Young Music Boss Announces 2025 YMBAwards Nominees, Celebrating the Power Behind the Hits 25 Apr 2025
The Young Music Boss Awards (YMBAwards) is delighted to reveal the nominees for its 2025 edition, recognising the vital architects behind the music industry’s biggest success stories. Taking place on Thursday, 12th June 2025 in London, this year’s ceremony will once again shine a light on the managers, publicists, lawyers, stylists, publishers, A&Rs and creatives who continue to shape and elevate the sound and culture of British music.
Now firmly established as a cornerstone event in the industry calendar, the YMBAwards remains the only UK-based awards platform dedicated exclusively to celebrating the professionals working behind the scenes—those championing talent, building global careers, and driving cultural innovation across the board.
The 2025 nominees represent a rich cross-section of the music business, with individuals operating across major record labels and publishers such as Sony Music, Warner Music, Universal Music Publishing, and Platoon, as well as trailblazing independent collectives and consultancies that are making a lasting impact across the UK and beyond.
This year’s cohort includes professionals affiliated with some of the most influential organisations in the business, including Wasserman, CAA, WME, BBC Radio 1Xtra, Kiss FM, Reprezent Radio, and Spotify, in addition to global touring and live entertainment giants such as Live Nation and AEG Presents. Their work spans groundbreaking campaigns and collaborations with top-tier talent such as J Hus, Ezra Collective, Central Cee, Little Simz, Darkoo, Ayra Starr, Nines, Tyla, and Krept & Konan, among many others.
The 2025 YMBAwards is proudly supported by leading industry bodies, including PPL, PRS for Music, the Music Managers Forum (MMF), and the Association of Independent Music (AIM). This year’s event is also presented in partnership with the Black Music Coalition and Small Green Shoots, organisations that are driving equity, access and lasting change within the creative industries.
Spanning categories such as Best Manager, Best Publicist, Best Tour Manager, Best DJ, Best A&R, and Best Radio Producer, as well as group categories including Best Digital Platform, Best Label, and Best Live Music Platform, the YMBAwards continues to reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the people and platforms behind the UK’s thriving music landscape.
“These nominees are the culture-builders, strategists and creatives who sit at the heart of the music ecosystem,” says Jusnah Gadi, founder of Young Music Boss. “They may not always be front and centre, but they are the driving force behind everything we see, hear and feel in music today.”
More than an awards show, the YMBAwards is a bold celebration of the #PowerBehindTheHits, bringing together emerging talent and industry leaders alike for a night of recognition, collaboration, and inspiration.
Join the celebration and follow the conversation via #YMBAwards2025 and #PowerBehindTheHits.
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THE HEADLINES
UK parliamentarians join call to regulate most powerful AI systems (see News)
Martin Mills is trying to thwart a record industry takeover by Universal (see Features)
IMPF says members should reject AI deals that do not value songs properly (see News)
Which songs do we replay the most? (see Analysis)
Spotify Wrapped 2025 goes live (see Digital)
Daddy Yankee files lawsuit against former manager and third parties for alleged royalty scheme (see News)
EU touring: Impact of Brexit worsening, says UK Music report (see Reports)
ORCA released a report analysing the economic investments and social impact of nine leading independent record labels (see Reports)
Jorja Smith’s label requests share of royalties from ‘AI-cloned’ song (see News)
A creative nation is a thriving nation (see Opinion)
Australian report also highlights how other non-US English-speaking countries are hit by algorithms (see Reports)
AI slop: Spotify, Tunecore, and credibility (see Comment)
Warner Music signs deal with Suno, settles lawsuit (see News)
EC sends UMG its statement of objections to Downtown acquisition (see News)