Four Universal Music Publishing artists took home Ivor Novello awards yesterday. James Blake topped the Best Contemporary Song category with his single ‘Retrograde’ whilst The Chemical Brothers won the award for Outstanding Song Collection. Mumford & Sons picked up the prize for International Achievement and the legendary Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award.

In his acceptance speech James Blake said "…until my second album, I didn't think I was a songwriter, but now I've got this thing, I guess I do. So thank you for inviting me into that special group.” He went on to tell the BBC "This is amazing… but the biggest reward in writing music is writing music."

Artists and writers singed to Universal Music Publishing Laura Mvula, Everything Everything, Disclosure, James Napier, Palma Violets, Steve Booker, Olly Murs and Steven Price were also nominated in various categories, including Best Album, Best Contemporary Song, Best Song Musically & Lyrically, Best Original Film Score and PRS for Music Most Performed Work.