Adele was named Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday (19.05.16).
The ‘Hello’ hitmaker was honoured due to the global success of her third album ’25’, but could not accept the prestigious accolade in person as she is currently in Germany on her ‘Adele Live 2016’ tour.
The statuette was presented by host Paul Gambaccini to her manager Jonathan Dickins, who introduced a video message recorded by Adele.
Upon collecting the prize, Dickins said: "I’ll keep it brief, miracles do happen because Adele couldn’t be here cause she’s touring!
"I’ll keep this short because no wants to hear me spout on. Before I do the management equivalent of p***ing off this stage and do the management equivalent of DHL and go off to Lisbon to deliver this award to Adele here’s a few words from her."
In the video message, Adele let slip that the last time she was presented with the prize at the Ivor Novello Awards – which recognises the achievements of songwriters in the UK and Ireland – for her second LP ’21’ she was "secretly pregnant with her now three-year-old son Angelo, her child with partner Simon Konecki.
She said: "Hey everyone at the Ivor Novellos, hi from Germany, I’m currently in Hamburg on tour. Thank you for this award for Songwriter of the Year, I won it for my last album as well so to win it this time is truly amazing, I’m very, very grateful. Good luck to everyone there, congratulations. Last time it was the last award of the night but I was secretly pregnant so I couldn’t really enjoy. But cheers, bottoms up, whatever. See you later."
’25’ was the world’s best-selling album of 2015 with 17.4 million copies sold within the year and it has now sold 19 million copies globally.
Elsewhere at the awards ceremony sponsored by PRS for Music and BASCA, Snakehips picked up the Best Contemporary Song award for ‘All My Friends’.
Speaking before they picked up the prize the electronic duo – of Oliver Lee and James Carter – said: "Skepta has had an amazing year its crazy to be nominated in the same category as him. I am nervous, I think he’ll win."
And Simple Minds were honoured with the Outstanding Song Collection award.
On winning, frontman Jim Kerr said: "It’s still surreal coming to these kind of events. We said before it wouldn’t be before our time.
"We are really chuffed it is great to be recognised for song writing."
List of winners from the 61st Ivor Novello Awards:
Best Song Musically and Lyrically – Jamie Lawson – ‘Wasn’t Expecting That’
Best Contemporary Song – Snakehips feat. Tinashe and Chance The Rapper ‘All My Friends’
PRS for Music Most Performed Work – James Bay
Album Award – Villagers – Darling Arithmetic
Best Original Film Score – Ex-Machina Composed by Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury
Best Television Soundtrack – London Spy composed by Keefus Ciancia and David Holmes
The Ivors Classical Music Award – Oliver Knussen
International Achievement – Wayne Hector
The Ivors Inspiration Award – Paul Davis, Mark Day, Paul Ryder, Shaun Ryder and Gary Whelan [Happy Mondays]
Songwriter of the Year – Adele Adkins
Outstanding Song Collection – Charlie Burchill, Jim Kerr and Mick MacNeil [Simple Minds]
PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music – Geoff Barrow, Beth Gibbons and
Adrian Utley [Portishead]
Lifetime Achievement – Damon Albarn
PRS for Music Special International Award – Bryan Adams