2025 MOBO Awards: Nominations announced for Newcastle ceremony

04 December 2024 - Press release

THE UK’S BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF BLACK MUSIC & CULTURE

2025 MOBO AWARDS: NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR NEWCASTLE CEREMONY

18 FEBRUARY 2025

LIVE FROM UTILITA ARENA NEWCASTLE

VISIT MOBO.COM/TICKETS FOR TICKETS

 

JORJA SMITH, SAMPHA, BASHY, GHETTS, CLEO SOL, CENTRAL CEE AND ODEAL SHINE WITH THREE NOMINATIONS EACH

BASHY MAKES A TRIUMPHANT RETURN WITH ALBUM OF THE YEAR NOMINATION AFTER 15-YEAR HIATUS

BRITISH R&B SCENE TAKES CENTRE STAGE WITH STELLAR NOMINATIONS AT 2025 MOBO AWARDS

NETFLIX’S SUPACELL AND BBC’S EASTENDERS STARS SHINE WITH MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS ACROSS TV AND FILM CATEGORY 

 

The MOBO Awards, the UK’s premier celebration of Black music and culture, proudly announce the nominees across 20 categories for their 2025 edition. For the first time, the iconic ceremony will take place in Newcastle at the Utilita Arena on Tuesday 18 February. Tickets are on sale now.

For nearly three decades, MOBO has celebrated established stars and some of the fastest-rising talent in music and the 2025 edition once again shows that breadth. 

The British R&B scene shines brightly this year, with triple MOBO nominees Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol leading the charge. This year, got2b is the official sponsor of the hotly contested Best Female Act category, as well as the MOBO Awards’ Official Hair Styling Partner, and both stars are nominated in the category, and for Album of The Year and Best R&B/Soul Act supported by Kiss FM. 

Sampha topped the UK R&B charts with his second album, Lahai, and is nominated by MOBO for Best Male Act and Album of The Year and his music video ‘Only’, directed by Dexter Navy, has been shortlisted for Video of the Year in Association with LNER - MOBO is proud to announce that LNER (London North Eastern Railway) is the Official Travel Partner for the awards.

Also nominated for three awards each are Central Cee, Bashy, Ghetts and Odeal. Central Cee now attracts more than 25 million monthly streams, and 2024 saw the release of singles including ‘BAND4BAND’ featuring Lil Baby, which receives a Song of the Year. A debut studio album, Can’t Rush Greatness, is due in 2025. Having won Best Male Act for the last two years, he is nominated once again, as well as being up for Best Drill Act. 

While rooted in music, the MOBO Awards also spotlight cultural contributions. This year, Netflix’s hit series Supacell sees Best Performance In a TV Show/Film nominations for Ghetts for his role as Krazy, as well as for Josh Tedeku, who plays Tazer, and Tosin Cole as Michael. EastEnders picks up nominations in the same category for Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman and Diane Parish as Denise Fox. These nominations showcase the breadth of diverse talent across TV and film, highlighting the richness of creative storytelling and the depth and diversity of talent shaping today’s TV and film industry. 

Having built a successful acting career, including his role as Jermaine Newton in Top Boy, Ashley Thomas, aka Bashy, returned to music with his first studio album in 15 years. The record, Being Poor Is Expensive, is an intimate look back at his childhood and earns him nominations for Best Male Act, Best Hip Hop Act and Album of The Year. 

After a stunning year in her career, RAYE is nominated twice and has a chance of a second win in a row in Best Female Act in association with got2b.

At the heart of MOBO’s mission is championing emerging talent. This year, MOBO UnSung alumni Jordan Adetunji, who has had a big year with his track ‘KEHLANI’ clocking up more than 275 million streams after going viral on TikTok, picks up two nominations for Best Newcomer and Song of The Year. MOBO UnSung Top 20 finalist, Native James, is shortlisted for Best Alternative Music Act in association with Marshall, reflecting the UnSung programme’s enduring impact on the industry. 

The MOBO Awards celebrate the most exciting artists in the world today in categories including Best Caribbean Music, as well as Best Jazz Act and Best Gospel Act supported by Premier Gospel. 

Both Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, are among the nominees for Best International Act but the year has been notable for the rise of a number of female African stars, with Ayra Starr, Tems and Tyla all nominated in both Best African Music Act in Association with Loco Music and the Best International Act category.

Marshall, the premier amplifier company, returns for a third year to sponsor Best Alternative Act. Loco Music, a Cape Verdean music company, is once again sponsoring the Best African Music Act category. This year, got2b is the Official Hair Styling Partner and also the sponsor of the hotly contested Best Female Act category.

MOBO Founder Kanya King CBE said: “Each and every time we unveil the MOBO Awards nominations, I am taken aback by the sheer amount of incredible talent we have in the UK. It inspires us all to continue pushing the industry to be more inclusive of a greater variety of Black music and culture. The music coming out of the UK this past year has been some of the best we have had in years. These distinct, uncompromising voices – across different genres from R&B and Soul to Grime, Hip-Hop to Jazz and Alternative – are not just soundtracks for our days. They provide healing and reflection, and also escapism in times of need. For several years now we have also seen the growth of our MOBO UnSung talent programme, as it continues to be a beacon for spotlighting and empowering emerging artists. Some of the artists tipped by UnSung have gone on to achieve great things and we're so proud to be following their journey, and celebrating their success. A huge congratulations to all our nominees across music, film and television, and entertainment. We look forward to welcoming you in Newcastle!" 

Since its inaugural ceremony in 1996 at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms, MOBO Awards has become a calendar staple in the UK and its iconic trophy is now one of the highest accolades in music. The Awards have honoured music stars such as Central Cee, Stormzy, Janet Jackson, Little Simz, Davido, Rihanna, RAYE, Wizkid, Beyoncé and Jay Z, while also helping to elevate the careers of rising stars in the industry.

The impact of the MOBO Group extends far beyond the annual awards show. MOBO is deeply committed to promoting social change and inclusion, supporting the development of young talent, and advocating for diversity across the entertainment industry and beyond. Through mentorship programmes, partnerships with educational and charitable organisations, and career development opportunities with leading organisations, MOBO has been a driving force for positive change.

By championing creativity, providing platforms for new voices, and advocating for equality, the MOBO Awards and the wider MOBO Group continue to inspire and empower talents and communities across the UK and beyond.

 

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2025 MOBO Awards Nominations List

BEST MALE ACT

BASHY

CENTRAL CEE

D-BLOCK EUROPE

GHETTS

NEMZZZ

SAMPHA

 

BEST FEMALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH got2b 

CLEO SOL

DARKOO

JORJA SMITH

LITTLE SIMZ

NIA ARCHIVES

RAYE

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BASHY - BEING POOR IS EXPENSIVE

CLEO SOL - GOLD 

GHETTS - ON PURPOSE, WITH PURPOSE

JORJA SMITH - FALLING OR FLYING

SAMPHA - LAHAI

SKRAPZ - REFLECTION

 

SONG OF THE YEAR

CENTRAL CEE FEAT. LIL BABY - ‘BAND4BAND’

CHASE & STATUS, STORMZY - ‘BACKBONE’

DARKOO FEAT. DESS DIOR - ‘FAVOURITE GIRL’

JORDAN ADETUNJI - ‘KEHLANI’

LEOSTAYTRILL - ‘PINK LEMONADE’

ODEAL - ‘SOH-SOH’

 

BEST NEWCOMER

CHY CARTIER

ELMIENE

FIMIGUERRERO

FLOWEROVLOVE

JORDAN ADETUNJI

LEN 

LEOSTAYTRILL

MYLES SMITH

ODEAL

POZER

 

VIDEO OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH LNER

MEEKZ - ‘MINI ME'S’ (DIRECTED BY KC LOCKE)

MNELIA -  ‘MY MAN’ (DIRECTED BY FEMI BELLO)

RAYE - ‘GENESIS’ (DIRECTED BY OTIS DOMINIQUE & RAYE)

SAMPHA - ‘ONLY’ (DIRECTED BY DEXTER NAVY)

SKEPTA - ‘GAS ME UP (DILIGENT)’ (DIRECTED BY STEVEO) 

UNKNOWN T FEAT. LOYLE CARNER - ‘HOCUS POCUS’ (DIRECTED BY FELIX BRADY)

 

BEST R&B/SOUL ACT SUPPORTED BY KISS FM

CLEO SOL

ELMIENE

FLO

JAZ KARIS

JORJA SMITH

NIPPA

ODEAL

SASHA KEABLE

SHAE UNIVERSE

SINEAD HARNETT

 

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARSHALL

ALT BLK ERA

BOB VYLAN

HAK BAKER

KID BOOKIE

NATIVE JAMES

SPIDER

 

BEST GRIME ACT SUPPORTED BY TRENCH

CHIP

D DOUBLE E

DUPPY

KRUZ LEONE

MANGA SAINT HILARE

SCORCHER

 

BEST HIP HOP ACT SUPPORTED BY BBC RADIO 1XTRA

BASHY

CRISTALE

HEADIE ONE

NINES

POTTER PAYPER

SKRAPZ

 

BEST DRILL ACT

163MARGS

CENTRAL CEE

HEADIE ONE

KAIRO KEYZ

K-TRAP

POZER

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

ASAKE

AYRA STARR

BEYONCE

GLORILLA

KENDRICK LAMAR

LATTO

MEGAN THEE STALLION

NICKI MINAJ

TEMS 

TYLA

 

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM 

ANGELA WYNTER AS YOLANDE TRUEMAN IN EASTENDERS

CAROLINE CHIKEZIE AS NOMA IN POWER BOOK II: GHOST

DIANE PARISH AS DENISE FOX IN EASTENDERS

DIONNE BROWN AS QUEENIE IN QUEENIE

GHETTS AS KRAZY IN SUPACELL 

JACOB ANDERSON AS LOUIS IN INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

JASMINE JOBSON AS JAQ IN TOP BOY

JOSH TEDEKU AS TAZER IN SUPACELL

KINGSLEY BEN-ADIR AS BOB MARLEY IN BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE

TOSIN COLE AS MICHAEL IN SUPACELL

 

BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY

90'S BABY SHOW

AJ ODUDU

CHUCKIE ONLINE

CRAIG MITCH

HENRIE KWUSHUE

MADAME JOYCE

MICAH RICHARDS

SPECS GONZALEZ

THE RECEIPTS PODCAST

ZEZE MILLZ

 

BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH LOCO MUSIC

ASAKE (NIGERIA)

AYRA STARR (NIGERIA)

BNXN & RUGER (NIGERIA)

KING PROMISE (GHANA)

ODUMODUBLVCK (NIGERIA)

REMA (NIGERIA)

SHALLIPOPI (NIGERIA)

TEMS (NIGERIA)

TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)

UNCLE WAFFLES (SOUTH AFRICA)

 

BEST CARIBBEAN MUSIC ACT

POPCAAN

SHENSEEA

SKILLIBENG

SPICE

VALIANT

YG MARLEY

 

BEST JAZZ ACT

AMY GADIAGA

BLUE LAB BEATS

EGO ELLA MAY

EZRA COLLECTIVE

KOKOROKO

YUSSEF DAYES

 

BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT SUPPORTED BY MIXMAG

ELIZA ROSE

NIA ARCHIVES

PINKPANTHERESS

SALUTE

SHYGIRL

TSHA

 

BEST PRODUCER

CEEBEAATS

INFLO

JULS

M1ONTHEBEAT

P2J 

SAMMY SOSO

 

BEST GOSPEL ACT SUPPORTED BY PREMIER GOSPEL

ANNATORIA

IMRHAN

LIMOBLAZE

REBLAH

STILL SHADEY

VOLNEY MORGAN & NEW YE