BET Pulls the Plug on Hip Hop and Soul Train Awards

BET has shocked the culture by pulling the plug on its two most celebrated award shows—without a clear reason why.

via: Baller Alert

BET has made a major move that’s catching a lot of people off guard. The network has officially suspended both the BET Hip Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards indefinitely. Yes, that means two of the most culturally significant nights in Black music have no set date to return, and there’s no word on whether they ever will.

This isn’t just about two award shows. The BET Hip Hop Awards has been the go-to celebration of rap and hip hop culture since 2006, known for its cyphers, bold performances, and moments that made headlines. Likewise, the Soul Train Awards have been honoring R&B and soul since 1987, highlighting legends while giving shine to emerging talent.

BET CEO Scott Mills confirmed, “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 added, “It’s not about them being over. It’s about reimagining how we deliver them in today’s fast-changing media landscape.”

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I seriously hope the Soul Train awards won't be going away indefinitely because TSTA is the award show that celebrates black excellence. Unfortunately award shows don't hold the same weight as they once did, but If you are going to continue in the award show landscape you have to reinvent yourself in a way that will get audiences wanting to tune in to your show.