Songwriter Raye to Be Honored by the Ivors Academy for Her Advocacy Work for Songwriters
British singer-songwriter and producer Raye, born Rachel Agatha Keen in 1997, is set to receive the Ivors Academy Honour, a prestigious award recognising her efforts to improve conditions for songwriters and composers. Known for her genre-blending music and advocacy work, Raye has become a powerful voice for change in the music industry.
Raye, who rose to prominence with dance singles and critical acclaim following the release of her debut album *My 21st Century Blues* in 2023, has consistently championed structural change to protect the talent behind the music we love. She has been a vocal advocate for better pay and greater recognition for songwriters, urging labels to allocate a portion of master recording revenues to these creative individuals.
Roberto Neri, chief executive of the Ivors Academy, praised Raye for her advocacy, stating that she is one of the industry's most passionate voices for fairer treatment and recognition for songwriters. Neri also described Raye as one of the most gifted songwriters of her generation.
This week, there was a breakthrough on per diem payments from labels for songwriters taking part in writing sessions, a victory that Raye's relentless campaigning may have contributed to. The Ivors Academy Honours, which celebrate advocates and innovators in the music industry, continues the legacy of the Gold Badge Awards, first held in 1974.
Past recipients of the Ivors Academy Honours include Carla Marie Williams MBE, Kevin Brennan, Michael Eavis CBE, Bob Geldof, Guy Garvey, Trevor Nelson MBE, and Jo Wiley. Raye joins their ranks as a multi-award-winning songwriter, artist, and campaigner. She has been a two-time Ivor Novello Award winner, seven-time BRIT Award winner, and four-time Global Award recipient.
Raye's advocacy extends beyond financial matters, as she has consistently called for greater transparency and fairer pay in the music industry. At The Ivors 2024, she demanded that the industry value and properly reward the artists behind the music. The Ivors Academy Honour, to be given to Raye on October 2, 2025, at the InterContinental London Park Lane, is a testament to her dedication to this cause.
In addition to her work as a performing artist, Raye always gives full respect and voice to fellow writers, emphasising the voiceless beating heart of the industry. Her campaigning for positive change for songwriters and composers has made a significant impact on the music industry, earning her widespread recognition and admiration.
Raye's commitment to fairer treatment and recognition for songwriters in the music industry extends to advocating for better pay and greater financial transparency, as she urges labels to allocate a portion of master recording revenues to these creative individuals. The successful breakthrough on per diem payments for songwriters during writing sessions, a victory that Raye's relentless campaigning may have contributed to, underscores her influence in the business and finance aspects of the entertainment industry.
