Ed Sheeran competing against himself for prestigious Ivor Novello Awards

Mark SurridgeAnother day, another award nomination for Ed Sheeran. Actually, two nominations.

Ed’s hits “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill” have been nominated in the category of Most Performed Work at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards. That category’s for the hits that were literally played the most on TV, radio and online over the past year. There’s only one other nominee in that category: singer Rag ‘N Bone Man, for his hit song “Human.”

Strangely, neither of Ed’s songs are nominated in the categories of Best Song Musically and Lyrically, or Best Contemporary Song. Ed’s 2012 hit “The A Team” won in the former category six years ago.

In 2015, Ed was named Songwriter of the Year at the Ivors. That same award will be presented this year as well but the artists in the running aren’t announced in advance.

The Ivor Novello Awards, named after a popular Welsh composer, singer and actor who was famous in the first part of the 20th century, honor excellence in British and Irish songwriting and composing, and are judged by songwriters. The awards describe themselves as the “pinnacle of musical achievement and peer recognition.”