# Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards ceremony which honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the production company of Soul Train, the program from which it takes its name, and features musical performances by various contemporary R&B and soul music recording artists interspersed throughout the ceremonies. The special traditionally previously aired in February, March or April; it currently airs during the last weekend of November (in most years, Thanksgiving weekend).
The Soul Train Music Awards voting body includes active professionals in the fields of radio programming and music retail and management and recording artists with records that have charted in designated music trade publications in the year prior to proceedings. Past hosts include such R&B luminaries as Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, and Gladys Knight.
The Soul Train Music Award trophy has featured an African ceremonial mask since its 1987 introduction. A new trophy was designed by Tristan Eaton of Thunderdog Studios in 2009 and is manufactured by the New York firm Society Awards. From 1995 to 2005 a separate award show named Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards was held, honoring female artists.

## History

The 2008 ceremonies were not held due to several factors, including the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, the ill health of Don Cornelius at the time, and Soul Train distributor Tribune Entertainment terminating operations in the wake of the sale of Tribune Media to Sam Zell. With the rights to Soul Train acquired by MadVision Entertainment, the Soul Train Music Awards were presented on November 24, 2009 on BET Her. MadVision now holds the rerun rights to Soul Train.
The 2009 ceremony was held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, marking the first time in the show's 22-year history it was held outside of the Greater Los Angeles. The 2010 awards was held on November 10 just outside Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, and aired November 28. The 2011 show was once again held in Atlanta and aired November 27. The 2012 ceremony was held live on November 25 at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. As of 2019, Beyoncé is the most-awarded artist at the Soul Train Music Awards with 16 awards.

## Trophy

The original trophy is a bronze abstract sitting figure known as the Vanguard in 1987. However, the trophy is an African mask which is known as the Heritage Award. Its distinctive design created by an unknown sculptor, but its remains a visual trademark for Soul Train's representation of Black music.
From 1989 to 2007, the Heritage mask remained the trophy for Soul Train Music Awards until 2009 when BET and its sister channel Centric revived the awards. Thunderdog designed a brand new trophy based on the program's mascot, an actual train.

## Ceremonies

| # | Date | Host | Venue |
| 01 | 1987 | Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 02 | 1988 | Dionne Warwick | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 03 | 1989 | Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle and Ahmad Rashad | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 04 | 1990 | Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle and Luther Vandross | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 05 | 1991 | Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle and Luther Vandross | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 06 | 1992 | Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, Will Smith and Vanessa Williams | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 07 | 1993 | Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross and Natalie Cole | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 08 | 1994 | Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Johnny Gill | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 09 | 1995 | Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker and Babyface | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 10 | 1996 | Brandy, LL Cool J and Anita Baker | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 11 | 1997 | Brandy, LL Cool J and Gladys Knight | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 12 | 1998 | Patti LaBelle, Heavy D and Erykah Badu | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 13 | 1999 | Tyra Banks, Monica and Brian McKnight | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 14 | 2000 | Shemar Moore, Lisa "Left-Eye Lopes, Tamia and Eric Benét | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 15 | 2001 | Shemar Moore, Mýa and Queen Latifah | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 16 | 2002 | Shemar Moore, Arsenio Hall, Yolanda Adams and Faith Evans | Los Angeles Memorial Sport Arena, Los Angeles, California |
| 17 | 2003 | Queen Latifah and Arsenio Hall | Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, California |
| 18 | 2004 | Alicia Keys and Babyface | International Cultural Center Auditorium, Los Angeles, California |
| 19 | 2005 | Brian McKnight, Fantasia, Nick Cannon and Nicole Richie | Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, California |
| 20 | 2006 | Vivica A. Fox and Tyrese | Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, California |
| 21 | 2007 | LeToya Luckett and Omarion | Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, California |
| 22 | 2009 | Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson | Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta |
| 23 | 2010 | Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson | Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta |
| 24 | 2011 | Cedric the Entertainer | Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta |
| 25 | 2012 | Cedric the Entertainer | Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, Las Vegas Strip |
| 26 | 2013 | Anthony Anderson | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 27 | 2014 | Wendy Williams | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 28 | 2015 | Erykah Badu | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 29 | 2016 | Erykah Badu | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 30 | 2017 | Erykah Badu | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 31 | 2018 | Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 32 | 2019 | Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 33 | 2020 | Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold | Held Virtually |
| 34 | 2021 | Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold | Apollo Theater, New York City |
| 35 | 2022 | Deon Cole | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas |
| 36 | 2023 | Keke Palmer | House Party, Los Angeles |

## Soul Cypher

In 2015, host Erykah Badu added a new tradition to the award show, the Soul Cypher. Similar to a Hip-Hop cypher, it features a quartet of R&B/Soul/Gospel singers coming together to perform a freestyle. Accompanied by an instrumental beat and a live band, the artists deliver a freestyle arrangement by incorporating lyrics, hooks and/or titles from their popular hits. A UK version of the Soul Cypher was introduced during the 2020 broadcast.
| Year | Artists | Instrumental Beat |
| 2015 | Lalah Hathaway, Eddie Levert, Chrisette Michele & K-Ci | Mobb Deep – "Shook Ones Pt. 1" |
| 2016 | Gladys Knight, Ne-Yo, Angie Stone & Tyrese | Bryson Tiller – "Don't" |
| 2017 | Bilal, Faith Evans, Fantasia & Mali Music | The Isley Brothers – "Footsteps in the Dark (Part 1 & 2)" |
| 2018 | BJ the Chicago Kid, Luke James, Queen Naija & Kelly Price | Patti LaBelle – "If Only You Knew" |
| 2019 | Keyshia Cole, Anthony Hamilton, Le'Andria Johnson & Carl Thomas | Robert Glasper – "Impromptu Medley" |
| 2020 | Chanté Moore, PJ Morton, Shanice & Stokley | Erykah Badu – "Love of My Life" |
| 2021 | Tone Stith, Koryn Hawthorne, Jac Ross, Elle Varner, & Musiq Soulchild | Aaliyah – "Rock the Boat" |

### UK Soul Cypher

| Year | Artists | Instrumental Beat |
| 2020 | Hamzaa, Jvck James, Sinéad Harnett & Shae Universe | D'Angelo – "Lady" |
| 2021 | Nao, Ray BLK, SIPHO., Pip Millett, Jamilah Barry & Mnelia | Aaliyah – "Rock the Boat" |

## Award categories
### Main awards

* Album of the Year
* Video of the Year
* Song of the Year
* The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award
* Best New Artist
* Rhythm & Bars Award
* Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
* Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
* Best Dance Performance
* Best Gospel/Inspirational Song
* Best Collaboration
* Certified Award, formerly Centric Award

### Special awards

* Soul Train Music Award for Quincy Jones Award for Career Achievement
* Soul Train Music Award for Heritage Award – Career Achievement
* Soul Train Music Award for Sammy Davis Jr. – Entertainer of the Year
* Artist of the Decade Award for Extraordinary Artistic Achievements
* Soul Train Music Award for Stevie Wonder Award for Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting

### Defunct award categories

* Best Gospel Album
* Best Gospel Album – Group or Band
* Best Gospel Album – Solo
* Best Jazz Album
* Best Jazz Album – Group, Band or Duo
* Best Jazz Album – Solo
* Best Rap Single
* Best Rap Album
* Best R&B/Soul Album – Male
* Best R&B/Soul Album – Female
* Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo
* Best R&B/Soul Single – Male
* Best R&B/Soul Single – Female
* Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo
* The Sprite Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut

## Most awarded artists

| Artist(s) | No. of wins |
| Beyoncé | 25 |
| Chris Brown | 14 |
| Bruno Mars | 14 |
| Janet Jackson | 13 |
| Babyface | 11 |
| R. Kelly | 11 |
| Michael Jackson | 10 |
| Alicia Keys | 12 |
| Usher | 12 |
| Kirk Franklin | 8 |
| Whitney Houston | 8 |
| Anita Baker | 7 |
| Mary J. Blige | 7 |
| John Legend | 7 |
| Erykah Badu | 6 |
| Mariah Carey | 6 |
| Maxwell | 6 |
| SZA | 6 |
| Cardi B | 5 |
| Boyz II Men | 5 |
| Ciara | 5 |
| H.E.R. | 5 |
| Lauryn Hill | 5 |
| The Isley Brothers | 5 |
| TLC | 5 |
| Toni Braxton | 4 |
| Destiny's Child | 4 |
| Drake | 4 |
| Jamie Foxx | 4 |
| Jay Z | 4 |
| Lil Wayne | 4 |
| Pharrell Williams | 4 |
| B2K | 3 |
| Brandy | 3 |
| Natalie Cole | 3 |
| D'Angelo | 3 |
| En Vogue | 3 |
| Lizzo | 3 |
| LL Cool J | 3 |
| Ella Mai | 3 |
| Mary Mary | 3 |
| Miguel | 3 |
| Musiq Soulchild | 3 |
| Missy Elliott | 3 |
| Najee | 3 |
| Nelly | 3 |
| New Edition | 3 |
| OutKast | 3 |
| Rihanna | 3 |
| Jill Scott | 3 |
| Soul II Soul | 3 |
| Tyga | 3 |
| Luther Vandross | 3 |
| Kanye West | 3 |
| Barry White | 3 |
| The Winans | 3 |
| 2Pac | 2 |
| Gregory Abbott | 2 |
| Yolanda Adams | 2 |
| Ashanti | 2 |
| Tamar Braxton | 2 |
| Daniel Caesar | 2 |
| Cameo | 2 |
| Dr. Dre | 2 |
| Faith Evans | 2 |
| Fat Joe | 2 |
| French Montana | 2 |
| Kenny G | 2 |
| Johnny Gill | 2 |
| Dru Hill | 2 |
| Keri Hilson | 2 |
| Jagged Edge | 2 |
| Jodeci | 2 |
| Quincy Jones | 2 |
| Gladys Knight | 2 |
| Lecrae | 2 |
| Ledisi | 2 |
| LeVert | 2 |
| Remy Ma | 2 |
| Donnie McClurkin | 2 |
| Janelle Monáe | 2 |
| The Notorious B.I.G. | 2 |
| Sean Paul | 2 |
| Prince | 2 |
| Puff Daddy | 2 |
| Mark Ronson | 2 |
| Kelly Rowland | 2 |
| Run–D.M.C. | 2 |
| Trey Songz | 2 |
| Jazmine Sullivan | 2 |
| T.I. | 2 |
| Robin Thicke | 2 |
| The Weeknd | 2 |
| BeBe & CeCe Winans | 2 |
| Wizkid | 2 |