There’s only time for two songs at the Oscars.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that only two of this year’s Best Original Song nominees will be performed live at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony on March 15, citing time constraints and broader changes to the structure of television broadcasts.
In a letter sent to all music nominees, obtained exclusively by Variety, the Academy emphasized that the Best Original Song category will still be fully integrated into the broadcast, even if live performances are limited to “Golden” from the animated musical “KPop Demon Hunters” and “I Lied to You” from the vampire drama “Sinners.”
The remaining nominees in this category will not perform their winning songs live. These include “Dear Me” from Diane Warren’s 17-time nominated documentary “Diane Warren: Relentless,” the title song from Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner’s “Train Dreams,” and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Nicholas Pike’s “Viva Verdi!”
The letter was signed by executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katie Mullan, as well as producer Taryn Hurd.
The academy declined to comment.
“This year, the Best Original Song nominees will be treated with the same storytelling focus and intent as any other awards category, and all of them will be included in the show,” the letter reads.
According to the Academy, each nominated song will be introduced through a custom-produced segment constructed from footage from the film in which the song was written, with the goal of grounding each song in the context of the film. Where appropriate, these packages may also incorporate behind-the-scenes materials that provide insight into the songwriting process and creative intent.
The production team also said nominees will receive additional promotional support through official social media platforms, citing recent Spotify collaborations and nomination announcements as examples of their efforts.
Live performances of all five of the Best Original Song nominees would add about 25 minutes to the TV broadcast, a significant amount of time for a contracted 3-hour-and-a-half show, according to people familiar with the plans. With 24 competitive categories on offer, including the newly added Oscar for Casting, implementing five full musical numbers will inevitably come at the expense of other key moments scheduled for the broadcast. Starting in 2029, when the Oscars move from TV to YouTube, these types of runtime constraints will be relaxed.
“Given airtime restrictions, additional casting Oscars, and the desire to create a fast-paced, entertaining, and cohesive program, this year’s live performance focus will be on two musical moments: ‘Sinners’ and ‘KPop Demon Hunters,'” the letter said.
Performances will be structured as segments designed to celebrate how music has helped make these stories resonate around the world. The remaining nominees will be recognized through custom film-based packaging rather than live music.
The letter concludes by emphasizing the Academy’s intention to honor all nominees on air. “Your work is an essential part of our film ecosystem, and we’re so excited to celebrate it on our show.”
sinner
warner bros
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on March 15th and will be hosted by Conan O’Brien.
A copy of the letter can be found below.
This year, Best Original Song nominees will be treated with the same care, storytelling focus and intent as any other award category, and all of them will be included in the show.
Each nominated song will be showcased through a bespoke package built from footage from the film that firmly roots the song in the purpose of the film. If desired, these packages may also include carefully selected behind-the-scenes elements that provide insight into the songwriting process and creative intent.
I will be contacting you shortly to discuss how we would like to work together on this matter. Additionally, we will promote your nomination on our social channels, as we recently did with a Spotify post and nomination announcement. The show will also feature musical moments celebrating two films whose songs played a defining role in this year’s global cultural impact and audience connections. Given airtime constraints, the addition of a casting Oscar, and the desire to create a fast-paced, entertaining and cohesive show, the live performance focus will be on two musical moments of the year, Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters, and will include segments designed to celebrate how music helped these stories resonate around the world.
Your work is an essential part of our film ecosystem and we look forward to celebrating it on our show. This year’s Oscars are going to be incredible. We’re excited to have you as an important part of it. These are complex decisions, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
thank you,
Raj Kapoor Executive Producer
Katie Mullan Executive Producer
Taryn Heard Producer
