Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media explained

Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Awarded For:	Quality instrumental score soundtrack albums
Presenter:	The Recording Academy
Country:	United States
Year:	1959
Holder:	Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer (2024)
Website:	grammy.com

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. From 2001 to 2007, the music producer(s) and sound engineer/mixer(s) shared the award. In 2007, the award reverted to a composer-only award. 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

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

Year	Performing artist(s)	Work	Nominee(s)	Ref.
1959		Anatomy of a Murder		^[7]
1961		Exodus		^[8]
1962		Breakfast at Tiffany's		^[9]
1963	No Award			^[10]
1964		Tom Jones		^[11]
1965	Robert B. Sherman	Mary Poppins		^[12]
1966				^[13]
1967		Doctor Zhivago		^[14]
1968		Mission: Impossible		^[15]
1969	Paul Simon			^[16]
1970		Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid		^[17]
1971		Let It Be		^[18]
1972		Shaft		^[19]
1973				^[20]
1974		Jonathan Livingston Seagull		^[21]
1975	Marvin Hamlisch			^[22]
1976		Jaws		^[23]
1977		Car Wash		^[24]
1978		Star Wars		^[25]
1979		Close Encounters of the Third Kind		^[26]
1980		Superman		^[27]
1981				^[28]
1982		Raiders of the Lost Ark		^[29]
1983		E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial		^[30]
1984		Flashdance		^[31]
1985		Purple Rain		^[32]
1986		Beverly Hills Cop		^[33]
1987	(film music was nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition category)	Out of Africa		^[34]
1988				^[35]
1989				^[36]
1990				^[37]
1991		Glory		^[38]
1992		Dances with Wolves		^[39]
1993		Beauty and the Beast		^[40]
1994		Aladdin		^[41]
1995		Schindler's List		^[42]
1996		Crimson Tide		^[43]
1997		Independence Day		^[44]
1998				^[45]
1999		Saving Private Ryan		^[46]
2000				^[47]
2001	(artist/composer/producer) Bill Bernstein (producer)	American Beauty		^[48]
2002	(artist/composer/producer) Steven Epstein (producer) Richard King (engineer/mixer)	Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon		^[49]
2003	(artist/composer/producer) John Kurlander (engineer/mixer)			^[50]
2004	(artist/composer/producer) John Kurlander (engineer) Peter Cobbin (engineer/mixer)			^[51]
2005	(artist/composer/producer) John Kurlander (engineer/mixer)			^[52]
2006	(composer/producer) David Donaldson (producer) Taylor Hackford (producer) Geoff Foster (engineer/mixer)	Ray		^[53]
2007	(artist/composer) Shawn Murphy (engineer/mixer)	Memoirs of a Geisha		^[54]
2008		Ratatouille		^[55]
2009	James Newton Howard			^[56]
2010		Up		^[57]
2011		Toy Story 3		^[58]
2012				^[59]
2013	Atticus Ross			^[60]
2014		Skyfall		^[61]
2015				^[62]
2016		Birdman		^[63]
2017		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		Soul		^[69]
		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:^[73]

Year	Name
1959	Best Sound Track Album – Background Score from a Motion Picture or Television
1961–62	Best Sound Track Album or Recording of Music Score from Motion Picture or Television
1964–68	Best Original Score from a Motion Picture or Television Show
1969–73 1978	Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special
1974–77	Best Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special
1979–86	Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special
1988–90	Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television
1991–99	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television
2000	Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
2001–11	Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media
2012–2022	Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
2023–	Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

Multiple wins and nominations

Up to and including the 65th Annual Grammy Awards (2023)

Wins

• John Williams – 11 (6 consecutive)
• Howard Shore – 3 (consecutive)
• Alexandre Desplat – 2
• Michael Giacchino – 2
• Ludwig Göransson – 2
• Hildur Guðnadóttir – 2 (consecutive)
• Alan Menken – 2 (consecutive)
• Randy Newman – 2
• Thomas Newman – 2
• Trent Reznor – 2
• Atticus Ross – 2
• Hans Zimmer – 2

Nominations

• John Williams – 34
• Hans Zimmer – 17
• Danny Elfman – 9
• Thomas Newman – 9
• Ludwig Göransson – 4
• Alan Silvestri – 3

See also

• BAFTA Award for Best Original Music
• Academy Award for Best Original Score
• Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score
• Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
• Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special

References

General

• Web site: Past Winners Search . . April 27, 2017. Note: User must select the "Film/TV/Media" category as the genre under the search feature.

Specific

External links

• Official site of the Grammy Awards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media . www.listchallenges.com . April 27, 2017.
2. Web site: Grammys history and winners through the years . Los Angeles Times Staff . www.musicianshalloffame.com . January 28, 2015 . April 28, 2017.
3. Web site: GRAMMY Awards History and Fun Facts . . April 28, 2017.
4. Web site: Overview . October 27, 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20091027163924/https://www.grammy.com/recording_academy/.
5. Web site: Best Score Soundtrack . www.awardsandshows.com . August 8, 2017.
6. https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/06/10/grammys-award-video-games-score/ New Grammy awards include one for video game scores - The Washington Post
7. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/2nd-annual-grammy-awards-1959 2nd Annual GRAMMY Awards Grammy.com
8. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1961 – Grammy Award Winners 1961 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
9. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1962 – Grammy Award Winners 1962 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602005611/http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1962-214.html . June 2, 2016 . dead.
10. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1963 – Grammy Award Winners 1963 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161207105152/http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1963-215.html . December 7, 2016 . dead.
11. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1964 – Grammy Award Winners 1964 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 26, 2017.
12. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1965 – Grammy Award Winners 1965 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
13. Web site: Grammy Awards Nominees 1966 – Grammy Award Winners 1966 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
14. Web site: Grammy Awards Nominees 1967 – Grammy Award Winners 1967 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
15. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1968 – Grammy Award Winners 1968 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
16. Web site: Grammy Awards Nominees 1969 – Grammy Award Winners 1969 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
17. Web site: Grammy Award Ceremony 1970 – Grammy Award Winners 1970 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
18. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1971 – Grammy Award Winners 1971 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
19. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1972 – Grammy Award Winners 1972 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
20. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1973 – Grammy Award Winners 1973 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
21. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1974 – Grammy Award Winners 1974 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
22. Web site: Grammy Awards Nominee 1975 – Grammy Award Winners 1975 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
23. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1976 – Grammy Award Winners 1976 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
24. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1977 – Grammy Award Winners . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
25. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1978 – Grammy Award Winners 1978 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
26. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1979 – Grammy Award Winners 1979 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
27. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1980 – Grammy Award Winners 1980 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
28. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1981 – Grammy Award Winners 1981 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
29. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1982 – Grammy Award Winners 1982 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
30. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1983 – Grammy Award Winners 1983 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
31. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1984 – Grammy Award Winners 1984 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
32. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1985 – Grammy Award Winners 1985 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
33. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1986 – Grammy Award Winners 1986 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
34. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1987 – Grammy Award Winners 1987 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
35. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1988 – Grammy Award Winners 1988 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
36. Web site: Grammy Award Nominees 1989 – Grammy Award Winners 1989 . www.awardsandshows.com . April 27, 2017.
37. Web site: 1990 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
38. Web site: 1991 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
39. Web site: 1992 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
40. Web site: 1993 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
41. Web site: 1994 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
42. Web site: 1995 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
43. Web site: 1996 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
44. Web site: 1997 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
45. Web site: 1998 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
46. Web site: 1999 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
47. Web site: 2000 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
48. Web site: 2001 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
49. Web site: 2002 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
50. Web site: 2003 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
51. Web site: 2004 Grammy Awards . www.infoplease.com . en . April 27, 2017.
52. Web site: Rock On The Net: 47th Annual Grammy Awards – 2005 . www.rockonthenet.com . April 27, 2017.
53. Web site: Rock On The Net: 48th Annual Grammy Awards – 2006 . www.rockonthenet.com . April 27, 2017.
54. Web site: Rock On The Net: 49th Annual Grammy Awards – 2007 . www.rockonthenet.com . April 27, 2017.
55. Web site: Rock On The Net: 50th Annual Grammy Awards – 2008 . www.rockonthenet.com . April 27, 2017.
56. Web site: Rock On The Net: 51st Annual Grammy Awards – 2009 . www.rockonthenet.com . April 27, 2017.
57. Grammy Awards 2010: The winners list . Bruno . Mike . . January 31, 2010 . April 27, 2017 . en-US.
58. Web site: Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards . . March 12, 2014 . April 27, 2017 . en-US . 0458-3035.
59. Web site: Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List . THR Staff . . February 12, 2012 . April 27, 2017 . en.
60. Grammys 2013: Winners List . Billboard Staff . . February 10, 2013 . April 27, 2017 . en.
61. 56th GRAMMY Awards: Full Winners List . Billboard Staff . . January 26, 2014 . April 27, 2017 . en.
62. Grammys 2015: And the Winners Are ... . Billboard Staff . . February 8, 2015 . April 27, 2017 . en.
63. Grammy Awards 2016: See the Full Winners List . Billboard Staff . . February 15, 2016 . April 27, 2017 . en.
64. Web site: 2016 GRAMMY WINNERS . Grammy.com . April 27, 2017 . en.
65. Web site: 2018 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners List . Grammy.com . November 28, 2017 . November 30, 2017 . en.
66. Web site: 2018 GRAMMY WINNERS . Grammy.com . December 7, 2018 . en.
67. Web site: 2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners & Nominations List . Grammy.com . November 20, 2019 . January 26, 2020 . en.
68. Web site: 2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List . Grammy.com . November 24, 2020 . November 24, 2020 . en.
69. Web site: 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List . Grammy.com . November 23, 2021 . November 23, 2021 . en.
70. https://pitchfork.com/news/grammys-2023-winners-see-the-full-list-here/ Grammys 2023 Winners: See the Full List Here|Pitchfork
71. Web site: 2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List . 2022-11-19 . www.grammy.com.
72. News: Minsker . Evan . Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here . November 10, 2023 . Pitchfork . November 10, 2023.
73. Web site: Explanation For Category Restructuring . The Recording Academy.