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The Ivors Academy

Get support, connections and opportunities to grow your career with exclusive benefits including professional advice and discounts.

Core Membership

Get support, connections and opportunities to grow your career with exclusive benefits including professional advice and discounts.You are eligible for 25% joint discount if you’re also a member of the MU or MPG. You will be asked to provide your membership number for the MU or MPG when applying. ​​

Core Membership (Joint Membership Discount)

Get support, connections and opportunities to grow your career with exclusive benefits including professional advice and discounts.You are eligible for 50% early career discount if you are under 25 or currently studying in higher or further education.

Core Membership (Early Career Discount)

Access the full range of benefits to support your journey as a music creator, including networking, expert advice and exclusive discounts.

Professional Membership

Access the full range of benefits to support your journey as a music creator, including networking, expert advice and exclusive discounts.You are eligible for 25% joint discount if you’re also a member of the MU or MPG. You will be asked to provide your membership number for the MU or MPG when applying.

Professional Membership (Joint Membership Discount)

Access the full range of benefits to support your journey as a music creator, including networking, expert advice and exclusive discounts.Pay for your Ivors Academy membership through your PRS royalties.Please note all memberships are an annual commitment.

Professional Membership (Pay via PRS for Music Royalties)

Unpacking how co-writing relationships work — creatively, legally, and financially. This video walks through everything from initial collaboration agreements to how royalties are split, including common pitfalls. Professional songwriters discuss their experiences to give members techniques and insights on what they have learned during their career.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The business of co-writing

Three years on from the launch of our composers against buyouts campaign with the MU; The Ivors Academy introduces a new standard agreement for composers commissioned to score TV productions.

Specimen TV commissioning agreement part 1 

A further dive into the contract language and structure of the Specimen Agreement. It provides practical advice on how to read, understand, and negotiate the key clauses.

Specimen TV commissioning agreement part 2 

An explanation on the roles of UK Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) like PRS, MCPS, and PPL — and how licensing works across different rights such as performance, mechanical, master rights.

UK CMO's and Licensing essentials

Celebrating LGBTQI+ voices in music and focusing on the experiences of queer songwriters and composers. This video shares both personal journeys and practical tips for navigating the industry as an LGBTQI+ creative.

LGBTQI+ history month webinar

A break down on the critical role of music data — from song registrations to streaming metadata — In ensuring songwriters and composers get paid and credited. It's all about how accurate data powers your income.

Data essentials 

Our members discuss how artificial intelligence is impacting music composition and copyright law. Conversation around AI, and what this means for songwriters and composers is critical - Understanding how AI tools are used to generate music and what that means for ownership, control, and compensation.

Copyright and AI webinar part 1 

A deep dive into the world of video game music — How to get involved, compose for gameplay, and understand licensing in the gaming space.

Music in games panel

A deep dive into funding opportunities available through the PRS Foundation and other UK funders.

PRS foundation information webinar

An introduction the Transparency Code — a key document designed by The Ivors Academy to empower songwriters and composers with the knowledge of how to find out what royalties are being tracked, reported, and paid to them.

Transparency code for songwriters and composers

The essential roles that support a composer’s career including agents, managers, lawyers, and music supervisors – This video explores how these professionals help composers navigate contracts, networking, and industry growth.

Professional teams behind composers

Diving deeper into technical and legal implications of AI in music. Conversation around AI, and what this means for songwriters and composers is critical - Understanding how AI tools are used to generate music and what that means for ownership, control, and compensation.

Copyright and AI webinar part 2

This webinar introduces Soundmouse, a platform that automates music reporting for broadcasters — Making sure creators are credited and paid accurately for the music used in TV, radio, and film.

Introduction to Soundmouse

This session explores how media composers integrate into creative teams for TV, film, games, and advertising. It emphasizes the interpersonal and professional dynamics of working closely with directors, producers, editors, and sound designers.

Creative teams working with media composers

In-depth session on how to prepare strong applications for funding applications, grants and development support, delivered by music industry experts with extensive experience in funding music projects.

Getting your project ready for funding

A foundational explainer on how music royalties work — who collects them, how they’re calculated, and where your money comes from in various usage scenarios.&nbsp;

Understanding music royalties

A candid and inspiring conversation between two celebrated British artists: Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Cleveland Watkiss discussing creativity, identity, and the journey of being an artist over time. For multi-disciplinary songwriters and composers and Early Career songwriters and composers.

In conversation with Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Cleveland Watkiss 

A practical overview of contracts in the music industry — what to watch for, what to ask, and how to protect your rights as a creator.

Fundementals of contracts

A launchpad for those starting out as a songwriter or looking to take the next step into professional songwriting. Offering insights into making industry connections, setting career goals, building a portfolio, and understanding the practical side of being a songwriter; this video is a conversation between long-time friends and collaborators offers.

Kickstart your songwriting career 

Practical insights for anyone navigating the world of music commissioning — especially for composers working in classical, jazz, or experimental sound art.

Meet the classical commissioners

Used when multiple songwriters regularly collaborate as a group or band. It outlines how rights, royalties, credits, and decision-making will be shared among them for all songs they write together.

Collective songwriter agreement

Used when two or more songwriters collaborate on a specific song or project. It sets out the ownership split, creative contributions, and how any income or royalties from the work will be divided.

Joint songwriter agreement

Between a songwriter or composer and a client. This could be a label, artist, or media company who is commissioning original music. It defines the scope of work, deadlines, payment terms, and ownership rights.

Commissioning sample contract

For songwriters or composers brought in to contribute to a recording or writing session. It details payment, crediting, and whether the session contributor has any claim to rights or royalties.

Session agreement

Used when a songwriter assigns all or part of the rights in a specific song to a publisher, label, or another party. It outlines the terms of that transfer, including any payments or royalties involved.

Single song assignment

Agreement on music usage in visual media - Film, TV, ads or games. This covers the permission, fees, duration and scope of use to ensure the songwriter or composer is compensated for their work being synced with visuals.

Sync license

This guide provides an introduction to royalties, how they work, and how they are collected and distributed.

Introduction to royalties

This guide provides an introduction to data and metadata and explains how metadata is created and used throughout the music industry.

Introduction to data and music

This guide introduces the basics of contracts for songwriters and composers, such as commissioning and publishing agreements.

Introduction to contracts

This guide introduces collective licensing for songwriters and composer. It explains the basics of licensing and the role of Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).

Core Membership (Early Career Discount)

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