The BET Awards are now making room for one of the most influential corners of modern Black media.

The new Pulse Award is designed to honor a creator or series that moved Black culture forward online, and the first nominee slate makes the point clearly: Black podcasts and digital talk spaces are not just reacting to the culture anymore, they are helping set the tone for it. 

That matters now more than ever because the internet has become the new lounge, the new aftershow, and in many cases, creates the new headlines. Whether it is comedy, sports talk, celebrity commentary, or music conversation, these platforms shape what gets discussed, what gets clipped, and what gets shared. 

BET’s inaugural Pulse Award recognizes that shift by putting digital voices on the same awards-stage level as the rest of the entertainment machine. That is a smart move for a category built around influence, not just ratings. 

The first lineup reflects the full range of Black commentary culture: “85 South Show,” “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer,” Charlamagne Tha God, Don Lemon, Druski, “It Is What It Is,” “Joe and Jada,” “On the Radar,” and “R&B Money Podcast.” 

Black podcasters now shape the conversation before traditional media catches up. They break down the biggest moments, bring a familiar voice to celebrity discourse, and give audiences a space where Black joy, Black critique, and Black humor can live in the same feed. If the first year of the Pulse Award proves anything, it is that Black podcasts are helping direct where culture moves.