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.
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.
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. 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 awards took place in Hammersmith Palais.
The awards took place at the Barbican.
The venue was Wembley Arena.
The awards took place in the Grand Connaught Rooms.
The awards took place in the Grand Connaught Rooms.
The awards took place at O2 Arena.
The awards took place at Wembley Arena.
The awards took place at Grand Connaught.
The awards took place at Porchester.
The awards took place at Grand Connaught.
The awards took place at Grand Connaught.
Winners for the Urban Music Awards 2014 included:
In 2015 the UMA events returned in London. Over 770,000 votes were received online. The show was hosted by founder, Jordan Kensington and singer/songwriter, Kiera Weathers. The awards included performances from Big Narstie, Kid Army, Kym Mazell, Rough Copy, Kelvin Jones, Chos3n and Young Kings. The UMA official house band, the Dominos provided the backdrop to music performed on stage by Macklemoore and a collaboration of "Ready or Not" by Fugees featuring the hosts. Lady Leshurr won record three awards for UMA Best Music Video 2015, Best Female Act 2015, and Best HipHop Act 2015.