Latest news with #SoulTrainAwards
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why BET Has Suspended The Soul Train And Hip-Hop Awards
BET has officially hit pause on two of its most iconic shows: the BET Hip-Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards. Both award shows have reportedly been suspended indefinitely according to the network. BET CEO Scott Mills confirmed the news in an interview with Billboard, saying, 'So for BET linear, we have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows. 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.' Clarifying further, he added, '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?'' The BET Hip Hop Awards launched in 2006, while the Soul Train Awards traces back to 1987. For decades, both shows have celebrated artists and influential figures' contributions to Black culture and music. The original BET Awards currently remains active as it recently celebrated 25 years since its inception. BET also recently announced a revamping of its hit show 106 & Park into '106 & Sports.' Mills explained to Billboard, '106 & Sports is a collaboration with Spring Hill Entertainment, and everybody is working feverishly to get it ready to launch in the fall. We're going to start with a weekly show at that point with lots of wonderful guests. It will apply the best elements of the 106 & Park structure and format to the sports world.' He emphasized that while music remains central to BET, the network is recognizing how sports have become 'an integral part of the culture.' Adding another layer to the network's evolution, last year Paramount Global reportedly put BET on the market with an asking price between $1.6 and $1.7 billion. According to Variety, this exclusive offer was extended to potential buyers including Mills, who joined BET in 1997 and became CEO in 2021. Past prospective buyers included Tyler Perry, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and Byron Allen. More from 25 Years Later, '106 & Park' Hosts Revisit Show's Iconic Role In Black Music And Culture 310babii Makes 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards Debut With Medley Of Bops Maeta's Captivates With Soulful Rendition Of "Through The Night" At 2023 Soul Train Awards Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fat Joe Calls Pause On BET Hip-Hop Awards 'Gentrification'
Fat Joe and Jadakiss had an honest conversation about BET. The two rappers, who now host the Joe and Jada podcast, spoke out about recent news that the network has suspended the production of the BET Hip-Hop Awards, as well as the Soul Train Awards. 'This is a form of gentrification, what's going on. I don't know if you really want to ask me about this sh*t,' explained the Bronx rapper. He continued to share his theory about the slow downfall of the network. 'BET came up as a community station for Black people and urban culture. Our man Bob Johnson took the check…he sold it to Viacom Paramount. MTV and them. VH1 and them. Little by little over the years, quietly, they've been firing a lot of people behind the scenes at BET, and everybody who has something to say, they been firing them. And I know 'cause I've been working on the BET Hip-Hop Awards for three years. Sh*t was like the budget, not for me, but the budget just kept getting chopped and chopped and chopped.' Fat Joe went on to compare the Hip-Hop awards to other ceremonies, including the Video Music Awards. 'Last year, I debuted my single with [DJ] Khaled at the VMAs, and Katy Perry still flying through the air… They still got all the tricks. They still got the budgets. They got the sh*t. I think in the entertainment world, this is a form of gentrification. They kept underfunding them, underfunding them, underfunding them. And you ain't got no money to be creative. That's why you was watching the 'ratchet awards' and all that. They ain't had no bread.' 'They have bread for what they wanna have bread for,' interjected Jadakiss. The reaction comes after BET CEO Scott Mills confirmed earlier this week that there would be a shift at the platform regarding the two mainstays. 'So for BET linear, we have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows. 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,' he explained. Watch Fat Joe and Jadakiss break down their thoughts below. More from Fat Joe's Attorney Responds After Lawyer Tyrone Blackburn's Arrest For Assault On Process Server Shannon Sharpe Blasts Jim Jones For Nas Comparisons In Viral Clip Jadakiss Takes Center Stage At Stormy All About Us Juneteenth Festival In N.J. Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
BET CEO says network has 'suspended' Soul Train and Hip-Hop Awards
BET has reportedly suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop Awards, two of its annual music awards shows. "So for BET linear, we have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows," BET CEO Scott Mills said in an interview with Billboard published on Aug. 5. According to the outlet, Mills added, "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." BET declined to comment to USA TODAY. What are the BET Soul Train Awards? The Soul Train Awards is an annual music awards show. "Soul Train" program creator Don Cornelius established the awards show in 1987 to recognize achievements in Black music, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. The awards show originally aired for syndication on various cable networks, but moved to BET by the mid-2000s, according to IMDb. The Soul Train Awards most recently aired in November 2023. That year, it was hosted by Keke Palmer and attended by stars like Janelle Monáe, T-Pain, and Coco Jones. BET skipped the ceremony in 2024. More news: Will the Skims face wrap snatch your chin? Here's what experts say What are the BET Hip-Hop Awards? The BET Hip-Hop Awards, which began airing in 2006, is an annual ceremony showcasing hip hop artists, performers and producers. The show most recently aired on Oct. 5, 2024 and was hosted by Fat Joe. According to BET, the Hip Hop Awards "celebrates the best in Hip Hop from the past year." In 2024, awards were given in 17 categories. Winners were chosen by a "prestigious voting academy of industry experts," according to the network. 'Such a shame': Internet reacts to reported suspension of BET Soul Train, Hip Hop Awards Many on social media said they weren't surprised by the shows' cancellations, especially because of changing viewership habits and changes in the industry. "Might be good to stop & move with intention on how to champion Black art especially since big names don't show up anymore," one person said on X. Another said, "Amidst BET canceling the Soul Train Awards and the Hip Hop Awards, I agree it's because we no longer have SUPERSTARS." Others expressed disappointment. "Cancelling soul train awards whilst R&B is having a commercial resurgence is such a shame," one user said. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Black America Web
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
BET Suspends Hip Hop & Soul Train Awards 'Indefinitely'
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty BET sent shockwaves through the industry by suspending two of its most iconic awards shows: the BET Hip Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards. Both have been indefinitely shelved, with no official return date or promise that they'll ever come back. The BET Hip Hop Awards has been a staple in the rap community since 2006, best known for its legendary cyphers, performances, and moments that consistently shaped conversations in and around Hip-Hop. The Soul Train Awards, rooted in Don Cornelius' legendary franchise, have been celebrating the best in R&B and soul since 1987. This is a major loss for Black music fans across the board. RELATED: Gallery: Black Couples We Swooned Over At The 2025 BET Awards CEO Scott Mills confirmed the decision to Billboard , saying: 'We have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows. 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.' Still, we're all wondering: if not on BET, then where? While Mills stated that this isn't a final farewell and pointed to BET's continued involvement in the NAACP Image Awards and the Stellar Awards, the news sparked major concern about the direction of the network and its support of Black music programming. So far, there's no word on what form (if any) these ceremonies could take in the future. But one thing's for sure: losing both shows at once feels like losing two cultural institutions. SEE ALSO BET Suspends Hip Hop & Soul Train Awards 'Indefinitely' was originally published on
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
BET pauses Soul Train Awards and Hip Hop Awards
BET is putting its annual Soul Train Awards and Hip Hop Awards on pause. With the way in which people consume media now firmly rooted in social media and streaming platforms, the cable network has decided to rethink how it delivers the celebrations. BET CEO Scott Mills told Billboard: 'We have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows.' He explained: '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?'' The decision comes amid broader shifts in how audiences engage with entertainment. Traditional cable viewership continues to decline, and networks are increasingly pivoting toward digital-first strategies. Mills acknowledged that ratings for the shows had dipped but emphasised that the quality of the productions remained high. 'Viewership was down. However, the cable ecosystem is smaller today than it was a year ago. That's just the reality of it. 'It was an extraordinary show. And honestly, I attribute the viewership declines less to the declines in the cable ecosystem and more to the fact that we moved the night of the show.' The Soul Train Awards and Hip Hop Awards - which celebrate excellence in Black culture - will aim to find a way to continue appealing to younger generations. Mills insisted: 'We're not walking away from these brands. "We're just stepping back to make sure they evolve in a way that reflects how people live and connect today.' The flagship BET Awards are still very much going ahead in 2026. This year's edition saw Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Doechii come away with prizes.
