Arrivals 72 images Created 4 Nov 2022
UK Music Industry and R&B Stars Honour Jamal Edwards with 2022 MITS Award
Major British R&B artists joined music industry representatives to honour the late pioneering entrepreneur Jamal Edwards MBE with the 2022 Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS). The ceremony, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, raised funds for the MITS’ regular beneficiaries, the BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins, as well as the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust. This charity was established by his family in his memory to continue Edwards’ legacy after his sudden death earlier this year at the age of just 31.
The evening, hosted by DJ and presenter Gemma Cairney, featured impressive performances by Mercury Music Prize winner Little Simz, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, and Max Cyrus. Each artist spoke movingly about the impact Edwards had made on their lives. His mother Brenda Edwards, along with his sister Tanisha Edwards, accepted the award from last year’s recipient, DJ Pete Tong. This event marked the first time the MITS Award, established in 1992, was given posthumously, and Edwards is also the youngest recipient of the award.
“I want to say thank you to Dan [Chalmers] and Toby [Leighton-Pope, MITS co-chairmen] and the MITS Committee for acknowledging Jamal with this prestigious award,” said Brenda Edwards. “It’s been a real honour to hear so much great talent in one room. I’m overwhelmed, and Jamal would be blown away by tonight.”
Little Simz, starting her closing set, said, “We’re gonna have a party in here and celebrate this man, everything he’s done and everything he’s accomplished. He was a go-getter, someone that had a vision.”
Toby Leighton-Pope noted, “It was an incredibly special room to be in tonight with the music industry coming together to honour Jamal Edwards. Thank you again to the Edwards family for accepting the MITS award on his behalf, and to Little Simz, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, and Max Cyrus for their spectacular performances. We’re proud to continue raising funds for the MITs charities, the BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins, and to, this year, donate funds for the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust.”
Dan Chalmers added, “We are very humbled to award this year’s MITS to Jamal Edwards. He was a visionary – brilliantly creative and ahead of his time, making space for rising stars and talented artists, launching so many impressive careers. Thank you to his family for their involvement and to the amazing artists who helped make tonight so special. We hope both Jamal and SB.TV’s legacy can live on and help inspire future generations.”
The night was a heartfelt tribute to Jamal Edwards, celebrating his monumental influence on the music industry and his dedication to nurturing new talent. His legacy continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of artists and entrepreneurs.
Major British R&B artists joined music industry representatives to honour the late pioneering entrepreneur Jamal Edwards MBE with the 2022 Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS). The ceremony, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, raised funds for the MITS’ regular beneficiaries, the BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins, as well as the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust. This charity was established by his family in his memory to continue Edwards’ legacy after his sudden death earlier this year at the age of just 31.
The evening, hosted by DJ and presenter Gemma Cairney, featured impressive performances by Mercury Music Prize winner Little Simz, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, and Max Cyrus. Each artist spoke movingly about the impact Edwards had made on their lives. His mother Brenda Edwards, along with his sister Tanisha Edwards, accepted the award from last year’s recipient, DJ Pete Tong. This event marked the first time the MITS Award, established in 1992, was given posthumously, and Edwards is also the youngest recipient of the award.
“I want to say thank you to Dan [Chalmers] and Toby [Leighton-Pope, MITS co-chairmen] and the MITS Committee for acknowledging Jamal with this prestigious award,” said Brenda Edwards. “It’s been a real honour to hear so much great talent in one room. I’m overwhelmed, and Jamal would be blown away by tonight.”
Little Simz, starting her closing set, said, “We’re gonna have a party in here and celebrate this man, everything he’s done and everything he’s accomplished. He was a go-getter, someone that had a vision.”
Toby Leighton-Pope noted, “It was an incredibly special room to be in tonight with the music industry coming together to honour Jamal Edwards. Thank you again to the Edwards family for accepting the MITS award on his behalf, and to Little Simz, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, and Max Cyrus for their spectacular performances. We’re proud to continue raising funds for the MITs charities, the BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins, and to, this year, donate funds for the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust.”
Dan Chalmers added, “We are very humbled to award this year’s MITS to Jamal Edwards. He was a visionary – brilliantly creative and ahead of his time, making space for rising stars and talented artists, launching so many impressive careers. Thank you to his family for their involvement and to the amazing artists who helped make tonight so special. We hope both Jamal and SB.TV’s legacy can live on and help inspire future generations.”
The night was a heartfelt tribute to Jamal Edwards, celebrating his monumental influence on the music industry and his dedication to nurturing new talent. His legacy continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of artists and entrepreneurs.
