UPDATE (Feb. 25): The Guild of Music Supervisors has announced its lineup of performers for the 16th annual ceremony to be held Feb. 28 at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. GMS Icon Award honoree Raphael Saadiq is set to perform the Oscar- and GMS Award-nominated song “I Lied to You” from Sinners alongside singer and guitarist Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes. Diane Warren, Sharon Farber and Eden Kontesz are set to perform the Oscar- and GMS Award-nominated “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, which is performed by Kesha on the film soundtrack.
Additional performers include Keith Secola performing the GMS Award nominated song “NDN Kars” from Dark Winds; Spotlight Artist Cris Chil performing new song “15K”; and Alejandro Aranda, runner-up on the 17th season of American Idol in 2019, performing a tribute to Robin Kaye, longtime music supervisor for that show, who is the posthumous honoree of the Legacy Award.
Presenters include current Oscar nominee Kate Hudson, EGOT recipient John Legend, Flavor Flav, Steven Tobolosky, John Tesh and Nate Ruess.
UPDATE (Feb. 6): Songwriter Raphael Saadiq will receive the Icon Award, and the late Robin Kaye, former vp of the Guild of Music Supervisors, will receive the Legacy Award, at the 16th annual Guild of Music Supervisor Awards, set for Feb. 28 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.
Saadiq, a three-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee, is nominated for a 2026 GMS Award for best song written and/or recorded for a film for “I Lied to You” from Sinners. He cowrote the song, which was previously nominated for both a Grammy and an Oscar, with composer Ludwig Göransson.
“I am honored to be the recipient of this year’s Icon Award,” Saadiq said in a statement. “To be recognized by a community that celebrates the important relationship between music and cinematic storytelling means a lot to me.”
The Icon Award was created to celebrate those who have made legendary contributions to the music and film industry. Previous recipients include Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Kenny Loggins, Marc Shaiman and Stephen Schwartz.
The Legacy Award is presented to a music supervisor who has made a lasting impact on the industry over the course of their career. Previous recipients include Allan Mason, Bonnie Greenberg, Mitchell Leib, Pilar McCurry, Maureen Crowe, Bob Hunka, Joel Sill, Gary Lemel and Chris Montan.
PREVIOUSLY (Jan. 14): Sinners is the leading contender for 16th annual Guild of Music Supervisors (GMS) Awards. The smash Ryan Coogler film received a total of three nominations recognizing Niki Sherrod’s music supervision and two original songs — “I Lied to You” and “Last Time (I Seen the Sun).”
The GMS Awards honor outstanding achievements in the craft of music supervision in film, television, documentaries, advertising, trailers and video games. The winners will be announced at their annual awards gala at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 28 – which is during the final-round voting period for the Oscars (which extends from Feb. 26 to March 5). Both of the aforementioned Sinners songs are on the Oscar shortlist for best original song, as is another GMS nominee, “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless. Oscar nominations will be announced on Jan. 22.
The other three songs that were nominated for best song written and/or recorded for a film are “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” from Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy; “Just Keep Watching” from F1 and “My Baby (Got Nothing at All)” from Materialists. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, which appears to be the front-runner to win the Oscar for best original song, wasn’t eligible for the GMS award, as the film didn’t have a credited music supervisor.
“In a year that was challenging for our city and our industry, we are excited to see an abundance of great work from the music supervision community, Guild president Lindsay Wolfington and vp Heather Guibert said in a statement.
The Icon and Legacy Award recipients will be announced later. Last year’s Icon Award recipient was Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz. Last year’s Legacy Award honoree was music supervisor Bonnie Greenberg. Last year’s Spotlight Performance was by Role Model, who went on to have a breakthrough hit with “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.”
Tickets are now available for purchase. Details can be found at the ticketing link.
Here’s a complete list of nominations for the 16th annual Guild of Music Supervisor Awards.
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Film Categories
Best Music Supervision in Major Budget Films
Gabe Hilfer, Karyn Rachtman – A Minecraft Movie
Kirsten Lane – The Running Man
Maggie Rodford – Wicked: For Good
Niki Sherrod – Sinners
David Taylor, Jake Voulgarides – F1
Best Music Supervision in Mid-Level Budget Films
Vivian Aguiar-Buff, Natalie Hayden, Alexandra Nickson – Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Linda Cohen – The Smashing Machine
Gabe Hilfer – Marty Supreme
Jen Malone – Caught Stealing
Howard Paar – A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Trygge Toven – Song Sung Blue
Best Music Supervision in Low-Budget Films
Lucy Bright – The History of Sound
Sarah Bromberg, Stephanie Diaz-Matos – One of Them Days
Raife Burchell, Ian Neil – Die My Love
Jody Friedman, Cyrus Paul Ghazizadeh, Jacob Yoffee – Tapawingo
Rob Lowry, Mia Riggins – Friendship
Peymon Maskan – Pools
Best Music Supervision in a Non-Theatrically Released Film
Jumi Akinfenwa – My Fault: London
Nick Angel – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Ashley Neumeister – Ruth & Boaz
Frankie Pine – Nonnas
Karyn Rachtman, Otis Rachtman – Plankton: The Movie
Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film
“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless; Songwriter: Diane Warren; Performer: Kesha; Music Supervisor: Heather Guibert
“I Lied to You” from Sinners; Songwriters: Ludwig Göransson, Raphael Saadiq; Performer: Miles Caton; Music Supervisor: Niki Sherrod
“It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” from Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy; Songwriters: Olivia Dean, Matthew Hales; Performer: Olivia Dean; Music Supervisor: Nick Angel
“Just Keep Watching” from F1; Songwriters: Amy Allen, Tate McRae, Tyler Spry, Ryan Tedder; Performer: Tate McRae; Music Supervisors: David Taylor, Jake Voulgarides
“Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners; Songwriters: Miles Caton, Ludwig Göransson, Alice Smith; Performers: Miles Caton, Ludwig Göransson, Alice Smith; Music Supervisor: Niki Sherrod
“My Baby (Got Nothing at All)” from Materialists; Songwriter: Michelle Chongmi Zauner; Performer: Japanese Breakfast; Music Supervisor: Meghan Currier
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Television Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Television Drama
Tiffany Anders – The Lowdown Season 1
Matt Biffa – The Girlfriend Season 1
Rick Clark – Dark Winds Season 3
Dina Coughlan, Rory McPartland – Mix Tape Season 1
Kier Lehman – Forever Season 1
Marc Mondello – The Runarounds Season 1
Best Music Supervision in a Television Comedy
Thomas Golubić, Olivia Schlichting – Poker Face Season 2
Gabe Hilfer, DeVoe Yates – The Righteous Gemstones Season 4
Gabe Hilfer – The Studio Season 1
Javier Nuño, Joe Rodríguez – Acapulco Season 4
Robin Urdang – Étoile Season 1
Laura Webb, Lindsay Wolfington – XO, Kitty Season 2
Best Music Supervision in Reality Television
Brandon Boucher – The Challenge All Stars: Rivals Season 5
Greg Danylyshyn, Ben Hochstein – Married at First Sight Season 19
Meryl Ginsberg, Sara Torres, Jordan Young – Love Island USA Season 7
Trina-Marie Hill – Deb’s House: R&B Season 2
Carrie Hughes – Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Season 13
Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television
“Afterlife” from Devil May Cry Season 1; Songwriters: Amy Lee, Alex Seaver; Performer: Evanescence; Music Supervisors: Justine von Winterfeldt, Christian Zabala
“Dialing In” from Smoke Season 1; Songwriter: Thom Yorke; Performer: Thom Yorke; Music Supervisor: Mary Ramos
“Get Millie Black Main Titles” from Get Millie Black Season 1; Songwriters: Gavin Blair, Jordan Chung, Nicholas Deane, Carly Paradis, Shanique Sinclair; Performers: Equiknoxx, Shanique Marie, Carly Paradis; Music Supervisor: Thomas Golubić
“Ghosts” from The Runarounds Season 1; Songwriters: Matthew Bair, Axel Douglas Ellis, Jesse Damon Golliher, William Sebastian Lipton, Zendé Roman Murdock, Jeremy Thomas Yun; Performer: The Runarounds; Music Supervisor: Marc Mondello
“NDN Kars” from Dark Winds Season 3; Songwriter: Keith Secola; Performer: Keith Secola; Music Supervisor: Rick Clark
“This Heart of Mine” from Virgin River Season 6; Songwriter: Wesley Schultz; Performer: Wesley Schultz; Music Supervisor: Lindsay Wolfington
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Documentary Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Documentary Film
Amanda Clemens, Jody Colero – Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery
Milena Erke, Randall Poster – Apocalypse in the Tropics
Heather Guibert – Diane Warren: Relentless
Brooke Wentz – Janis Ian: Breaking Silence
Jules Zucker – Match in a Haystack
Best Music Supervision in a Docuseries
Linda Cohen – Mr. Scorsese Season 1
Ciara Elwis, Rochad Holiday, Robin Kaye, Ashley Viergever – Number One on the Call Sheet Season 1
Kirsten Lane – Vietnam: The War That Changed America Season 1
Deborah Mannis-Gardner – Hip Hop Was Born Here Season 1
Kirsteen McLean – Underdogs Season 1
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Advertising Categories
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Synch)
Andrew Kahn, Morgan Thoryk, Danielle Toporoff – “Great Hair”
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – “Make Life Brighter”
Nellie Rajabi, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 17 Pro | The Ultimate Pro”
Charlotte von Kotze, Jonathan Wellbelove – “iPhone 16 Pro | Camera Control”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Original Music)
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “Dancing in the Dark”
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – “Kiss From a Lime”
Charlotte von Kotze, Jonathan Wellbelove – “Apple Intelligence | Clean Up Photos: Cat | iPhone 16”
Patrick Lawrence Zappia – “Give Your Gift. (2025)”
Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Long-Form)
Julian Drucker – “The Theory of Spice”
Abbey Hendrix, Mika Sheerin, Jonathan Wellbelove – “Accessibility | I’m Not Remarkable”
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – “Crafting the One”
Nellie Rajabi, Jonathan Wellbelove – “6 Out of 5 Stars | WWDC25”
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Trailer Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Film)
Megan Barbour, Naaman Snell – The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Official Trailer
Deric Berberabe, Jordan Silverberg – Wuthering Heights – Official Teaser
Vanessa Jorge Perry, Tyler Torrison – Project Hail Mary – Official Trailer
Adam Konger, Sanaz Lavaedian, Marina Polites – One Battle After Another – Official Trailer 2
Scenery Samundra, Gregory Sweeney – Jurassic World Rebirth – Official Trailer
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Series)
Anny Colvin – Task: Season 1 – Official Trailer
Travis Drum, Kelsey Mitchell – The Narrow Road of the Deep North – Official Trailer
Bobby Gumm – Stranger Things: Season 5 – Official Trailer
Adam Konger, Sanaz Lavaedian, Marina Polites – Wayward – Official Trailer
Scenery Samundra, Gregory Sweeney – The White Lotus: Season 3 – Official Trailer
Best Music Supervision in a Trailer (Video Game & Interactive)
Jonny Altepeter, Peter Li, Jackie Palazzolo, Vitaly Shenderovsky – “Valorant – Why We Fight” – Ego ft. Qing Madi
Megan Barbour, Naaman Snell – “Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 6 Season 2: Lawless” – Cinematic Gameplay Trailer
Glenn Herweijer, Ben Sumner – “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Royal Edition” – Official Launch Trailer
Steve Schnur – “Battlefield 6” – Official Multiplayer Gameplay Trailer
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Video Game Categories
Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Synch)
Benjamin Beladi – “The Sandbox – 2025 Seasons (5 & 6)”
Hideo Kojima – “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”
Steve Schnur – “EA SPORTS College Football 26”
Olivia Taphorn – “Dispatch”
Ryan Tomlin, Brandon Young – “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4”
Allison Wood – “NASCAR 2025”
Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Original Music)
Jérôme Angelot, Bénédicte Ouimet – “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”; Composer: The Flight
Manu Bachet – “The Rogue Prince of Persia”; Composer: Daniel Asadi
Hideo Kojima – “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach”; Composers: Ludvig Forssell, Woodkid
Keith Leary, Peter Scaturro – “Ghost of Yōtei”; Composer: Toma Otowa
Steve Schnur – “Battlefield 6”; Composer: Henry Jackman
Brandon Young – “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7”; Composer: Jack Wall
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