SBTV founder Jamal Edwards has died aged 31

SBTV founder Jamal Edwards has died aged 31, according to the BBC.

The pioneering music entrepreneur helped launch the careers of the likes of Ed Sheeran, Skepta and Dave with his YouTube channel.

Edward's mother Brenda Edwards confirmed the news via the Loose Women Twitter account. In the statement, she wrote: "It is with the deepest heartache that I confirm my beautiful son passed away yesterday morning after a sudden illness."

"Myself, his sister Tanisha and the rest of his family and friends are completely devastated. He was the centre of our world."

"Jamal was an inspiration to myself and so many. Our love for him lives on, his legacy lives on. Long live Jamal Edwards MBE, MBA, PHD."

Born in Luton, Edwards set up SBTV when he was just 18 years old. The channel is regarded as a "key' institution for Black British music, particularly UK grime and UK rap, with a huge following of over 1.2 million subscribers.

Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Chipmunk, Big Zuu and Tinchy Stryder have all been featured on the channel.

In 2014 Edwards was awarded an MBE for services to music.

Outside of SBTV Edwards has worked closely with the Prince's Trust Youth Charity to help young people throughout the UK set up their own companies.

Edwards credited much of his success to the youth centres of Acton after he left school with just a handful of GCSEs, through the centres he was given film classes. In 2019 he set up charity JD Delve that refurbished and reopened four youth centres in the borough.

Friends, colleagues and supporters of Edwards have taken to social media to pay tribute.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter