The MOBO Awards returns to its London home in a show stopping spectacular set to be bigger and bolder than ever before. 

Tickets go on sale today!

Embargoed until: TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER, 2019 –9.30am

MOBO is back with a new awards show for a new decade. The biggest global celebration of black music and culture will take place on 12 November 2020 at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London’s borough of Brent. Tickets for what promises to be the most memorable show in history go on sale today.

The eagerly awaited ceremony will feature the world’s best known artists being celebrated as only MOBO can. It will include some of the world’s hottest new acts and stage the unforgettable history-making performances that we have come to know and love from the brand.

Arena ticket holders and VIP guests for the event, which over the years has seen memorable performances from British stars Sade, Amy Winehouse and Stormzy as well as international artists P. Diddy, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, are set to be treated to some special homages and will also see MOBO associated talent curate elements of the show.

This is an exciting new era for the iconic awards show, which has established itself as a commanding staple within the music industry over the past two decades, remaining the premier platform for championing the very best in black music and black culture globally. 

Led by dynamic and inspirational founder and CEO Kanya King CBE, MOBO is returning for what is an exciting new era in its evolution.

And what better place to kick off this new chapter than Brent, London's 2020 Borough of Culture which today unveils its programme of exciting events for the next 12 months. It is also where Kanya grew up and developed the ground-breaking platform over two decades ago.

Kanya said: “We felt empowered to bring MOBO back to Brent to coincide with the borough’s Year of Culture because this is where our fight to challenge the status quo to create a level playing field started. We are returning with even more determination and energy to support and boost our culture wherever we can. 2020 will see many positive changes that will impact more and more talented young people – very proud to be back and to help ensure that the younger generation will also dare to dream.”

MOBO as a brand has always been driven by cause, culture, creativity and community with a strong purpose to showcase diversity and inclusion by giving a platform and voice to the under-estimated and under-represented. MOBO will continue to emerge as a global leader in black culture, music culture and the youth culture space across events, broadcast, social, online, digital and commerce, which will include partnerships with globally recognised brands - to be revealed in January - to deliver world class experiences, compelling content and stellar cultural leadership. 

As well as the awards, a few other exciting  initiatives to look forward to from the renewed MOBO brand throughout 2020 include:

 MOBO Help Musicians UK

 A co-operation between MOBO Trust, the charitable arm of MOBO, and Help Musicians UK now in its 3^rd year of funding to continue and build upon the support of diverse musical styles and artists from primarily underrepresented backgrounds.

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT:  An invite only high-level two-day event that will bring together key leaders from sectors right across society  to create a world class environment where participants can be connected, champion each other and promote leadership and skill development.

MOBO’s UnSung TALENT COMPETITION: A talent development programme supported by PRS Foundation with the last round supported by Craig David, Carla-Marie Williams, Lurine Cato and Tileyard Music.

MOBO Impact

No one can deny the impact that MOBO has had on shaping the landscape and breaking down barriers for black music and culture to thrive in Britain in the prominent way it does today. Since 1996, it has provided a unique showcase and a much-needed spotlight for black artists from across the world to shine, when no one else was doing it. For MOBO, black music and culture aren’t just a trend. It’s for life.  Before the British mainstream was widely celebrating new iconic artists such as Mary J Blige, Jay-Z, Beyoncé - as part of Destiny’s Child – Rihanna and Cardi B, MOBO was giving them the stage to share their amazing talents with Britain and beyond. 

MOBO was also leading the way as a thorough and mainstay champion of British musical talent in particular and since day one has given unparalleled recognition to key music scenes and genres such as RnB, Soul, Jungle, UK Garage, UK Hip Hop, Gospel, Reggae/Ragga, Grime and Afrobeat. 

It is also without a doubt the place where artists came to make the statement ‘We are here!’ when they hit the stage and where moments are made and secured in music history. Who could forget UK garage pioneers So Solid Crew’s 2001 show-opening performance of their number one hit 21 Seconds, which saw the collective’s 30-strong members individually entering the stage to each deliver their verse with the last two, Harvey and Romeo, descending from the sky literally attached to a harness. Or Kano performing his breakout hit Typical Me in front of an innovative backdrop of the outside of a nightclub with young party goers trying to get in, for which he later received a shout out from hip hop legend and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D. And pop princess Jamelia showed us what she was worth via her expensive performance of her top 5 hit Money, which saw her and the song’s guest artist Beanie Man team up for a musical extravaganza of an onstage collaboration not likely to be seen anywhere else.

Sade, Jamiroquai, Amy Winehouse, Craig David, Lethal B, Ms Dynamite, Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, Lemar, Corine Bailey-Rae, Estelle, Mis-Teeq, Krept and Konan, Jessie J, Emeli Sandé, Rita Ora, Sam Smith and Stormzy are just some of the additional British talent who have been notably supported, championed and been given a platform by MOBO over the years.

CONTINUING TO BUILD THE LEGACY

Today MOBO remains a 21st century media, entertainment and culture company whose mission is to bring people together through the power of black culture.

MOBO believes black Culture is FOR ALL OF US, be it creators, originators, consumers and imitators. From those who make it, to those who are moved by it. 

2020 is set to be an incredible next chapter for MOBO with lots of wonderful surprises and ground-breaking moments, which is well in line with what this trailblazing organisation has built its name upon. Join us for the ride.

MOBO AWARDS TICKETS

To be there – THe SSE Arena, Wembley – in person when it matters – 12^th November 2020 – arena tickets, ranging from £25 to £49 (plus booking fees) can now be purchased via www.mobo.com/tickets      

For VIP packages, contact [email protected]

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 Notes to Editors

MOBO Organisation and the MOBO Awards were established in 1996 by Kanya King CBE to motivate, elevate and celebrate the outstanding achievements of artists in under-served musical genres of black origin. Now in its 23rd year, it remains a pioneer in its field and is not just an event, but a movement. 

Over the years, MOBO has become so much more than just an awards ceremony, it is now an iconic, year-round, agenda-setting global brand that successfully champions diversity and inclusion in music and broader cultural arenas. It strives to support emerging and independent talent and has provided an early platform for many of the nation’s most-loved artists, from Craig David to Amy Winehouse, Emeli Sandé and Stormzy to name just a few, thus contributing significantly to the UK's economy. (According to UK Music, the music industry added £4.4 billion to the economy in 2016). 

MOBO pursues a drive to deliver social and cultural change as embedded in the organisation’s DNA. In 2016, the charitable foundation MOBO Trust was established to support young people in realising their potential in a wide range of disciplines within the creative sector.

In recent years, the MOBO Awards has grown to include broader cultural arenas and has honoured achievements of trailblazers in the creative sectors not just in music with MOBO Paving The Way Awards presented to Wiley (2015), Sir Lenny Henry (2015), Nicola Adams (2016), Ms Dynamite(2016) and Idris Elba (2017) for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields serving as role models for future generations.

At a time when the creative industries, now worth £92 billion, are growing at twice the rate of the wider economy, it is critical that creative and executive talent can be developed and flourish. 

Other initiatives within the MOBO brand include an entrepreneur support programme and MOBO Movies, which supports independent and major film releases that tell stories from all cultures, as well as champions diversity both in front and behind the camera.

Website: www.mobo.com  

Twitter: @MOBOAwards

Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/MOBOofficial/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mobotvofficial

Instagram: @moboawards

Press Contact

Eva Simpson: [email protected]