(Billboard) – Emeli Sandé was the big winner Thursday at the 58th Ivor Novello Awards, held in central London.
Sandé’s “Next to Me” was the only multiple winner on the day, collecting honors for best song musically and lyrically, and the PRS for Music award for most performed work.
The Scottish singer has been on a tear in Britain since her debut album ‘Our Version of Events’ arrived last year. Sandé performed at the London Olympics opening ceremony and her album finished 2012 as the best-selling artist album of the year in the UK, according to the Official Charts Company. Earlier this year, she won BRIT Awards for best album and best female. And just last month, the album broke the Beatles record by spending the most consecutive weeks in the UK’s Official Albums Chart Top 10 of any debut album — 63 weeks.
Another Scot who’s been in record-breaking form, Calvin Harris, took out a major category during the lunchtime gala. The DJ and producer won the songwriter of the year category. As he reached the podium at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Harris said his Ivor Novello victory was “easily the greatest achievement of my entire life.” Harris added, “I can’t believe I was even let in the door of this whole ceremony. It feels like I shouldn’t be here.” Harris last month made UK chart history when he became the first artist to have eight Top 10 hits from one studio album, ‘18 Months’.
The “Ivors,” as they’re fondly known, is the most cherished of the many galas on the British music industry calendar. Its mission is to “celebrate, honor and reward excellence in songwriting and composing.” For the artists, an Ivor Novello trophy is as prestigious as they come. The stars always turn-out, and this year was no exception, with the likes of Marc Almond (Ivors inspiration award), Randy Newman (PRS for music special international award), Noel Gallagher (outstanding song collection), Bush’s Gavin Rossdale (international achievement) and Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward (PRS for Music award for outstanding achievement) all on hand to receive their awards.
Other Ivors winners included indie rock band the Maccabees, who won best contemporary song for “Pelican,” while alternative rock act Alt-J won the album award for ‘An Awesome Wave’, a set which last year grabbed the Mercury Prize.
