The 2025 Oscars will be moving away from its traditional programming for select categories, it has been revealed.
Ahead of the Oscars’ core nominations being revealed later today (January 23), Academy president Janet Yang and Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences shared an internal letter to members of the Academy outlining several changes to this year’s ceremony.
Per Billboard, this year’s ceremony on March 2 will not include live performances for the Best Original Song category. Typically, artists who are nominated in the category will perform throughout the night in the lead-up to the award being presented.
In their letter to Academy members, Yang and Kramer wrote per Billboard: “This year the Best Original Song category presentation will move away from live performances and will be focused on the songwriters. We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.”
Additionally, Yang and Kramer also noted that this year’s ceremony will include a special honouring of Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires earlier this month: “We will reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry.”
While the majority of the Oscar nominations will be revealed later today, the shortlist for Best Original Song and Best Original Score were unveiled in December. Among the artists who made the shortlist for Best Original Song are Elton John, Pharrell Williams, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Kneecap and more.
Robbie Williams‘ ‘Forbidden Road’ from his biopic Better Man was also included in the shortlist, though it was later disqualified for including “material from an existing song that was not written” for the film.
Meanwhile, several major blockbusters have had their scored listed in the shortlist for Best Original Score. These include Wicked, Gladiator 2, Challengers, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Alien: Romulus and more.
