R&B Star Beyonce Leads Mobo Nominations
LONDON (Reuters) – American R&B star Beyonce Knowles and British newcomer Terri Walker lead a record number of female nominees for the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) awards with four nominations each, organizers said late on Monday.
Former Destiny’s Child singer Beyonce, who spent three weeks at the top of the UK singles charts with “Crazy in Love,” is up for best album, best single, best video and best R&B act at the premier urban music awards.
Soul singer Walker burst onto the scene with her album “Untitled,” which is also nominated for a Mercury prize. She has been shortlisted for best R&B act, UK act of the year, best newcomer and best album at the Mobos.
British artists Big Brovaz, a six-piece group from London, were also nominated for four awards in the best video, best album, UK act of the year and best newcomer categories.
This year’s awards are the most female friendly in the event’s eight years. Four of the six nominees are female in the best UK act while three female acts will compete for the best album.
The Independent newspaper quoted founder and organizer Kanya King as saying the rise of female artists showed a “changing of the climate. The industry has become more accepting,” she said.
*N Sync pretty boy Justin Timberlake is in the running for two categories, best R&B act and best album.
The Mobo awards celebrate the spectrum of music of black origin — R&B, hip hop, rap, jazz, reggae and gospel — and reward performers of any color.
This year’s awards take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 25. The majority of awards are voted for by the public.
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