Big international stars such as Rihanna, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Lady Gaga are among the finalists for the best song award. The Oscar race for the upcoming edition features the themes of films like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Wild Girl, Avatar: The Sense of Water, and Top Gun: Maverick competing for the statuette. The Hollywood Academy Awards, scheduled to take place on March 12 next year, have identified their contenders in a tightly watched category that draws music fans and film lovers alike. [Citation: Academy Awards]
From a pool of 15 finalists, only five candidates will be nominated. The Academy is set to announce the final roster on February 24. If the cut happens as expected, it would mark the first Oscar nomination for several artists who have already made waves in other award circuits. Names such as Drake, Rihanna, and Swift are among the big names showing up in this competitive field, with contributions from the movie Amsterdam in the form of a song associated with its soundtrack. The Weeknd, who performed Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength) in competition, previously won an Oscar seven years ago for Earned It from Fifty Shades of Grey. [Citation: Academy Awards]
Lady Gaga is also in the running with Hold My Hand, a track linked to her acclaimed film project. This could mark a fourth Oscar nomination for her in the music category, following a standout win in 2018 for Shallow from A Star Is Born. She had previously appeared on the Oscar stage in 2015 as a nominee for the documentary The Hunting Ground with the song Til It Happens to You. The legacy of Gaga’s nominations extends to Top Gun, where the franchise has already earned an Oscar for Best Original Song with Take My Breath Away by Berlin in 1986. [Citation: Academy Awards]
Two of the shortlisted songs for the next edition have been confirmed as co-created by the film directors themselves. Ciao Papa, from Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, is a collaborative effort with Mark Gustafson, and Lift Me Up by Rihanna is also credited to Ryan Coogler. This pairing of directorial input with musical composition adds a distinctive creative layer to the nominations process. [Citation: Academy Awards]
Some of the candidates
Composed by Drake, Giveon Evans, Jahaan Akil Sweet, and Daniel Pemberton, this entry blends contemporary pop sensibilities with cinematic storytelling, aiming to resonate with broad audiences across North America.
The Weeknd’s track features contributions from Steve Angello, Josefsson, Sebastian Ingrosso, Axel Hedfords, and Simon Franglen, delivering a soundscape that complements the film’s emotional core.
Another notable entry comes from Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna, and Tems, merging a powerful vocal performance with a cinematic score that mirrors the film’s themes of resilience and identity.
David Byrne, Ryan Lott, and Mitski contribute a distinct auditory texture, weaving art-house sensibilities into a mainstream award context.
Alexandre Desplat, Roeban Katz, and Guillermo del Toro collaborate on a composition that aligns with the unique visual style and storytelling voice of their project.
Rita Wilson offers a contribution that broadens the emotional range of the nominations, while Kala Bhairava, MM Keeravani, and Rahul Sipligunj bring a cross-cultural dimension to the lineup.
Amy Allen, Jonathan Bellion, Selena Gomez, Jordan K Johnson, Stefan Johnson, and Michael Pollack craft a collaborative pop song that aims to balance radio appeal with cinematic resonance.
Khiyon Hursey, Sukari Jones, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Mark Sonnenblick close the list with a track that blends powerful lyrics with melodic craft, reflecting a diverse set of influences across the global music scene.