Music platform founder Edwards ‘shaped culture’
TRIBUTES PAID TO 31-YEAR-OLD ENTREPRENEUR
JAMAL Edwards, an entrepreneur from Acton who founded online music platform SBTV, which helped launch the careers of top artists such as Ed Sheeran and Jessie J, has died aged 31.
He was awarded an MBE in 2014 for his contributions to music. It is not known how he died.
Jamal, who was the son of Loose Women presenter Brenda Edwards, got into film-making after his parents gave him a video camera as a Christmas present when he was 15.
Friends of the entrepreneur have taken to social media to share their shock and sadness following the tragic news, including his mother’s fellow Loose Women host Denise Welch.
Denise wrote: “My heart aches for my friend Brenda. I can’t bear it. Jamal Edwards was a wonderful son and brother.”
Rapper Konan tweeted: “Rest in power Jamal, a true pioneer. The scene wouldn’t be what it is without you.”
AJ Tracey wrote: “RIP Jamal Edwards, West London legend status.”
YouTuber Amelia Dimoldenberg said: “Jamal Edwards, one of the most generous people I have ever met.
“Someone who loved music and truly believed in all the joy it brings. Going above and beyond to connect people and bring ideas to life.
“You have shaped culture and changed the lives of others – never to be forgotten.”
George The Poet wrote: “RIP Jamal Edwards. Giving God thanks that you did what he sent you to do. So many of us owe our careers to you bro. Thank you for everything.”
MP Zarah Sultana paid tribute to the music legend, saying: “The impact SBTV had on the UK’s music scene and British culture is immeasurable. Rest in peace, Jamal Edwards. My thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved him.”
Just three days ago, Jamal took to Instagram to upload a throwback snap of himself and singer Ed Sheeran.
Captioning the photo, he wrote: “Happy Birthday to the OG, Ed. Blessed to have you in my life brother.
“You know you’ve been mates a long time when you lose count of the years! Keep smashing it and inspiring us all!”
Jamal started SBTV as a YouTube channel in 2006 when he was just a teenager.
Speaking of the platform with MailOnline in 2013, he said: “Back then, there was no place to showcase our sort of spitting and rapping, so I thought, OK, I want to create that platform.”
Speaking to the BBC in 2013 he said: “You can say my videos had mixed reviews to begin with – some people didn’t get them, but others thought they were sick.
“So I started to put them up on YouTube so everyone could see them, and it just grew from there.”
While he was working on growing his idea, Jamal worked in Top Man, using his retail income for outgoings for the business.
The channel proved a huge success, and now boasts 1.2 million subscribers and nearly 1 billion total views.
Jamal’s accomplishments are wide and varied and he was featured in the ES Power 1000 – London’s most influential people – in 2013, as well as being chosen to be the ambassador for the youth charity, The Prince’s Trust.
The following year he was listed as number two in The Guardian’s top 30 young people in digital media and TIME Magazine named Edwards as one of their ‘Next Generation Leaders’.
In 2015 he was awarded the Best New StartUp from Virgin Media and Virgin StartUp, as well as being named in Debrett’s list of the 500 most influential people in Britain in the New Media section.