Crispin Hunt is stepping down as chair of The Ivors Academy Board to make way for a successor.
Hunt, a songwriter, producer and musician, has steered the Ivors Academy through a period of modernisation, growth and reform.
The Academy Board will elect and announce its new chair shortly. Hunt will continue to be actively involved in the songwriters’ organisation as a board director.
Crispin Hunt, pictured at 2021’s Ivors ceremony, said: "After five incredible years as chair of the Ivors Academy, it is high time to let the future lead the future. We have become the strong, representative and future-facing Academy British songwriters and composers deserve. We have campaigned successfully for music creators' rights - from the European Copyright Directive and Composers Against Buyouts to Fix Streaming - taking music creators’ concerns from footnotes to the front pages and successfully creating the environment for improvement.
“In this time, we’ve launched a new brand without an acronym in sight, reformed our governance, relaunched our charitable Trust, rejuvenated our Fellowship programme, forged global alliances, welcomed new partners and done more than ever to champion our world-leading music creators.”
After five incredible years as chair of the Ivors Academy, it is high time to let the future lead the future
Crispin Hunt
Hunt emphasised the Ivors Academy’s support for songwriters and composers during the pandemic.
“The last two years have been especially tough for many in music, but none more so than musicians,” he said. “To have helped our community stand together - young and old, famed and emerging – so we can uphold the value of our musical creativity to society and its economy, has been an honour and a privilege.
“We stepped up, giving a voice to creators when they needed it most and providing increased support across our membership. We are now doing all we can to bring back the 60,000 musicians who have left music during the pandemic by working tirelessly to create a more balanced, safer future for our industry.”
During his spell as chair, there have also been efforts to boost diversity.
“Our board is the strongest and most diverse it has ever been, with more women than men and a mix of backgrounds, ethnicities and locations across the UK,” said Hunt. “We continue to have under-25-year-old representation on our board to empower new generations of creators as well as present. In their safe and capable hands, with confidence and pride, I leave the future of our Academy.Bed hogging is not my style.”
He added: “As I turn to new projects, I reiterate my unflinching commitment to delivering the Academy's mission and to supporting PRS' outstanding team, as a member of the PRS Council, to be as innovative, efficient and influential as possible.
“I want to thank our Academy members, our Academy team and everyone I have worked with as chair over the past five years. I am humbled by your support and grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you."
Former lead singer of the Longpigs, Crispin Hunt has worked with acts including Florence And The Machine, Jake Bugg, Tom Grennan, Lana Del Ray, Ellie Goulding, Natalie Imbruglia, Bat For Lashes, Rod Stewart and more.
He is an elected council member of PRS for Music, former director of PPL, the FAC and UK Music, a music creator, advocate and consultant.
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