This page lists the winners and nominees for the Soul Train Music Award for Best Song of the Year. The award was originally entitled Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year and first awarded during the 1989 ceremony. It was later retitled to its current title in 1993, before being renamed again to R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year in 1995. The award was retired following the 1996 ceremony, seeing the separated categories for male, female and group artists returning in its place. The award returned in 2009, along with its current title.
Winners and nominees Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
1980s Year Artist Song Ref 1989 Anita Baker "Giving You the Best That I Got" " Winners l" Michael Jackson "Man in the Mirror" Keith Sweat "I Want Her"
1990s Year Artist Song Ref 1990 Soul II Soul "Keep On Movin'" Paula Abdul "Straight Up" Bobby Brown "Every Little Step" Luther Vandross "Here and Now" 1991 MC Hammer "U Can't Touch This" Mariah Carey "Vision of Love" En Vogue "Hold On" Johnny Gill "My, My, My" 1992 Color Me Badd "I Wanna Sex You Up" Boyz II Men "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" Jodeci "Forever My Lady" BeBe & CeCe Winans "Addictive Love" 1993 Boyz II Men "End of the Road" Arrested Development "Tennessee" En Vogue "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" Vanessa Williams "Save the Best for Last" 1994 Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" Toni Braxton Breathe Again Janet Jackson That's the Way Love Goes Tony! Toni! Toné! Anniversary 1995 Barry White "Practice What You Preach" 69 Boyz "Tootsee Roll" Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You" R. Kelly "Bump n' Grind" 1996 The Notorious B.I.G. "One More Chance" Whitney Houston "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" Method Man "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" TLC "Waterfalls" 1997 – 1999 colspan="3"
2000s Year Artist Song Ref 2009 Beyoncé "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" Keri Hilson "Turnin Me On" Jennifer Hudson "Spotlight" Mary Mary "God in Me" Maxwell "Pretty Wings"
2010s Year Artist Song Ref 2010 B.o.B "Nothin' on You" Alicia Keys "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" Monica "Everything to Me" Sade "Soldier of Love" Usher "There Goes My Baby" 2011 Kelly Rowland "Motivation" Adele "Rolling in the Deep" Chris Brown "She Ain't You" Miguel "Sure Thing" Jill Scott "So in Love" Kanye West "All of the Lights" 2012 Tyrese "Stay" Estelle "Thank You" John Legend "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" Trey Songz "Heart Attack" Usher "Climax" Wale "Lotus Flower Bomb" 2013 Robin Thicke "Blurred Lines" Tamar Braxton "Love and War" Chris Brown "Fine China" Kendrick Lamar "Poetic Justice" Rihanna "Diamonds" Justin Timberlake "Suit & Tie" 2014 Pharrell Williams "Happy" Beyoncé "Drunk in Love" Chris Brown "Loyal" Drake "Hold On, We're Going Home" Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake "Love Never Felt So Good" John Legend "All of Me" 2015 Mark Ronson "Uptown Funk" Common and John Legend "Glory" Jidenna and Roman GianArthur "Classic Man" Rihanna "B**** Better Have My Money" The Weeknd "Earned It" 2016 Beyoncé "Formation" Adele "Hello" Drake "Controlla" Rihanna "Work" Bryson Tiller "Don't"2017 Bruno Mars "That's What I Like" Childish Gambino "Redbone" DJ Khaled "Wild Thoughts" Khalid "Location" Solange "Cranes in the Sky"2018 Ella Mai "Boo'd Up" Bruno Mars "Finesse (Remix)" H.E.R. "Every Kind of Way" SZA "The Weekend" The Internet "Come Over"2019 Chris Brown "No Guidance" Beyoncé "Before I Let Go" Ella Mai "Shot Clock" Khalid "Talk" Lizzo "Juice" Summer Walker "Girls Need Love (Remix)"
2020s Year Artist Song Ref 2020 Chris Brown and Young Thug '"Go Crazy"' Beyoncé "Black Parade" Chloe x Halle "Do It" H.E.R. "Slide" Summer Walker and Usher "Come Thru" Usher "Don't Waste My Time" 2021 Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, Silk Sonic "Leave the Door Open" Blxst "Chosen" H.E.R. "Damage" Jazmine Sullivan "Pick Up Your Feelings" Wizkid "Essence" Yung Bleu "You're Mines Still" 2022 Beyoncé "Break My Soul" Mary J. Blige "Good Morning Gorgeous" Burna Boy "Last Last" Steve Lacy "Bad Habit" Ari Lennox "Pressure" Lizzo "About Damn Time"Muni Long"Hrs and Hrs" 2023 SZA "Snooze" Coco Jones "ICU" October London "Back to Your Place" Janelle Monáe "Lipstick Lover" Victoria Monét "On My Mama" SZA "Kill Bill"Toosii"Favorite Song"Usher, Summer Walker and 21 Savage"Good Good"
See also Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Male Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo
References