About us

Launched in 1996, by founder and CEO Kanya King MBE, the MOBO Awards were the first Awards show in Europe to celebrate urban music. In our 16 year history, the MOBO Awards have, undoubtedly, played an instrumental role in elevating black music and culture to mainstream popular status in the UK.

The Awards continue to attract the largest prime time multicultural audience in Europe, due in no small part to the fact that MOBO has played host to the music industry’s finest, witnessing jaw-dropping performances from the cream of both UK and international talent. Over the years artists have included: Janet Jackson, P Diddy, Mark Ronson, JLS, Tinie Tempah, Dionne Warwick,  Tina Turner, Jay- Z, LL Cool J, Amy Winehouse, Usher and John Legend to name but a few.

The home of show-stopping performances, MOBO strives to continually surprise and delight our fan base. For example, in 2005 as MOBO celebrated its 10th Anniversary, opening the show with a performance by former Fugees band member Lauryn Hill and closing with an explosive collaboration by the Marley Brothers in tribute to their father, the late Bob Marley, has people talking to this day!

As well as showcasing a wide array of top international talent, MOBO is proud to have been a catalyst in the careers of numerous UK artists such as Craig David, Ms Dynamite, Estelle, Kano, N-Dubz, Chipmunk – all of whom have gone on to achieve massive success after winning the MOBO Best Newcomer Awards.

Having played at every iconic venue in London, including the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena and being the first multi-artist event at the O2, 2009 saw the MOBO Awards moving from its London birthplace to the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland. This unprecedented move meant that this show was the biggest yet as 14 acts performed to a sold-out arena while almost 5 million people watched the show live across the BBC.

In 2010 the awards made another move, this time to Liverpool Echo Arena to celebrate our 15th anniversary. A powerful line up of some of the hottest names in the urban music scene performed at the 2010 Awards including where the UK's biggest acts including Tinie Tempah, JLS, Tinchy Stryder, Professor Green and Roll Deep as well as U.S stars Nelly and Travie McCoy.

Now in its 16th year, the MOBO Awards has helped champion the extraordinary rise of urban music over the past two decades from niche, to now leading the UK charts. The 2010 awards featured some truly unique performances and collaborations from some of the best talent around and the forthcoming Awards Show at the SECC Glasgow on 5th October 2011 looks set to be an even more awe inspiring event.