Amazon Music will deliver the first ever livestream of the Ivor Awards ceremony from London, covering the ceremony, red carpet and a performance by Fellowship of The Ivors Academy honoree Sting.

Presented on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel by +44 Podcast hosts Zeze Millz and Sideman, as well as radio DJ Zach Sang, the livestream starts at 6:30am ET on 5/18, right about the time East Coasters are prepping their scones and clotted cream. Coverage will include performances from RAYE and Matilda Mann, and a pre-Ivors edition of The Zach Sang Show featuring a performance and chat with Amazon Music Breakthrough UK Artist to Watch 2023, Henry Moodie.

The pre-show stream will also include highlights from an Amazon Music panel discussion “50 Years of Hip Hop,” recorded earlier in the week as a part of the Ivors Week activity.

As part of the activity around the multi-year global deal between Amazon Music and The Ivors, Mann, Moodie and Kurt Vile will each release new Amazon Original tracks on 5/18.

Laura Lukanz, head of Music Industry, U.K., Australia & New Zealand at Amazon Music, said, “The work of The Ivors Academy is truly valued and we’re so pleased we’re able to collaborate with them by celebrating songwriters and their craft globally, bringing iconic and emerging music creators to the forefront through our amplifications of the awards.

“The Ivors are such a special event that have typically been behind closed doors so we’re thrilled to be able to shine a deserving light on it by bringing it to more audiences than ever before through this inaugural livestream including special performances from Sting, RAYE, Matilda Mann and Henry Moodie.”

In addition to recognizing songwriting achievements at the 5/18 ceremony, Amazon Music will integrate this year’s Rising Star Award nominees into their global developing artist program, Breakthrough.

Warner Chappell Music has teamed up with U.K.-based indie Ostereo to host its inaugural Song Circle writing camp. The three-day event is taking place at London’s Abbey Road Studios.

Happening this week, the camp will be supported by producer/songwriters, including duos Wh0 and Billen Ted. Artists managed by Ostereo are also involved, including Tom Enzy, Jessica Hammond and Dani Senior. Across eight rooms, participants will be working on different briefs, kitted out with the best-in-tech equipment for creating recordings.

It’s the first of many similar events that Ostereo—a data-driven business that encompasses a label, pubco and management arm—has in the pipeline. The songwriting camps will initially be held bi-annually, with a plan to increasing their frequency. The company also plans to hold camps in the U.S., Sweden, Netherlands, Korea and Japan.

“At a time when discourse around AI songwriting tools is at an all-time high, we want to continue the long tradition of songwriting and celebrate the wonderful individuals who sit at the forefront of it, alongside one of the world’s greatest music publishers, Warner Chappell Music,” Ostereo founder and CEO Howard Murphy said. “Song Circle is a very human camp, where emotion, heart and experience will set the stall for the hits it produces.”

The Lottery Winners are on track to claim their first U.K. Official Albums #1 while “Miracle” (Columbia) is set for a fourth week on top at singles.

Anxiety Replacement Therapy (Modern Sky), the Manchester band’s fifth set, would be a career best.

The Lottery Winners’ album leads an all-new Top 7 today. It's followed by Jessie Ware’s That! Feels Good! (EMI) at #2 and rapper Nines at #3 with Crop Circle 2 (Warner Records).

The National’s First Two Pages of Frankenstein (4AD) and Blood Orange (Good Soldier) by Freya Ridings complete the Top 5 at #4 and #5, respectively.

Heatwave in the Cold North (Distiller) by Reverend and the Makers is new at #6, followed by The Damned’s Darkadelic (earMUSIC) at #7. Shakin’ Stevens has the final new entry in today’s Top 10, Re-Set (BMG) at #9.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding could claim a fourth non-consecutive week at #1 on Friday with “Miracle.” However, “Daylight” (Miserable Music) by David Kushner is a close competitor at just 2k sales behind.

Following the release of his fourth album, Nines has three tracks in the Top 40: “Tony Soprano” hits #9; “Calendar” has #17 marked; and “Highly Blessed” f/Skrapz and Wretch-32 is #25.

“Cupid” (ATTRAKT) by K-pop group Fifty Fifty is up five to #13, while “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” (Warner Music U.K.) by David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray is up four to #15.

Following its acquisition by Sony, AWAL has set its U.K. executive leadership team with Matt Riley as MD. Victoria Needs and Sam Potts have been promoted to senior vice president.

In his new role, Riley will expand his current oversight as Head of A&R, working closely with AWAL President Paul Hitchman and AWAL CEO Lonny Olinick to sign new artists and develop the global roster. Based in London, Riley will report to Hitchman.

Since joining AWAL in 2014, Riley has been responsible for signing artists that have reached more than 1b streams, including Bruno Major, Rex Orange County and Tom Misch. Additionally, he’s supported the development of global artists Eloise, Lovejoy, MorMor, Shay Lia and The Wombats.

As SVP, Needs will add the U.K. market to her existing international marketing remit for AWAL, continuing to drive all global artist campaigns and releases. Potts will continue to work with the executive leadership team to maximize audience development and growth strategies for AWAL artists across digital and traditional media.

Needs has served as VP of International Marketing for AWAL since 2020, supporting campaign launches for artists such as JVKE, Jungle, girl in red and Lizzy McAlpine.

Potts joined AWAL in 2019, as VP of Promotion, overseeing the company’s U.K. and international digital accounts team, driving promotional strategy with streaming platforms, as well as overseeing U.K. radio and TV promotion strategy for AWAL artists.

“AWAL’s mission is to be the world’s best artist development company and, by creating a new leadership team for the U.K. that spans A&R, marketing and promotion, we have all of the skills and focus to deliver on that aim for U.K. artists,” Hitchman said.

“Matt, Victoria and Sam have all proven themselves as market leaders in their respective fields and have highly complementary skills. The combination will be an unstoppable force as we look to take the AWAL business to the next level in the U.K.”

Enter Shikari has their first U.K. Official Albums #1 today. Over on singles, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding return to the top.

Enter Shikari clinched the top spot in a tight battle, finishing just 800 sales ahead of their closest competition with seventh set, A Kiss For The Whole World (So Recordings).

The 1975’s Live With The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (Polydor)—an exclusive Record Store Day release—is at #2.

Everything But The Girl claim a career best with Fuse (Buzzin’ Fly) at #3. At #4 is Taylor Swift with her RSD release, folklore - The Long Pond Studio Sessions (EMI).

On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, “Miracles” (Columbia) by Harris and Goulding returns to #1 after being displaced by Lewis Capaldi. It’s the track’s third non-consecutive week at the top.

David Kushner’s “Daylight” (Miserable Music) is just 270 sales behind to claim a new peak at #2.

Switch Disco and Ella Henderson’s “React” (Relentless) breaks into the Top 10 after rising four to #8.

Just outside the Top 10, Nines has this week’s highest new entry with “Tony Soprano 2” (Warner Music) at #11.

London venue Brixton Academy is under threat of closure after two deaths at an Asake gig in December. A petition to keep it open has amassed nearly 13k signatures.

The MET Police have called for the venue’s license to be revoked due to “losing confidence” in operator Academy Music Group’s proposals for new safety measures.

After a crowd surge at the Asake gig led to the two deaths, the Academy had its license suspended and the venue has been closed since.

In response to the MET’s decision, AMG told i that it has “presented detailed proposals that we believe will enable the venue to reopen safely” during regular meetings and discussions with the police and local council Lambeth.

A decision will be made at a meeting that’s expected to happen next month. If AMG loses its license, another venue operator might be able to take over.

In the meantime, a change.org is calling for the venue to be saved. Instead of permanent closure, it suggests renewing security measures to ensure the situation doesn’t get repeated.

HMV’s flagship store on London’s Oxford Street is returning after a four-year absence. The shop will reopen later this year.

363 Oxford St., the first HMV store to open in 1921, will be outfitted with the new “HMV shop” concept, which will see it stock a range of pop culture merchandise, vinyl, film, TV and music technology. It also focuses on in-store signings and live music. Sunrise Records owns HMV.

“The expansion of our fan-focused pop culture offer is really working for us and the reopening of our flagship represents the culmination of a good few years of hard work,” Sunrise owner Doug Putman said.

The brand is also set to open more stores in Europe this year. “While it is the culmination of one phase of work, more excitingly we see it as the launchpad for an exciting new era for HMV,” Putman said.

The Oxford Street site closed in 2019 after cuts made by then-new, which saved it from administration.

HMV currently has 120 shops across the U.K., including a West London location in Westfield, the specialist Fopp store in Covent Garden, and Vault in Birmingham, Europe’s largest entertainment store.

Epic Records has relaunched in the U.K. with publishing exec Sarah Lockhart coming in as president.

After lying dormant for six years, Sony U.K. is restarting Epic as a frontline label to champion global music and British culture. The announcement coincides with the 70th anniversary of Epic Records.

Lockhart, the former head of A&R at Sony Music Publishing, will report to Jason Iley, chairman and CEO at Sony Music U.K. & Ireland, beginning 5/1.

“I’m confident that Sarah is the right person to relaunch Epic U.K. and enrich its legacy while protecting its artist-first ethos,” Iley said. "Throughout her career, Sarah has challenged the norm, pre-empted trends, and supported artists from the very beginning of their careers.”

At SMP, Lockhart served as head of A&R for three years, signing the BRIT Award-winning Aitch, PinkPantheress and D Block Europe. Previously, she co-founded east London community radio station Rinse FM, championing emerging acts in the early stages of their careers.

Lockhart also spent four years at EMI Music Publishing, where she discovered Ms Dynamite, Skepta and Benga & Skream.