What’s next for the BET Hip Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards?

I grew up watching BET. By the time I discovered it, the network had already been sold to Viacom, now Paramount. Still, for me and many others, it was one of the few channels where Black culture wasn’t just mentioned — it was the focal point. It was the place to watch the hottest music videos, classic Black movies and sitcoms and see moments in hip hop culture unfold in real time.

Last week, BET announced it will pause two of its most recognizable events: the BET Hip Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards.

“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,” BET CEO Scott Mills said in an interview with Billboard, hinting that the shows could return in a new format or on a different platform.

BET was launched in 1980 by former lobbyist Bob Johnson. It began as a small program airing for about two hours a week, but it quickly expanded and became a staple in the community. For two decades, it thrived as a Black-owned and controlled network, shaping culture with original music programming, news and talk shows.

In 2001, Johnson sold BET to Viacom for $3 billion, marking the end of its Black ownership. Over the years, the network has faced ongoing debates over its direction, programming choices and commitment to the culture that built it.

For some, the news came as a surprise. Others expected it, especially after BET skipped the Soul Train Awards entirely in 2024 without notice. The announcement sparked a larger debate on social media about the state of BET and the reasons behind the indefinite suspension.

On X, reactions were mixed. Some fans saw it as a painful loss, while others said the shows had lost their impact years ago.

“And the BET Hip Hop Awards being cancelled is so disheartening but not shocking,” one user wrote. “I don’t want to say the genre itself has lost substance because that’s not the case, but majority of the artists [nominated and performing, etc.] don’t have any substance and lack actual artistry.”

When the Hip Hop Awards launched in 2006, it was one of the few places on national TV where rap could be celebrated as it was. The Soul Train Awards, which BET acquired in 2009, carried decades of history, honoring Black music’s past and present. 

Some in the music industry have also weighed in. Fat Joe and Jadakiss recently discussed the move on their “Joe and Jada Podcast.”

“BET, this is a form of gentrification, what’s going on right now,” Fat Joe said. He blamed the pause of the Hip Hop Awards on years of underfunding, contrasting it with the VMAs, which he said still feature extravagant sets and performances.

Although there are plenty of opinions and theories about what led to this moment — from declining cultural relevance to years of underfunding — the real test lies ahead. As BET reimagines its biggest events, the question remains whether the network can hold onto the role it once played in shaping the culture.