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Trending on Billboard Denzel Washington is not often moved to tears, but he was during Aiyana-Lee’s performance in a scene from Highest 2 Lowest. It appears that Denzel getting emotionally shaken up wasn’t part of Spike Lee’s script either, which the Brooklyn-bred director revealed in an interview with Variety on Tuesday (Nov. 25). Lee detailed […]
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Sinners received three awards — more than any other film — at the 16th annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards, which were presented Wednesday (Nov. 19) at The Avalon in Hollywood, California.
Ludwig Göransson received two HMMAs for his work on Sinners: score – feature film and song – feature film for “I Lied to You,” which he co-wrote with Raphael Saadiq. Sinners star Miles Caton, who performed the song in the blockbuster film, also accepted an award for on-screen performance (film).
Ryan Coogler directed, wrote and co-produced Sinners, which spent its first two weekends in April atop the domestic boxoffice charts. For the year-to-date, it is No. 5 in terms of domestic grosses. The film received three of the six nominations for best song written for visual media at the upcoming Grammy Awards. It’s also Grammy-nominated for both best compilation soundtrack for visual media and best score soundtrack for visual media. The film is expected to receive nominations for both best original score and best original song at the upcoming 98th Oscars.
Diane Warren: Relentless received two HMMAs. Legendary songwriter Diane Warren won for song – documentary film for “Dear Me,” which she wrote and performed with Kesha for the documentary about her life. The film’s director, Bess Kargman, also received the HMMA for music documentary – special program.
The Wicked franchise received two HMMAs. Director Jon M. Chu won music-themed film, biopic, or musical for Wicked: For Good, and the promotional TV program Wicked: One Wonderful Night was awarded the HMMA for music performance / special program.
Dog Man composer Tom Howe also received two awards. He won for score – animated film, and took home the HMMA for song – documentary series – TV/limited series with his co-writer Sam Ryder, who performed the song for the series.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy also received two accolades. The film’s composer Dustin O’Halloran received the HMMA for score – TV/streamed movie, and its music supervisor Nick Angel won for music supervision – film.
Major song winners also included the global hit “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, which won the HMMA for song – animated film. The song received a Grammy nomination for song of the year, the only film song nominated in that category this year. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. The banger was co-written by HUNTR/X lead vocalist and songwriter EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Park Hong Jun, and performed by HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami).
Aiyana-Lee received the HMMA for song – independent film for “Highest 2 Lowest,” which she co-wrote with her mother, Nicole Daciana Anderson, and performed for Denzel Washington in the finale of the Spike Lee film of the same name.
Lady Gaga and Andrew Watt won song – TV show / limited series for “The Dead Dance” from Wednesday, a song they co-wrote and performed. The song has so far reached No. 40 on the Hot 100.
Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Nettles won song – on-screen performance – TV show/limited series for “Our Highway” (The Bondsman Season 1), which they also co-wrote.
The HMMA for soundtrack album was awarded to F1 the Album on Atlantic Records.
Five-time Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal opened the ceremony with Afghan artist Aryana Sayeed, performing their song “We Believe in Hope.” He later took home the award for score – independent film for Rule Breakers. Other performers during the ceremony included Caton, Warren, and Aiyana-Lee.
Here’s the full list of 2025 Hollywood Music in Media nominees, with winners marked.
Song – Feature Film
“Dream as One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash. Written by Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Simon Franglen and Andrew Wyatt. Performed by Miley Cyrus
“Drive” from F1. Written by Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin and John Mayer. Performed by Ed Sheeran.
“Lose My Mind” From F1. Written by Don Toliver, Doja Cat, Hans Zimmer, Ryan Tedder and Grant Boutin. Performed by Don Toliver, Doja Cat
“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” From Sinners. Written by Alice Smith, Miles Canton and Ludwig Göransson. Performed by Miles Canton and Alice Smith.
WINNER: “I Lied to You” From Sinners. Written by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson. Performed by Miles Caton.
“No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good. Written by Stephen Schwartz. Performed by Cynthia Erivo
“The Girl in the Bubble” From Wicked: For Good. Written by Stephen Schwartz. Performed by Ariana Grande
Song – Independent Film
WINNER: “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest. Written by Aiyanna-Lee Anderson and Nicole Daciana Anderson. Performed By Aiyanna-Lee
“Learn to Let Go” from Everything To Me. Written by Stephanie Economou, Maggie Mcclure, Chloé Caroline Fellows, and Jon Monroe. Performed by Maggie Mcclure, Chloé Caroline, Stephanie Economou.
“My San Francisco” from Plainclothes. Written and Performed by Emily Wells
“Time Is All We Have” from Momo. Written by Fil Eisler and Sam Ryder. Performed By Sam Ryder.
“We Believe in Hope” from Rule Breakers. Written by Jeff Beal, Joan Beal and Aryana Sayeed. Performed by Aryana Sayeed & The Brooklyn Youth Chorus.
Song – Documentary Film
WINNER: “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless. Written by Diane Warren. Performed by Kesha and Diane Warren.
“Dying To Live” from Billy Idol Should Be Dead. Written by Billy Idol, J. Ralph, Steve Stevens, Tommy English, Joe Janiak. Performed by Billy Idol and J. Ralph.
“Have You Seen My Light” from October 8. Written and Produced by Autumn Rowe and Kizzo
“Milagros” from Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful. Written by Carolina Giraldo Navarro, Edgar Barrera, Kevyn Mauricio Cruz, Lenin Yorney Palacios. Performed by Karol G.
“Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” from Come See Me in the Good Light. Written by Sara Bareilles, Andrea Gibson and Brandi Carlile. Performed by Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile
Song – Animated Film
“Best Time Ever” from Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical. Written by Alan Zachary, Michael Weiner and Jeff Morrow. Performed by Cast.
WINNER: “Golden” brom Kpop Demon Hunters. Written by Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, Park Hong Jun. Performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami.
“Gooflife” From The Bad Guys 2. Written by Daniel Pemberton, Gary Go and Sanele David Sydow. Performed by Rag’n’bone Man & Wizthemc.
“Kaleidoscope” from Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie. Written by Joseph Chase Atkins. Performed by Tehillah Alphonso and Cast.
“Open the Door” From The Twits. Written and Performed by David Byrne & Hayley Williams.
“Zoo” From Zootopia 2. Written by Ed Sheeran & Blake Slatkin and Shakira. Performed by Shakira.
Song – Onscreen Performance (Film)
Aiyanna-Lee – “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest
Bono – “Sunday Bloody Sunday” from Bono: Stories Of Surrender
Ejae, Rei Ami, Audrey Nuna (Aka Huntr/X) – “Golden” from Kpop Demon Hunters
WINNER: Miles Caton – “I Lied To You” from Sinners
Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan – “Our Love” from The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Score – Animated Film
Arnaud Toulon – Arco
Daniel Pemberton – The Bad Guys 2
Nick Urata – Stitch Head
Stephanie Economou – Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
WINNER: Tom Howe – Dog Man
Score – Feature Film
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein
Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme
Hans Zimmer – F1
Jerskin Fendrix – Bugonia
John Powell – Wicked: For Good
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another)
WINNER: Ludwig Göransson – Sinners
Max Richter – Hamnet
Volker Bertelmann – A House Of Dynamite
Score – SciFi/Fantasy Film
Alexandre Desplat – Jurassic World Rebirth
Fil Eisler – Momo
Gordy Haab – Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force
Laura Karpman – Captain America: Brave New World
Michael Giacchino – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Nine Inch Nails – Tron: Ares
WINNER: Simon Franglen – Avatar: Fire and Ash
Son Lux – Thunderbolts*
Score – Horror/Thiller Film
Atticus Derrickson – Black Phone 2
WINNER: Benjamin Wallfisch – Wolf Man
Cornel Wilczek – Bring Her Back
Holly Amber Church – The Other
Jay Wadley – Heart Eyes
Michael Yezerski – Dangerous Animals
Score – Independent Film
Aaron Zigman – Truth & Treason
Adem Ilhan – The Ballad of Wallis Island
WINNER: Jeff Beal – Rule Breakers
Jónsi And Alex Somers – Rental Family
Lucrecia Dalt – Rabbit Trap
Steve Gernes – Wet Paper Bag
Score – Documentary
Allyson Newman – Arrest the Midwife
WINNER: Anne Nikitin – Pangolin – Kulu’s Journey
Christian Lundberg – Why We Dream
Lolita Ritmanis – An American Miracle
Paul Leonard-Morgan – The Last Dive
Tyler Strickland – John Candy: I Like Me
Music Themed Film or Musical
Song Sung Blue – Craig Brewer (Director)
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere – Scott Cooper (Director)
The Ballad of Wallis Island – James Griffiths (Director)
WINNER: Wicked: For Good – Jon M. Chu (Director)
Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires – Paul Hoen (Director)
Music Documentary – Special Program
Billy Idol Should Be Dead – Jonas Åkerlund (Director)
Bono: Stories of Surrender – Andrew Dominik (Director)
WINNER: Diane Warren: Relentless – Bess Kargman (Director)
I Was Born This Way – Daniel Junge & Sam Pollard (Directors)
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley – Amy Berg (Director)
Selena Y Los Dinos – Isabel Castro (Director)
Song – TV Show/Limited Series
“Afterlife” from Devil May Cry. Written by Amy Lee and Alex Seaver. Performed by Evanescence.
“At Dawn I Look for You” from Étoile. Written by Loral Raphael and Ronnel Raphael. Performed by Sons Of Raphael
“Give It a Good Try” from Unconventional. Written by Craig Richey. Performed by Craig Richey feat. Aubrey Shea.
“Rosebud” from Woman Of The Dead (Season 2). Written By Vera Marie Weber & Caleb Veazey. Performed By Vera Weberb
WINNER: “The Dead Dance” from Wednesday. Written by Lady Gaga and Andrew Watt. Performed By Lady Gaga.
“The Line” from Arcane. Written by Tyler Joseph. Performed by Twenty One Pilots.
“Turned to Black” from Black Rabbit. Written by Albert Hammond Jr. & Sarah Holt. Performed by The Black Rabbits (Albert Hammond Jr & Jude Law)
“Wolf Song” from Landman. Written and Performed by Andrew Lockington
Score – TV Show/Limited Series
Aaron May & David Ridley – Adolescence
Antonio Sánchez – The Studio
Brandon Roberts & Nicholas Britell – Andor
Chris Bacon – Wednesday
David Fleming – The Last Of Us (Season 2)
Dominic Lewis – Your Friends & Neighbors
Andrew Lockington – Landman
Natalie Holt – Chad Powers
The Gregson-Williams Brothers – The Gilded Age (Season 3)
Theodore Shapiro – Severance
Song – Onscreen Performance – TV Show/Limited Series
Kenzi Richardson – “Force of Nature” (Vampirina: Teenage Vampire)
Nikhil Koparkar – “The Hills of Tanchico” (The Wheel Of Time)
Lumi Pollack, Carmen Sanchez, Ruby Marino – “The Lies We Tell Our Hearts” (Electric Bloom)
Mark Sonnenblick – “Drugs in My Booty” (Harlem Season 3)
WINNER: Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Nettles – “Our Highway” (The Bondsman Season 1)
Main Title – TV Show/Limited Series
Chief Of War – Hans Zimmer, James Everingham and Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole
Étoile – Sons of Raphael
Government Cheese – Pharrell Williams
Outlander: Blood of My Blood – Bear McCreary
WINNER: Your Friends & Neighbors – Dominic Lewis and Hamilton Leithauser
Score – Short Film (Live Action)
Alexander Bornstein – The Lord of All Future Space and Time
WINNER: Carl Thiel – El Lazo De Petra
Finlay White – Gesualdo
Forrest Gray – Everything Must Go
Kyle Simpson – How to Drag a Body
Score – Short Film (Animated)
Hayden Thompson and Miranda Tan – Love & Gold Soundtrack
Obadiah Brown-Beach, Bastien Rousset, Henrik Lindström, 2wei, Ruben K, Georg Mausolf, Sigurd Jøhnk-Jensen and Nicholas Horsten – Honor Of Kings – Kong Kong’er Champion Cinematic Short
WINNER: Qing Madi – Valorant
Raashi Kulkarni – Wednesdays With Gramps
Sam Rothera – All Hail the Duck King
Score – Short Film (Documentary)
Alexander Leeming Froudakis & Manuela Lubrano – Stone Biter
WINNER: Benjamin Westphalen – A Dream Called Khushi (Happiness)
Juan Carlos Enriquez – La Mar
Katya Richardson – Love, Chinatown
Michał Drabczyk – The Light of Immortality
Oscar Pan – Cindy Tran: From Here to Here
Score – Independent Film (Foreign Language)
Emiliano Mazzenga – Catane
WINNER: Fabrizio Mancinelli – Out of the Nest
Karl Sölve Steven & Rob Thorne – Mārama
Mina Samy – Happy Birthday
Toni M. Mir – Dreaming of Lions
Score – Documentary Series -TV/Digital
WINNER: Duncan Thum & David Bertok – Chef’s Table: Legends
Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve and Anže Rozman – The Americas
Jasha Klebe – American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden
John Dragonetti – Turning Point: The Vietnam War
Nainita Desai – Secrets of the Penguins
Score – TV Show/Limited Series (Foreign Language)
Ariel Blumenthal, Gal Lev – Red Alert
WINNER: Arturo Cardelús – Terra Alta
Guillaume Roussel – Carême
Sandrine Rudaz – On the High Seas
Suad Bushnaq – Al Batal (The Hero)
Score – Video Game (Console & PC)
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – Ludvig Forssell
Dune: Awakening – Knut Avenstroup Haugen
Fallen Aces: Episode 1 – Josh Barron
Ghost Of Yōtei – Toma Otowa
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Gordy Haab
WINNER: League of Legends: Welcome to Noxus – League of Legends (Bill Hemstapat, Sebastien Najand, Alex Seaver, J.D. Spears, Alexander Temple, Richard Thomson, Seth Tsui, Gong Ao, Merlin Cen)
Mafia: the Old Country – Bt (Brian Transeau)
Spirit of the North 2 – Pav Gekko
Sword of the Sea – Austin Wintory
The Rogue Prince of Persia – Asadi (Danny Asadi)
Song – Video Game (Console & PC)
WINNER: “Against the Tide” from Wuthering Waves. Written by Obadiah Brown-Beach. Performed by Forts And Obadiah Brown-Beach
“Coral Crown” from Hades II: Original Soundtrack. Written by Darren Korb. Performed by Scylla and the Sirens.
“Footsteps” from Rue Valley. Written and Performed By Ana Krstajić
“Rivals ‘Til The End” from Marvel Rivals. Written by Danny Koo, Marbling, Netease Sound, Masahiro Aoki, H.K.H. Vocals By Chrissy Costanza.
“The Rogue Prince of Persia” from The Rogue Prince Of Persia. Written and Performed by Asadi (Daniel Asadi) and Xye.
“When The Sun Is Low” From Dune: Awakening. Written by Knut Avenstroup Haugen. Performed by Clara Sorace, The Chamber Orchestra of London, Børre Flyen and Knut Avenstroup Haugen.
Song/Score – Mobile Video Game
WINNER: Afk Journey – Alec Justice
Delta Force – Delta Force Music Team
Honor Of Kings – Matthew Carl Earl, Laurent Courbier, and Others
Identity V-Gambler In The Spotlight – Zhang Guanglei & Wang Jingfei
Valorant – Bbno$
Music Supervision – TV Show/Limited Series
George Drakoulias – Severance
Jen Malone & Nicole Weisberg – Wednesday
Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe, Jonathan Leahy – Nobody Wants This
Melyssa Hardwick – The Summer I Turned Pretty
Nora Felder – Yellowjackets (Season 3)
Robin Urdang – Étoile
WINNER: Sean Fernald – Dexter: Resurrection
Music Supervision – Film
Ashley Neumeister – Ruth & Boaz
Maggie Rodford – Wicked: For Good
Gary Welch – The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Jemma Burns – Christy
Mike Turner & Jonathan Lane – Winter Spring Summer Or Fall
WINNER: Nick Angel – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Music Supervision – Video Game
Bénédicte Ouimet & Jérôme Angelot – Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Benjamin Beladi – The Sandbox – 2025 Seasons (5 & 6)
Jonny Altepeter – Valorant
Manu Bachet – The Rogue Prince of Persia
WINNER: Steve Schnur – Battlefield 6
Yuanye Huang, Jing Zhang, Shuqin Xiao, Peiyue Lu, Samuel Siu – Honor of Kings
Song/Score – Commercial Advertisement
Amazon Midnight Opus (“What the World Needs Now Is Love”) – Haim Mazar
WINNER: Apple: 6 Out of 5 Stars – Silo: Music – Neil Ormandy, Linkoln, Allen Stone
Matter And Space (“Butterflies”) – Alex Yewon
Sea of Remnants (“Yo Ho!”) – Guanglei Zhang / Sibo Huang “Yo Ho!”
The End of the Run Is Just the Beginning – Alexandra Petkovski (Aka Fjøra)
Valorant (“In My Zone”) – Bbno$
Soundtrack Album
WINNER: F1 – Atlantic Records
Karma: The Dark World – Black Razor Records
Kpop Demon Hunters – Republic Records
Sinners – Sony Masterworks Records
Wicked: For Good – Republic Records
World Of Warcraft: Undermine(D) – Blizzard Entertainment
Song – Short Film
“Sean Is Three” from Sean The Baby. Written by Cameron Adams. Performed By Amelia Rolland.
“Somos Fuertes” from Somos Fuertes Official Music Video. Written and Performed by J.Frazil.
“Car Keys” from Everything Must Go. Written by Forrest Gray, Tiffany So & Saba Saghafi. Performed By Forrest Gray.
WINNER: “Stars In My Eyes” from Sweetwater. Written by Sean Douglas. Performed by Kyra Sedgwick.
“Down We Go” from Rabbit Rabbit. Written and Performed by Zoë Lustri
Score – TV/Streamed Movie
WINNER: Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy – Dustin O’Halloran
Exterritorial – Sara Barone
Fountain Of Youth – Christopher Benstead
Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story – Tommy Fields
The Pickup – Christopher Lennertz
Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires – Tom Howe
Music Design – Trailer
Delta Force – Peter Tomlinson
Destiny: Rising – Weicheng Xia & Guanglei Zhang
WINNER: Necaxa (FX – Hulu) – Juan Carlos Enriquez
Project Spectrum – Ludvig Forssell
Sea Of Remnants (Yo Ho!) – Guanglei Zhang & Sibo Huang
Valorant – Qing Madi
Wet Paper Bag – Steve Gernes
Main Title – TV Show (Foreign Language)
Al Batal (The Hero) – Suad Bushnaq
Carême – Guillaume Roussel
Lam Shamseya – Mina Samy
WINNER: On The High Seas – Sandrine Rudaz
Two Graves – Marc Timon
Music Video (Independent)
WINNER: Evanescence – “Afterlife”
Teya – “Bite Marks”
Mohammed K Paika – “Just Human”
Gabrielle Aapri – “Refuge”
Alexandra Fresquez – “Symphony”
Matt B, Rocky Dawuni, Tony Succar, & Wouter Kellerman – “They Know”
Live Concert for Visual Media
WINNER: The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl – The Lion King Cast
Infinity Concert – Jason Huang
Beyond the World – Yufan Xu/Xihao Wang/China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra
Garden State 20th Anniversary Concert – Musical Performers: The Shins, Iron & Wine, Frou Frou, Cary Brothers, Laufey, Thievery Corporation, Colin Hay, Madison Cunningham, Remy Zero, The Milk Carton Kids, Sophie Barker, And Bonnie Somerville
Not Gonna Lie, Live From Ruthmere Museum – Abbie Thomas
Exhibitions, Theme Parks, Special Projects
Dark Castle (Xd Dark Ride) – Benjamin Botkin, Carl Vaudrin, Benjamin Beladi
Dreamland Theme Park – Chris Thomas
One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars – Rhian Sheehan
Scadstory Atlanta – Erik Desiderio
Snapshot – Eduardo Andrade
Tapestry of Happiness – Haim Mazar
WINNER: Walt Disney World’s Epcot: Test Track – Zain Effendi
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When the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Friday (Nov. 7), details were scant in the category of best compilation soundtrack for visual media. The five nominated soundtracks were identified, but the only individual named was Timothée Chalamet for singing Bob Dylan’s songs on the soundtrack to A Complete Unknown.
On Tuesday (Nov. 11), the academy announced the rest of the credits in the category. Ryan Coogler landed his third career Grammy nod as one of the compilation producers for Sinners (along with Ludwig Göransson and Serena Göransson). Coogler was nominated in that same category two years ago for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He was also nominated for best song written for visual media for co-writing “Lift Me Up” for that film.
Coogler wasn’t nominated in the latter category this year, but three songs from Sinners were – “I Lied to You,” “Pale, Pale Moon” and the title song. Only two other films have ever had three or more nominees for best song written for visual media since the category was introduced at the 1988 ceremony. Waiting To Exhale had three in 1997; Barbie had four two years ago.
Coogler is also very likely to receive Oscar nods for Sinners, which he directed, wrote and co-produced. He has received two Oscar nods to date – best picture as a producer of Judas and the Black Messiah and best original song for “Lift Me Up.”
The additional nomination brings Ludwig Göransson’s nominations count for this year to five, all for work on Sinners. He is also nominated for best song written for visual media (“Pale, Pale Moon” and “I Lied to You”) best score soundtrack for visual media (includes film and television) and best instrumental composition (“Why You Here / Before the Sun Went Down”). This ups Göransson’s career Grammy nominations count to 20. It’s the first nod for his wife, Serena Göransson.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were also named as nominees for best compilation soundtrack for visual media for Wicked. They were nominated last week for best pop duo/group performance for the musical’s most famous song, “Defying Gravity.” Erivo received an additional nomination last week for best arrangement, instrumental or a cappella for “Be Okay,” a song from her second studio album, I Forgive You. The additional nod brings Grande’s career Grammy nominations total to an even 20; Erivo’s to five.
Both stars received Oscar nominations for their roles in Wicked and may receive Oscar nods for Wicked: For Good. If they do, they’ll join a short list of actors who have received two nods for playing the same role in different films.
Stephen Schwartz was also named as a nominee for best compilation soundtrack for visual media for Wicked. He had received two other nominations for his work on the film last week – best score soundtrack for visual media (includes film and television) and best instrumental composition for “Train to Emerald City.” This ups his career nominations tally to 18.
The Recording Academy waits until the nominations are announced to fully research the nominees in this category and determine who meets their eligibility criteria. The 68th annual Grammy Awards will be presented on Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Here’s the complete list of nominees for best compilation soundtrack for visual media, with full credits added:
A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet; Nick Baxter, Steven Gizicki & James Mangold, compilation producers; Steven Gizicki, music supervisor
F1® The Album, Various Artists; Brandon Davis, Joe Khoury & Kevin Weaver, compilation producers; David Taylor & Jake Voulgarides, music supervisors
KPop Demon Hunters, Various Artists; Spring Aspers & Dana Sano, compilation producers; Ian Eisendrath, music supervisor
Sinners, Various Artists; Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson & Serena Göransson, compilation producers; Niki Sherrod, music supervisor
Wicked, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande (& Wicked Movie Cast); Stephen Oremus, Stephen Schwartz & Greg Wells, compilation producers; Maggie Rodford, music supervisor
Twisters and The Idea of You lead this year’s contenders for the 15th Guild of Music Supervisors (GMS) Awards, earning two nominations each recognizing both music supervision and songwriting.
Rachel Levy, the music supervisor of Twisters, is nominated for best music supervision in major budget films. She has a second nomination for best song written and/or recorded for a film for “Out of Oklahoma,” which was written by Luke Dick, Shane McAnally and Lainey Wilson and performed by Wilson. (At the GMS Awards, music supervisors are nominated for songs from films they supervised.)
Frankie Pine, the music supervisor of The Idea of You, is nominated for best music supervision in mid-level budget films. He has a second nod for best song written and/or recorded for a film for the title song, which was written by Carl Falk, Savan Kotecha and Albin Nedler and performed by Anne-Marie and Nicholas Galitzine.
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Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest,” which was first recorded in 1967, is nominated for best song written and/or recorded for television, thanks to it being featured in The Brothers Sun. Bo Wang performed the song in the since-canceled Netflix series. Angela Asistio was music supervisor.
The GMS Awards honors outstanding achievement in the craft of music supervision in film, television, documentaries, advertising, trailers, and video games. Winners will be announced at their awards gala at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Netflix garnered the most nominations for a studio – 13 nods. Additional film contenders include Wicked, Deadpool & Wolverine, Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist. Top TV contenders include Baby Reindeer, Fallout, Palm Royale and English Teacher.
As previously announced, songwriter Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) will accept the Icon Award and music supervisor Bonnie Greenberg (My Best Friend’s Wedding) will accept the Legacy Award.
Tickets are available only to members of GMS and their Friends of the Guild patrons.
For more information on the ceremony, visit GMSAwards.com. For more information on the organization, visit www.GuildofMusicSupervisors.com
Here’s a complete list of nominations for the 2025 Guild of Music Supervisor Awards.
FILM
Best Music Supervision in Major Budget Films
Jordan Carroll – Better Man
Dave Jordan – Deadpool & Wolverine
Julianne Jordan – The Instigators
Rachel Levy – Twisters
Tom MacDougall, Matt Walker – Moana 2
Maggie Rodford – Wicked
Best Music Supervision in Mid-Level Budget Films
Deva Anderson, Rachel Lautzenheiser – The Piano Lesson
Iain Cooke – Back to Black
Pierre-Marie Dru – Emilia Pérez
Steven Gizicki – A Complete Unknown
Frankie Pine – The Idea of You
Mary Ramos – The Greatest Hits
Best Music Supervision in Low Budget Films
Jessica Berndt, Chris Swanson – I Saw the TV Glow
James Cartwright – Dandelion
Csaba Faltay, Milena Fessmann – Maria
Kier Lehman – Los Frikis
James A. Taylor – The Brutalist
Scotty Taylor – My Old Ass
Best Music Supervision in a Non-Theatrically Released Film
Joel C. High, Sami Posner – Meet Me Next Christmas
Susan Jacobs, Jackie Mulhearn – Out of My Mind
Rob Lowry – Sweethearts
Aminé Ramer – Lonely Planet
Morgan Rhodes – Thelma the Unicorn
Robin Urdang – The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat
Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film
“The Idea of You” – The Idea of You; Songwriters: Carl Falk, Savan Kotecha, Albin Nedler; Performers: Anne-Marie, Nicholas Galitzine; Music Supervisor: Frankie Pine
“The Journey” – The Six Triple Eight; Songwriter: Diane Warren; Performer: H.E.R.; Music Supervisor: Joel C. High
“Kiss the Sky” – The Wild Robot; Songwriters: Delacey, Jordan Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack, Ali Tamposi; Performer: Maren Morris; Music Supervisor: Natalie Hayden
“Like a Bird” – Sing Sing; Songwriters: Abraham Alexander, Brandon Marcel, Adrian Quesada; Performers: Abraham Alexander, Adrian Quesada; Music Supervisor: Dan Wilcox
“Out of Oklahoma” – Twisters; Songwriters: Luke Dick, Shane McAnally, Lainey Wilson; Performer: Lainey Wilson; Music Supervisor: Rachel Levy
“Why I’m Here” – Shirley; Songwriters: Samara Joy, Paul Sylvester Morton Jr.; Performer: Samara Joy; Music Supervisor: Madonna Wade-Reed
TELEVISION
Best Music Supervision in a Television Drama
Deva Anderson, Rachel Lautzenheiser – Masters of the Air Season 1
Matt Biffa – One Day Season 1
Linda Cohen – The Sympathizer Season 1
Stephanie Diaz-Matos – Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Season 1
Catherine Grieves – Baby Reindeer Season 1
Trygge Toven – Fallout Season 1
Best Music Supervision in a Television Comedy
George Drakoulias, Ian Herbert – Palm Royale Season 1
Kerri Drootin, Charlie Haggard – Loot Season 2
Christa Miller, Tony Von Pervieux – Bad Monkey Season 1
Javier Nuño, Joe Rodríguez – Acapulco Season 3
Jen Ross – English Teacher Season 1
Best Music Supervision in Reality Television
Brandon Boucher, Peter Davis – The Challenge: All Stars Season 4
Jon Ernst – Love Is Blind Season 6
Meryl Ginsberg, Sara Torres, Jordan Young – Love Island USA Season 6
Carrie Hughes – Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Season 11
Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest,” which was first recorded in 1967, is nominated for best song written and/or recorded for television, thanks to it being featured in The Brothers Sun. Bo Wang performed the song in the since-canceled Netflix series. Angela Asistio was music supervisor.
DOCUMENTARIES
Best Music Supervision in a Documentary Film
Maureen Crowe, Lisa Moberly, Janet Billig Rich – Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
Justin Feldman – Music by John Williams
Jonathan Finegold – Gaucho Gaucho
Dawn Sutter Madell – Eno
Aminé Ramer – Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary
Best Music Supervision in a Docuseries
Sam Carlin, Drew Kramer – Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza Season 1
Alexandra Eckhardt – Kings from Queens: The Run DMC Story Season 1
Ed Gerrard – Gospel Season 1
Gary Welch – Camden Season 1
Allison Wood – Breath of Fire Season 1
ADVERTISING
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Synch)
Abbey Hendrix, Jonathan Wellbelove – iPhone 15 Storage – “Don’t Let Me Go”
Andrew Kahn, Morgan Thoryk – “Two-Step”
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “Breaking Moves the World”
Peymon Maskan, Gemma Schladow, Alec Stern, Jenna Wilson – “Power of She”
Nicole Palko, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 15 Plus Battery – One More”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Original Music)
Danielle Beauvoir, Nick Maker – “Out of This World: The Official Anthem of the Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup”
Abbey Hendrix, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 16 – Imagine It. Genmoji It.”
Scott McDaniel – “1 Performance, 30 Years in the Making”
Patrick Lawrence Zappia – “Give Your Gift.”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Long-Form)
Codie Childs – “PS5 | Play Has No Limits”
Connie Edwards, Sunny Kapoor – “Spot it Early”
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “A Mountain of Entertainment – Hail Patrick”
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “H.O.R.S.E. on a Horse”
Nellie Rajabi, Jonathan Wellbelove – “The Relay”
Al Risi – “An American Love Story”
TRAILERS
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Film)
Megan Barbour, Greg Smith, Tyler Torrison – 28 Years Later – Official Trailer
Maggie Baron – Anora – Official Redband Trailer
Deric Berberabe, Jordan Silverberg – Thunderbolts* – Trailer 2
Anny Colvin – We Live in Time – Official Trailer
Will Quiney – Cuckoo – Official Trailer
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Series)
Deric Berberabe, Hudson Saxe, Jordan Silverberg – Severance: Season 2 – Official Trailer
Bobby Gumm – 3 Body Problem – Final Trailer
Vanessa Jorge Perry – Skeleton Crew – Official Trailer
Scenery Samundra, Gregory Sweeney – DISCLAIMER* – Official Trailer
Naaman Snell – The Last of Us: Season 2 – Official Teaser
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Video Game & Interactive)
Jonny Altepeter, Jackie Palazzolo, Vitaly Shenderovsky – “VALORANT” – Clove Agent Trailer – 2 WORLDS
Alex Hackford, Lindsey Kohon, Naaman Snell – “Destiny 2: The Final Shape” – Launch Trailer
Lindsey Kohon – “Black Ops 6” – Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Raphaella Lima, Steve Schnur – “College Football 25” – Official Reveal Trailer
Raphaella Lima, Michael Sherwood – “Apex Legends: Upheaval” – Gameplay Trailer
VIDEO GAMES
Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Synch)
Benjamin Beladi – The Sandbox – Alpha Season 4
Maya Halfon Cordova, Kyle Hopkins – Forza Horizon 5 – Retrowave
Nora Felder – Stranger Things VR
Alex Hackford – MLB The Show 24
Raphaella Lima, Cybele Pettus, Steve Schnur – EA SPORTS FC 25
Ryan Tomlin, Brandon Young – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Original Music)
Manu Bachet, Raphaël Joffres – Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown; Composers: Gareth Coker, Mentrix
Codie Childs, James Marshall – LEGO Horizon Adventures; Composer: Homay Schmitz
Codie Childs, James Marshall – Until Dawn; Composer: Mark Korven
Glenn Herweijer, Ben Sumner – Life is Strange: Double Exposure; Composers: Glenn Herweijer, Nick Hill, Tessa Rose Jackson, Luciano Rossi
Steve Schnur – Dragon Age: The Veilguard; Composers: Lorne Balfe, Hans Zimmer
Sam Yang – Delta Force; Composers: Edwin, Jason H, LUMi, Johan Söderqvist, Zio
Jimmy Kimmel Live! resumed its broadcast on Jan. 13, following a brief hiatus caused by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
Opening the show, Kimmel delivered a heartfelt monologue reflecting on the tragedy that has displaced thousands and destroyed countless homes, including those of his own colleagues. He lauded the bravery of first responders, firefighters, and volunteers who have stepped up in the city’s time of need.
Amid the heavy atmosphere, Kimmel turned to a figure synonymous with resilience and community, introducing his guest Snoop Dogg as “an icon of Los Angeles and a beacon of positivity.” The legendary rapper, known for his enduring ties to his hometown, didn’t hold back as he spoke candidly about the disaster’s impact and his personal efforts to assist those affected.
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“The family’s good, but I know people I consider family who lost everything,” Snoop shared. “So we did what we do—we came together, pulled our troops together, and made sure they had what they needed.”
Reflecting on the unity he’s seen in the face of disaster, Snoop said, “California, this is like our first time dealing with [wildfires], and the way the world is helping us—that’s the important thing. People aren’t looking at differences; they’re just looking at trying to make a difference.”
Snoop’s reverence for firefighters took center stage, with the rapper calling their work “the toughest job” and emphasizing the often-overlooked heroism they display.
“They don’t get enough credit. They show up, do what’s best, and when it’s over, it’s like they’re forgotten about,” he said. “We need to give them a lot of praise right now. I give them a lot.”
Snoop described his hands-on approach to disaster relief, ensuring donations reach those in need. “A lot of times when we put these donations together, certain people don’t get it,” he explained. “What my team does is go on the ground, make direct connects, and make sure we’re not missing anybody. That’s what we do—it’s about love, man.”
While the conversation centered on the seriousness of the fires, Snoop’s trademark humor provided moments of levity. Reflecting on a false evacuation alert, he recalled, “I got three phones, and they all blew up. I started running, started packing, and then it was like, ‘It’s not real.’ See, now y’all playing games.”
Kimmel seized the moment to ask if the rapper still sets off smoke alarms wherever he goes. Snoop’s response, delivered with a grin, left the audience in stitches: “Not anymore. We have a shower cap technique that we use.” To demonstrate, Snoop stood up and mimed placing a shower cap over a smoke detector, humorously acting out the move by climbing onto Kimmel’s couch, drawing roaring laughter from the audience.
Kimmel quipped, “Especially at this time, that is very bad advice from Snoop Dogg!”
Amid the weighty topics of wildfires and community resilience, Snoop shared an anecdote about meeting Paul McCartney, describing it as a surreal and deeply respectful moment.
“It was about just respect and love,” he said, recalling the encounter. “He really knew who I was musically—that blew my mind. I’m telling him about all the records I like from him, but then he’s telling me about who I am and how he liked me. It’s just appreciation. I call that mutual love, fan appreciation.”
When Kimmel asked if the two had smoked together, Snoop laughed and clarified, “Oh no, no—but I smoked around him.”
Later in the chat, the host praised Snoop’s ongoing community contributions, from organizing relief efforts to his long-standing youth football league, which has helped countless kids achieve their dreams, including NFL stardom.
The Doggfather, ever humble, turned the spotlight back on the collective effort. “There was talks about concerts to raise money for the victims and the people that have lost in this situation,” he said.
“So I think that’s more of the angle that I would be leaning towards—to do a concert and not, you know, be paid, and take my proceeds and the proceeds from the tickets and make sure that the people got something.”
Watch Snoop Dogg’s latest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! here.
Twenty-five films have been selected for the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 2024 “due to their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage.” They include two that had Billboard 200-topping soundtracks, Beverly Hills Cop and Dirty Dancing; one (Dirty Dancing) that featured an Oscar-winning song, “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life”; and one (The Social Network) that featured an Oscar-winning score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
The selections span 115 years, from a silent film created to entice audiences at the dawn of cinema in 1895, Annabelle Serpentine Dance, to the newest selected film from 2010, The Social Network, a drama about social media.
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Popular Hollywood releases selected this year include the first Star Trek film added to the registry – 1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, as well as Eddie Murphy’s first feature film on the registry, Beverly Hills Cop.
Two films selected this year, American Me and Up in Smoke, were produced by Lou Adler, a music industry legend who produced Billboard 200-topping albums by the Mamas and the Papas and Carole King. Adler, 91, was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 2019. Adler has several other films on the registry including Monterey Pop, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and 20 Feet From Stardom, in which he made an appearance.
The 2024 selections feature diversity both in the filmmakers and in the stories depicted on screen.
Five films selected this year include prominent Hispanic artists or themes – American Me, Mi Familia, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Spy Kids and Up in Smoke.
Mi Familia and American Me both feature actor Edward James Olmos, who is now featured in eight films on the registry. American Me marks his first appearance as a director on the registry.
With this year’s addition of Mi Familia, director Gregory Nava now has three explorations of the Hispanic experience on the registry. Mi Familia joins previous selections El Norte and Selena.
Two films this year, Up in Smoke and Spy Kids, feature Cheech Marin. These are Marin’s first films on the registry. Up in Smoke is also the first Cheech & Chong film on the registry.
Several films this year were made by Black directors, including Ganja and Hess (1973, Bill Gunn); Uptown Saturday Night (1974, Sidney Poitier), Will (1981, Jessie Maple) and Compensation (1999, Zeinabu irene Davis). Will is considered to be the first independent, feature-length film directed by a Black woman.
Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, an Academy Award-winning documentary selected this year, tells the story of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt, and an important period in LGBTQ history.
Deaf characters and culture are represented in two films this year: The Miracle Worker from 1962 and Compensation from 1999. In The Miracle Worker, director Arthur Penn depicted the Helen Keller story in a direct and unsentimental manner that was unusual for its time.
The selection Powwow Highway from 1989 stands out as one of the first indie films to treat Native Americans as ordinary people, navigating the complexities of everyday life, departing from long-perpetuated stereotypes.
“Films reflect our nation’s history and culture and must be preserved in our national library for generations to come,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. “We’re honored by the responsibility to add 25 diverse new films to the National Film Registry each year as we work to preserve our cultural heritage.”
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will host a TV special on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET to screen a selection of films named to the registry this year. Hayden will join TCM host and film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who is chair of the National Film Preservation Board, to discuss the films.
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names 25 motion pictures to the National Film Registry that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. The films must be at least 10 years old. The Librarian makes the annual selections after conferring with the members of the National Film Preservation Board and a cadre of Library specialists.
This year’s selections bring the number of titles in the registry to 900. Also considered were 6,744 titles nominated by the public. Nominations for next year will be accepted through Aug. 15, 2025, at loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/nominate/.
Here’s a complete list of the 25 films that were selected as 2024 additions to the National Film Registry. They are listed in chronological order.
Annabelle Serpentine Dance (1895)KoKo’s Earth Control (1928)Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)The Pride of the Yankees (1942)Invaders from Mars (1953)The Miracle Worker (1962)The Chelsea Girls (1966)Ganja and Hess (1973)The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)Uptown Saturday Night (1974)Zora Lathan Student Films (1975-76)Up in Smoke (1978)Will (1981)Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (1982)Beverly Hills Cop (1984)Dirty Dancing (1987)Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt (1989)Powwow Highway (1989)My Own Private Idaho (1991)American Me (1992)Mi Familia (1995)Compensation (1999)Spy Kids (2001)No Country for Old Men (2007)The Social Network (2010)
The Kelly Clarkson Show has been renewed by NBC Owned Television Stations group for a seventh season.
“Kelly Clarkson is a national treasure,” Tracie Wilson, executive vice president, syndication studios and E! News at NBCUniversal, said in a statement. “…There’s an appetite in talk for stories that entertain and inspire, and The Kelly Clarkson Show is a shining star that delivers for our stations and connects with viewers across multiple generations in meaningful ways.”
Valari Staab, chairman, NBCUniversal Local, added: “Kelly and her team continue to raise the bar in daytime television. The show’s consistent viewership, engaging content and high production quality has made it a valuable part of our programming lineup across the NBC-owned stations.”
Since its launch in 2019, The Kelly Clarkson Show has collected 22 Daytime Emmys. Clarkson has won personally won eight of those awards (compared to three Grammys over a much longer period of time). Impressively, she has won at least one Emmy in each of the five seasons.
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The Kelly Clarkson Show won outstanding daytime talk series for the fourth consecutive year at the 2024 Daytime Emmys, which were held in Los Angeles on June 7. In accepting the award, Clarkson gave special thanks to NBC for listening to her concerns when she proposed moving the show from Los Angeles to New York.
“Thanks to NBC for believing in our show. …The fact that NBC, a huge company, took time and listened when I said ‘Hey, my life is not going super great. I don’t know if I can live here [in L.A.] anymore. I don’t know if I can do this.’ And they really wrapped their arms around us and they helped us move. And the move has been so great for not just me and my family but our whole show. It takes a lot of time and money and effort to do that. It is not unnoticed. I just want to say thank you for thinking of mental health as well as, you know, a product.”
For the 2024-25 season, The Kelly Clarkson Show averages 1.2 million viewers per day, and consistently ranks as one of the top syndicated talk shows. The show airs in syndication on more than 200 stations across the country.
The Kelly Clarkson Show films in studio 6A at 30 Rockefeller in New York City. Alex Duda is executive producer and showrunner. Clarkson is also executive producer.
Performances by Brittney Spencer, Chris Janson, Clay Aiken, Jonathan McReynolds and Tyler Hubbard highlight the United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief, a one-hour special which is set to air on Saturday (Nov. 2) at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and CMT.
Proceeds from the special, which was taped Oct. 27-28 in Nashville, will raise funds for relief and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused an estimated $50 billion in damage.
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The special will also include “messages and appearances” by Backstreet Boys, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Burke, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cedric The Entertainer, Cody Alan, Jackson Dean, JB SMOOVE, Kelsea Ballerini, Max Thieriot, Nate Burleson, Stephen Colbert, Taye Diggs and Zac Brown Band.
The United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief special is produced by Black & Bespoke (executive producer Myiea Coy), 5X Media (executive producers Gil Goldschein and Maria Pepin), Digital Cinema Collective (executive producer Aaron Cooke) and Berman Productions (executive producer Al Berman) for CBS and CMT. The special was created by Byron V. Garrett, chief revenue officer at United Way Worldwide, and Melissa C. Potter, executive director of Content for Change at Paramount Global.
In the last four years, United Way around the world has responded to more than 200 disasters, including droughts, water crises, hurricanes, fires and floods, and mobilized resources by facilitating more than $219 million in outside investments to support local needs.
Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will be able to stream the show live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service.
Ludwig Göransson, who won an Oscar in March for best original score for Oppenheimer, and Billie Eilish & Finneas, who won an Oscar for best original song for “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie, could add to their considerable award collections at the 24th World Soundtrack Awards (WSA), which will be held on Wednesday Oct. 16 in Ghent, Belgium.
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The awards are organized by Film Fest Gent, Belgium’s biggest international film festival.
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Two other 2024 Oscar nominees for best original score, Jerskin Fendrix (Poor Things) and Laura Karpman (American Fiction), are nominated for film composer of the year. Fendrix’s entry here also includes Kinds of Kindness, director Yorgos Lanthimos’ follow-up to Poor Things. Karpman’s entry here also includes her score for the 2023 film The Marvels and her Emmy-nominated score for Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed.
Veteran composer Elliot Goldenthal is set to receive the WSA lifetime achievement award for his contribution to film and television music. Goldenthal won an Oscar for best original score in 2003 for Frida and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy the following year – outstanding music composition for a miniseries, movie or a special (dramatic underscore) for Dance in America: Lar Lubovitch’s Othello (Great Performances).
A second wave of nominations will be announced on Sept. 13. In the following weeks, the WSAcademy will cast their vote for this year’s winners.
Here’s a complete list of nominees in the top music categories.
Film composer of the year
Jerskin Fendrix |Kinds of Kindness; Poor Things
Ludwig Göransson |Oppenheimer
Laura Karpman |American Fiction; The Marvels; Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Anthony Willis |Saltburn
Hans Zimmer |Dune: Part Two; The Creator
Television composer of the year
Nick Chuba, Atticus Ross, Leopold Ross | Shōgun
Natalie Holt | Loki
James Newton Howard | All the Light We Cannot See
Martin Phipps | The Crown
Carlos Rafael Rivera | Griselda; Lessons in Chemistry; Monsieur Spade
Jeff Russo | Fargo; Ripley
Best original song
“Dance the Night” from Barbie | written by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa | performed by: Dua Lipa
“I’m Just Ken” from Barbie | written by Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson | performed by: Ryan Gosling
“It Never Went Away” from American Symphony | written by Dan Wilson, Jon Batiste | performed by: Jon Batiste
“Road to Freedom” from Rustin | written and performed by Lenny Kravitz
“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon | written by Scott George | performed by Osage Tribal Singers
“What Was I Made For?” from Barbie | written by Finneas O’Connell, Billie Eilish | performed by Billie Eilish
“You’ve Never Had Chocolate Like This” from Wonka | written by Neil Hannon, Paul King, Simon Farnaby | performed by Timothée Chalamet, The Cast of Wonka
When The Voice came calling, it was the perfect time for Dan + Shay to join as the talent show’s first ever “double chair” coaches.
Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney had celebrated their 10th anniversary as a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning country duo, but had also hit a rough patch. “The last couple of years had been a bit of a roller coaster,” Smyers says. “We were going through our own personal battles, rebuilding our relationship –and you throw in COVID, and it was just kind of a wild time for us.”
But as the pair worked through their issues and came back from the brink of breaking up, they were filled with a new gratitude. “We’ve changed our perspective from ‘We have to do this’ to ‘We get to do this,’ and that it’s amazing that there’s somebody who is willing to pay their hard-earned money to come see our show or buy an album or a T-shirt,” Smyers continues. “The Voice came to us at such a perfect time where that gratitude is at an all-time high.”
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The country duo, who served as mentors in season 20, will make their coaching debut on the show on Monday, Feb. 26, as the 25th season of NBC’s singing competition starts. They are joined by returning coaches Reba McEntire, John Legend and Chance the Rapper.
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This marks the first time that two of the chairs will be occupied by country acts, leading the way for some heavy competition for country contestants between Dan + Shay and McEntire.
Former coach Blake Shelton never overlapped with McEntire and “didn’t have to compete with the queen of country music. He had it really easy,” jokes Mooney. “I feel like we have really been having to strategize and use our blocks to our advantage. Who doesn’t love Reba McEntire and didn’t listen to her music and watch her show growing up? That’s stiff competition. She’s very competitive.”
Just as The Voice exposed Shelton to a much bigger, mainstream audience, Dan + Shay are well aware that the show could broaden their appeal. “This is a massive opportunity for us,” Mooney says. “We’ve had some crossover success, but this opens you up to an entirely different audience. Being on television every week definitely expands the people who listen to your music. We don’t really know what to expect.”
As the first set of double coaches, Dan + Shay have to share one button as they pick their 14-member team in the blind competition, which has already been filmed. “When we were flying out [to L.A.] for the first time, we looked over at each other’s like, ‘Should we come up with some kind of strategy, like two taps on the knee is a yes?’ We didn’t realize when they started taping that there’s cameras on you from every angle at all times, you’re miked up. You can’t really talk to each other that much. If one of us is really feeling it, we’ve given each other permission to go ahead and smash that button and turn that chair around. But the two chairs, one button [thing] is an interesting dynamic.”
Seeing contestants so eager to launch their careers has been a powerful reminder of how lucky the two are to have seen their musical dreams come true. “Seeing these people who are pouring their hearts and souls out onto that microphone, honestly, I can’t imagine being in their shoes,” Smyers says. “A lot of these people are coming from small towns and are singing into the back of somebody’s chairs. It’s a pretty high-pressure, nerve-wracking situation. It really is a cool perspective shift to see somebody who wants it so badly. I feel like you kind of lose perspective where we and a lot of our friends have a seat at the table. These people are working to earn their position at the table.”
Like the other judges, Dan + Shay have to juggle the daily demands of their careers with coaching, and also have to commute from Nashville to Los Angeles weekly. They continue to promote their fifth Warner Music Nashville album, Bigger Houses, which came out in September and debuted at No. 9 on Top Country Albums chart. First single “Save Me the Trouble” reached No. 2 on the Country Airplay chart. Their Heartbreak on the Map arena tour, which takes its name from a song on the album, kicks off Feb. 29 in Greenville, S.C.
Spending more time in Los Angeles has one big advantage. “I get more sleep out here, which is pretty cool,” says Mooney, who has three small boys. More seriously, he adds, “It’s definitely a challenge being away from our families. It’s very difficult. But they’re excited for us.” Legend, who is Los Angeles-based, brings his kids to the studio, and Mooney is hoping his children can join him on some trips.
Even though they aren’t even through their first season, Smyers says they’d like to come back for more seasons. “It’s just a really exciting, heart-pounding experience for us as coaches when the lights go down, not knowing what’s about to go into your ears,” he says. “Hopefully they invite us back, because I’m having a little too much fun to give it up now.”
Mooney even has a suggestion for future seasons: “We’re conspiring with Reba — now that it’s three [country] coaches vs. two [non-country] coaches — to move the show to Nashville,” he says with a laugh.
