There is perhaps nobody in the US’s short history who is better-known for describing blue-collar American life.
But Bruce Springsteen is to be recognised by the most British of institutions when he becomes the first foreigner to be inducted as a fellow of the Ivors Academy.
In June, The Boss will make history when he follows Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Joan Armatrading and Sting by being inducted into the fellowship of the Ivors Academy which is recognising his “impact on the UK’s cultural landscape”.
Springsteen said he was proud to be the first international songwriter to be recognised by the academy, joining the 26 other inductees in the organisation behind the annual Ivor Novello songwriting awards, which celebrate Britain’s best songwriters and composers.
“In addition to recognising my songwriting, the award stands as a tribute to the fans and friends who have supported me and my work for the last 50 years,” Springsteen said. “This entire country has made me feel welcome every step of the way, and for this, I will always remain deeply appreciative.”
The induction into the Ivors Academy is just the latest in a long list of accolades he has garnered in recent years. Not only has he sold more than 140m records, won a Tony, an Oscar, 20 Grammys and is already an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom – America’s highest civilian award.
Tom Gray, chair of the Ivors Academy, said: “There is no one more fitting than Bruce Springsteen to be the first international songwriter inducted into our fellowship. Songwriters are powerful storytellers, who capture our lives, loves and hardships. Bruce has always told the greatest stories.
“The fellowship marks the esteem in which he is held by all those who share his craft.”
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 recent years the Ivor Novello awards have not only rewarded more recently established songwriters – such as Dave, Harry Styles and Wet Leg who were named songwriters of the year in 2023 – but they have also recognised Springsteen’s peers who’ve unexpectedly shot back into the charts.
Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill was nominated for best contemporary song, almost 40 years after it entered the charts. The 1985 hit had a resurgence after being featured in Netflix show Stranger Things, and going viral along with Metallica’s Master of Puppets. Running Up That Hill reached No 1 in the UK charts – something that Bush called “extraordinary”.
