Jamal Edwards to be first posthumous recipient of UK music business award

nme.com:

Jamal Edwards is to be honoured with this year’s Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the music industry.Edwards is being celebrated for his music entrepreneurship, founding the multifaceted music platform SB.TV in 2006.

He will be the MITS’ first ever posthumous recipient in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the UK music business.The author, broadcaster and DJ, who died unexpectedly in February, helped launch the careers of Stormzy, Skepta, Dave and Ed Sheeran via his youth broadcasting and production film channel SB.TV.

Edwards launched the channel as a teenager to share clips that he’d recorded of his friends performing on the estate where he lived in Acton, London.The MITS award will be presented to Edwards’ family on November 7 at a gala ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel, held in aid of the BRIT Trust, Nordoff Robbins and The Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust, the charity set up by his family in 2022 to honour his memory and continue his legacy.Jamal’s mother, Brenda, said in a statement: “It is very humbling for the family to be accepting this award on behalf of our beloved Jamal and we are delighted to have the MITS highlight the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust alongside The Brit Trust and Nordoff Robbins.“We know that Jamal will be looking down on us on November 7 – busting with pride that his absolute love of the music industry and giving back to the less fortunate in society has been recognised in this way.

Thank you MITS!”Ed Sheeran said: “Jamal changed my life. He played such a huge part in shaping the trajectory of my career as well, but I would not be where I am now without him.