Jamal Edwards

Jamal Brendan Edwards MBE was a pioneering British music entrepreneur and founder of SBTV Global Ltd. Born on 24 August 1990 and tragically passing away on 20 February 2022, he was a transformative figure in the UK music industry.12

Key Achievements and Background::

• Founded SBTV (SmokeyBarz TV) at age 15 in 2006, initially filming rap freestyles on a handycam and uploading them to YouTube123
• Helped launch the careers of numerous artists including Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Stormzy, and Emeli Sandé2
• Grew SBTV to over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers and nearly a billion total views3
• Was a key promoter of the emerging grime music scene in the UK3

Professional Recognitions::

• Awarded an MBE in 2015 for services to music2
• Named in TIME magazine's "Next Generation Leaders"2
• Listed in Debrett's 500 most influential people in Britain2
• Recognized by GQ as one of the 100 Most Connected Men in 20162

Additional Roles and Contributions::

• Ambassador for the Prince's Trust
• Entrepreneur who co-founded a health bar chain called UGOT
• Philanthropist focused on youth empowerment2

Edwards was widely respected as a digital media innovator who transformed how emerging artists were discovered and promoted in the digital age.