Soul Train Music Awards

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==

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. UK Soul Cypher ==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 ==Special awards==

;Heritage Award for Career Achievement • 1987: Stevie Wonder • 1988: Gladys Knight & the Pips • 1989: Michael Jackson • 1990: Quincy Jones • 1991: Smokey Robinson • 1992: Prince • 1993: Eddie Murphy • 1994: Barry White • 1995: Diana Ross • 1996: Patti LaBelle ;Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements • 1997: Curtis Mayfield • 1998: Whitney Houston • 1999: Luther Vandross • 2001: The Isley Brothers • 2002: The O'Jays • 2003: LL Cool J • 2005: Ice Cube • 2007: Jermaine Dupri ;Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements – Male • 2004: R. Kelly • 2006: Jamie Foxx ;Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements – Female • 2004: Janet Jackson • 2006: Destiny's Child ;Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year • 1989: Michael Jackson • 1990: Arsenio Hall • 1991: M.C. Hammer • 1992: Janet Jackson • 1993: En Vogue • 1994: Whitney Houston • 1995: Queen Latifah • 1996: Boyz II Men • 1997: Babyface • 1998: Puff Daddy • 2006: John Legend • 2007: Jennifer Hudson • 2009: Michael Jackson ;Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year – Male • 1999: R. Kelly • 2000: DMX • 2001: Jay Z • 2002: Dr. Dre • 2003: Nelly • 2004: OutKast • 2005: Usher ;Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year – Female • 1999: Lauryn Hill • 2000: Mary J. Blige • 2001: Destiny's Child • 2002: Alicia Keys • 2003: Mariah Carey • 2004: Beyoncé • 2005: Ciara ;Artist of the Decade for Extraordinary Artistic Achievements – Male • 2000: Prince ;Artist of the Decade for Extraordinary Artistic Achievements – Female • 2000: Whitney Houston ;Humanitarian Award • 1993: Michael Jackson ;Stevie Wonder Award for Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting • 2006: R. Kelly • 2007: Babyface ;Legend Award – Male • 2009: Charlie Wilson • 2010: Ron Isley • 2011: Earth Wind & Fire ;Legend Award – Female • 2009: Chaka Khan • 2010: Anita Baker • 2011: Gladys Knight ;Lifetime Achievement Award • 2012: New Edition • 2013: Keith Sweat ;Legend Award • 2013: Dionne Warwick • 2014: Kool and the Gang • 2015: Babyface • 2016: Teddy Riley • 2017: Toni Braxton • 2018: Erykah Badu • 2019: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis • 2021: Maxwell • 2022: Morris Day & the Time • 2023: T-Pain ;Lady of Soul Award • 2015: Jill Scott • 2016: Brandy • 2017: SWV • 2018: Faith Evans • 2019: Yolanda Adams • 2020: Monica • 2021: Ashanti • 2022: Xscape ;Spirit of Soul Award • 2023: Janelle Monáe == Most awarded artists ==