The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Ed Sheeran and protege to fight for Ivor Novello
No room for Adele at awards to mark songwriting
Ed Sheeran and Jamie Lawson are to go head to head after being nominated in the same category for an Ivor Novello music award.
Lawson was the first artist signed to Sheeran’s record label, Gingerbread Man Records, in August last year.
The 40-year-old is in the running for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for Wasn’t Expecting That alongside Sheeran and Rudimental for their collaboration, Bloodstream, with Wolf Alice’s Bros completing the nominations for that category.
It is the second nomination for Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody, who is named as one of the writers on Bloodstream. He won the Album Award in 2005 for Snow Patrol’s Final Straw.
British rapper and grime artist Skepta will battle it out against a host of other first-time Ivor nominees in the Best Contemporary Song category at next month’s awards, which celebrate excellence in songwriting and composing.
The musician, whose real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga, is nominated for his song Shutdown alongside Roots Manuva and FRED, who are up for their song Cargo. The third nominees in the category are the writers of All My Friends – James Carter, Oliver Lee, Cass Lowe and Chance The Rapper.
Presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (Basca), the awards are highly respected because they are voted for by songwriters and composers.
Adele, the world’s best-selling artist, is noticeably absent.
Basca chairman, award-winning composer Stephen McNeff, said: “As we move into our 61st year, Basca is delighted that these nominations reflect the health and diversity of UK music and include a raft of first-time nominees alongside past winners. Congratulations to everyone represented here today.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on May 19.