The Ivors Academy has honored Bruce Springsteen as the first non-British musician to be inducted into their organization.

Perhaps no other person in the brief history of the US is as widely recognized for portraying the experiences of working-class Americans.

Bruce Springsteen will be acknowledged by a prominent British organization as he becomes the initial non-British citizen to receive the honor of being inducted as a fellow of the Ivors Academy.

In June, The Boss will become part of the elite group of artists, including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading, and Sting, who have been honored by the Ivors Academy for their significant contributions to the UK’s cultural scene.

Springsteen expressed his pride in being the inaugural international songwriter recognized by the academy. He joins 26 other inductees in the organization responsible for the annual Ivor Novello songwriting awards, honoring the finest British songwriters and composers.

Springsteen expressed that the honor not only acknowledges his skills as a songwriter, but also serves as a token of gratitude to his fans and supporters who have stood by him for five decades. He also expressed his deep appreciation for the entire country, which has always made him feel welcomed throughout his journey.

Being inducted into the Ivors Academy is only the most recent addition to the many achievements he has received in the past years. He has sold 140 million records, won a Tony, an Oscar, and 20 Grammys, and is already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has additionally been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in America.

Chair of the Ivors Academy, Tom Gray, stated: “Bruce Springsteen is the perfect choice to be the inaugural international songwriter honored with our fellowship. Songwriters have a unique ability to share stories that reflect our experiences, relationships, and struggles. Bruce has always excelled at telling the most incredible tales.”

His colleagues greatly admire and respect him, as shown by the fellowship he has received.

Springsteen’s prolific songwriting might have won him recognition in the UK but his epic three-hour gigs disgruntled one of his fellow inductees. Last year, Paul McCartney bemoaned the death of the 30-minute gig, which was the norm when the Beatles started out. “Now people will do three, four hours,” he said, jovially. “I blame Bruce Springsteen.”

In the past few years, the recipients of the Ivor Novello awards have included not just up-and-coming songwriters like Dave, Harry Styles, and Wet Leg, who were named as songwriters of the year in 2023, but also veteran peers of Springsteen who have made surprise comebacks on the charts.

Kate Bush’s 1985 single “Running Up That Hill” has recently been recognized as a nominee for best contemporary song, almost four decades after its initial release. The track experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to its appearance on the Netflix series Stranger Things, and gained even more attention when it went viral alongside Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”. The song reached No 1 on the UK charts, a feat that Bush described as “extraordinary”.

Source: theguardian.com