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BET Suspends Soul Train and Hip Hop Awards Indefinitely for Digital Reimagining

Citing plunging linear ratings, BET plans to explore streaming platforms for its flagship music ceremonies

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Overview

  • BET CEO Scott Mills confirmed on August 6 that the Soul Train Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards are suspended indefinitely on its linear network and may return on different platforms.
  • Nielsen data show awards show viewership has declined more than 30 percent since 2015, with the 2025 BET Awards seeing a 50 percent drop from the previous year.
  • The network is evaluating digital-first strategies, including standalone streaming events, interactive fan voting and hybrid models to modernize its music awards.
  • BET will continue to air the NAACP Image Awards and the Stellar Awards on linear television while it reassesses its music event lineup.
  • The Soul Train Awards’ previous hiatus in 2008 and subsequent revival offers a precedent for how these ceremonies might reemerge, though no timeline has been set.