BET Awards

Trophy

The Award Trophy, inspired by three words - aspire, ascend, achieve, was designed by artist/sculptor Carlos "Mare139" Rodriguez. 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

The 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. Since 2013 the ceremony has been held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live (previously Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater)

GNX "Not Like Us "

"Luther"

Ratings

Nomination process

The 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.

Award categories

Current awards

;Music

• Album of the Year (2017–present)
• Video of the Year (2001–present)
• Viewer's Choice Award (2001–present)
• Best Group (2001-present)
• Best Collaboration (2003–present)
• Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (2001–06, 2008–present)
• Best Male Hip-Hop Artist (2001–present)
• Best Female R&B/Pop Artist (2001–present)
• Best Male R&B/Pop Artist (2001–present)
• Best New Artist (2001–present)
• Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award (2001–present)
• BET Her Award (2018–present)
• Best International Act (2010, 2018–present)
• Best New International Act (2019–present) ;Film
• Best Movie (2010–present)
• Best Actress (2001–present)
• Best Actor (2001–present) ;Sports
• Sportswoman of the Year (2001–present)
• Sportsman of the Year (2001–present) ;Miscellaneous
• Video Director of the Year (2008–present)
• YoungStars Award (2010–present)

Defunct awards

• 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

The 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, 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

;Ultimate Icon In 2015, 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
• 2025: Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin

Most nominated and winning artists

Below are the current rankings for the most wins and most nominated artist (male & female): Most wins (as of 2024)

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. 81 nominations

• Beyoncé 73 solo; 8 w/ Destiny's Child

62 nominations

• Chris Brown

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

• Rihanna

21 nominations

• Kendrick Lamar

19 nominations

• Usher

18 nominations

• Missy Elliott

17 nominations

• Serena Williams
• The Weeknd 16 nominations
• Bruno Mars
• Venus Williams

15 nominations

• Alicia Keys
• T.I.

14 nominations

• Jamie Foxx
• Ludacris
• Mary J. Blige

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

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

• Bow Wow
• Carmelo Anthony
• Donnie McClurkin
• Eminem
• Eve
• Fantasia
• Gabrielle Union
• Jhené Aiko
• Jill Scott
• Keke Palmer
• Melanie Fiona
• Mindless Behavior
• Nelly
• Pusha T 3 solo; 2 w/ The Clipse
• Regina King
• Solange Knowles
• Willow Smith

Performances

References

References

1. "BET Awards".
2. "Carlos Mare aka Mare139 Prints and Original Art {{!}} 1xRUN".
3. (June 26, 2003). "2003 BET Awards Rocket to Biggest BET Telecast Ever". [[BET]].
4. "Top 15 Cable Programs - Total Households: Week of 06/28/04 - 07/04/04".
5. Pucci, Douglas. (June 26, 2018). "Sunday Final Ratings: BET Awards Has its Least-Watched Edition in 16 Years".
6. Fitzgerald, Toni. (July 7, 2005). "Dance fever: ABC owns this summer".
7. (June 30, 2006). "'06 BET AWARDS Stakes Claim as Cable's Top Awards Show by Again Flexing Impressive Muscle With Viewers". [[BET]].
8. "Cable Series by Total Households week of 06/25/07-07/01/07".
9. Seidman, Robert. (July 1, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Weekly Cable TV Top 20: WWE RAW Back on Top".
10. (June 30, 2009). "Jackson Tribute BET Awards Edges Jon & Kate Plus 8 To Lead Cable Shows".
11. (June 28, 2010). "The 'BET AWARDS '10 Remains The #1 Cable Awards Show, Drawing 7.4 Million Total Viewers". [[BET]].
12. Seidman, Robert. (June 28, 2019). "Sunday Cable Ratings: More 'True Blood' & 'Falling Skies,' + 'Kardashians,' 'Law & Order: CI,' 'The Glades' and Much More".
13. Kondolojy, Amanda. (July 3, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'BET Awards' + 'True Blood', European Football, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Real Housewives of NJ' & More".
14. Kondolojy, Amanda. (July 2, 2013). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'BET Awards' Wins Night + 'True Blood', 'Dexter', 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Falling Skies' & More".
15. 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".
16. Stanhope, Kate. (June 29, 2015). "TV Ratings: BET Awards Dip to 6.5 Million Viewers".
17. Kondolojy, Amanda. (June 30, 2015). "Sunday Cable Ratings: BET Awards Tops Night + 'True Detective', 'Ballers', 'Naked and Afraid' & More".
18. Porter, Rick. (June 28, 2016). "Sunday cable ratings: 'Game of Thrones' scores series high with Season 6 finale".
19. Patten, Dominic. (June 27, 2016). "BET Awards Viewership Rises Over 2015 With Simulcast On 12 Viacom Nets".
20. Porter, Rick. (June 27, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: BET Awards fall, 'Power' and 'Preacher' have solid premieres".
21. Patten, Dominic. (June 27, 2017). "BET Awards Ratings Fall From 2016, Both On Channel & Across Viacom Networks".
22. Petski, Denise. (June 25, 2018). "BET Awards Draws 4.3 Million Viewers".
23. 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".
24. Metcalf, Mitch. (June 25, 2019). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.23.2019".
25. (June 29, 2020). "TV Ratings: BET Awards Get a Boost from CBS".
26. (June 29, 2021). "Ratings Release: The "Bet Awards" 2021, Dominates the Award Show Arena as the Best Performing Awards Show This Year".
27. (22 July 2015). "Awards {{!}} YANGAROO". Yangaroo.
28. (11 May 2011). "BET SELECTS YANGAROO'S DMDS TO POWER MAJOR AWARDS SHOWS". PR Newswire.
29. (16 June 2016). "YANGAROO Awards HAS GROWN TO BECOME INDUSTRY LEADER {{!}} YANGAROO". Yangaroo.
30. Moniuszko, Sara M.. "BET Awards: Beyonce to receive Humanitarian Award, Lil Wayne to honor Kobe Bryant".
31. "Watch The Throne: 5 Artists with the Most BET Awards Ever".
32. Staff, BOTWC. (2024-09-04). "43 Times Beyoncé Has Made History in Honor of Her 43rd Birthday".