Winehouse, Phil Collins win British songwriting awards

Soul singer Amy Winehouse has won an Ivor Novello award, the top British award for songwriting, for the second year in a row.

Her father, Mitch Winehouse, mounted the stage Thursday in London to collect the award after she arrived too late.

"She's sorry she can't be here but she sends her love," her father said after accepting the award.

Winehouse won the Novello award for best song musically and lyrically for Love Is a Losing Game, from her Back to Black album. Rehab won the same award last year.

Other winners were boy band Take That, whose Shine was named most-performed song, and Radiohead, which won the best album honours for In Rainbows.

Phil Collins, lead singer and drummer of Genesis and writer of songs such as Against all Odds and One More Night, was honoured with an international achievement award.

In a self-deprecating speech, he thanked the gorilla whose appearance as a drummer in a Cadbury's Dairy Milk ad helped send In the Air Tonight to No. 1 for a third time.

Collins, who is a Grammy and Academy Award winner for You'll be In My Heart, said he continues to write songs.

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour also claimed a lifetime achievement award.

Mika, the Lebanese-born Londoner who became a pop sensation last year with Grace Kelly, was named songwriter of the year.

Other winners of Ivor Novello awards:

• Best contemporary song: People help the People, Cherry Ghost.
• Best television soundtrack: Oliver Twist.
• Best original film score: Atonement.
• Best selling British song: Beautiful Liar.
• Outstanding song collection: Gabrielle.
• Classical music award: Jonathan Dove.
• Inspiration award: Jazzie B.