Kojey Radical Received Trailblazer Award at Billboard U.K.’s Inaugural 40 Under 40 Event

Billboard U.K. hosted its inaugural 40 Under 40 honors event Wednesday (Oct. 7) in Salford to celebrate young industry leaders.

The invite-only ceremony took place at Media City near Manchester and honored executives from the first-ever Billboard U.K. 40 Under 40 list. The list recognizes talent across major music institutions, including labels, distribution, management, publishing, streaming, live entertainment, and rights associations.

Rapper Kojey Radical received the Trailblazer Award at the event. His speech preceded a performance by local indie band Bank Holiday.

During the opening remarks, Billboard U.K. editor Thomas Smith praised the honorees for introducing new ideas and working approaches. “I truly feel like the difference makers in our sector are in this room,” he stated, adding that the sector thrives on innovation and fresh thinking.

“The same old ways of working are gone,” Smith said. “So how can we set new standards and encourage and uplift one another? That’s why I love this list; to give young, dynamic people their flowers while they’re still in development phase. Bringing this honors event to Beyond the Music feels like a perfect fit between a shared goal: inspiring the next generation.”

Greater Manchester mayor Bev Craig also spoke at the event, which was part of the Beyond the Music conference programming.

“The challenge is to make sure that the world that we’re trying to create is one that treasures creativity. One that gives room for it to grow and space for it to thrive,” Craig said. “And I say this as a kid from a council estate; we need to give people the opportunities to be able to rise to the top of their game, no matter their background.”

She added that the gathering offered a chance to start a distinct conversation that helps shape the future rather than accepting older working methods.

Kojey accepted the Trailblazer Award following a 2026 in which he sold out London’s Royal Albert Hall and released his second LP, Don’t Look Down. The album competes for the Mercury Prize in Newcastle on Oct. 22.

“Receiving the Trailblazer Award feels particularly emotional because being a trailblazer isn’t about knowing where you’re going,” Kojey stated during his acceptance. “Maybe, sometimes, it’s just having enough faith to keep walking when there is no clear path.”

“And I definitely didn’t walk it alone,” he continued. “I had a lot of help and a lot of belief from a lot of people in this room and I am totally grateful for that. There are people that believe in me: my family, my friends, my team. Every collaborator that gave me this place to be strange, ambitious and curious, sometimes all at the same time. And the people that have listened to the music and bought a ticket, shared the work… you’ve given me permission to keep going.”

“Thank you to Billboard U.K. for recognizing not just the music, but the whole journey, because for somebody who spent a lot of his life being told directly and indirectly to ‘pick a lane,’ there’s something incredibly meaningful about being honored for refusing to. And to everybody on the [Billboard U.K.] 40 Under 40 list, congratulations,” he concluded.

Watch his speech below: