The Ivors Academy to present world-renowned composer Max Richter with Gift of the Academy Award for Innovation. * Max Richter joins a roll call of extraordinary composers including Anoushka Shankar, Gavin Bryars, Matthew Herbert and Talvin Singh * News revealed days before Richter releases brand-new album, While The Flood Rages The Ivors Academy announced today [13 October] that composer Max Richter will be presented with an Ivor Novello Award for Innovation in recognition of his ingenuity and impact in contemporary classical composition at The Ivors Composer Awards sponsored by PRS for Music and in association with BBC Radio 3 on 17 November. With a catalogue amassing over four billion streams across the globe, Max Richter is one of the defining voices in contemporary classical music. Celebrated for his unique musical language blending classical tradition, minimalism, electronic music and sound design, Richter's music has reimagined established repertoire whilst expanding the scope of contemporary composition. Max Richter's compositions transcend genres, reaching audiences via concert halls, recordings, on-stage and on-screen. On the concert stage, he has collaborated with leading soloists such as Anna Lapwood, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Gautier Capuçon. His recent film score for Chloé Zhao's Hamnet (2025) received widespread critical acclaim, with previous screen soundtracks including Mary Queen of Scots (2018) and Ad Astra (2019). Richter's wider creative partnerships span disciplines and generations, from landmark ballets with choreographer Wayne McGregor to scoring Dior runway shows for Kim Jones. Richter will receive the Innovation Award in person at The Ivors Composer Awards sponsored by PRS for Music and in association with BBC Radio 3 at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London. Celebrating outstanding new compositions by British, Irish and UK resident composers, the Ivors Composer Awards champion composers and contemporary composition across all genres and disciplines, celebrating music that demonstrates exceptional craft, originality and impact with audiences. Each winner receives a prestigious Ivor Novello Award - one of the most respected honours in music creation and a globally recognised benchmark for creative excellence. The Innovation Award is one of the special Gift of the Academy Awards which are presented each year, with previous recipients including Anoushka Shankar, Gavin Bryars, Matthew Herbert and Talvin Singh. The news comes just days before the release of Richter's new album, While The Flood Rages. The recording features music from Richter's latest collaboration with Wayne McGregor, 'MaddAddam', inspired by Margaret Atwood's eponymous trilogy. A project years in the making, the album explores themes of ecological crisis, technological acceleration and human connection. While The Flood Rages will be released on Decca Records on 16th October. Lord Neri, CEO of The Ivors Academy, said: "Max Richter has expanded what contemporary composition can be and who it can reach. His music combines extraordinary craft with a constant desire to innovate, connecting with audiences across concert halls, recordings, stage and screen. We're proud to recognise Max with an Ivor Novello Award for Innovation." Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said: "Max is a composer of unmistakable originality and influence. He has created a musical language that is entirely his own, while continually exploring new forms, sounds and ideas. From collaborations with Future Sound of London and Roni Size to ballet, opera, film and television, and landmark works including Sleep, The Blue Notebooks and the score for Hamnet, his work has undoubtedly changed contemporary composition." The Ivors Composer Awards are in London on 17 November and are hosted by radio presenter Petroc Trelawny, with BBC Radio 3 as broadcast partner. The ceremony will form part of The Ivors Composer Week (16 - 20 November), an inaugural series of events to broaden the celebration and empowerment of composers further. This includes a new annual event, The Ivors Academy Composer Summit (18 November) held at the Royal Institution, London.

UK Music Chief meets with music and political leaders at 'Music Sounds Better With You' in Brussels. UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl attended the Music Sounds Better With You - a policy exchange in Brussels organised by the UK Mission to the EU and event partner PRS for Music. * home * news * UK Music Chief meets with music and political leaders at 'Music Sounds Better With You' in Brussels. 02.10.2026: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl - pictured with UK Culture Minister Ian Murray MP - attended the Music Sounds Better With You, a policy exchange in Brussels organised by the UK Mission to the EU and event partner PRS for Music. At the October 1 event, Tom heard a powerful speech from the Government's Music Champion Michael Dugher on the Government's Music Plan, why music matters now and the continued challenges facing cultural exchange and touring between the UK and EU. He also participated in detailed discussions with UK and EU participants in the forum on metadata and international mobility. At the iconic Ancienne Belgique he met with UK Culture Minister Ian Murray MP, the EU Commissioner for Culture Glenn Micallef, and enjoyed brilliant performances from Venus Grrrls, Benjamin Diamond and The Snuts. In September, Tom penned a joint op-ed with AIM Deputy Chair Tony Morley urging the Government to act urgently on the matter of UK music companies faced new charges to export to the EU, with independent labels being hit especially hard by the new cost on physical music sales to the bloc. You can read the piece, which was published by Music Week, here.

PRS appoints Darren Childs and Maria Kyriacou as independent non-executive directors. The Performing Right Society (PRS) has appointed Darren Childs and Maria Kyriacou as independent non-executive directors. The appointments will strengthen its senior expertise across media, entertainment, technology, finance and governance as the organisation continues to grow and develop services for its 190,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. They joined PRS on 1 October 2026 ahead of their formal appointment at the PRS 2027 Annual General Meeting. Darren Childs brings more than 25 years' experience in media, technology and sport, including leadership roles at Premiership Rugby, UKTV, BBC Worldwide and Sony Pictures. His track record in commercial growth, digital transformation and operational delivery will support PRS as it evolves the services and technology that underpin royalty collection and distribution for its members. Maria Kyriacou brings more than 30 years' experience in international media and entertainment, with executive roles at Paramount Global, ITV Studios and The Walt Disney Company, and non-executive roles including ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, Informa PLC and Wizz Air Holdings plc. Her finance, governance and international commercial expertise will support PRS's work to grow global royalty revenues and protect the value of members' works. Stevie Spring, Chairman of the PRS for Music Board, said: "Maria and Darren bring deep experience across media, entertainment, technology, finance and governance. Their insight will help us strengthen our services, deliver our business plan and ensure we are doing even more to protect the value of music for the people who create it." Sarah Liversedge Platz, Creative Director, Bucks Music Group was appointed as a new Publisher Council Member. Her appointment for the period up until the 2027 AGM was made by the Members' Council and fills a casual vacancy created by Megan Hall, who stepped down following the completion of the BMG and Concord merger. With more than 25 years' experience in the music and entertainment sector, Sarah tirelessly develops the careers of innovative and creative artists, producers and songwriters and will bring intrinsic music business knowledge and insight to the Members' Council.