SOFTNOTES is a multi-hour music video block created for Black Entertainment Television. It debuted in the fall of 1987, and was created & produced by Alvin Jones, former host of Video Vibrations. This video block focused on the genre known as Smooth Jazz, mixed up with R&B, Soft Rock, & Easy Listening videos. this also showed the growing diversity of BET, and paved the way for other Jazz dedicated shows like "Sound & style w/Ramsey Lewis, and Jazz Central. Eventually the program would spin off the BET on Jazz digital cable channel, which is currently Centric. Softnotes remained on the air until 1991, and Paul Porter would host the remainder of the show until it went off the air in mid-late 1991. .
Artists like Anita Baker, Kenny G, Najee, Jeff Lorber, Freddie Jackson, and numerous others had their videos shown on the program.