Roberto Neri, Ivors Academy CEO, Made Labour Life Peer in House of Lords

On 16 July 2026, the UK’s House of Lords added a new music advocate to its ranks: Roberto Neri, chief executive of the Ivors Academy, was appointed a Labour life peer. The announcement came as part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s final list of peerages.

Neri’s career has long centred on the rights and remuneration of songwriters and composers. He joined the Ivors Academy in 2024 and, within a year, expanded the organisation’s membership from roughly 2,000 to 15,000. Under his leadership the Academy launched a suite of creator‑support initiatives, deepened its dialogue with government bodies, and broadened its international influence.

"It is an enormous honour to be appointed to the House of Lords," Neri said. "Everything I have worked towards throughout my career has been driven by a belief that music creators deserve to be valued, fairly rewarded and given every opportunity to succeed."

The Ivors Academy, formerly the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, is a key member of UK Music, the umbrella body that represents the commercial music industry in the United Kingdom. Neri’s appointment follows a long history of lobbying on behalf of the creative sector, including recent work on artificial‑intelligence licensing with MPs and peers.

Tom Gray, chair of the Ivors Academy, welcomed the news. "Roberto has spent his entire career on one stubborn argument: that songwriters and composers deserve actual, spendable money, not just polite applause," Gray said. "His work has turned the Academy into one of the most influential organisations for songwriters and composers worldwide."

UK Music CEO Tom Kiehl added that Neri’s experience as a commercial executive and his role in the Academy’s campaigning work will give the sector a powerful voice in the Lords. "His strong commercial acumen and experience of the creative process will be a huge asset," Kiehl said.

Neri’s background includes serving as chief executive of Believe’s publishing arm, chief executive and chief operating officer at Utopia Music Services, EVP and head of business development at Downtown Music, founder and CEO of Eagle‑i Music, and vice‑president of international at Bug Music. He began his career as a publisher relations manager at PRS for Music and has sat on several industry boards, including the Music Publishers Association and the PRS for Music, MCPS and PPL/PRS boards.

The House of Lords appoints life peers on the advice of the Prime Minister. Candidates are vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, which requires consent that the individual will remain a UK tax resident. The Lords act as a revising chamber, scrutinising legislation and providing expertise on a wide range of policy areas.

Neri’s peerage follows other Labour nominees announced by the outgoing PM, including London mayor Sadiq Khan and broadcaster June Sarpong. Former Roundhouse CEO Marcus Davey CBE was also named.

Industry observers note that Neri’s presence in the Lords could strengthen advocacy for music‑rights legislation, especially as the sector grapples with new technologies such as AI‑generated music and evolving royalty‑collection models. The Ivors Academy has already been active in lobbying on AI licensing, meeting with MPs and peers to discuss policy.

The appointment is expected to give songwriters and composers a direct line to the legislative process. While the House of Lords cannot block bills, it can delay them and influence amendments. Neri’s experience in both the creative and commercial sides of the industry positions him to bridge the gap between artists and policymakers.

As the UK’s creative industries seek greater support, Neri’s role in the Lords may help shape future policy on music‑rights protection, royalty collection, and the integration of emerging technologies.

The Ivors Academy will continue to expand its membership and support programmes, while Neri will now bring the Academy’s perspective to parliamentary debates and committees.

The peerage is confirmed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission and will take effect once the formal letters patent are issued. Neri will sit as a Labour life peer and is expected to attend sessions in the Palace of Westminster.