Jacob Alon wins rising‑star, best‑song at Ivor Novellos
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- Jacob Alon won the Ivor Novello rising star award, marking their second major win of the year after the critics’ choice award at the 2026 Brit awards.
- Jacob Alon also won the Ivor Novello award for best song musically and lyrically for “Don’t Fall Asleep,” a ballad about their cousin’s accidental drowning.
- Sam Fender was named songwriter of the year at the Ivor Novello awards, recognized for the social realist anthems on his album “People Watching.”
- Kae Tempest won best contemporary song for “I Stand on the Line,” co‑written with Fraser T Smith, highlighting trans‑man experiences.
- CMAT won best album for “Euro‑Country,” which explores personal and Irish recession‑related crises.
- Rosalía received the International Songwriter of the Year award for her avant‑garde album “Lux.”
- George Michael (and Thom Yorke) were awarded the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy, the most prestigious honor at the ceremony.
Why it matters: Jacob Alon’s double win underscores the Ivor Novello’s role in elevating emerging alt‑folk talent, while the ceremony’s broader recognitions—Sam Fender’s songwriter of the year, Kae Tempest’s trans‑focused song, CMAT’s Euro‑Country album, and the George Michael–Thom Yorke fellowship—highlight the awards’ commitment to diverse musical narratives.
