BET Suspends Two Iconic Music Award Shows After Nearly Four Decades originally appeared on Parade.
BET has reportedly suspended its annual Hip-Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards as part of ongoing Paramount Global merger and restructuring efforts.
The network’s decision affects two of its most beloved award shows, though executives emphasize this is a temporary pause rather than permanent cancellation.
Speaking with Billboard, BET President Scott Mills announced that the two shows are being temporarily paused. “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,” Mills said. “They aren’t gone.”
The network executive also told the outlet that the programs have not been officially canceled and are currently being shopped to other networks.
“We have a team that’s actively thinking about where those award shows might best live as the media climate continues to evolve,” Mills assured.
The Soul Train Awards have deep roots in Black music culture, inspired by the iconic Soul Train TV show. Created by the show’s founder, Don Cornelius, in 1987, the awards recognize achievements in Black music, with an emphasis on soul music, contemporary R&B, gospel, jazz, reggae and hip-hop.
This 38-year tradition has honored countless artists and helped showcase the evolution of Black music across multiple genres. The last Soul Train Awards took place in 2023, hosted by Keke Palmer.
The network did not air the awards show in 2024 or 2025. Before this hiatus, BET had broadcast the event annually since 1987, except for a break in 2008.
The Hip-Hop Awards, on the other hand, are a relatively more recent addition. Established in 2006, this annual BET music awards show honors accomplishments in hip-hop music.
The show has become a cornerstone event for hip-hop culture, celebrating both established and emerging artists in the genre. The most recent Hip-Hop Awards aired on BET in October 2024, with Fat Joe serving as host.
However, Mills did not address the status of the BET Awards, the network’s flagship awards show. Referred to as “culture’s biggest night,” it celebrates Black artists across the board — from music, sports and film to television and philanthropy.
The pause of these shows comes amid broader shifts in the entertainment industry, as streaming services change the way audiences engage with content and media companies undergo major restructuring.
BET Suspends Two Iconic Music Award Shows After Nearly Four Decades first appeared on Parade on Aug 8, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
