADE, Steph Jones and Mike Sabath; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing obo Hipgnosis Hits-Steph Jones Who Music-Vistaville Music; Performed by JADE

“Circumnavigating Georgia” written and performed by Sans Soucis; Published in the UK by Sentric Music

“Double Standards” written by Ghetts, EMIL, Sampha Sisay and R-Kay; Published in the UK by BMG Rights Worldwide UK, Ditto Plus Music Publishing and Sony Music Publishing – Young Songs; Performed by Ghetts feat. Sampha

“How Black Men Lose Their Smile” written by Bashy, Toddla T and Linton Kwesi Johnson; Published in the UK by Downtown Music obo DLJ Songs, BMG Rights Worldwide UK and Universal Music Publishing obo L-K-J Music Publishers; Performed by Bashy

Best Song Musically and Lyrically

“Child of Mine” written and performed by Laura Marling; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing

“Genesis.” written by Rodney Jerkins, RAYE and Toneworld; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music and Kobalt Music Publishing obo Mohemmusic-Songs by Seventy 7 Music; Performed by RAYE

“In the Modern World” written by Grian Chatten, Conor Curley, Conor Deegan, Thomas Coll and Carlos O’connell; Published in the UK by Domino Publishing Company; Performed by Fontaines D.C.

“Messy” written by Conor Dickinson and Lola Young; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Day One Songs and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Lola Young

“Mine” written and performed by Orla Gartland; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing obo San Remo Music

PRS For Music Most Performed Work

“As It Was” written by Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson and Harry Styles; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing and Concord Music Publishing obo These Are Pulse Songs; Performed by Harry Styles

“Houdini” written by Caroline Ailin, Danny L Harle, Tobias Jesso Jnr, Dua Lipa and Kevin Parker; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Viking Jamz Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music obo Radical 22 Publishing; Performed by Dua Lipa

“Last Christmas” written by George Michael; Published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music obo WHAM! Music Limited; Performed by WHAM!

“Prada” written by D-Block Europe, Obi Ebele (Da Beatfreakz), Uche Ebele (Da Beatfreakz), Jahmori “Jaymo” Simmons and RAYE; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Bucks Music Group Ltd obo Armada Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing obo Fat Pigeon (Publishing) Limited and Warner Chappell Music; Performed by Cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe

“Stargazing” written by Peter Fenn, Jesse Fink and Myles Smith; Published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing obo Songs by 308 Publishing-Where Da Kasz At, Lyric Global Copyright Services Crescendo obo Arcade Artists Publishing-Jesse Fink Publishing-Spirit One Music Crescendo and Sony Music Publishing; Performed by Myles Smith

Rising Star Award With Amazon Music

Bea and her Business

Liang Lawrence

Lola Young

LULU.

Nia Smith

Best Original Film Score

Fly Me to the Moon composed by Daniel Pemberton; Published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing obo Apple

Hard Truths composed by Gary Yershon; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo Thin Man Films

Kneecap composed by Michael ‘Mickey J’ Asante

The Substance composed by Raffertie; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo Universal Pictures Music

The Zone of Interest composed by Mica Levi; Published in the UK by Domino Publishing Company

Best Original Video Game Score

Empire of the Ants composed by Mathieu Alvado and Mark Choi

Farewell North composed by John Konsolakis

Flock composed by Eli Rainsberry

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II composed by David Garcia Diaz

The Casting of Frank Stone composed by Boxed Ape

Best Television Soundtrack

Black Doves composed by Martin Phipps; Publishing in the UK by BMG Rights Management UK obo Maisie Anthems

Mary & George composed by Oliver Coates; Published in the UK by SATV Publishing

Rivals composed by Jack Halama and Natalie Holt; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo Walt Disney Music Company

True Detective: Night Country composed by Vince Pope; Published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing obo T-L Music Publishing

Until I Kill You composed by Carly Paradis; Published in the UK by BMG Rights Management UK obo Veti Music Publishing