Edwards, who is also a director, writer, DJ, entrepreneur and designer, was awarded the MBE in 2014 at the age of 24 for his work in music.
Music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, 31, has passed away. Jamal Edwards, best known for founding SBTV, the media platform that helps new artists reach a global audience, died Sunday morning. No details were shared about Edwards’ death. Edwards, who is also a director, writer, DJ, entrepreneur and designer, was awarded the MBE in 2014 at the age of 24 for his work in music.
Edwards’ platform launched through SBTV
The careers of some of the world’s most successful musicians, including Ed Sheeran, Dave and Jessie J, began through Edwards’ platform SBTV, which started as a YouTube channel before making any deals with big companies.
Edwards said he started SBTV with a £20 phone while still in school, making it a leading online youth broadcaster. His YouTube channel was founded in 2006. It currently has 1.2 million subscribers and nearly 1 billion total views.
Named after Edwards’ rap name SmokeyBarz, the channel featured early music from Stormzy, Rita Ora, Krept & Konan, Bugzy Malone and many more.
He wanted to break the taboos about men’s mental health
Edwards was born in Luton in 1990 and grew up in Acton, west London. He earned a BTec degree in media motion picture from Ealing College and worked at retail chain Topman to support himself financially while developing SBTV.
Once successful, Edwards did extensive philanthropic work, including funding mental health and youth centers. He worked to break the taboos about men’s mental health and launched a project that aims to renovate and reopen youth centers in 2021.
Edwards was also an ambassador for the Prince of Wales’ charity, the Prince’s Trust.
