The Urban Music Awards (UMA) are a hip-hop, R&B, dance, and soul music awards ceremony that was launched in the UK by Jordan Kensington in 2003 and is now held in multiple countries.
The US version of the award ceremony, the Urban Music Awards USA, was launched on 7 July 2007 at Hammerstein Ballroom, hosted by Foxy Brown and Spragga Benz, with award winners including Adele, Danity Kane, Jay Z, Grandmaster Flash, Sean Paul, Beyoncé, Bobby V, Enrique Iglesias, Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, Mary Mary, Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, and Chip.
History The Urban Music Awards were launched by Jordan Kensington in 2003 to recognize the achievement of urban-based artists, producers, clubs, DJs, radio stations, record labels, and artists from the current R&B, hip hop, neo soul, jazz, and dance music scene.
The winners are selected by an online public vote.
Urban Music Awards USA 2009
The 2009 Urban Music Awards were held on 17 July 2009 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City before returning to London on 1 November for the UK version of the show. The 2009 return was covered by the major international press, including OK! Magazine, the Daily Express, and the Insider.theinsider.com 2009 also saw the launch of the Best Asian Act category to celebrate artists and musicians of Asian origin, which was widely covered within the Asian media worldwide.
+The winners of the Urban Music Awards USA 2009:CategoriesWinners Artist of the YearAkon Best AlbumKanye West, 808’s & Heartbreak Best Gospel ActKirk Franklin Best International Latino ActEnrique Iglesias Best Music VideoRihanna, "Rehab" Best R&B ActBobby V Best DJ 2009Funkmaster Flex Best Radio StationHot 97 Bet TV showHarlem Heights Best HipHop ActJay-Z Best MagazineHipHop Weekly Best Male ActBobby V Best CollaborationRon Browz ft. Jim Jones & Juelz Santana, "Pop Champagne" Best Female ActRihanna Best International Reggae ActMavado Best ProducerSwizz Beatz Best SingleKid Cudi, "Day & Night" UMA Living Legend AwardKRS-One Lifetime Achievement AwardGrandmaster Flash
2003: 1st Year The awards took place in Hammersmith Palais. Aizhan Abdrakhmanova, "Past winners 2003" , UMA, 1 August 2011. +The winners of the inaugural Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best Hard Dance Artist/ProducerKevin Energy Best Hard Dance DJAlex Somers Best House Act/DJCarl Cox Best Garage Act Sponsored by PureGarage.comHeartless Crew Best Drum & Bass Act/DJUncut Best Underground ProducerSticky Best Reggae Act X Best Breakthrough-Most Inspiring Act Sponsored by Invincible MagazineDizzee Rascal Best Independent Record Label Sponsored by Invincible MagazineSoul 2 Soul Recording Best HipHop Act Sponsored by HipHop ConnectionBlak Twang Best Club/Radio DJ Sponsored by UKPCDJ.COM x Best Club Night Sponsored by RedBullSmoove Best Underground Breakthrough DJ Sponsored by Diffusion PRMisstress Barbara Best Nu-Soul Act Sponsored by Soul TradeTerri Walker Best Crossover Chart Act Sponsored by Mecca USAJaimeson Best Radio StationFlava FM Best Underground DJDJ Jollie Best CompilationThe Mixologists Rock/Pop Artist Of The YearJohn Taglieri Best Unsigned Act Sponsored by Xtreme TalentTransformerz
2004 The awards took place at the Barbican. +The winners of the 2nd annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best Hip Hop Act Klashnekoff Best Crossover Chart Act Lemar Best Nu-Soul ActRhian Benson Best Album TY, Upwards Most Inspiring ActEstelle Best Garage ActWiley Best NewcomerKano Best UK Radio DJRas Kwame Best Jazz Act Soweto Kinch Best Club Night The Jump Off Best Underground ProducerJon E Cash Best Drum & Bass Act DJDillinja & Lemon D Best R&B ActGemma Fox Best Gospel Act Raymond&Co Best Underground DJThe Mixologist Best Underground Radio StationBassline FM Best Independent Record Labeljetstar Best CompilationSplit Mics Best Music Video Lethal Bizzle Best Hard Dance DJHixxy Best Hous DJLouie Vega Best Street DancerNexus Boys Best Unsigned ActLee Henry Outstanding Achievement Award Beverley Knight
2005 The venue was Wembley Arena. +The winners of the 3rd annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best Websitewww.promotioncity.co.uk Best Entrepreneur Marcus Miller Best MagazineTouch Magazine Best UK Reggae Act/DJ Maxi Priest Best HipHop ActSkinny Man, "I'll be surprised" Best Crossover Chart ActRaghav, "Angel Eyes" Best Neo-Soul ActTerri Walker Best AlbumRoll Deep, In At the Deep End Most Inspiring Act in association with invinciblemag.comTubby T, "Ready She Ready" Best NewcomerSway Dasafo, "Flo Fashion" Best Garage ActLethal B, "Against All Odd’s" Best UK Radio DJ Ras Kwame Best Jazz ActCourtney Pine Best Club Night MTV Base Lounge Bet Underground ProducerDexplicit Best Drum & Bass Act/DJRoni Size Best R&B Act Jamelia, "Thank you" Best Gospel Act Raymond & Co Best Underground DJ Smasherelly Best Community Radio StationXtreme fm Best Independent LabelBBE Recordings Best CompilationUnion Black Best Music Video Fusion & guests "Greatest Show"
2006 The awards took place in the Grand Connaught Rooms. +The winners of the 4th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best Neo SoulOmar Best NewcomerSoundbwoy Best MagazineRWD Best Hard Dane Act/DJDoc Savage Best House DJPaul Jackson Best TV ShowChancers Best AlbumLily Allen Best UK Radio DJSemtex Best R&B Act Fun*Damental Best UK Reggae ActYT Best Underground DJDaz Best Independent LabelRelentless Best Underground ProducerBaby J Best WebsiteUkmusic.com Most Inspiring ActFun*Damental Best Radio StationChoice FM Best Club NightGet Down@ Bar Rumba Best Crossover Chart ActSupafly Inc Best Jazz ActSoweto Kinch Best Drum & Bass DJDJ Hype Best EntrepreneurUproar PR Best Garage ActDoctor Best Gospel Act Four Kornerz Best HipHop ActAkala Best Music VideoNathan, "Cold as Ice" Outstanding Achievement Award 2006Omar Lifetime Achievement Award 2006Jazzie B
2007 The awards took place in the Grand Connaught Rooms. +The winners of the 5th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best Reggae ActSean Paul Best Underground DJCameo Best Radio StationChoice FM Best Jazz ActCourtney Pine Best Club NightTwice as Nice Best Neo Soul ActNate James Best Garage ActN-Dubz Best Drum & Bass DJ/ActShy FX Best Gospel ActRaymond & Co Best Independent Record LabelBig Dadda Recordings Best UK Radio DJDJ 279 (Choice FM) Best AlbumLemar, Truth about Love Best TV ShowPopworld (T4/Channel 4) Best NewcomerMr. Midas Best R&B ActNathan Best HipHop ActWiley Best MagazineYoung Voices Most inspiring ActDizzee Rascal Best WebsiteMyspace Best Crossover Chart Act Just Jack Best ProducerDavinche Best Music Video Natalie Williams, "This Girl" Best EntrepreneurTim Campbell (BBC1, The Apprentice)
2008 The awards took place at O2 Arena. +The winners of the 6th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best AlbumLeona Lewis, Spirit Best CollaborationEstelle ft. Kanye West, "American Boy" Best Crossover Chart ActBooty Luv Best Dance ActWideboys Best DJMister Jam Best EntrepreneurLethal Bizzle Best Gospel Act29th Chapter Best GroupRoll Deep Best HipHop ActSway Best Independent LabelBoy Better Know Best Jazz ActAdele Best Neo Soul ActAmy Winehouse Best NewcomerChipmunk Best MagazineYoung Voices Best Music VideoTinchy Stryder ‘Stryderman’ Best ProducerFraser T Smith Best R&BLeona Lewis Best Radio StationChoice FM Best TV Show/FilmNokia Green Room Best UK Radio DJRickie and Melvin Best WebsiteMyspace.com/thehookup Most Inspiring ActBashy Lifetime Achievement AwardMica Paris Outstanding Achievement AwardDJ Luck & MC Neat Lifetime Achievement AwardFinley Quaye
2009 The awards took place at Wembley Arena. +The winners of the 7th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best AlbumN-Dubz Uncle B Best Dance Act (UK & France)Calvin Harris Best DJ (UK & France)Swerve (Kiss) Best Group (UK & France)JLS Best TV StationFlava TV Best CollaborationJay Sean ft. Lil Wayne, "Down" Best Hip Hop ActSway Best Music VideoK.I.G, "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes" Best Radio StationKiss Best UK Asian ActR.D.B Best Entrepreneur CategoryLevi Roots Best NewcomerEgypt Best R&B ActBrick & Lace Most Inspiring ActBrick & Lace Best Jazz ActYolanDa Brown Best Gospel ActGuvna B Best ProducerBlessed Beats Best Radio ShowJames Merritt
2010 The awards took place at Grand Connaught. +The winners of the 8th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best AlbumN-Dubz, Against all Odds Best CollaborationTinie Tempah ft. Labyrinth, "Pass Out" Best Dance Act (Europe)Cascada Best DJShortee Blitz & DJ MK Best Gospel ActLondon Community Gospel Best GroupJLS Best European ActTal Best International ActIyaz Best NewcomerTinie Tempah Best HipHop ActTinie Tempah Best R&B ActJLS Best Music VideoMclean, "My Name" Best Street Dance GroupDiversity Best Asian ActJay Sean Best TV Station4Music Best Radio StationChoice FM Best Radio ShowDJ Swerve Best ProducerDavid Guetta Outstanding Achievement AwardDamage Lifetime Achievement AwardSade
2011 The awards took place at Porchester.Alex Butler, "9th Urban Music Awards 2011 - Porchester Hall, Bayswater" (review), Music-News.com, October 2011., Pappzd, 4 October 2011. +The winners of the 9th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best CollaborationChipmunk ft. Chris Brown, "Champion" Best Male ArtistEd Sheeran Best Female ArtistJessie J (Island/Lava) International Artist of the YearChris Brown Best AlbumBeverley Knight, Soul UK Best HipHopWretch 32 Best SingleWretch 32 ft Example, "Unorthodox" Best Music VideoWretch 32 ft Example, "Unorthodox" Artist of the YearWretch 32 Best NewcomerEmeli Sandé Best DJNikki Best Dance ActDJ Fresh ft Sian Evans, "Louder" Best Radio StationKiss Best Radio ShowTwin B (1Xtra) Best ProducerBenny Benassi Best R&B ActEmeli Sandé
2012 The awards took place at Grand Connaught. "Urban Music Awards 2012….And The Winners Are!", Flavourmag, 2 December 2012. +The winners of the 10th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best NewcomerSneakbo Best Hip Hop ActSway Best Female ActLady Leshurr Best MusicVideoRudimental, "Feel the Love" Best Grime ActBig Narstie Best Gospel ActLondon Community Gospel Choir"Awards" , LCGC website. Best Radio ShowCharlie Sloth Best African/Afro beatsFuse ODG Best R&B ActLemar Best SingleAzealia Banks ft. Lazy Jay, "212" Artist of the yearRita Ora Best Male ArtistMaverick Sabre Best GroupClement Marfo & The Frontline Best CollaborationDevlin ft. Ed Sheeran, "Watchtower" Best ProducerPavilion Best International ArtistChris Brown Best DJShortee Blitz Best AlbumRihanna, Talk that Talk Best Reggae ActMavado Best Electronic/ Dance ActDJ Act Lifetime Achievement AwardNorman Jay M.B.E
2013 The awards took place at Grand Connaught."Stars attend the 11th annual Urban Music Awards - London" , Demotix, 22 November 2013."Fuse ODG Emerges as King From The Urban Music Awards 2013" , Gigslutz. +The winners of the 11th annual Urban Music Awards:CategoriesWinners Best International ActBruno Mars Best AlbumNaughty Boy, Hotel Cabana Best Radio StationKiss FM Best R&B ActMike Hough Best Reggae ActSean Paul Best Radio ShowCharlie Sloth"Charlie Sloth Interview - Urban Music Awards 2013 - Best Radio Show Winner", YouTube. Best NewcomerJahmene DouglasMike Benke, "Jahmene scoops accolade at Urban Music Awards", Swindon Advertiser, 25 November 2013. Best SingleFuse ODG Best Female ActLaura MvulaWenn, "Laura Mvula - Laura Mvula And Avicii Win At Urban Music Awards", Contactmusic.com, 23 November 2013. Best Mal ArtistGhetts Best Hiphop ActKrept & Konan Best Electronic Dance ActAvicii Best GroupKrept & Konan Best African/ Afrobeats ActAtumpan Best Gospel ActGuvna B Best Music VideoFuse ODG ft. Wyclef, "Antenna" Best Grime ActBig Narstie Best CollaborationFuse ODG ft. Wyclef Best DJShortee Blitz Best ProducerDiplo
2014 Winners for the Urban Music Awards 2014 included: