Pictured (L to R): Songwriter Mark Sonnenblick and HUNTR/X lead vocalist and songwriter EJAE, co-writers of "Golden," which won for SONG - ANIMATED FILM; Aiyana-Lee and her mother Nicole Daciana Anderson received the HMMA for SONG - INDEPENDENT FILM for “Highest 2 Lowest,” the showstopper they co-wrote (and Aiyana-Lee performed) in Spike Lee's film HIGHEST 2 LOWEST; and Ludwig Göransson received two HMMAs for SCORE – FEATURE FILM and SONG - FEATURE FILM for “I Lied To You,” which he co-wrote with fellow HMMA winner Raphael Saadiq
The Hollywood Music in Media Awards returned to the Avalon in Hollywood for its 16th annual ceremony. The HMMAs have long been a bellwether for everything from the Oscars to the Emmys, which gives every win a little extra sizzle. Add in a red carpet filled with genre-hoppers, chart-toppers, boundary-pushers, and more than a few composers who could score your nightmares, and the night delivered exactly the kind of sparkle Hollywood waits all year for.
Photo Credit: Carla Van Wagoner
This year’s breakout? Sinners. Ludwig Göransson continued his current streak of “I simply do not miss,” picking up two awards—including Score – Feature Film and Song – Feature Film for “I Lied to You,” which he co-wrote with Raphael Saadiq. The film’s star Miles Caton also won On-Screen Performance (Film) for delivering the song on-screen, making Sinners the night’s biggest multi-award haul with three wins.
Diane Warren—who has written more songs than most of us have had meaningful conversations—added another trophy to her shelves for “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless. The song, performed by Kesha, earned her the Song – Documentary Film award. The doc’s director, Bess Kargman, also stepped into the winners’ circle with Music Documentary – Special Program.
Animation’s biggest musical moment came courtesy of the global smash “Golden” from KPOP Demon Hunters, which won Song – Animated Film. Penned by a team including EJAE and performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, it was one of the night’s loudest fan-favorite wins.
Photo Credit: Carla Van Wagoner
Aiyana-Lee also had a defining moment, taking home Song – Independent Film for “Highest 2 Lowest,” a track she co-wrote with her mother (which officially makes them one of the best musical mother–daughter duos since Beyoncé and… Beyoncé).
On the TV front, Lady Gaga and Andrew Watt won Song – TV Show/Limited Series for “The Dance” from Wednesday, while Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Nettles snagged On-Screen Performance – TV/ Limited Series for their duet “Our Highway” from The Bondsman. (This marks yet another entry in Kevin Bacon’s ever-expanding catalog of “unexpected things Kevin Bacon wins awards for.”)
In the score categories, the slate showed how wildly diverse the industry’s sonic landscape has become. Simon Franglen took home Score – Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film for Avatar: Fire and Ash, Benjamin Wallfisch won Score – Horror/Thriller Film for Wolf Man, and Fabrizio Mancinelli earned Score – Independent Film (Foreign Language) for Out of the Nest. Meanwhile, Theodore Shapiro continued his run of TV dominance with a win for Severance.
Photo Credit: Carla Van Wagoner
The Wicked universe also grabbed two trophies—one for the feature Wicked: For Good, and another for the televised program Wicked: One Wonderful Night, proving that if there’s one thing that franchise knows how to do, it’s belt its way into awards season.
And in one of the ceremony’s most joyful opens, Jeff Beal hit the stage with Afghan artist Aryana Sayeed to perform “We Believe in Hope”—the song honored with the 2025 High Note Global Prize—before winning Score – Independent Film for Rule Breakers. If you’re keeping track at home: yes, he performed, won, and stood next to one of the greatest human rights recognitions of the year. Not a bad Wednesday.
From blockbuster franchises to indie triumphs, from K-pop soundtracks to horror scores that can raise your blood pressure by accident, the 2025 HMMAs once again reminded the industry that music is the emotional core of every story we can’t forget.
