Dear Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Members,
WHAT HAPPENS:
Music Supervisors are currently NOT permitted to be members of the Music Branch of the Academy and Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Music Supervisors work shoulder to shoulder on the same team as composers, music editors and songwriters. Music Supervisors have become increasingly vital to the filmmaking process, often determining the overall musical character of a film equally as much as the composer’s original score. Music Supervisors have campaigned several times to be moved into the Music Branch, to be alongside their music department collaborators. To date, Music Supervisors have been unsuccessful and continue to be excluded. The time has come to include Music Supervisors alongside their music department colleagues in the Music Branch.
Please stand with Music Supervisors and support our campaign to have our voices heard by signing this petition.
WHY:
Music Supervisors facilitate some of the most beloved musical moments in films. They work closely and creatively with directors, producers and composers from the script stage all the way to the final mix. Music Supervisors are responsible for creative song suggestions to create and support the authenticity of characters, eras and locations, all of which are widely considered an essential part of the storytelling process. They are deeply involved in the creative process of selecting, hiring and overseeing songwriters and artists when creating original songs for motion pictures is necessary. Despite all this essential involvement, and this being a Music Supervisors’ area of expertise, they are excluded from participating in shortlist or nomination voting in the Original Song category. Ultimately this means that Music Supervisors cannot have voting participation in a category they currently work in and precludes them from contributing to AMPAS as correctly classified members.
The contribution by Music Supervisors has been recognized by other organizations. They are full-fledged members and have voting rights in all Emmy and Grammy music-related categories. In 2017, Music Supervisors began receiving the Emmy award for Outstanding Music Supervision and in 2020, the Grammy award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
We demand action NOW.
Stop excluding Music Supervisors and allow their inclusion into the Music Branch of AMPAS.
If you are an AMPAS member, and you recognize the importance of the role of a Music Supervisor, please sign this petition in support.