MOBO Group Founder to be Recognised with Top Honour at 2024 LIVE Awards


Kanya King CBE, Founder & CEO of the MOBO Group, has been announced as the 2024 recipient of the LIVEtime Achievement Award at the forthcoming LIVE Awards, which take place in association with Skiddle, at The Troxy in London on Wednesday 11 December.

Attended by over 600 professionals from across the UK live music sector the annual LIVE Awards recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations who have made a significant impact during the last 12 months.

The LIVETime Achievement Award is the top honour of the evening and is presented to an individual who has played a principal role in driving forward and improving the UK's live music business, having dedicated much of their career to the sector.

Kanya King’s visionary leadership in the music and cultural industries has left an indelible mark on the UK’s creative landscape. While studying English Literature at London’s Goldsmiths College and later working as a TV researcher, Kanya identified a significant gap in the market for a mainstream British awards ceremony celebrating music influenced and inspired by Black culture. This vision led to the launch of the MOBO Awards in 1996, which have since grown into one of the most iconic platforms for recognising and celebrating British and international talent. Over the years, the MOBO Awards have moved to larger venues, travelled to different cities across the UK and showcased some of the most celebrated artists of our time, including Rihanna, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Stormzy, Skepta, Central Cee, Craig David, Kano, Little Simz, Ms Dynamite, FKA twigs, Beenie Man, Davido, Wizkid, Tems, Amy Winehouse, Goldie, Sean Paul, and many more.

Beyond the MOBO Awards, Kanya has also worked with some of the world’s largest film companies, including Paramount Pictures, Netflix, and Universal Pictures, hosting screenings and premieres for culturally significant and globally celebrated films over the past eight years. This expansion into film reflects MOBO’s dedication to championing diverse stories and amplifying voices within the creative industries.

In addition to her achievements in music and film, Kanya has spearheaded initiatives such as the MOBO Help Musicians Fund, which has awarded over £1 million to emerging talent, and the MOBO UnSung programme, which provides mentoring and artist development opportunities to promising young talent.

Her creation of MOBOLISE, a career development platform and community, has further showcased her dedication to fostering diversity and equality across industries. MOBOLISE connects employers with diverse talent, curates mentoring programs, and hosts thought leadership events to drive systemic change.

The MOBO Awards have provided a launch-pad for British Black music to dominate both national and international charts and has become one of the most prestigious events on the music industry events calendar.

Across its 28-year history, the MOBO Awards have been broadcast on ITV, Channel 4, BBC, and on Viacom channels before returning to the BBC in 2020 alongside a partnership with YouTube. In 2009, the ceremony was held outside of London for the first time and took place in Glasgow. With Liverpool following suit in 2010, the Awards then went on to make return visits to Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds and London. With the most recent Awards in Coventry and Sheffield respectively, the City of Newcastle is proud to host the 2025 MOBO Awards on February 18.

Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1999, King was elevated to a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 birthday honours list and was later awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Goldsmiths, University of London, an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration at London Metropolitan University and an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Leeds Metropolitan University.

She has been given many accolades and is regularly named as one of London's Most Influential People and as one of Britain's Most Influential Black People. She has been recognised as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4, and also featured on the BBC's 100 Women. She has also been named as one of the 100 Most Influential British Entrepreneurs.

“It’s an honour to be named the 2024 recipient of the LIVEtime Achievement Award, and I am incredibly thankful to LIVE for this recognition. At MOBO, we’ve always believed in the transformative power of live events—not just as a showcase for music but as a vehicle for change. Whether it’s supporting the NHS in saving lives or using the MOBO Fringe Festival to lower school exclusion rates, we strive to ensure our events leave a lasting legacy. This award is a tribute to everyone who shares that vision, and I look forward to celebrating with the live music community on December 11th,” said Kanya King CBE, Founder & CEO of The MOBO Group.

Gaby Cartwright, Head of Partnerships - LIVE & The LIVE Awards said, “Kanya is a worthy recipient of our most prestigious award. She is a true trailblazer and her work promoting and staging so many music, film and entertainment events, including the groundbreaking and hugely influential MOBO Awards over almost three decades, is testament to her talent, tenacity and vision. We can’t wait to celebrate her career!”

As LIVE’s primary annual fundraising event, all proceeds from the LIVE awards will go towards directly supporting our ongoing work engaging government on a range of sector critical issues and will help support our members to meet their sustainability goals while fostering a more diverse, equitable and inclusive working environment (more info here)

Full information about The LIVE Awards 2024 can be found here. 

A limited amount of sponsorship opportunities are still available for this year’s LIVE Awards and interested parties should contact Gaby Cartwright on Gaby@livemusic.biz for more information.