Chair of @IvorsAcademy. Member of Gomez, MU & PRS Council. Director of UK Music. #BrokenRecord founder. A working songwriter and composer (just about).
UK
Joined January 2009
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Art started in caves.
Talking bollocks didn’t start on the internet but thanks for helping to refine it.
The Pope is making a claim about what art is, independent of who gets to make it. But my point is about access, and on that front, AI tools have genuinely lowered the barrier for people who never had the training, money, time, or physical ability to make images, music, or writing through traditional means. Someone with no formal art education, someone with a disability that makes traditional mediums hard to use, someone in a place with no art schools or materials, these tools let them give form to an idea they couldn't otherwise externalize. Dismissing that output as categorically not art, full stop, risks devaluing something that functions as real creative expression and real access for those people.
Tom Gray retweeted
In this era of artificial intelligence, it is becoming urgent to distinguish human art from what machines produce. There is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others. Algorithms lack the spark of humanity. For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity.
Tom Gray retweeted
OPINION: #AI stole my Granddad –
@Roxannemusic
"we’re all dealing with possibly the biggest heist of modern times: tech giants have stolen our work, our likeness and our voices. " godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2026/…
Tom Gray retweeted
Great to help launch @bevcraig’s campaign to be Mayor of Greater Manchester - joined by so many of our amazing Labour activists.
Bev will be a Mayor for all our city-region, with the drive and determination to build on @AndyBurnhamGM’s proud legacy.
Tom Gray retweeted
Congratulations to @bevcraig who will be a fantastic Mayor of Greater Manchester.
I’ve seen first hand how she’s transformed outcomes for children and people across the city region. She’s a change maker and a leader and I look forward to hitting the campaign trail with her soon
Tom Gray retweeted
Here to say I could not be more chuffed for @AndyBurnhamGM on getting sworn in.
Wonderful to see @anneliese_midge by his side too.
We’ve got to take courage and find shared purpose with each other to build a new politics.
Andy knows this to his bones.
Tom Gray retweeted
This is what Farage doesn't want:
A new poll shows Labour could win a general election tomorrow with Andy Burnham as the leader
LAB: 30% (+8)
RFM: 26% (-3)
CON: 20% (+1)
LDem: 11% (-2)
GRN: 7% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via MoreinCommon polling
With 2,599 people polled
Here to say I could not be more chuffed for @AndyBurnhamGM on getting sworn in.
Wonderful to see @anneliese_midge by his side too.
We’ve got to take courage and find shared purpose with each other to build a new politics.
Andy knows this to his bones.
Tom Gray retweeted
Anne Dudley has been inducted as the 33rd Fellow of The Ivors Academy.
Fellowship is the highest honour we bestow and recognises exceptional achievement in the art and craft of composition.
Anne joins a prestigious list of composers and songwriters including John Adams, Kate Bush, Elton John, James MacMillan, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and more.
In awarding Fellowship to Anne Dudley, the Academy celebrates a composer whose artistry and ground breaking vision across pop, classical, film scores and more have continually expanded the language of British music.
#TheIvorsClassicalAwards
Tom Gray retweeted
Huge congratulations to the winners of The Ivors Classical Awards 2025 🏆
Hundreds of guests came together tonight to celebrate the outstanding achievements of composers🎶💫
🏆@dovecomposer
🏆@aprildeangelis
🏆 Luke Mombrea
🏆 Anna Clyne
🏆@anibal_vidal_a
🏆@wisemandebbie
🏆 Nneka Cummins
🏆 Anoushka Shankar
🏆 Helen Grime
🏆 Zoe Gilbert
🏆@annedudleymusic
A heartfelt thank you to our nominees, judges and guests, and to our partners and sponsors- @prsformusic, @bbcradio3, @prestomusiccom, @ABRSM, @wearethemu and @dorico - for their invaluable support.
What an incredible night honouring creativity, craft and the lasting impact of classical music🎼
At this point this ought to be a fully codified philosophy.
Music as a act of human resistance.
Come on people!
Tom Gray retweeted
"The music industry can and must do better." Our CEO, @RobertoNeri47 setting the mission for tonight's Ivors Academy Honours. We're here to celebrate those who champion fairness, equality and a sustainable future for songwriters and composers.
#TheIvorsAcademy #TheIvorsAcademyHonours #CreatorRights #FairPayForCreators #MusicIndustry #Songwriters
Tom Gray retweeted
Four essential Gomez records are being re-issued on colored vinyl! Find new editions of Bring It On, Liquid Skin, In Our Gun and Split the Difference worldwide on Oct. 17th. Secure your copies now at: found.ee/GomezVinylReissue
Tom Gray retweeted
PRS board director and Chair of the @IvorsAcademy, @MrTomGray discusses the vital introduction of songwriter per diems and reflects on the origins of the campaign. prs.info/kTpF50Wyz9t
Tom Gray retweeted
🎸 Me and my pal @will_fuzz popped into see Reg & Paul at @austinguitarsuk in the barn in Kirkby.
👨🦳🙋♂️Dad and lad are united by a love of guitars and the dream of making music accessible to people round here. Everyone is welcome to come in & have a go on a guitar.
☕️🫖They’ll make you a cuppa and find you the perfect guitar. From guitar legends like Will to absolute beginners this is a boss place for you.
Tom Gray retweeted
Raye to be honoured for championing songwriters.
On @ITVNews, our Chair @MrTomGray highlighted how her advocacy helped The Ivors Academy secure per diem payments from the major labels that now cover travel, meals and studio costs for writing sessions - opening doors for songwriters in the UK.
A two‑time Ivor Novello Award winner and seven‑time BRIT Award winner, @Raye continues to use her voice to push for fair treatment and pay across the industry.
Join us at The Ivors Academy Honours on 2 October, where Raye will be honoured with this special recognition.
Tickets are available now 👇
ivorsacademy.com/the-ivors-a…
#songwriters #songwriting #musiccreators #ukmusic #musicindustry #musiccommunity #fairpay #raye #theivorsacademy #musicrights #composerlife #musicproducer #studiolife #creativejourney #musicadvocacy
Tom Gray retweeted
Special mention to, of course, @raye and @helienne for never resting on the idea.
We’ve come a long way since writing the letter to the industry demanding it in 2018.
The @IvorsAcademy has it as a key ask at the centre of our talks at the Creator Remuneration Working Group and folk outside are working every day to push the industry towards it.
We will get there!
Tom Gray retweeted
Raye has talked about it on stage at multiple awards shows. Varying campaigns around the world have made it their central ask.
The moral of the story, is good ideas are cool. Make sure to share yours - it might take years, but they can be powerful things.
The PD must to be paid!
Tom Gray retweeted
I first floated the idea of a ‘songwriter per diem’ at an Ivors meeting six or seven years ago. I was used to receiving them as a touring musician and it seemed an easy solution to the problem of rising costs.
It’s been amazing to watch the idea have a life and become a demand across the industry.