Overview

• BET has suspended the Soul Train Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards on its linear channel indefinitely, with no set return date.
• Nielsen data shows music award ratings have fallen over 30% since 2015 and the 2025 BET Awards recorded a 50% year-over-year decline, while Paramount Global’s cost-cutting and a shrinking cable ecosystem have compounded the challenge.
• Scott Mills said the awards are not cancelled but will be reimagined for digital-first distribution to meet shifting audience habits.
• Internal sources indicate BET is developing hybrid formats that could combine live performances with interactive fan voting and short-form digital segments on streaming and social platforms.
• BET will continue to air the NAACP Image Awards and Stellar Awards on its cable network as it reevaluates its music ceremony lineup.