| The MOBO Awards | |
|---|---|
| Current:MOBO Awards 2025 | |
 | |
| Awarded for | Excellence inmusic of black origin |
| Location | Various (in 2025, Newcastle) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Presented by | MOBO Organisation |
| First award | 1996; 29 years ago (1996) |
| Website | www |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | |
TheMOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin, also known as theMOBOs) are an annual Britishmusic award presentation honouring achievements in "music of black origin", includinghip hop,grime,UK Drill,R&B,soul,reggae,jazz,gospel, andBantu music.
The MOBO Awards were founded byKanya King and Andy Ruffell. The first ever award was presented toBaby D, in the Best Dance Act category.[1] The inaugural awards were broadcast byCarlton Television from London'sConnaught Rooms.
In 2009, the ceremony was held for the first time inGlasgow. Prior to that, it had been held in London. In 2011, the ceremony returned for a second time to Scotland. The awards then moved toLeeds for the first time in 2015 and returned there in 2017 before going on hiatus the following year. In 2020 it was confirmed it would be returning later that year, however for the first time ever it would be live streamed onYouTube. For the first time,Sheffield hosted in 2024 withNewcastle announced as the 2025 host city.
Across its history, the MOBOs have been broadcast onChannel 4,BBC Television,ITV2,Channel 5 andBET before returning to the BBC in 2020.
The ceremony was first broadcast regionally onCarlton Television from 1996 to 1997, before airing nationwide onChannel 4 from 1998 until 2003. From 2004 to 2013, they were aired by theBBC; beginning in 2006, the show aired live onBBC Three, and highlights aired onBBC One.
In 2014, the BBC dropped the MOBO Awards, and the ceremony moved to ITV under a three-year deal, airing onITV2 with same-night highlights onITV.[2]
In 2017, the ceremony moved toChannel 5 andBET.[3]
In 2018, the MOBO Organisation announced that the ceremony would take a one-year hiatus in order to plan a "bigger, revamped show" in 2019. However, the show did not materialise, with organisers now planning to hold the ceremony in 2020 instead; Kanya King stated that there would be "positive changes" to the show, and that they would be "returning with even more determination and energy to support and boost our culture wherever we can."[4][5]
In the course of its history, the MOBO Awards show has witnessed performances from UK and international talent. Over the years, artists have includedJanet Jackson,E-17,Destiny's Child,Dionne Warwick,Lisa Maffia,Justin Timberlake,Kanye West,Tina Turner,Rosie Gaines,Dizzee Rascal,Jay-Z,LL Cool J,Amy Winehouse,Stefflon Don,Coolio,Usher,John Legend,Jason Derulo, andJessie J.[citation needed]
In 2000,Sade came out of retirement to perform at the Awards, her first performance in almost a decade.[citation needed]
Kanya King launched the MOBO awards in 1996 with business partner Andy Ruffell, aiming to establish a platform for music that, according to King, encompasses urban, hip hop, R&B and reggae.[citation needed]
The 1997 award ceremony was held at London'sNew Connaught Rooms on 10 November. The gala included performances byMary J. Blige andEternal.
The Malibu MOBO Awards show was held atThe Royal Albert Hall and hosted byMel B andBill Bellamy. It was broadcast nationally byChannel 4. Performers and presenters included footballerSol Campbell, girl bandAll Saints, DJTrevor Nelson, boxersLennox Lewis andChris Eubank,Puff Daddy,Chaka Khan,Goldie,Another Level, andMartine McCutcheon. Contribution to Black Music went to Carl McIntosh andB. B. King won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 1999 Malibu MOBO Awards award ceremony was held atThe Royal Albert Hall, sponsored byMalibu and hosted byMel B andWyclef Jean. International Hip-Hop Act Award went toJay-Z, Best Album was awarded toBeverley Knight, International Act toLauryn Hill and Lifetime Achievement Award toTina Turner. Performers and presenters includedDes'ree,Dru Hill,Method Man & Redman,Tim Westwood,Lionel Richie,Lulu,Victoria Beckham,Chris Eubank,Another Level,Ladysmith Black Mambazo,Destiny's Child, and girl bandEternal.
The MOBO Awards 2000 ceremony took place atAlexandra Palace, hosted byTrevor Nelson andLisa Left Eye Lopes and sponsored byMastercard. There show opened with a performance ofMoney byJamelia featuringBeenie Man.Craig David performed an acoustic medley ofFill Me In,7 Days andNice & Slow byUsher,Sade exclusively performedBy Your Side,Gabrielle performedRise,MJ Cole performedCrazy Love featuringElizabeth Troy,Donell Jones performedU Know What's Up featuring ceremony host, Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. The show closed with a performance ofWho Let The Dogs Out byBaha Men.
In addition to their performances, Craig David, Jamelia, Beenie Man, MJ Cole and Gabrielle also won awards. With Craig David receiving three awards in total.
Award presenters included MOBO Award founder,Kanya King,Honeyz,Melanie Sykes amongst others.
In 2003, the MOBO awards show moved toThe Royal Albert Hall and was hosted byBlu Cantrell andLil' Kim, with performances fromDMX,Lumidee, Wayne Wonder, George Benson,Lemar,Seal,Mis-Teeq andRedman, J'NayJohn Adeleye,Big Brovaz,Black Eyed Peas and Kool and the Gang. Among the winners of the night were:50 Cent,Justin Timberlake, Big Brovaz andLisa Maffia, who was the only UK female artist to win an award.
The ninth awards ceremony took place on 30 September 2004 atThe Royal Albert Hall and was broadcast byBBC Television.Janet Jackson received the icon award.So Solid Crew won the award in theUK garage Act category award beatingDizzee Rascal andThe Streets. Controversy surrounded the removal ofreggae artistsVybz Kartel andElephant Man from the "Best Reggae Act" category at the 2004 awards due to theirhomophobia and incitement to murder.[13]
The 2005 awards show saw one of the biggest line-ups in MOBO award history, including John Legend, Ms Dynamite, Lemar, Kano, Damien Marley, Public Enemy andLauryn Hill. The event was hosted byGina Yashere andAkon atThe Royal Albert Hall, with guest presenters Chris Eubank,Lisa Maffia, Josie Darby, Simon Webbe, Myleene Klass,Estelle, Tim Westwood, Kwame Kwei-Armah and Chuck D. Big winners on the night included Corrine Bailey-Rae,Lemar,Black Eyed Peas,Rihanna,Sean Paul andBeyoncé.
In 2006 the awards ceremony was hosted byCoolio and Gina Yashere atThe Royal Albert Hall. For the first time the World Music and Jazz categories were suspended.Corinne Bailey Rae won the prize for Best UK Newcomer andJai Amore won Best Unsigned Act. British rapperAkala won Best Hip Hop Act, beating stiff competition from American acts such asKanye West,50 Cent, andThe Game.
The 2007 awards ceremony was broadcast live onBBC Three from theO2 Arena in London and hosted byShaggy andJamelia. The jazz category returned. Shaggy opened the evening with a medley.T-Pain performed on stage withYung Joc,Craig David andKano collaborated on stage;Ne-Yo,Mutya Buena andRobin Thicke also performed.Amy Winehouse performed two songs and accepted the award for Best UK Female.N-Dubz won Best Newcomer. England cricketerMonty Panesar and England footballerMicah Richards were among a line up of guests presenting individual awards which also includedSinitta andQuentin Tarantino.
The 2009 awards event took place on 30 September at theSEC Centre inGlasgow, the first time the MOBO awards show took place outside London. A tribute performance was dedicated toMichael Jackson, and the Young Soul Rebels performed their charity single "I Got Soul".Reggie Yates andKeri Hilson hosted the awards show, withPeter Andre presenting backstage.
The awards ceremony took place on 20 October 2010 inLiverpool.[15]
The awards show returned to Glasgow's SEC Centre on 5 October 2011, hosted byJason Derülo andAlesha Dixon.Jessie J won four awards, making her the biggest winner of the night.Boyz II Men received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Other winners includedRihanna,Tinie Tempah,Adele andAlborosie.Amy Winehouse was given an award and a special tribute, following her death in July 2011.
The 17th Awards show took place on 3 November 2012 at the Liverpool Arena. Presented byMiquita Oliver andAdam Deacon – with backstage support from Rickie and Melvin – the night sawTrey Songz,Conor Maynard, Emeli Sandé,Misha B,JLS,Stooshe,Labrinth,Angel andWiley perform.
Emeli Sandé won awards for Best Female, Best Album and Best R&B/Soul whilePlan B took Best Male Act and Best Hip Hop/Grime.TLC were awarded Outstanding Contribution to Music, withDionne Warwick receiving the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award. The full list of winners where:
The 18th Awards show took place on 19 October 2013 and was held at theSSE Hydro in Glasgow. It was hosted byTrevor Nelson andSarah-Jane Crawford. Performances includedTinie Tempah,Iggy Azalea,Naughty Boy,Rudimental andJahméne Douglas.[citation needed]
The 19th Awards show took place on 22 October 2014 and was held atThe SSE Arena inLondon. It was hosted byMel B andSarah-Jane Crawford. It was broadcast live onITV2 for the first time.
The 20th Awards show took place on 4 November 2015 and was held at theFirst Direct Arena inLeeds.[16] The show was broadcast live on ITV2 and hosted bySarah-Jane Crawford.
The 21st Awards show took place on 4 November 2016 and was held at theSSE Hydro inGlasgow. The show was broadcast live on ITV2 and hosted byRickie Haywood Williams andMelvin Odoom.
Tinie Tempah was due to perform, but pulled out hours before the show. He was replaced by Professor Green.
An error saw the wrong act given the award for Best Song. "Of the many worthy winners of best song, we deeply regret a mistake was made," said Mobo organisers, in a statement blaming a "production error".
The MOBO Awards 2017 took place at Leeds First Direct Arena on 29 November. Stormzy won three awards while Stefflon Don's award made her the only female winner on the night.[17]
MOBO UnSung is a biennial talent competition for unsigned acts, showcasing the next generation of urban artists.[18] The ten finalists (unusually increased to eleven in 2018 due to the high numbers of entrants), are narrowed down to a top three, which the winner is then picked from.[19]
Since its return in 2022, there is no overall competition winner; instead, the ten finalists each receive prizes and enter into a nine month-long artist development programme that includes studio time, live performance opportunities, mentoring, business and legal training, marketing and promotion, grants, and networking with key players in the music industry.
The MOBOs have faced criticism for having become increasingly oriented towards "commercial" urban music, and having given nominations and awards to musicians who are not black.[38][39] In 2003, a boycott effort emerged after the American pop musiciansJustin Timberlake andChristina Aguilera won the awards for Best R&B Act and Best Video respectively.The Independent described the wins as being the result of the "whiteappropriation of black music".[38] A MOBO spokesperson defended their presence, stating that the awards were designed to honour achievements in music of black origin, regardless of the ethnicity of their performers, and cited the increasing worldwide growth of urban music at the time.[38]
In 2006, DJ and music journalist Bigger wrote that the presentation had been "veering away from its concept of rewarding music of black origin" as early as its third edition, noting its increasing dominance by American acts at the expense of domestic acts. He argued that the show had become "little more than a pat on the back and a jolly boys' outing for major labels and American acts."[40]
In 2011, Lanre Bakare wrote inThe Guardian that the show was being affected by the music industry's dilution of the distinctive black music scene, promoting it to mainstream audiences aspopular music (including "manufactured", U.S.-style hip-hop and R&B). In the column, it was noted thatLabrinth had criticized the nominations ofConor Maynard andEd Sheeran for awards, while Charlie Dark ofAttica Blues argued that the MOBOs needed to promote innovation in black music, and "shouldn't be an annual event where everyone pats themselves on the back for very small advances that they've made, when they are powerful enough to bring real change. If they don't adapt, artists who aren't interested in commercial pop and being put in musical boxes will just do their own thing."[39]
In 2020, English rock duoNova Twins wrote an open letter onTwitter addressed to the MOBOs concerning the lack of a Rock/Alternative category, despite the fact that many POC have contributed to the evolution of rock music, and still are to this day, and hoping "that a Rock/Alternative category will be added to the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards in 2021, recognising the POC contributors to the genre".[41] The MOBOS later replied on Twitter that "the MOBO Awards Judging Panel have actually discussed this and ... will continue to review potential category expansions for future Award ceremonies."[42]
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