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GRM Daily
GRM Daily
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GRM Daily (Grime & Rap Music Daily), formerly Grime Daily, is a British urban music outlet and entertainment platform.[1][2][3] The platform covers UK rap and its various genres, such as UK drill, afroswing, trap, and British hip hop; and electronic genres such as UK garage and grime.[4][5]

Key Information

GRM Daily is the largest media outlet platform in the UK, followed by Link Up TV, SB.TV, Pressplay Media and Mixtape Madness.[6]

History

[edit]

In the early 2000s, pirate radio stations such as Rinse FM and DvDs such as Risky Roadz and Lord of the Mics were the only major platforms that grime and UK rap artists could promote themselves through.[7][8][9][10] This meant it was often difficult for an artist to find an audience. With this in mind, Jamal Edwards founded SB.TV in 2007, an online music platform that would be used to showcase artists and allow them an easy platform to release music through. This was followed by the founding of Link Up TV a year later, and finally Grime Daily in 2009, all based on the same concept. Collectively these platforms have served as the backbone to much of UK urban music and provided a large outlets for artists to gain popularity and fame.[11][12]

Grime Daily was formed in 2009 by founders Matt 'Sketchy' Thorne, Pierre Godson-Amamoo and Koby 'Posty' Hagan. The platform was created in order to create a space for UK urban artists to showcase themselves and release music. At the time, the platform was named 'Grime Daily', to denote its affiliation with the grime music scene. For the first week, the website was used to upload old grime DvDs and videos, however they also wanted to film their own unique content. Initially, the plan was to have Jamal Edwards film content which would then be uploaded to Grime Daily, however Jamal instead filmed content for his own platform SB.TV. Posty instead decided to buy a camera and film content for Grime Daily himself.[13] The "Daily" is a reference to the fact that the outlet originally intended to release grime related content every single day.[14] Early on, one way this was done was by doing long interviews with artists, splitting the interview into parts, and releasing the parts from the interview throughout the week.[11] An interview with grime artist J2K was Grime Daily's first ever interview.[7] Co-founder Sketchy had previously built J2K's MySpace page, which led to Posty asking Sketchy to build the Grime Daily website.[13] In its early days, the website struggled with high traffic and would go down on occasion. Within the first year, they hit over a million views a month.[15]

In 2011, the original Grime Daily YouTube channel was taken down by YouTube, resulting in the loss of over 2000 videos.[16][17][18] It was alleged that this was because a man had shown a knife on a music video for one of Scorcher's songs, however this was denied by both Scorcher and Grime Daily (the music video was still actually available on the artist's own channel).[19] Posty also stated it was claimed the channel was terminated due to receiving 3 copyright strikes, however this was disputed by Posty and Sketchy. Posty also stated they were told someone had bought views for a video.[20] Posty, one of GRM's founders, stated in a 2020 interview that he still did not know why the channel was originally taken down. The platform rebranded as GRM Daily in 2012, which stands for "Grime and Rap Music", and created a new YouTube channel (the one-year delay was due to a fear that the channel would be banned again if they returned too quickly).[18] The new name was to clarify its expanded scope with not just grime, but also British hip hop and related genres.[2][3][17]

In 2012 Grime Daily joined with The BiG! Agency, now taking responsibility for the commercial operations of GRM Daily's website, and Silver Bullet Digital (SBD).[2]

In 2013, GRM Daily had over 40,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel.[21] It took 7 years (from its founding) for GRM Daily to gain over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. The channel rapidly grew from there, earning over a million in 2018,[22][23] and 5 million by 2022.[24] In 2015, GRM created the Rated Awards, an awards show dedicated to UK urban music.[25][26][27]

In 2020, GRM released a documentary entitled "Together We Rise", detailing the platforms history.[28] The platform released "GRM 10", an album to celebrate the platforms 10 year anniversary. The album featured artists such as Aitch, B Young, Unknown T, D Double E, M Huncho, Dutchavelli, Not3s, Blade Brown, Nafe Smallz, Yxng Bane, and others.[15][29]

"Daily Duppy"

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"Daily Duppy" is a platform for freestyle releases. The platform was launched as a response to the success of Jamal Edwards' "Fresh 64" ("F64") release series on SB.TV, where artists rapped 64 bars of original ("fresh") content.[30][31] As of 2022, after more than a decade of releases,[32] "Daily Duppy" singles have charted seven times on the UK Singles Chart and three of them, by Aitch, J Hus, and Fredo, have been certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[33][34]

Singles

[edit]
List of "Daily Duppy" singles with selected chart positions and certifications
Artist Year Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[33]
Aitch 2018 99
J Hus 2019 42
Fredo 2020 46
Digga D 59
Young Adz 2021 44
Central Cee 35
Bugzy Malone 2022 55
Nines 2023 20

Legacy

[edit]

By 2012, the Grime Daily website was taking in 70 million website hits and had over 50,000 daily visitors. The platform played a part in popularising artists such as Tinie Tempah, Tinchy Stryder, and Wretch 32 in the early 2010s.[2]

GRM Daily has been very influential in propping up UK urban artists from various genres, such as grime, British hip hop, and Afroswing. The platform has been credited for bringing fame to artists such as Stormzy, Dave, J Hus,[35] B Young, Amelia Monét, Kojo Funds, Steel Banglez, Not3s, Mabel, and many others.[11][36] GRM Daily, along with related platforms such as Link Up TV and Pressplay Media, have created an ecosystem that allows artists to easily record, produce, and release music to the masses without the need of support from traditional media or the music industry.[37][38]

Controversies

[edit]

In 2010, DJ Werewolf was hit in the chest and buttocks after an individual pulled out a Mac-10 submachine gun and fired rounds at a GRM Daily event, containing over 600 people, celebrating their anniversary. Another unidentified woman and man were also shot in the incident. Police claimed they were not informed the event was happening.[39][40][41][42] Donatella Panayiotou, the presenter of the event, quit working for GRM Daily as a result of the shooting, and criticised them for their handling of the event.[43]

In 2018, British rapper Young Spray was stabbed at GRM Daily's Rated Awards event.[4][44][5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
GRM Daily is a leading British online media platform specializing in urban music genres, particularly grime and UK rap, serving as a key hub for emerging black British artists and content. Founded in 2009 by Koby "Posty" Hagan, Matt "Sketchy" Thorne, and Pierre Godson-Amamoo, it began as a YouTube channel uploading daily music videos to fill a gap in online coverage for UK urban talent. Originally launched as Grime Daily, the platform rebranded to GRM Daily in 2012 to better reflect its expanded focus on grime and rap music (GRM), evolving from a simple video-sharing site into a multifaceted empire that includes a website, social media, and live events. By 2025, GRM Daily's YouTube channel has grown to over 6.67 million subscribers and more than 8 billion total views, making it the most viewed urban music channel in the UK and a global influencer in black British music culture. At its core, GRM Daily has played a pivotal role in discovering and promoting artists, with its flagship Daily Duppy freestyle series—launched in 2013 and inspired by earlier UK formats—featuring high-profile talents like , Dave, , and , often propelling tracks to chart success and mainstream recognition. The platform's content, including interviews, "Behind Barz" sessions, and music video premieres, has amassed billions of streams and helped shape the scene's international breakthrough, as seen in hits like and ' "Body (Remix)," which topped UK charts in 2021. Beyond digital reach, GRM Daily hosts annual events such as the Rated Awards (established in ) and the GRM Gala, celebrating achievements in urban music and providing industry opportunities for underrepresented creators. Its documentary series Together We Rise (2020) chronicles the platform's journey and its contributions to black British music, underscoring its status as the "core and centre" of the genre.

History

Founding and Early Years

GRM Daily, originally known as Grime Daily, was founded in 2009 by Matt 'Sketchy' Thorne, Pierre Godson-Amamoo, and Koby 'Posty' Hagan as a platform dedicated to promoting and emerging urban artists. The trio, young friends from , recognized the need for accessible online content amid the decline of traditional outlets like Channel U DVDs, aiming to create a digital hub for the underserved grime scene. Thorne served as the creative lead and website developer, Godson-Amamoo managed business operations, and Hagan oversaw content production and strategy. From its inception, Grime Daily's content strategy emphasized daily accessibility to build engagement, featuring free music downloads, artist interviews, and news coverage of up-and-coming UK urban talents such as Tinie Tempah, Tinchy Stryder, and Wretch 32. Interviews were structured innovatively, with 20-minute sessions edited into four-minute daily clips released Monday through Friday, complemented by weekend freestyles and "crep checks" showcasing artists' footwear. This approach, delivered via an early website and YouTube channel launched that same year, fostered organic growth through word-of-mouth in the grime community and targeted promotion on platforms like Facebook to fans of influential DJs. The platform's early expansion included a dedicated YouTube channel in 2009, which quickly became central to its operations by hosting videos of grime clashes, freestyles, and interviews, amassing a significant following despite limited resources. However, in 2011, the channel faced a major setback when YouTube took it down due to copyright violations, resulting in the loss of over 2,000 videos and a temporary management split among the founders. Undeterred, the team initiated relaunch efforts, focusing on compliance and diversification, which built toward substantial pre-2012 momentum, including over 70 million website hits and 50,000 daily visitors by the following year. This period of challenges solidified Grime Daily's resilience, laying the groundwork for its evolution into a broader urban music outlet.

Rebranding and Expansion

In 2012, the platform underwent a significant from Grime Daily to GRM Daily, with the acronym standing for "Grime and " to better encompass a wider array of UK urban genres beyond grime, including hip-hop, , R&B, , and . This shift marked an evolution from its initial grime-focused origins, allowing the outlet to serve as a more comprehensive hub for Black music and . The rebrand was accompanied by a redesigned website and updated brand identity, positioning GRM Daily as a next-generation platform for artist promotions and content sharing. The expansion phase emphasized content diversification through increased video uploads, such as exclusive music video premieres for emerging artists like Giggs, and strategic partnerships that enabled direct collaborations with musicians for promotional content. Operationally, the platform invested in enhanced digital infrastructure, including server upgrades to manage surging traffic from exclusives, and partnered with agencies like The BiG! Agency and Silver Bullet Digital to bolster commercial and technical capabilities. These changes helped GRM Daily compete more effectively with by prioritizing original video production and artist-driven initiatives. Digital growth accelerated during this period, with the website accumulating over 70 million total hits and attracting more than 50,000 daily visitors by mid-2012, alongside a strengthening footprint through integrated promotions. On , the channel reached 150,000 subscribers and generated around 4 million monthly views by 2012, reflecting sustained audience expansion into 2014 as urban music gained broader traction. Early efforts focused on sponsorships and from urban-oriented brands, including Nike, Converse, , BBC 1Xtra, and Google+, which provided revenue streams to support ongoing content development.

Key Milestones

In 2015, GRM Daily launched the Rated Awards, establishing it as an annual ceremony dedicated to celebrating achievements in urban music, including grime and hip-hop. The inaugural event, held on September 17, 2015, at The in and sponsored by KA Drinks, recognized categories such as Best Breakthrough Artist and Best Track, marking a pivotal step in formalizing accolades for the genre. Following its founding in 2009, GRM Daily's YouTube channel experienced steady growth after initial challenges in its early years, amassing over 6 billion total views by 2022. The platform reached a significant milestone in March 2022, surpassing 5 million subscribers and solidifying its position as a leading outlet for UK urban music content. To commemorate its 10th anniversary in 2020, GRM Daily released the GRM 10 on , featuring collaborations with prominent UK artists such as Aitch, , and across 10 tracks. The project highlighted the channel's role in nurturing talent over the decade, with tracks like "Moving Naughty" and "Burning" showcasing the evolving sound of British urban music. In 2024, GRM Daily marked its 15th anniversary with a high-profile gala event held on August 3 at Rose in , featuring tributes from artists including and . The star-studded gathering, attended by figures like and Krept & Konan, underscored the platform's enduring influence on music culture through performances and networking overlooking the River Thames. As of 2025, GRM Daily continued its operations without major new events announced, maintaining active coverage of key industry moments such as the held on February 18 in Newcastle, where it reported on winners including for Best Male Act and Scorcher for Best Grime Act.

Programming and Content

Daily Duppy Series

The Daily Duppy series launched in 2013 as a collaboration between GRM Daily and in-house producers, such as DJs providing beats for emerging artists to deliver freestyles over popular instrumentals. The format features 3- to 5-minute video productions in which artists perform pre-recorded freestyles lip-synced to the audio track, frequently incorporating Caribbean-inspired beats like dancehall riddims to highlight rhythmic flow and lyrical dexterity, with all episodes hosted on the GRM Daily YouTube channel. Notable releases include Aitch's 2019 installment, which reached number 99 on the UK Singles Chart, and J Hus's 2019 version, which reached number 42; by 2022, the series had amassed seven UK Singles Chart entries in total. Aitch's contribution marked a milestone as the first Daily Duppy track to achieve BPI Silver certification for over 200,000 units sold in the UK. Over its evolution, the series has grown to over 270 episodes by , broadening its scope to incorporate artists from beyond the urban scene while maintaining a focus on raw, unscripted lyrical showcases through occasional themed releases; it continues to release new episodes, including those featuring FZ and Chy Cartier in October 2025. The production process occurs in-house at London-based studios, where artists lay down freestyles in a single take to capture authentic energy, followed by visual shoots emphasizing minimalistic backdrops that prioritize talent over elaborate sets.

Rated Awards

The Rated Awards were established in by GRM Daily in partnership with KA Drinks to honor achievements in , grime, , and R&B, marking a milestone in recognizing urban music genres often overlooked by mainstream ceremonies. The event serves as an annual platform celebrating Black British music excellence, providing an alternative to broader award shows by focusing specifically on these genres. The format features multiple categories such as Best Male Act, Best Female Act, Album of the Year, Best Track, and Best Video, with determined by votes and industry input; it includes live by nominees and guest artists, alongside hosts to present awards. Events are held in prominent venues, including Magazine London for the 2022 edition, emphasizing a high-energy atmosphere with arrivals and on-stage tributes. Key editions highlight evolving recognition within the scene, such as the 2022 ceremony where Dave won Album of the Year and collaborated with on the award-winning track "," which also secured Best Track and Best Video honors. No Rated Awards events have been confirmed for 2023 through 2025, suggesting a possible pause following the 2022 live return after virtual formats during the . Productions draw over 1,000 guests including artists, industry figures, and fans, with broadcast partnerships like E4 on enabling wider reach through live streams and televised airings. As a dedicated space for Black British talent, the Rated Awards underscore cultural impact by spotlighting genre-specific contributions and fostering community visibility beyond traditional award structures.

Other Content and Initiatives

In addition to its flagship series, GRM Daily produces a range of supplementary content focused on artist development and cultural commentary within the urban music scene. Regular features include in-depth artist interviews that explore career trajectories and creative processes, such as discussions with established figures like Chip on sustaining long-term success in the industry. premieres form another core offering through the GRM Premiere initiative, where emerging and established artists debut visuals exclusively on the platform, exemplified by recent releases like Glitch251's "Tokyo Flow" in September 2025. articles on the GRM Daily provide daily updates on urban music developments, covering new singles, project announcements, and scene insights, such as coverage of Enny's "" and Millyz & Potter Payper's collaborative track "A Long Time." Key initiatives extend GRM Daily's reach through curated and partnerships. The GRM Exclusives section on the website hosts editorial pieces ranging from think pieces to listicles, offering analytical takes on and spotlights. "GRM Exclusive" branded content includes behind-the-scenes videos and promotional materials developed in collaboration with record labels, providing platforms for targeted promotion. Playlists like "GRM Top Tier" on curate selections of prominent UK tracks, highlighting bangers from artists such as , while offerings like "Under The Radar" spotlight up-and-coming talent. Podcast launches, including the #TBC Podcast series, feature conversations with industry insiders like GRM Daily CEO Posty, delving into operational and cultural topics within urban music. The platform's website and social media channels amplify community engagement through consistent output and interactive formats. Daily articles on grmdaily.com aggregate news and exclusives, fostering a hub for urban music discourse, while Instagram and TikTok accounts share short-form clips, live streams of events, and user-generated interactions to build audience loyalty. By the 2020s, GRM Daily expanded its coverage to international urban music and genre crossovers, such as afroswing, with dedicated playlists featuring artists like Kojo Funds, Lotto Boyzz, and Tion Wayne that blend UK rap, dancehall, and afrobeats influences. Recent examples include premieres of cross-cultural collaborations, like Blaqbonez & Pa Salieu's "Aura 4 Aura," which bridges Nigerian and UK sounds, and Fred Again..'s work with Ezra Collective, incorporating jazz elements into electronic urban tracks.

Impact and Legacy

Influence on UK Urban Music

GRM Daily has played a pivotal role in platforming emerging talent within the UK urban music scene, providing early exposure to artists before their mainstream breakthroughs. For instance, the platform featured in underground videos prior to his 2015 rise with "," helping to build his initial fanbase in the grime community. Similarly, Dave received early promotion through GRM Daily's content, including freestyles and videos that showcased his lyrical prowess as a teenager, contributing to his trajectory toward commercial success. made his notable debut on GRM Daily with the track "Golden Boot" in 2017, shortly after his release from , which introduced his distinctive skippy flow and drill bars to a wider audience, accelerating his ascent in the genre. By creating a hub for independent artists, GRM Daily fostered an ecosystem that enabled free uploads and widespread exposure, significantly influencing the revivals of drill and grime in the 2010s. The platform's YouTube channel, launched in 2009, allowed unsigned rappers to share music videos without traditional gatekeepers, democratizing access and nurturing a new wave of talent in these genres. This approach not only sustained grime's momentum during its resurgence but also propelled drill from London's streets to national prominence, as GRM documented and amplified raw, street-level sounds that might otherwise have remained localized. GRM Daily's cultural impact lies in bridging the underground and commercial spheres of UK urban music while promoting diversity within Black British expressions. By featuring a range of voices, including those from diasporic backgrounds, the platform highlighted the multifaceted nature of Black British creativity, moving beyond monolithic representations to encompass varied influences in rap and related genres. A key example is its role in popularizing through dedicated video shares and playlists starting in 2017, which helped artists like Kojo Funds and blend , , and rap elements, enriching the urban music landscape with hybrid sounds. Over the long term, GRM Daily has contributed to the global rise of , with its content frequently cited in artists' origin stories by the 2020s. Figures like have described the platform as the "holy grail of Black British music," underscoring its foundational influence in launching careers that achieved international acclaim. This enduring legacy is evident in how GRM's early support for talents like Dave and informed narratives of perseverance and community in urban music's worldwide expansion.

Achievements and Recognition

GRM Daily has achieved significant digital milestones, particularly on , where its channel amassed 6.67 million subscribers and over 8 billion total views as of November 2025. This growth underscores the platform's dominance in delivering urban music content to a global audience, with consistent uploads driving engagement through , freestyles, and interviews. The channel's revenue streams, primarily from and sponsorships, generated an estimated $1.2 million annually, reflecting its commercial viability in the competitive landscape. The platform's flagship Daily Duppy series has also garnered chart success and certifications, with three tracks achieving Silver status from the (BPI) by 2022, including those featuring Aitch (certified August 2020), (certified December 2022), and Fredo (certified October 2022). These certifications, each denoting over 200,000 units sold or streamed, highlight the series' role in propelling artists toward mainstream recognition while establishing GRM Daily as a key tastemaker in . Additionally, the company's operational expansion to over 15 staff members by 2024 supported this content production and business scaling. GRM Daily received notable industry recognition, including a feature-length interview with co-founder Koby 'Post' Hagan on the cover of Music Week in March 2022, where the platform was profiled as a leading empire in Black British music. It has been widely acknowledged as the largest UK urban music outlet, often described as the epicentre of Black British music due to its extensive reach and influence on emerging talent. The platform marked its 15th anniversary in 2024 with high-profile events like the GRM Gala, celebrating its enduring impact and longevity in the industry. In August 2025, GRM Daily hosted its annual GRM Gala, gathering leading industry figures to celebrate Black excellence in UK urban music.

Controversies and Challenges

Major Incidents

One of the earliest major incidents linked to GRM Daily occurred during its first anniversary party on April 11, 2010, at a warehouse in , north-west . Around 4 a.m., a gunman fired multiple shots from a toward the DJ booth in the invite-only event attended by approximately 600 people, injuring three individuals: DJ Werewolf, who was shot in the chest and buttocks; a 21-year-old woman shot in the back and arm; and a 24-year-old man shot in the ankle. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and all victims were hospitalized and stabilized. The Metropolitan Police's Trident team launched an investigation, describing the shooter as "extremely dangerous" and attributing the lack of fatalities to luck, while three men were arrested following a related car crash and later bailed. Event organizer Donatella Panayiotou, associated with Grime Daily, issued a public apology on Twitter, expressing support for the victims and emphasizing unity within the community. Grime Daily organizers described the shooting as an isolated incident and pledged to improve safety measures for future events. In September 2018, violence erupted backstage at the GRM Daily Rated Awards ceremony held at the Eventim Apollo in , . Rapper Young Spray, whose real name is Leon Riviere, was repeatedly stabbed in a dressing room altercation involving rivals, leaving him in a pool of blood; he was rushed to a in serious condition but later discharged and shared a recovery update on . A 37-year-old man was arrested two weeks later on suspicion of and remained in custody as the investigation continued. The event itself proceeded without further disruption, with the venue confirming the assault and cooperating with authorities. These incidents prompted immediate police involvement in both cases, including dedicated incident rooms for the 2010 and ongoing inquiries for the 2018 stabbing, though no temporary pauses in GRM Daily events were reported. In response to the 2010 , organizers committed to enhanced protocols for subsequent gatherings, reflecting broader concerns over safety at urban music events.

Broader Criticisms

GRM Daily has drawn criticism for its role in promoting music, a genre often accused of glorifying violence and exacerbating gang culture during the . Academics and reports have highlighted how platforms promoting amplify lyrics and videos depicting gang rivalries and knife crime, potentially inciting real-world harm by lending credibility to threats that rappers feel compelled to fulfill. This scrutiny intensified amid efforts to ban certain drill tracks and videos, with critics arguing that widespread distribution on such channels contributes to youth violence in deprived areas. The platform has also faced ongoing concerns over diversity and representation, particularly its predominantly male-centric content that marginalizes and LGBTQ+ artists in the urban music space. Industry analyses point to systemic underrepresentation in , where women comprise less than 6% of signed artists on related labels, prompting calls in the for platforms like GRM to prioritize inclusive programming and challenge genre norms. Copyright and platform policy issues have marked GRM Daily's operations, exemplified by the 2011 takedown of its original YouTube channel, which forced a rebuild and adoption of stricter content guidelines to avoid further disruptions. Although the precise cause remains unclear, the incident underscored vulnerabilities to content moderation for emerging urban platforms using unlicensed or flagged material. In response to these concerns, GRM Daily has implemented commitments to responsible content, such as addressing the policing of and its societal impacts. The platform has also pursued diversity initiatives post-2020, including features on female empowerment tracks and broader inclusion in events like the Rated Awards to amplify underrepresented voices.

References

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