1989 Soul Train Music Awards

• Michael Jackson

• Michael Jackson

Winners are in bold text.

• Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel
  • Bobby McFerrin – Simple Pleasures
  • Al B. Sure – In Effect Mode
  • Luther Vandross – Any Love

• Anita Baker – Giving You the Best That I Got
  • Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
  • Sade – Stronger Than Pride
  • Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff

• New Edition – Heart Break
  • Guy – Guy
  • LeVert – Just Coolin'
  • Tony! Toni! Toné! – Who?

• Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror"
  • Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative"
  • Johnny Kemp – "Just Got Paid"
  • Keith Sweat – "Make It Last Forever""

• Anita Baker – "Giving You the Best That I Got"
  • Whitney Houston – "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
  • Karyn White – "Superwoman"
  • Vanessa Williams – "The Right Stuff"
• Note: This segment of the awards ceremony is most memorable because when Whitney Houston's name was called, the crowd began to boo her, citing the idea that Houston was "acting white" and was a "sell-out".

• E.U. – "Da Butt"
  • Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – "It Takes Two"
  • Guy – "Groove Me"
  • New Edition – "If It Isn't Love"

• Anita Baker – "Giving You the Best That I Got"
  • Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative"
  • Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror"
  • Keith Sweat – "I Want Her"

• Michael Jackson – "Man in the Mirror"
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – "Parents Just Don't Understand"
  • Kool Moe Dee – "Wild Wild West"
  • Stevie Wonder – "Skeletons"

• Al B. Sure!
  • Guy
  • Karyn White
  • BeBe & CeCe Winans

• DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince – He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
  • Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock – It Takes Two
  • Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
  • Salt-N-Pepa – A Salt with a Deadly Pepa

• Take 6 – Take 6
  • Shirley Caesar – Live in Chicago
  • The Clark Sisters – Conqueror
  • James Cleveland – Inspired

• Kenny G – Silhouette
  • Bobby McFerrin – Simple Pleasures
  • Najee – Day by Day
  • Sade – Stronger Than Pride

• Ashford & Simpson – "I'll Be There for You"
• Sheena Easton – "The Lover in Me"
• Levert and Heavy D & The Boyz – "Just Coolin'"
• Bobby Brown – "My Prerogative"
• Michael Jackson Tibute:
  • Patti LaBelle – "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
  • Dionne Warwick – "Man in the Mirror"
• New Edition and Rob Base – "Crucial"
• Shirley Caesar, The Clark Sisters, Thelma Houston, BeBe & CeCe Winans and The Winans – "Lean on Me"