‘He’s never worked a day in his life!’: Paul McCartney honours Bruce Springsteen at Ivor Novello awards

Springsteen receives Academy fellowship as Raye named songwriter of the year, and Yussef Dayes, Victoria Canal and Speakers Corner Quartet pick up major awards

Bruce Springsteen was the top honouree at the 2024 Ivor Novello awards, given an Academy fellowship – the first international artist to be handed that accolade.

Paul McCartney presented him with the award in a playful speech: “I couldn’t think of a more fitting recipient,” he said. “Except maybe Bob Dylan. Or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on … He’s known as the American working man, but he admits he’s never worked a day in his life.” He reminisced about the pair’s performance together on Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage in 2022, calling Springsteen “a lovely boy”.