Winehouse, Madonna win U.K. songwriting prizes

British singer Amy Winehouse, pop star Madonna and rock group the Arctic Monkeys are among the winners at the Ivor Novello Awards, Britain's awards for songwriting.

The prestigious awards from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters are named after the early 20th-century musician and songwriter Ivor Novello, who composed hits such as Keep The Home Fires Burning and We'll Gather Lilacs.

They were awarded Thursday in London.

Winehouse, 23, won the award for best contemporary song for Rehab, an autobiographical single.

"Thank you all very much. I didn't even have time to get drunk I've only been here about 15 minutes," said Winehouse, who is known for her high-voltage lifestyle.

Madonna and Stuart Price won the international hit prize for Sorry and the Arctic Monkeys took the best album award for Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.

Elton Johnwon the most performed work award with Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears for the hit I Don't Feel Like Dancin'.

John co-wrote the song with Shears, while the Scissor Sisters have made it a hit.

"This is really special. I want to give a big shout out and thank you to Elton," Shears said after accepting the award.

"About 18 months ago, I was so depressed and Elton was doing nothing short of tap dancing and pulling my eyeballs out to make me feel better. Elton came into the studio and we wrote the song."

Yusuf Islam, formerly known as the folk singer/songwriter Cat Stevens,received the Ivor award for outstanding song collection, while the classical music award was presented to John Rutter.

Peter Gabriel was given a lifetime achievement award and American composer and producer Quincy Jones was honoured with a special international award.

John Powell's score for Ice Age: The Meltdown was chosen as best film score and The Feeling were named best songwriters.

A song performed by Leona Lewis, a winner of TV talent competition X Factor, was named best-selling U.K. single. A Moment Like This was written by John Reid and Jorgen Eloffson.