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Mobo at 30: Still Fighting for Black Music's True Worth
26 Mar
Summary
- Mobo founder Kanya King notes Black music drives 80% of UK's £24.5bn recorded music market.
- Despite its economic power, Black music is still institutionally treated as marginal.
- The Mobo awards have moved outside London since 2009, promoting equity and regional impact.
Kanya King, founder of the Mobo awards, reflects on three decades of championing music of Black origin, noting that the fight for recognition and equity continues. Launched in 1996 out of frustration with the mainstream industry's oversight of Black music's influence, Mobo has become a significant force. King expressed surprise that 30 years later, the core mission remains as vital, driven by the persistent need for recognition, opportunity, and equity.
Recent research highlights that Black music constitutes approximately 80% of the UK's £24.5 billion recorded music market. King points out the contradiction where Black music defines British cultural identity yet is structurally treated as niche or marginal. Furthermore, despite its economic significance, the music industry lags in staff diversity, with only a quarter of employees from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds in 2024.
Mobo has actively worked to address these disparities, moving its awards outside London since 2009 to promote equity and regional impact. This approach, exemplified by a fringe event in Newcastle generating an estimated £1.3 million for the local economy, aims to create platforms and opportunities for emerging artists. King asserts Mobo is more than music; it's about shifting culture and ensuring lasting change.
