Music mogul Jamal Edwards, the founder of YouTube channel SBTV which helped launch the careers of Ed Sheeran and Jessie J, dies aged 31
- Jamal Edwards founded SBTV channel, which kick-started the careers of musicians, including Ed Sheeran.
- At the age of 24, he was awarded an MBE for services to music.
British music mogul Jamal Edwards, who founded the YouTube channel which helped launch the careers of some of the world's biggest music stars including Ed Sheeran, has died aged 31.
He died on Sunday morning, but no other details about his death have been released, the BBC reported.
His online music platform SBTV featured the early music videos of stars before they were signed by major labels, the UK outlet said. Among the long list of musicians whose careers he kick-started on the platform are Stormzy, Jessie J and British rapper Dave.
Edwards started the channel "on a £20 ($27.20) phone" while at school in 2006, according to The Guardian.
SBTV has since amassed more than 1.2 million followers and almost 1 billion views.
In 2014, at the age of 24, Edwards was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music.
Tributes have poured in online for Edwards, and not just from the music industry.
London mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: "British music and entertainment has lost one of its brightest stars."
Bafta-award-winning actor Adam Deacon said that Edwards was "one of the nicest, most down-to-earth and humble men" he'd met in the industry. "He always gave me time even when no one else would."
Chart-topping British rapper AJ Tracey tweeted: "RIP Jamal Edwards, west london legend status."