Harry Styles, Thom Yorke and Elton John lead a fiery 71st Ivors ceremony against AI

• Harry Styles surprised the Ivors crowd by crossing the Channel from Amsterdam to present Thom Yorke with the Academy Fellowship
• Styles revealed he "lost his virginity to the intro to 'Talk Show Host'" in one of the night's most memorable moments
• Thom Yorke told music industry executives to "pull your fingers out," warning that "without us, you ain't shit"
  

The Ivor Novello Awards have, for 70 years, quietly celebrated the human creativity behind the songwriting that articulates universal emotions and shapes popular culture.

But at this year's ceremony — the 71st edition, now officially known as the Ivors with Amazon Music — the very premise of human creativity felt under siege, with AI and low streaming payments dominating conversation both on and off the stage.

The tension was evident at the pre-awards drinks reception, where industry executives debated the latest AI developments.

It was articulated in the warnings issued by Ivors bosses Tom Gray and Roberto Neri about the continuing struggle for songwriters to be heard and fairly paid.

And it was heard loud and clear throughout the ceremony itself, as a succession of artists and songwriters used the platform to condemn AI companies, the music industry and anyone else perceived to be failing songwriters.

Harry Styles makes a surprise appearance

The evening's biggest surprise — Harry Styles crossing the Channel from the opening of his 10-date tour in Amsterdam to present Thom Yorke with the Academy Fellowship, the organisation's highest honour — was inadvertently revealed early.

Sir Elton John, who had come to present Sam Fender with the Songwriter of the Year prize but ended up being showered with accolades of his own — including an Ivors Academy Honour and becoming the first ever President of the Ivors Academy — casually mentioned he had spotted Styles backstage, prompting gasps and laughter from the crowd.

Styles, unfazed, quickly regained the room. After thanking "Elton for that wonderful introduction," he spoke about the personal significance of Radiohead's music: "I lost my virginity to 'Talk Show Host.'" After a lengthy pause, he added: "Well, I lost my virginity to the intro to 'Talk Show Host'."

He continued: "Without 'Exit Music', there would be no 'Watermelon Sugar'. Imagine that. A world without that song? It doesn't bear thinking about."

Yorke appeared genuinely moved, embracing the former One Direction singer in a long hug as he took to the stage.

Yorke attacks the music industry

The warmth did not last. Yorke launched a forceful critique of the modern music business, contrasting it with the risk-taking industry that championed Radiohead in the 1990s.

"I worry that our business is becoming risk-averse and unable or unwilling to help [artists]," he said, criticising the focus on "the exciting share prices of streaming services" and the "feeding frenzy" around catalogue acquisitions. "It is not, as they like to call it, investment in the music sector."

"Pull your fingers out," he urged the industry directly. "Just remember, without us, you ain't shit."

His remarks were heard by a roomful of senior music industry figures, including Warner Chappell global chief executive Guy Moot, former Warner Music chief Max Lousada, Sony Music UK chief executive Jason Iley, Universal Music Publishing Group's David Gray, Sony Music Publishing UK's David Ventura and label bosses Ben Mortimer (Polydor), Louis Bloom (Island), Dipesh Parmar (Columbia) and Ed Howard (Atlantic), as well as top managers Craig Logan, Jonathan Dickins and Paul Craig.

A night of outrage, tears and chaos

Yorke was far from alone in voicing his frustrations. Scottish singer-songwriter and double winner Jacob Alon directed a profanity at AI company representatives he believed to be in the room.

Best Album winner CMAT aimed criticism at politicians in both Ireland and the UK. Sam Fender appeared to take a swipe at the night's sponsors, Amazon.

Lola Young, collecting the PRS for Music Most Performed Work award for Messy, abandoned her prepared remarks after a champagne cork popped in the crowd, though she returned later to present Elton John with his honour, saying: "In a world that takes and takes, he gives back in abundance."

Calvin Harris appeared visibly overwhelmed as he accepted his Icon award. Damon Albarn fumbled through his presentation to International Songwriter of the Year Rosalía, attempting to speak Spanish and serenading her on a melodica before abandoning the idea in favour of a video.

Rosalía was gracious throughout, praising Albarn's music and his "great" Spanish, though even she took aim at the industry, describing it as an "insatiable monster" in its constant hunger for new material over genuine artistry.

Tears were a recurring feature. Grime veteran Kano looked visibly moved collecting his Visionary Award, while Fender wept after Elton described him as "one of the finest lyricists Britain has ever produced."

Fender stressed the need for the industry to reach beyond its own existing networks: "As an industry, we can't rely on people like Owain walking into a pub and finding people from working class backgrounds," he said, referring to his manager Owain Davies, who discovered him performing at a pub in South Shields.

Kae Tempest, winning Best Contemporary Song for I Stand on the Line, also shed tears, saying: "Sometimes, you think you have to suffer for your art. But you've got enough of that in the world. When we sit down [to write], that's not the time for suffering, that's the time for service."

Posthumous honour for George Michael

Among the evening's most poignant moments was a posthumous Fellowship awarded to the late George Michael. Rising star Skye Newman performed Careless Whisper in tribute, and the award was accepted by Michael's Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley.

"George would have been profoundly moved to be recognized in this way," said an emotional Ridgeley. "It would have been a moment of great pride."

Linda Perry and James Blunt

Special International Award winner Linda Perry — the 4 Non Blondes singer turned hit-writer for P!nk, Ariana Grande and others — was introduced by James Blunt, who recounted being signed to Perry's Custard Records label after being "rejected by most of the record company executives in this room," and playing a 30-minute South By Southwest showcase. "That's 'You're Beautiful' six times," he quipped.

Perry responded in kind before turning serious, thanking her mother for "fucking me up so badly as a child that I had no choice but to find self-expression." She concluded: "I'm not looking for hits. I'm looking for emotions."

Elton John's parting words

The final word of the evening belonged to the night's newly installed Ivors Academy President, Sir Elton John.

"Music is the greatest gift you can be given," he declared. "Don't let people take it away from you — especially AI."