The Ivors Academy has announced that this year all of its Academy-tier members will be able to vote on who wins the big Songwriter Of The Year prize at its annual Ivor Novello Awards.
The Ivors Awards Committee will select a shortlist of five, and then Academy-tier members which - the organisations says, is the membership category for "established professional songwriters and composers" - will be able to vote for the actual winner next month.
Says Ivors Chair Crispin Hunt: "An Ivor Novello is the only music award bestowed by creators to honour the creative achievement of our craft. The Songwriter Of The Year Award marks the pinnacle of that craft and a highlight of every songwriter's career. That this award will now be chosen by our Academy members makes it even more unique and special than ever".
This years Ivor Novello Awards will be dished out on 21 Sep.