In a dazzling celebration of musical brilliance, Billie Eilish and FINNEAS soared to victory at the 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards, held at The Avalon in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (Nov. 15). The dynamic duo claimed the coveted song – feature film award for their hypnotic creation, “What Was I Made For?” featured in Barbie.
Eilish and FINNEAS’s ethereal composition triumphed over strong contenders, including “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie, written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. The soundtrack album for Barbie, released by Atlantic Records, clinched the additional honor of the soundtrack award.
The late Robbie Robertson’s evocative score for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon posthumously secured the score – feature film accolade. The 11th and final collaboration between Scorsese and Robertson, the film is dedicated to the Canadian rock music legend, who passed away in August at the age of 80.
The 2023 HMMAs showcased the significant contributions of women in the film industry, with female co-writers dominating five of the six winning songs across various film categories. Notably, women composers claimed two of the seven film score awards, with Laura Karpman winning score – sci-fi/fantasy film for The Marvels and Hildur Guđnadóttir securing score – horror/thriller film for A Haunting in Venice. Mica Levi, who identifies as non-binary, clinched score – independent film for The Zone of Interest.
Angela Leus received the music supervision in a film award for Trolls Band Together, highlighting the diversity and talent within the industry.
The star-studded event featured captivating performances by nominees OK Go, Diane Warren, and Marc Shaiman, the latter receiving an outstanding career achievement award. The presentation, attended by luminaries including Taura Stinson, Marie Kingsley, and Julia Michaels, showcased the vibrancy and innovation present in the world of film music.
The HMMAs, known as a precursor to the Oscars, have historically foreshadowed Academy Award success. Past HMMAs winners-turned-Oscar recipients include Billie Eilish and FINNEAS for No Time to Die, Hans Zimmer for Dune, and Hildur Guðnadóttir for Joker.
As the industry anticipates the Oscars, with shortlists announced on Dec. 21 and nominations on Jan. 23, 2024, the Hollywood Music in Media Awards continues to be a beacon of recognition for outstanding achievements in film music, celebrating diversity, talent, and the transformative power of sound in cinema.