The Return of The Young Music Boss Awards

2024 NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED!  

A unique awards programme celebrating the outstanding achievements of the music industry’s U35 executive and entrepreneurial stars with nominees including the executives behind Tyla, Central Cee, Stormzy and more. 

Young Music Boss (YMB) welcomes the new year by announcing the return of the YMB Awards (YMBA). 

Taking place on Thursday 25th April 2024 in London, this remarkable event recognises the future of the music business by celebrating the executive and entrepreneurial talent behind some of the biggest no.1s, campaigns, tours and moments in UK Music.

The YMBA was born from the desire to highlight the achievements of those who are often overlooked and underrepresented in their respective fields. It is fast becoming the most spoken about event in the Music Awards calendar, with its stellar reputation for predicting the executives on the cusp of greatness. 

For instance, 2022 'Best Publisher' winner, Shauni Caballero, who went on to sign Central Cee, made history after ushering him into international success. 

Likewise, our 2023 ‘Best Marketer’ winner Jackie Eyewe led Stormzy’s No.1 Album campaign for ‘This is What I Mean’.

In other words, if there’s a young mover and shaker influencing the UK charts, making bold moves and innovating the industry, you can bet the YMBA highlighted them before anyone else did.

The music industry is constantly evolving, and the YMBA strives to innovate and adapt in accordance with these changes. We do this simply by defying the traditional music award categories; last year the YMBA ceremony welcomed two new categories to highlight areas of the business that generally remain in the shadows:

‘Best Marketer’ and ‘Best Tour Manager’ proudly sponsored by Live Nation.

This year we introduce two more categories, ‘Best Radio Producer’ and ‘Best Collaboration’. 

While the previous year’s individual and group categories will make a return, such as ‘Best Manager, Best Lawyer, Best A&R, Best Label, Best Service Agency and Best Digital Platform’, the Awards this year also feature the headline category: ‘Music Entrepreneur of The Year’.

Supported by AIM (The Association of Independent Music) two years in a row, this winner will be announced pre-show. Other supporters of the event include the MMF (Music Managers Forum), PPL and more.

Last year’s event was hosted by ITV’s Pricilla Anyabu, awards were presented by the likes of Char Grant (Black Music Coalition and Director of A&R 0207 Def Jam), Komali Scott-Jones (Black Music Coalition, Parlophone) ,(Taponeswa Mavunga (Director of Africa Sony Music UK), Charisse Beaumont (CEO Black Lives in Music), Nordia West (VP Marketing Capitol Records), Sharron Harrison-Lewis (MD Sicario Group) and more. This year, expect nothing less! 

The nominees were submitted by organisations and individuals across the industry. Voted to a shortlist by a panel of judges consisting of respected industry professionals, including Shaurav Da’Silva, Janay Marie, Taponeswa Mavunga and Jasmine Dotiwala, public vote opens 18:30 Tuesday 30th January 2024 at www.ymbawards.co.uk.

BEST MANAGER

Bello (Central Cee) 

Elizabeth Sobowale (Adekunle Gold)

Jonathan Noirzu & Azmina Driffeld (Rimzee) 

Sonitus Music Group (Bellah)

Wesley Banton (D Block Europe)

Whitney Asomani (Sugababes) 

BEST PUBLICITY & RELATIONS 

Aaron Fairweather (Redbull) 

Gracey Mae  (M.A.E mcg)

Jaisha Thomas-Hinds (Wired PR)

Lisa Marie Boateng (Columbia Records)

Shannon Wright (Spaceship Collective)

Sheniece Charway  (Youtube Music)

BEST RADIO PERSONALITY

Dotty (Apple Music)

Henrie Kwushue (Kiss fm)

Jeremiah Asiamah (BBC 1Xtra)

Nadia Jae (BBC 1Xtra) 

Rebecca Judd (Apple Music)

Shayna Marie (Capital Xtra)

BEST PRESENTER 

Harry Pinerio 

Jay McGregor

Julie Adenuga

Will Njo 

ZeZe Millz 

BEST DJ

AAA

Abs Dollars 

DJ L.A.J

Selecta Suave

Super Midz

BEST MARKETER 

Celia Faray (Island Records)

Jae Chabala (Spotify)

Nemat Abdela (Noted)

Rio Lewis (Ditto)

Stephanie Achigbu (TikTok) 

Tia Lewis (EGA)

BEST DIRECTOR

Gabriella Kingsley 

Myles Whittingham

Nathan James Tetty

Troy Roscoe

Walid Labri 

BEST PRODUCER 

M1 On The Beat

Remedee

Sammy Soso

Scribz Riley 

Sons of Sonix 

Steel Banglezs

BEST PUBLISHER 

Dan Edu (Phrased Differently)

Dominic Drummie (Sony Music Pub)

Lunick Bourgess (Umbrella Songs) 

Shauni Caballero (Sony Music Pub)

Zaza Kazadi (Sony Music Pub) 

BEST LAWYER 

David Ifere (CAA) 

Olivia Lewis (Clintons) 

Sandra Namusiitwa  (Sound Advice)

Sharon Rose-Mensah (Russels) 

Tunde Okewale (Urban lawyers) 

BEST STYLIST

Ashleigh Stunna 

Dunsin Wright 

Gelmira Fortunato Manico

Mh’ya Mclean

Nana Esi

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Elliot Hensford

Film Abdi

Manny (4PM Recordings)

Paula Abu

Shot By Nee

BEST JOURNALIST 

Ade Onibada

Aniefiok Ekpoudom 

Hiba Hassan

Rahel Aklilu

Timi Sotire

BEST A&R

Caeshia St. Paul (BMG) 

Mel Ijieh (5K Records)

Michael Oyediran (Warner)

Molly McNulty (Parlophone) 

Josephine Atie (Sony Music)

BEST TOUR MANAGER 

Callum Amos 

Janelle Fraser 

Live Source 

Nicole White

BEST AGENT 

Anthony Brown (CAA) 

Dotun Bolaji (Primary Talent)

Irene Agbontaen (UTA)

Jess Kinn (One Finix) 

Sam Gill (Earth Agency)

BEST RADIO PRODUCER 

(New to 2024)

Carmelia Tchoua (Reprezent)

Channette Carleo (Kiss FM)

Inonge Marie (Reprezent)

Shanae Brooks (Kiss FM)

Seyi Adaobi (Various)

BEST COLLABORATION

(New to 2024)

Central Cee & Dave  - Sprinter

D Block ft Clavish - Pakistan 

Fredo ft Tiggs Da Author - Scoreboard 

Raye ft 070 Shake - Escapism 

Stormzy & Raye - The Weekend 

(Groups)

BEST DIGITAL PLATFORM 

The Blues Project

Cord (cordsocials)

Link Up TV 

+44 Podcast

9Bills

BEST PUBLICATION

The Floor Magazine

GUAP 

Mixtape Madness 

New Wave Magazine

Trench

BEST LIVE MUSIC PLATFORM

Afronation 

Dankie Sounds 

Recess

Room 187

Piano People

BEST (SERVICE) AGENCY

Forward Slash 

Peppah

Satellite LDN 

VAMP

Wired PR 

BEST LABEL

EGA Distro

Graduation

Neighbourhood Recordings 

Rebel Records 

Tru Tribe 

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