BET has suspended the BET Hip-Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards indefinitely, according to CEO Scott Mills. He clarified that the shows are not canceled but are being reimagined to adapt to the evolving media landscape, with the team exploring whether they might shift to streaming or another platform. Mills emphasized that BET still produces the NAACP Image Awards and Stellar Awards, and the main BET Awards continue as usual.
The Soul Train Awards began in 1987, and the BET Hip-Hop Awards launched in 2006, both celebrating Black music and culture. The network recently announced a new version of “106 & Park,” rebranded as “106 & Sports,” in collaboration with Spring Hill Entertainment. The weekly show is expected to launch this fall with a strong guest lineup, reflecting BET’s interest in merging music and sports.
Paramount Global had previously put BET up for sale, reportedly pricing it between $1.6 and $1.7 billion. Mills, who became CEO in 2021 after joining BET in 1997, was among those approached. Past interested buyers include Byron Allen, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Tyler Perry.
