Thom Yorke Debuts New Song ‘Space Walk’ as Harry Styles Honours Him at the Ivors
Thom Yorke Debuts New Song ‘Space Walk’ as Harry Styles Honours Him at the Ivors
Thom Yorke called out the music industry's 'nasty tricks' while accepting his Ivor Novello Fellowship from Harry Styles. Plus, a new song debut and all the winners!
It was a night of musical legends at the Ivor Novello Awards, where Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke was officially inducted into the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy. The atmosphere was a mix of high praise and rock-and-roll rebellion, especially when Harry Styles took the stage to present the honour. Styles didn’t hold back on the charm, revealing with a laugh that he actually lost his virginity to the intro of Radiohead’s 'Talk Show Host' before presenting the award to his hero.
Yorke didn't just accept the trophy; he used his platform to deliver a blistering critique of the modern music business. During his acceptance speech, he took aim at major labels and streaming services, accusing them of paying 'lip service' to new music while maintaining 'nasty, opaque accounting tricks' from the 90s. He warned that the industry would 'die' if it continued to devalue the next generation of artists, reminding the executives in the room, 'without us, you ain't shit!'
Fans were also treated to a rare performance from Yorke, who played the Radiohead classic 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place' before debuting a brand-new track titled 'Space Walk'. The performance cemented why he remains one of the most respected figures in British music.
Beyond the headlines involving Yorke and Styles, the ceremony celebrated a wide array of talent. Sam Fender took home the prestigious Songwriter of the Year award, while CMAT’s 'EURO-COUNTRY' was named Album of the Year. The night’s big breakout was Jacob Alon, who secured both the Rising Star award and Best Song Musically and Lyrically for 'Don’t Fall Asleep'.
In other major highlights, Rosalía was recognized as International Songwriter of the Year, and Lily Allen was honoured for her outstanding song collection. The evening also marked a historic milestone for the Ivors Academy as Elton John was officially named its first-ever President. Despite the tension surrounding industry politics and the rise of A.I., the night remained a massive celebration of human creativity and songwriting craft.
['#TheIvors', '#ThomYorke', '#HarryStyles']
