Young Music Boss Awards and Black Music Coalition Honour MOBO Founder Kanya King CBE with Inaugural Industry Icon Award

05 June 2025 - Press release

A trailblazer, visionary, and cultural force, King becomes the first recipient of a new award celebrating transformative leadership and legacy in the music industry.


In a powerful celebration of legacy, leadership and cultural impact, the Young Music Boss (YMB) Awards, in partnership with the Black Music Coalition (BMC), is proud to announce Kanya King CBE as the first-ever recipient of the Industry Icon Award--a newly established honour recognising individuals whose work has fundamentally reshaped the music industry and opened the door for generations to follow.

The 2025 YMB Awards will take place on Thursday 12th June at The Oval, where King will be honoured in person for her extraordinary contributions to music, culture, and representation.

Born in 1969 in Kilburn, London, to an Irish mother and Ghanaian father, Kanya King's journey has been defined by determination, resilience, and vision. The youngest of nine children, she faced profound challenges from an early age, including the loss of her father at 13. By 16, she had given birth to her son and left school, but refused to allow circumstance to dictate her future. Instead, she forged a new path--one that would not only elevate her own voice, but amplify countless others.

That path led to the founding of the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards in 1996, which she launched from her bedroom with limited resources but an unshakeable belief in the importance of recognising and celebrating Black talent. Nearly three decades later, MOBO is one of the most respected cultural institutions in the UK, having provided a critical platform for artists such as Stormzy, Dave, Ms. Dynamite, Craig David, Little Simz, and many more.

The Industry Icon Award was created through a bold new partnership between YMB and the Black Music Coalition--uniting two organisations committed to creating a more equitable, inclusive music industry. This award will now stand as a lasting symbol of excellence, honouring those whose vision and leadership have advanced culture, shifted paradigms, and inspired future generations.

Kanya King's contribution is not simply one of success; it is one of seismic impact. She changed the trajectory of British music through the power of belief--challenging the industry to see, hear, and celebrate what it had long overlooked - the impact, contribution, and global popularity of Black music and its artists.

In the words of the organisers:
"Kanya King's work has been nothing short of revolutionary. As the founder of the MOBO Awards, she carved out a space that elevated Black British music and created a platform that has inspired and empowered so many of us--myself included. It's a true honour to recognise her legacy with the first-ever Industry Icon Award."
- Jusnah Gadi, Founder of Young Music Boss & the YMB Awards

"Kanya King is not just an icon--she is a force of nature. A visionary, a trailblazer, and a cultural architect whose courage has redefined what's possible. Her legacy is etched into the fabric of British music--not only in what she has built, but in the countless lives and careers she has uplifted along the way. To honour her with the first ever Industry Icon Award is more than a tribute; it is a declaration that the future of music belongs to those who lead with purpose, power, and heart." The Black Music Coalition Executive Committee

This moment is about more than recognition--it's about impact. In the spirit of Kanya King's own legacy, the YMB Awards and Black Music Coalition will collaborate to extend her influence beyond the stage. Through a series of interviews, media features, and mentorship initiatives--including workshops and conversations with emerging talent--this award will become a springboard for education, inspiration, and change.

As the music industry continues to evolve, the _Industry Icon Award_ signals a new era of honouring leadership that is both visionary and inclusive. Kanya King's story stands as living proof that barriers can be broken--and that those who break them often build bridges behind them.

The 2025 YMB Awards will be a defining moment not just for music, but for culture at large.