Wicked, A Complete Unknown and I Saw the TV Glow won for best music supervision in major budget, mid-level budget and low-budget films, respectively, at the 15th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, which were held at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Wicked fans had further cause to rejoicify: Wicked creator Stephen Schwartz received the Icon Award to celebrate his contributions to the music and film industries. Schwartz performed “Beautiful City” from the 1973 film adaptation of his 1971 musical Godspell.
The GMS Awards honors achievements in the craft of music supervision in film, television, documentaries, advertising, trailers and video games.
“Like a Bird” from the film Sing Sing won best song written and/or recorded for a film. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s headed for an Oscar victory for best original song on March 2. Of the nine songs to win in this category at the GMS Awards, just three went on to win the Oscar – “City of Stars” from La La Land, “Shallow” from A Star Is Born and “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie.
The field of nominees in this category at the two shows was very different this year. Just one other song, Diane Warren’s “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight, was nominated at both shows. The other Oscar nominees are “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez (Clément Ducol, Camille and Jacques Audiard), “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez (Camille and Clément Ducol) and “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late (Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin).
GMS awarded three songwriters for “Like a Bird” — Abraham Alexander, Brandon Marcel and Adrian Quesada – while the Oscars nominated just Alexander and Quesada.
Music producer and supervisor Bonnie Greenberg took the stage to accept the Legacy Award for her career in music supervision. Greenberg has worked on dozens of films, including Hairspray, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Pleasantville, What Women Want and It’s Complicated.
Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez won the GMS Award for best song written and/or recorded for television for “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road (Sacred Chant Version)” from Agatha All Along. The Lopezes’ previous collaborations have brought them two Oscars, two Grammys, a Primetime Emmy and assorted other awards.
Steve Schnur, music supervisor and executive at EA Games, won the most awards on the night – two for his work on video games EA Sports FC 25 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Alexander and Quesada performed “Like a Bird” at the GMS Awards. Danielle Ponder performed her nominated song “Egún” from Apple TV’s MANHUNT, and Role Model performed “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” as the Spotlight artist of the evening.
The event was produced by the GMS Awards production committee: president Lindsay Wolfington, vp Heather Guibert, Janet Lopez, Priya Autrey and Joel C High. Show production was handled by Angelia Shepperd from ABS Collective with talent producer Julie Donsky, and technical production by Nick Urbom from Big Push Media Group.
Here’s a complete list of nominations for the 2025 Guild of Music Supervisor Awards, with winners marked.
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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Steven Gizicki – A Complete Unknown
Frankie Pine – The Idea of You
Mary Ramos – The Greatest Hits
Best Music Supervision in Low Budget Films
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: “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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Meryl Ginsberg, Sara Torres, Jordan Young – Love Island USA Season 6
Carrie Hughes – Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Season 11
Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television
WINNER: “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road (Sacred Chant Version)” – Agatha All Along; Songwriters: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez; Performers: Agatha All Along Cast (Ali Ahn, Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp, Sasheer Zamata); Music Supervisors: Dave Jordan, Justine von Winterfeldt
“Do You See Me Now” – Sweetpea; Songwriters: Daisy Bertenshaw, Isobel Waller-Bridge; Performers: CHINCHILLA, Isobel Waller-Bridge; Music Supervisor: Ollie White
“Egún” – Manhunt; Songwriter: Danielle Ponder; Performer: Danielle Ponder; Music Supervisors: Lindsey Driscoll, Brienne Rose
“Feel It” – Invincible; Songwriters: David Burke, Noah Ehler, Sam Homaee, Gray Toomey; Performer: d4vd; Music Supervisors: Gabe Hilfer, Henry van Roden
“The First Cut Is the Deepest” – The Brothers Sun; Songwriter: Cat Stevens; Performer: Bo Wang; Music Supervisor: Angela Asistio
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
WINNER: Aminé Ramer – Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary
Best Music Supervision in a Docuseries
WINNER: 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
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”
WINNER: 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”
WINNER: 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”
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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)
WINNER: 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)
WINNER: 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
WINNER: 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
WINNER: Steve Schnur – Dragon Age: The Veilguard; Composers: Lorne Balfe, Hans Zimmer
Sam Yang – Delta Force; Composers: Edwin, Jason H, LUMi, Johan Söderqvist, Zio
