With several of music’s biggest stars throwing their hats in the ring for Oscar consideration, Best Original Song and Score at the Academy Awards could be competitive, A-list affairs. That being the case, awards watchers are looking for any hint at which way the categories may break ahead of time, and one of the season’s earliest indicators for the music honors just dropped.
The Hollywood Music in Media Awards nominations were revealed yesterday, ahead of the ceremony on Nov. 18, and within the shortlists are strings to pull for those looking for Oscars hints.
The Swift Path
Considering Taylor Swift‘s profile and the history of the Toy Story series with the category, it’s likely that “I Knew It, I Knew You” from the Pixar franchise’s fifth entry will receive an Oscar nomination in Best Original Song. But what the Hollywood Music in Media Awards nomination reminds us of is that Swift will probably enter the Oscar night with precursor wins under her belt for the track.
In the case of the HMMA, Swift is competing away from most of her presumptive Oscars competition, with a nod for Best Song — Animated Film. The genre differentiator may be an asset when it comes to racking up precursor wins.
Which Warren?
In our first state of the race for Best Original Song, the safe assumption was that perennial nominee Diane Warren would be showing up somewhere. It just wasn’t clear which movie would come out with a track from the 17-time bridesmaid. As it turns out, two movies arrived sporting songs by Warren — By Any Means with “By Any Means” and Maserati: The Brothers with “One Right Here.”
It’s the latter that the HMMA nominated, so in the proverbial race between the two tracks, “One Right Here” appears to be in the lead.
Phoebe Bridgers? Underrated.
Already in the conversation for an Album of the Year nomination at the Grammys, singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers crossed over into film this year with an acting role in Primetime. The song she contributed to the soundtrack, “On Video,” performed respectably in the Gold Derby odds, but has struggled to crack the Top 10 — currently sitting at No. 15.
But the song made the shortlist in the HMMA’s Independent category, suggesting that there may be more heat for Bridgers and “On Video” than the Gold Derby odds are currently reflecting.
Digger Down
As Digger (fairly or unfairly, depending on whom you ask) was met with jeers from critics and general audiences, a common refrain from its defenders was that the movie’s craftsmanship could keep it in the Oscars conversation, even as bigger nominations, such as Best Picture, fell out of reach.
In the case of Digger‘s music from Cosmo Sheldrake, the score is still hanging on in 13th place, but the HMMA aren’t so hot on it. The film failed to secure a nomination, despite genre categories splitting up the field and creating more opportunity for it.
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Linda Perry: Let It Die Here
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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
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Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother
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Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie
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The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth
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The Mandalorian and Grogu
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day
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The Only Living Pickpocket in New York
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The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
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Bunker
SPC; Searchlight
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The Sheep Detectives
Amazon MGM
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Masters of the Universe
Amazon MGM
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Backrooms
A24
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Being Heumann
Apple
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Paper Tiger
Neon
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Tony
A24
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Iron Boy
Sony Classics
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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Universal
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
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By Any Means
Paramount
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Bitter Christmas
Warner Bros.
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The Mosquito Bowl
Netflix
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I Play Rocky
Amazon MGM
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Ink
Alwin H. Küchler / STUDIOCANAL SAS
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Tangles
Sapan
