Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Award for visual media soundtrack
The Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media is an honor presented to a composer (or composers) for an original score created for a film, TV show or series, or other visual media[1] at the Grammy Awards , a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards.[2] [3] Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by The Recording Academy of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".[4]
It has been awarded since the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1959. The first recipient was American composer and pianist Duke Ellington , for the soundtrack to the 1959 film Anatomy of a Murder . Originally known as the Grammy Award for Best Sound Track Album – Background Score from a Motion Picture or Television , the award is now known as the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media .[5] Until 2001, the award was presented to the composer of the music alone.[5] From 2001 to 2007, the music producer(s) and sound engineer/mixer(s) shared the award.[5] In 2007, the award reverted to a composer-only award.[5] John Williams holds the record for most wins and nominations for the award, with eleven wins out of thirty-four nominations. Austin Wintory 's nomination for Journey at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards was the only time that a video game was nominated in this category before the new category of Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media was created in 2022.[6]
As of 2023, the award's full title is Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television).
Recipients
Duke Ellington was the first recipient of the award in 1959 for the Anatomy of a Murder soundtrack .
Henry Mancini won in 1962 for the Breakfast at Tiffany's soundtrack .
Lalo Schifrin won in 1968 for the TV series Mission: Impossible soundtrack .
Paul Simon won in 1969 for The Graduate soundtrack , alongside Dave Grusin .
Dave Grusin has won twice, in 1969 for The Graduate soundtrack , alongside Paul Simon , and in 1990 for The Fabulous Baker Boys soundtrack .
The Beatles won in 1971 for the Let It Be soundtrack .
Isaac Hayes won in 1972 for the Shaft soundtrack .
Neil Diamond won in 1974 for the Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack .
John Williams has won six times in a row, eleven times total, and has been nominated twenty-three more times.
Prince and The Revolution won in 1985 for the Purple Rain soundtrack .
Ennio Morricone won in 1988 for The Untouchables .
James Horner won in 1991 for Glory .
Alan Menken has won twice, for Beauty and the Beast in 1993 and Aladdin in 1994 .
Hans Zimmer has won twice, for Crimson Tide in 1996 and The Dark Knight in 2009 , winning the latter with James Newton Howard .
Randy Newman has won twice, for A Bug's Life in 2000 and Toy Story 3 in 2011 .
Thomas Newman has won twice, for American Beauty in 2001 and Skyfall in 2014 .
Chinese composer Tan Dun won in 2002 for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ; Dun is currently the only Chinese composer to win the category.
Howard Shore has won the award (alongside John Kurlander and Peter Cobbin) for all three films of The Lord of the Rings film series in 2003 , 2004 , and 2005 .
Alexandre Desplat has won twice, for The King's Speech in 2012 and The Grand Budapest Hotel in 2015 .
Trent Reznor (left) and Atticus Ross (right), of Nine Inch Nails , has won twice, for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2013 and Soul in 2022 , winning the latter with Jon Batiste .
Antonio Sánchez won in 2016 for Birdman .
Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir became the first solo woman to win the award back-to-back (in 2020 for Chernobyl and 2021 for Joker ).
Nine-time award nominee Danny Elfman .
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Year[I]
Performing artist(s)
Work
Nominee(s)
Ref.
1959
Duke Ellington
Anatomy of a Murder
[7]
1961
Ernest Gold
Exodus
[8]
1962
Henry Mancini
Breakfast at Tiffany's
[9]
1963
No Award
[10]
1964
John Addison
Tom Jones
[11]
1965
Richard M. Sherman Robert B. Sherman
Mary Poppins
[12]
1966
Johnny Mandel
The Sandpiper
[13]
1967
Maurice Jarre
Doctor Zhivago
[14]
1968
Lalo Schifrin
Mission: Impossible
[15]
1969
Dave Grusin Paul Simon
The Graduate
[16]
1970
Burt Bacharach
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
[17]
1971
The Beatles [a]
Let It Be
[18]
1972
Isaac Hayes
Shaft
[19]
1973
Nino Rota
The Godfather
[20]
1974
Neil Diamond
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
[21]
1975
Alan and Marilyn Bergman Marvin Hamlisch
The Way We Were
[22]
1976
John Williams
Jaws
[23]
1977
Norman Whitfield
Car Wash
[24]
1978
John Williams
Star Wars
[25]
1979
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
[26]
1980
Superman
[27]
1981
The Empire Strikes Back
Fame – Michael Gore , Anthony Evans, Paul McCrane , Dean Pitchford , Lesley Gore , Robert F. Colesberry
Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants – Stevie Wonder , Michael Sembello , Stephanie Andrews, Yvonne Wright
One-Trick Pony – Paul Simon
Urban Cowboy – J. D. Souther , Boz Scaggs , David Foster , Jerry Foster, Bill Rice, Brian Collins , Robby Campbell, Joe Walsh , Bob Morrison , Johnny Wilson, Dan Fogelberg , Bob Seger , Wayland Holyfield , Bob House, Wanda Mallette, Patti Ryan
[28]
1982
Raiders of the Lost Ark
[29]
1983
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
[30]
1984
Various artists [b]
Flashdance
Gandhi – Ravi Shankar , George Fenton
Return of the Jedi – John Williams
Staying Alive – Frank Stallone , Bruce Stephen Foster, Roy Freeland, Vince DiCola , Thomas Marolda, Joe Esposito , Randy Bishop, Tommy Faragher , Barry Gibb , Maurice Gibb , Robin Gibb
Tootsie – Dave Grusin
[31]
1985
Prince The Revolution
Purple Rain
Against All Odds – Phil Collins , Stevie Nicks , Peter Gabriel , Stuart Adamson , Mike Rutherford , Kid Creole , Michel Colombier , Larry Carlton
Footloose – Bill Wolfer, Dean Pitchford , Kenny Loggins , Tom Snow , Sammy Hagar , Michael Gore , Eric Carmen , Jim Steinman
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr. , Kevin O'Neal, Bobby Alessi, David Immer, Tom Bailey , Graham Russell , David Foster , Jay Graydon , Diane Warren , Mick Smiley, Elmer Bernstein
Yentl – Michel Legrand , Alan Bergman , Marilyn Bergman
[32]
1986
Various artists [c]
Beverly Hills Cop
Back to the Future – Johnny Colla , Chris Hayes, Huey Lewis , Lindsey Buckingham , Alan Silvestri , Eric Clapton , Sean Hopper
A Passage to India – Maurice Jarre
St. Elmo's Fire – David Foster , John Parr , Billy Squier , John Elefante , Dino Elefante, Jon Anderson , Fee Waybill , Steve Lukather , Richard Marx , Jay Graydon , Steve Kipner , Peter Beckett , Cynthia Weil
Witness – Maurice Jarre
[33]
1987
John Barry (film music was nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition category)
Out of Africa
[34]
1988
Ennio Morricone
The Untouchables
[35]
1989
Various artists [d]
The Last Emperor
[36]
1990
Dave Grusin
The Fabulous Baker Boys
[37]
1991
James Horner
Glory
[38]
1992
John Barry
Dances with Wolves
[39]
1993
Alan Menken
Beauty and the Beast
[40]
1994
Aladdin
[41]
1995
John Williams
Schindler's List
[42]
1996
Hans Zimmer
Crimson Tide
[43]
1997
David Arnold
Independence Day
[44]
1998
Gabriel Yared
The English Patient
[45]
1999
John Williams
Saving Private Ryan
[46]
2000
Randy Newman
A Bug's Life
[47]
2001
Thomas Newman (artist/composer/producer) Bill Bernstein (producer)
American Beauty
[48]
2002
Tan Dun (artist/composer/producer) Steven Epstein (producer) Richard King (engineer/mixer)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
[49]
2003
Howard Shore (artist/composer/producer) John Kurlander (engineer/mixer)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
[50]
2004
Howard Shore (artist/composer/producer) John Kurlander (engineer) Peter Cobbin (engineer/mixer)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
[51]
2005
Howard Shore (artist/composer/producer) John Kurlander (engineer/mixer)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
[52]
2006
Craig Armstrong (composer/producer) David Donaldson (producer) Taylor Hackford (producer) Geoff Foster (engineer/mixer)
Ray
[53]
2007
John Williams (artist/composer) Shawn Murphy (engineer/mixer)
Memoirs of a Geisha
[54]
2008
Michael Giacchino
Ratatouille
[55]
2009
Hans Zimmer James Newton Howard
The Dark Knight
[56]
2010
Michael Giacchino
Up
[57]
2011
Randy Newman
Toy Story 3
[58]
2012
Alexandre Desplat
The King's Speech
[59]
2013
Trent Reznor Atticus Ross
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
[60]
2014
Thomas Newman
Skyfall
[61]
2015
Alexandre Desplat
The Grand Budapest Hotel
[62]
2016
Antonio Sánchez
Birdman
[63]
2017
John Williams
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
[64]
2018
Justin Hurwitz
La La Land
[65]
2019
Ludwig Göransson
Black Panther
[66]
2020
Hildur Guðnadóttir
Chernobyl
[67]
2021
Joker
[68]
2022
Jon Batiste , Trent Reznor , and Atticus Ross
Soul
[69]
Carlos Rafael Rivera
The Queen's Gambit
2023
Germaine Franco
Encanto [70]
[71]
2024
Ludwig Göransson
Oppenheimer
[72]
Name changes
There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:[1] [5] [73]
Multiple wins and nominations
Up to and including the 65th Annual Grammy Awards (2023)
Wins
Nominations
See also
Notes
^ John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison , and Ringo Starr
^ For Flashdance , various artists include Michael Boddicker , Irene Cara , Kim Carnes , Doug Cotler , Keith Forsey , Richard Gilbert, Jerry Hey , Duane Hitchings, Craig Krampf , Ronald Magness, Dennis Matkosky, Giorgio Moroder , Phil Ramone , Michael Sembello , and Shandi Sinnamon
^ For Beverly Hills Cop , various artists include Marc Benno , Harold Faltermeyer , Keith Forsey , Micki Free , John Gilutin Hawk, Howard Hewett , Bunny Hull , Howie Rice, Sharon Robinson , Danny Sembello , Sue Sheridan, Richard Theisen, and Allee Willis
^ For The Last Emperor , various artists include David Byrne , Cong Su , and Ryuichi Sakamoto
References
^ a b "Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media" . www.listchallenges.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ Los Angeles Times Staff (January 28, 2015). "Grammys history and winners through the years" . www.musicianshalloffame.com . Retrieved April 28, 2017 .
^ "GRAMMY Awards History and Fun Facts" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 28, 2017 .
^ "Overview" . The Recording Academy . Archived from the original on October 27, 2009.
^ a b c d e "Best Score Soundtrack" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved August 8, 2017 .
^ New Grammy awards include one for video game scores - The Washington Post
^ 2nd Annual GRAMMY Awards | Grammy.com
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1961 – Grammy Award Winners 1961" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1962 – Grammy Award Winners 1962" . www.awardsandshows.com . Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1963 – Grammy Award Winners 1963" . www.awardsandshows.com . Archived from the original on December 7, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1964 – Grammy Award Winners 1964" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 26, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1965 – Grammy Award Winners 1965" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Awards Nominees 1966 – Grammy Award Winners 1966" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Awards Nominees 1967 – Grammy Award Winners 1967" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1968 – Grammy Award Winners 1968" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Awards Nominees 1969 – Grammy Award Winners 1969" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Ceremony 1970 – Grammy Award Winners 1970" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1971 – Grammy Award Winners 1971" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1972 – Grammy Award Winners 1972" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1973 – Grammy Award Winners 1973" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1974 – Grammy Award Winners 1974" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Awards Nominee 1975 – Grammy Award Winners 1975" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1976 – Grammy Award Winners 1976" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1977 – Grammy Award Winners" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1978 – Grammy Award Winners 1978" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1979 – Grammy Award Winners 1979" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1980 – Grammy Award Winners 1980" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1981 – Grammy Award Winners 1981" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1982 – Grammy Award Winners 1982" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1983 – Grammy Award Winners 1983" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1984 – Grammy Award Winners 1984" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1985 – Grammy Award Winners 1985" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1986 – Grammy Award Winners 1986" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1987 – Grammy Award Winners 1987" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1988 – Grammy Award Winners 1988" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Award Nominees 1989 – Grammy Award Winners 1989" . www.awardsandshows.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1990 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1991 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1992 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1993 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1994 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1995 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1996 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1997 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1998 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "1999 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "2000 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "2001 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "2002 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "2003 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "2004 Grammy Awards" . www.infoplease.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Rock On The Net: 47th Annual Grammy Awards – 2005" . www.rockonthenet.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Rock On The Net: 48th Annual Grammy Awards – 2006" . www.rockonthenet.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Rock On The Net: 49th Annual Grammy Awards – 2007" . www.rockonthenet.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Rock On The Net: 50th Annual Grammy Awards – 2008" . www.rockonthenet.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Rock On The Net: 51st Annual Grammy Awards – 2009" . www.rockonthenet.com . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ Bruno, Mike (January 31, 2010). "Grammy Awards 2010: The winners list" . Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards" . Los Angeles Times . March 12, 2014. ISSN 0458-3035 . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ THR Staff (February 12, 2012). "Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ Billboard Staff (February 10, 2013). "Grammys 2013: Winners List" . Billboard . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ Billboard Staff (January 26, 2014). "56th GRAMMY Awards: Full Winners List" . Billboard . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ Billboard Staff (February 8, 2015). "Grammys 2015: And the Winners Are ..." Billboard . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ Billboard Staff (February 15, 2016). "Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List" . Billboard . Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "2016 GRAMMY WINNERS" . Grammy.com. Retrieved April 27, 2017 .
^ "2018 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners List" . Grammy.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017 .
^ "2018 GRAMMY WINNERS" . Grammy.com. Retrieved December 7, 2018 .
^ "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners & Nominations List" . Grammy.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2020 .
^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List" . Grammy.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020 .
^ "2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List" . Grammy.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021 .
^ Grammys 2023 Winners: See the Full List Here|Pitchfork
^ "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List" . www.grammy.com . Retrieved 2022-11-19 .
^ Minsker, Evan (November 10, 2023). "Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here" . Pitchfork . Retrieved November 10, 2023 .
^ "Explanation For Category Restructuring" . The Recording Academy .
External links
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
The Empire Strikes Back – John Williams (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark – John Williams (1981)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – John Williams (1982)
Flashdance – Michael Boddicker , Irene Cara , Kim Carnes , Doug Cotler , Keith Forsey , Richard Gilbert, Jerry Hey , Duane Hitchings, Craig Krampf , Ronald Magness, Dennis Matkosky, Giorgio Moroder , Phil Ramone , Michael Sembello & Shandi Sinnamon (1983)
Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution (1984)
Beverly Hills Cop – Marc Benno, Harold Faltermeyer , Keith Forsey , Micki Free , John Gilutin Hawk, Howard Hewett , Bunny Hull, Howie Rice, Sharon Robinson , Danny Sembello , Sue Sheridan, Richard Theisen & Allee Willis (1985)
Out of Africa – John Barry (1986)
The Untouchables – Ennio Morricone (1987)
The Last Emperor – David Byrne , Cong Su & Ryuichi Sakamoto (1988)
The Fabulous Baker Boys – Dave Grusin (1989)
1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
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