BET Suspends Both Soul Train and Hip Hop Awards Indefinitely
If you’re one of the millions who tune in every year for the Soul Train Awards or the BET Hip Hop Awards, you might wanna sit down for this one—because both shows have officially been put on pause.
Yup, you read that right. In a new interview with Billboard, BET CEO Scott Mills confirmed what fans have been whispering about online for months: BET is suspending both the Soul Train and Hip Hop Awards indefinitely. And while it’s not a full-on cancellation, it’s definitely not the comeback news we were hoping for either.
Mills addressed the rumors head-on, saying:
“I would say that it’s less about them being no longer and more about our team having to reimagine them for this changing media landscape that we find ourselves in. I think what we’re going to see are more people taking franchises and saying, ‘This might have started on linear television, but now I’m going to move it to another space. Do I move it to streaming? Or do I move it to another platform?’”
Translation? They’re not killing the shows—they’re just not sure where they belong anymore.
Why BET Pulled The Plug—At Least For Now
According to Mills, it all comes down to how people are consuming content in today’s digital world. While traditional TV is still around, most folks now live on streaming platforms and social media—which means shows like this have to adapt or disappear.
“So for BET linear, we have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows,” he said. “But we have a team that’s actively thinking about where those award shows might best live as the media climate continues to evolve. They aren’t gone. And we also still have the NAACP Image Awards and the Stellar Awards.”
So it’s not the end. But it is a major shift—especially for fans who grew up watching these culture-defining shows every year.
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The Legacy of the Soul Train & BET Hip Hop Awards
Just to refresh your memory: the Soul Train Awards first aired back in 1987, honoring the best in soul, R&B, and gospel music while celebrating Black excellence and culture. That red carpet has seen everybody from Aretha to Beyoncé, and the performances? Legendary.
Meanwhile, the BET Hip Hop Awards debuted in 2006, quickly becoming hip hop’s night to shine, with freestyles, cyphers, and iconic tributes that felt way more authentic than most mainstream awards ever dared to be.
These shows weren’t just about trophies—they were about community, culture, and showcasing raw talent from all corners of the Black music world.
So Why Are Major Award Shows Getting Canceled?
BET isn’t the only network pulling back. We’ve seen a slow industry-wide fade-out of traditional award shows in recent years. Ratings are down across the board, ad dollars are shifting to digital, and younger audiences? They’re catching highlights on TikTok—not sitting through a two-hour broadcast.
Even the Golden Globes and MTV VMAs have struggled to stay relevant. It’s not about the value of the culture—it’s about how the culture is accessed.
For BET, that means figuring out where the next Soul Train Awards lives—maybe on YouTube, maybe on a streaming app, or maybe somewhere new entirely.
What’s Next for BET and Black Award Culture?
Despite the suspension, BET says it’s still dedicated to celebrating Black artists and excellence. Shows like the NAACP Image Awards and the Stellar Awards will continue, and there’s talk of reimagining both the Soul Train and Hip Hop Awards in a more digital-friendly format.
It’s not the goodbye tour—it’s more like a hiatus while they figure out what’s next.