The BET Awards are an American award show that was established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate Black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy. The awards, which are presented annually, are broadcast live on BET. The annual presentation ceremony features performances by artists; some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a televised ceremony.
BET Awards | |
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Current: BET Awards 2024 | |
![]() A BET Award from 2018 | |
Awarded for | Outstanding achievements in the entertainment industry |
Country | United States |
Presented by | BET |
First awarded | June 19, 2001 |
Website | http://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards.html ![]() |
Trophy
editThe Award Trophy, inspired by three words - aspire, ascend, achieve, was designed by artist/sculptor Carlos "Mare139" Rodriguez.[1] Outkast won the first award trophy during the first ceremony in 2001. In 2007, Society Awards, the New York firm who manufactures the award, enhanced the quality of the trophy design using plated steel and black crystal.
List of ceremonies
editThe inaugural ceremony in 2001 was held at the Paris Las Vegas resort on the Las Vegas Strip. From 2002 to 2005, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood hosted the awards. From 2006 to 2012, the ceremonies were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The ceremony was moved to the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in 2013.
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# | Date | Venue | Host city | Host |
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1st | June 19, 2001 | Paris Las Vegas | Las Vegas | Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer |
2nd | June 29, 2002 | Kodak Theatre | Los Angeles | |
3rd | June 24, 2003 | Mo'Nique | ||
4th | June 29, 2004 | |||
5th | June 28, 2005 | Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith | ||
6th | June 27, 2006 | Shrine Auditorium | Damon Wayans | |
7th | June 26, 2007 | Mo'Nique | ||
8th | June 24, 2008 | D. L. Hughley | ||
9th | June 28, 2009 | Jamie Foxx | ||
10th | June 27, 2010 | Queen Latifah | ||
11th | June 26, 2011 | Kevin Hart | ||
12th | July 1, 2012 | Samuel L. Jackson | ||
13th | June 30, 2013 | Nokia Theatre/ Microsoft Theater |
Chris Tucker | |
14th | June 29, 2014 | Chris Rock | ||
15th | June 28, 2015 | Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross | ||
16th | June 26, 2016 | |||
17th | June 25, 2017 | Leslie Jones | ||
18th | June 24, 2018 | Jamie Foxx | ||
19th | June 23, 2019 | Regina Hall | ||
20th | June 28, 2020 | Virtual show | Amanda Seales | |
21st | June 27, 2021 | Microsoft Theater/ Peacock Theater |
Los Angeles | Taraji P. Henson |
22nd | June 26, 2022 | |||
23rd | June 25, 2023 | — | ||
24th | June 30, 2024 | Taraji P. Henson |
Ratings
editYear | Day | Date | BET | Cumulative | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Household rating | 18–49 rating | Viewers (in millions) |
18–49 rating | Viewers (in millions) | ||||
2001 | Tuesday | June 19 | 4.3 | Unknown | 5.20 | No simulcast | [2] | |
2002 | June 25 | 4.0 | Unknown | 4.40 | [2] | |||
2003 | June 24 | 4.3 | Unknown | 5.50 | [2] | |||
2004 | June 29 | 3.4 | Unknown | 5.60 | [3][4] | |||
2005 | June 28 | 3.7 | Unknown | 6.58 | [5] | |||
2006 | June 27 | 4.9 | Unknown | 6.60 | [6] | |||
2007 | June 26 | 3.4 | Unknown | 6.39 | [7] | |||
2008 | June 24 | 3.2 | Unknown | 5.85 | [8] | |||
2009 | Sunday | June 28 | Unknown | Unknown | 10.65 | [9] | ||
2010 | June 27 | Unknown | Unknown | 7.40 | [10] | |||
2011 | June 26 | Unknown | 3.3 | 7.71 | [11] | |||
2012 | July 1 | Unknown | 3.2 | 7.42 | [12] | |||
2013 | June 30 | Unknown | 3.4 | 7.77 | [13] | |||
2014 | June 29 | Unknown | 3.1 | 7.50 | Unknown | 7.90 | [14][15] | |
2015 | June 28 | Unknown | 2.6 | 6.27 | Unknown | 6.50 | [16][15] | |
2016 | June 26 | Unknown | 1.9 | 4.50 | 4.3 | 7.20 | [17][18] | |
2017 | June 25 | Unknown | 1.5 | 3.83 | 3.5 | 5.80 | [19][20] | |
2018 | June 24 | Unknown | 1.2 | 2.87 | 1.8 | 4.30 | [4][21] | |
2019 | June 23 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 2.43 | 1.5 | 3.79 | [22][23] | |
2020 | June 28 | Unknown | Unknown | 1.6 | 1.0 | 3.7 | [24] | |
2021 | June 27 | Unknown | Unknown | 1.7 | Unknown | 2.4 | [25] |
Nomination process
editThe nomination process is handled by a voting academy made up of about 500 people from the music industry, involving the media, and bloggers. BET sends out ballots electronically and voters nominate deserving works and artists in all categories who they think should be nominated. Nominations and voting ballots are collated by Yangaroo, Inc., a leading digital distribution firm that works on many other televised award ceremonies, including those of BET's sister networks under parent company Paramount Global. The top nominees are determined in each category, and the winners are selected via the academy members' voting process.[26][27][28]
Award categories
editCurrent awards
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Defunct awards
edit- Best Actor & Actress of the Year
- Best Gospel Artist (2001–16)
- J Cool Like That Award (2006–07)
- J Award (2008–09)
- Centric Award (2010–17)
- Best International Act: Africa (2011–17)
- Best International Act: UK (2011–16)
- FANdemonium Award (2010–16)
- International Viewers' Choice Award (2015–17)
- Best International Act: Europe (2017)
Special awards
editThe BET Lifetime Achievement, Humanitarian and Ultimate Icon Award recipients, along with the nominees for other categories are announced in a press conference. At the awards ceremony a mini-documentary is shown covering the honorees' life. The awards are given out separately. The Ultimate Icon Award was created in 2015 and presented in the ceremony.
- Lifetime Achievement
The BET Lifetime Achievement Award is given a veteran artist or group who has made notable contributions to the music industry. The honoree is paid tribute to by current popular singers who perform the honoree's most recognized songs. The honoree will usually perform themselves after being paid tribute.
- 2001: Whitney Houston
- 2002: Earth Wind & Fire
- 2003: James Brown
- 2004: The Isley Brothers
- 2005: Gladys Knight
- 2006: Chaka Khan
- 2007: Diana Ross
- 2008: Al Green
- 2009: The O'Jays
- 2010: Prince
- 2011: Patti LaBelle
- 2012: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
- 2013: Charlie Wilson
- 2014: Lionel Richie
- 2015: Smokey Robinson
- 2016: Samuel L. Jackson
- 2017: New Edition
- 2018: Anita Baker
- 2019: Mary J. Blige
- 2021: Queen Latifah
- 2022: Sean Combs
- 2023: Busta Rhymes
- 2024: Usher
- Humanitarian
In 2002, at the second annual BET Awards, the category for the BET Award Humanitarian Award was created. The Humanitarian Award is given to a celebrity philanthropist who donates their time and money to a charitable cause.
- 2002: Muhammad Ali
- 2003: Earvin "Magic" Johnson
- 2004: Danny Glover
- 2005: Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington
- 2006: Harry Belafonte
- 2007: Don Cheadle
- 2008: Quincy Jones
- 2009: Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean
- 2010: John Legend
- 2011: Steve Harvey
- 2012: Rev. Al Sharpton
- 2013: Dwyane Wade
- 2014: Myrlie Evers-Williams
- 2015: Tom Joyner
- 2016: Jesse Williams
- 2017: Chance the Rapper
- 2018: Naomi Wadler, Mamoudou Gassama, Justin Blackman, Shaun King, Anthony Borges and James Shaw Jr.
- 2019: Nipsey Hussle
- 2020: Beyoncé[29]
- Ultimate Icon
In 2015 and 2018, at the fifteenth and eighteenth annual BET Awards, the category of the Ultimate Icon Award was created. It is given to a veteran artist whose career is deemed iconic by fans and critics alike for their notable contributions in the music, dance and music video fields.
- 2015: Janet Jackson
- 2018: Debra L. Lee
- 2019: Tyler Perry
Most nominated and winning artists
editBelow are the current rankings for the most wins and most nominated artist (male & female):
This section needs to be updated.(July 2024) |
Most wins (as of 2021)[30]
Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Artist | Beyoncé | Chris Brown | Drake | Nicki Minaj & Serena Williams | Lil Wayne |
Total wins | 35 (with Destiny's Child and The Carters) | 19 | 15 | 13 | 11 |
Most nominations (as of 2017) This is a list of multiple nominated performers, athletes & actors with 5 or more career nominations. Beyoncé is currently the most nominated performer with 81 nominations, solo and with Destiny's Child.[citation needed]
81 nominations
- Beyoncé 73 solo; 8 w/ Destiny's Child
59 nominations
51 nominations
- Drake 46 solo; 5 w/ Young Money
37 nominations
- Nicki Minaj 33 solo; 4w/ Young Money
35 nominations
- Jay Z 30 solo; 5 w/ Watch The Throne
33 nominations
- Lil Wayne 28 solo; 5 w/ Young Money
31 nominations
- Kanye West 26 solo; 5 w/ Watch The Throne
23 nominations
21 nominations
19 nominations
18 nominations
17 nominations
16 nominations
15 nominations
14 nominations
13 nominations
- Erica Campbell 2 solo; 11 w/ Mary Mary
- H.E.R.
- SZA
12 nominations
- Common
- Pharrell Williams 10 solo; 2 w/ N.E.R.D.
11 nominations
- Big Boi 1 solo; 10 w/ Outkast
- Ciara
- LeBron James
- Mary Mary
- Snoop Dogg
- The Weeknd
10 nominations
- Kobe Bryant
- T-Pain
- Outkast
- Trina
- Trey Songz
- Tyga 6 solo; 4 w/ Young Money
9 nominations
- Denzel Washington
- Doja Cat
- Jazmine Sullivan
- Kelly Rowland 1 solo; 8 w/ Destiny's Child
- Michelle Williams 1 solo; 8 w/ Destiny's Child
- Taraji P. Henson
8 nominations
- 2 Chainz
- 50 Cent
- Angela Bassett
- ASAP Rocky 6 solo; 2 w/ ASAP Mob
- Benny Boom
- Big Sean
- Busta Rhymes
- Chloe x Halle
- Destiny's Child
- Diddy 5 solo; 3 w/ Diddy-Dirty Money
- Hype Williams
- Idris Elba
- John Legend
- Marsha Ambrosius 4 solo; 4 w/ Floetry
- Miguel
- Omarion 2 solo; 6 w/ B2K
- Justin Timberlake
- Rick Ross
7 nominations
- Don Cheadle
- Erykah Badu
- Halle Berry
- Jennifer Hudson
- Keyshia Cole
- Kirk Franklin
- Mariah Carey
- Ne-Yo
- R. Kelly
6 nominations
- Aaliyah
- Anthony Hamilton
- August Alsina
- B.o.B
- B2K
- Benny Boom
- CeeLo Green 2 solo; 4 w/ Gnarls Barkley
- Keri Hilson
- Lil Jon 3 solo; 3 w/ Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz
- Lil' Kim
- Musiq Soulchild
- Samuel L. Jackson
- “Too Short Pants”
- Wale
- Yolanda Adams
5 nominations
See also
editReferences
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- ^ a b c "2003 BET Awards Rocket to Biggest BET Telecast Ever". BET. June 26, 2003. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Top 15 Cable Programs - Total Households: Week of 06/28/04 - 07/04/04". Zap2it. Archived from the original on July 15, 2004. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (June 26, 2018). "Sunday Final Ratings: BET Awards Has its Least-Watched Edition in 16 Years". Programming Insider. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Toni (July 7, 2005). "Dance fever: ABC owns this summer". Media Life. Archived from the original on November 2, 2005. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "'06 BET AWARDS Stakes Claim as Cable's Top Awards Show by Again Flexing Impressive Muscle With Viewers". BET. June 30, 2006. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Cable Series by Total Households week of 06/25/07-07/01/07". Zap2it. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (July 1, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Weekly Cable TV Top 20: WWE RAW Back on Top". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
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- ^ "The 'BET AWARDS '10 Remains The #1 Cable Awards Show, Drawing 7.4 Million Total Viewers". BET. June 28, 2010. Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (June 28, 2019). "Sunday Cable Ratings: More 'True Blood' & 'Falling Skies,' + 'Kardashians,' 'Law & Order: CI,' 'The Glades' and Much More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 3, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'BET Awards' + 'True Blood', European Football, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Real Housewives of NJ' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 2, 2013). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'BET Awards' Wins Night + 'True Blood', 'Dexter', 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Falling Skies' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 1, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'BET Awards' Leads Night + World Cup Soccer, 'True Blood', 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'The Last Ship' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Stanhope, Kate (June 29, 2015). "TV Ratings: BET Awards Dip to 6.5 Million Viewers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (June 30, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: BET Awards Tops Night + 'True Detective', 'Ballers', 'Naked and Afraid' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Porter, Rick (June 28, 2016). "Sunday cable ratings: 'Game of Thrones' scores series high with Season 6 finale". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (June 27, 2016). "BET Awards Viewership Rises Over 2015 With Simulcast On 12 Viacom Nets". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ^ Porter, Rick (June 27, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: BET Awards fall, 'Power' and 'Preacher' have solid premieres". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (June 27, 2017). "BET Awards Ratings Fall From 2016, Both On Channel & Across Viacom Networks". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 25, 2018). "BET Awards Draws 4.3 Million Viewers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (June 26, 2019). "Sunday Final Ratings: BET Tops All Key Prime Time Demos with BET Awards; Gold Cup Propels Univision Over All English-Language Broadcast Networks in Adults 18-49". Programming Insider. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (June 25, 2019). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.23.2019". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ "TV Ratings: BET Awards Get a Boost from CBS". The Hollywood Reporter. June 29, 2020.
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