Ivor Novello Awards fail to surprise

Elbow: they're going to need a new trophy cabinet etc...
Elbow: they're going to need a new trophy cabinet etc...

2009's usual UK award show suspects picked up gongs at yesterday's Ivor Novello bash, with Elbow barging out the competition to take home two prizes.

The band were rewarded in the Best Song Musically & Lyrically and Best Contemporary Song categories for One Day Like This and Grounds For Divorce. Meanwhile, Duffy took home her almost obligatory prize for Mercy, which was named the PRS For Music Most Performed Work.

Not to be denied, Grammy-hoggers Coldplay won Best Selling British Song for Viva La Vida, while The Ting Tings won the Album Award for We Started Nothing.

The Ivors are designed to celebrate songwriting rather than performance talent.

Ivor Novello Award winners

Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Elbow, One Day Like This
Best Contemporary Song: Elbow, Grounds For Divorce
Best Original Film Score: Jonny Greenwood, There Will Be Blood
Best Television Soundtrack: Julian Nott, Wallace and Gromit (A Matter of Loaf and Death)
PRS For Music Most Performed Work: Steve Booker/Duffy, Mercy
Best Selling British Song: Coldplay, Viva La Vida
Album Award: The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing
Outstanding Song Collection: Vince Clarke
PRS For Music Outstanding Contribution To British Music: Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall (Massive Attack)
Songwriter(s) Of The Year: Eg White
The Academy Fellowship: Don Black
The Ivors Classical Music Award: James MacMillan
The Ivors Inspiration Award: Edwyn Collins
The Special International Award: Smokey Robinson

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.