The Barbie ballad “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas won best song written and/or recorded for a film at the 2024 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, which were held at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday (March 3). The awards, now in their 14th year, celebrate the craft of music supervision in film, television, documentaries, advertising, trailers and video games.
“What Was I Made For?” is the front-runner to win the Oscar for best original song on March 10. If it does, it will be the third GMS winner to go on to win the Oscar, following “City of Stars” from La La Land and “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.
Eilish and Finneas accepted the award in person and thanked music supervisors for placing their songs in films and TV, dating back to Eilish’s first hit, “Ocean Eyes.” Finneas said, “If we owe our careers to any group of people, it really in all honesty is music supervisors.”
This being the GMS Awards, the award for best song written and/or recorded for a film also went to Barbie music supervisor George Drakoulias, who won a second award for his work on that blockbuster: best music supervision for a film budgeted over $25 million. Drakoulias thanked many people, including executives at Atlantic Records. “If you have a chance to make a soundtrack, make it with Kevin Weaver, because he’s a pitbull. We would do these weekly calls and [it] was like ‘this was an embarrassment of riches.’ Everybody said yes.”
Other double winners on the night were Toko Nagaro (Joy Ride, Totally Killer), Frankie Pine (Daisy Jones & The Six) and Alex Hackford (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 video game).
Two months after winning a Primetime Emmy for outstanding music supervision for The White Lotus, Gabe Hilfer received a GMS Award for best music supervision, television drama for his work on the HBO Max series.
The Icon Award was presented posthumously to Robbie Robertson, who is nominated for an Oscar for best original score for his work on Killers of the Flower Moon. Rocco DeLuca and Johnny Sheppard performed the hushed “They Don’t Live Long” from Killers. Margo Price, Robert Randolph and Jairus Mozee performed Robertson’s “Evangeline,” which Emmylou Harris introduced in the 1978 film The Last Waltz. Robertson’s award was accepted by his three grown children, Alexandra, Delphine and Sebastian, all of whom have built successful careers in the music field. Previous recipients of the Icon Award include Paul Williams, Diane Warren, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Kenny Loggins and Marc Shaiman.
The Legacy Award went to music supervisor Allan Mason, who has worked on more than two dozen films, including several that were directed by Barry Levinson, among them Good Morning, Vietnam, Rain Man and Bugsy. Some of the vintage songs Levinson found for movies later became major hits, including Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” from Good Morning, Vietnam and The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” from Benny & Joon. Mason took to the stage wearing a Strawberry Alarm Clark T-shirt and carrying his beloved dog, Benny. (“I feel without a doubt he’s here and I’m his +1,” Mason said of Benny.) Previous recipients of the Legacy Award include Pilar McCurry, Mitchell Leib, Maureen Crowe, Bob Hunka, Joel Sill, Gary Lemel and Chris Montan.
Jonathan Finegold won best music supervision for a documentary for Little Richard: I Am Everything. “The king of rock’n’roll is Black and he’s gay, and we need to realize that,” Finegold said. He also fessed up that when he was 11 and 12 and was supposed to be listening to instructional cassettes to study for his bar mitzvah, he was actually listening to Barry White’s Greatest Hits, Abbey Road and Hot Rocks.
Dan Wilson performed his nominated song “It Never Went Away” from the film American Symphony, which he co-wrote with Jon Batiste. Batiste is set to perform it on the Oscars, where it is nominated for best original song. India Carney performed her nominated song “I Found You” from the Showtime series The L Word: Generation Q. Spotlight Performer d4vd, signed to Interscope/Darkroom, performed “Romantic Homicide.” Tia P performed a rap song, “Stay Ready,” which served as a thank-you to the event’s sponsors, each of whom got a name-check in the song.
Presenters included Mark Ronson, Tyrese Gibson, Nia Vardalos, Ben Platt & Noah Galvin, Luca Guadagnino, PJ Morton, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Crystal Methyd, Freddy Scott, Ryan Lott of Son Lux and Volker Bertelmann.
The event was produced by the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards production committee – president Lindsay Wolfington (who won an award as the music supervisor of Theater Camp), vice president Heather Guibert, plus Joel C. High and Janet Lopez. Show production is handled by Angelia Bibbs-Sanders from ABS Collective with talent producer Julie Donsky and technical production by Nick Urbom from Big Push Media Group.
Here’s a complete list of nominations for the 2024 Guild of Music Supervisor Awards, with winners marked.
FILM
Best music supervision for film budgeted over $25 million
Matt Aberle – The Holdovers
Deva Anderson, Rachel Lautzenheiser – My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Stephanie Diaz-Matos, Philippe Pierre – They Cloned Tyrone
WINNER: George Drakoulias – Barbie
Steven Gizicki – Maestro
Kirsten Lane – Saltburn
Kier Lehman – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Frankie Pine – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
James A. Taylor – Wonka
Andrea von Foerster – Air
Best music supervision for film budgeted $25 million and under
Lucy Bright – The Iron Claw
Kevin Edelman – Jesus Revolution
Connie Farr – All of Us Strangers
Carly Hildebrand, Natalie Hayden – Polite Society
Vanessa Jorge Perry – Flamin’ Hot
WINNER: Toko Nagata – Joy Ride
Best music supervision for film budgeted $10 million and under
Adam Bennati – Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Jody Colero – Brother
Meghan Currier – Past Lives
Tracy McKnight – Somewhere in Queens
Howard Paar – Eileen
Andy Ross, Ben Sokoler – War Pony
Michael Turner – Paint
WINNER: Lindsay Wolfington – Theater Camp
Best music supervision for a non-theatrically released film
WINNER (TIE): Angela Asistio – Chang Can Dunk
Linda Cohen – Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
David Fish – Rye Lane
Liz Gallacher – Sitting in Bars with Cake
Rob Lowry, Tracy McKnight – Family Switch
WINNER (TIE): Toko Nagata – Totally Killer
Javier Nuño, Joe Rodríguez – A Million Miles Away
Wyler Sanca – Heist 88
Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton – Praise This
Best song written and/or recorded for a film
“Am I Dreaming” – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Songwriters: Mike Dean, Peter Lee Johnson, Rakim Mayers, Roisee, Leland Wayne, Landon Wayne; Performers: Metro Boomin, A$AP Rocky, Roisee; Music Supervisor: Kier Lehman
“Camp Isn’t Home” – Theater Camp; Songwriters: Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, Ben Platt, Mark Sonnenblick; Performers: Alexander Bello, Bailee Bonick, Donovan Colan, Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Luke Islam, Madisen Lora, Kyndra Sanchez, Jack Sobolewski, Quinn Titcomb; Music Supervisor: Lindsay Wolfington
“Can’t Catch Me Now” – The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; Songwriters: Dan Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo; Performer: Olivia Rodrigo; Music Supervisor: Hillary Holmes
“I’m Just Ken” – Barbie; Songwriters: Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt; Performer: Ryan Gosling; Music Supervisor: George Drakoulias
“It Never Went Away” – American Symphony; Songwriters: Jon Batiste, Dan Wilson; Performer: Jon Batiste; Music Supervisor: Priya Autrey
“JUICY” – Joy Ride; Songwriters: Isak Alvedahl, Kirubel Swedin, Sandra Wikstrom; Performer: Ramengvrl; Music Supervisor: Toko Nagata
“Little Bit ‘O Soul” – Totally Killer; Songwriters: John Carter, Kenneth Hawker; Performer: The Linda Lindas; Music Supervisor: Toko Nagata
“Quiet Eyes” – Past Lives; Songwriters: Zachary Dawes, Sharon Van Etten; Performer: Sharon Van Etten; Music Supervisor: Meghan Currier
“Road to Freedom” – Rustin; Songwriter: Lenny Kravitz; Performer: Lenny Kravitz; Music Supervisor: Barry Cole
WINNER: “What Was I Made For?” – Barbie; Songwriters: Billie Eilish O’Connell, Finneas O’Connell; Performer: Billie Eilish; Music Supervisor: George Drakoulias
TELEVISION
Best music supervision – television drama
Ed Bailie, Abi Leland, Toby Williams – Top Boy Season 3
Zoë Ellen Bryant, Pete Saville – I Hate Suzie Too Season 2
Rick Clark – Dark Winds Season 2
Nora Felder – Yellowjackets Season 2
WINNER: Gabe Hilfer – The White Lotus Season 2
Jonathan Leahy, Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe – Welcome to Chippendales Season 1
Janine Scalise – The L Word: Generation Q Season 3
Best music supervision – television comedy or musical
Matt Biffa – Sex Education Season 4
Leah Harrison – I’m a Virgo Season 1
Mike Moreno – Mariachis Season 1
Javier Nuño, One Six, Joe Rodríguez – Neon Season 1
WINNER: Frankie Pine – Daisy Jones & The Six Season 1
Robin Urdang – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5
Justine von Winterfeldt – Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin Season 1
Laura Webb, Lindsay Wolfington – XO, Kitty Season 1
Best music supervision – reality television
Greg Danylyshyn – Teen Mom: The Next Chapter Season 1
Peter Davis – Are You the One? Season 9
Jon Ernst – Love Is Blind Season 5
WINNER: Carrie Hughes – Love & Hip Hop: Miami Season 5
Sara Torres, Jordan Young – Love Island USA Season 5
Best song written and/or recorded for television
“A Beautiful Game” – Ted Lasso; Songwriters: Max Martin, Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance; Performer: Ed Sheeran; Music Supervisors: Christa Miller, Tony Von Pervieux
“City On Fire” – City on Fire; Songwriter: Zach Ellis; Performer: Ex Post Facto; Music Supervisor: Jonathan Leahy
“Esperando Pelitos” – Big Mouth; Songwriter: Lin-Manuel Miranda; Performers: Robin De Jesús, PJ Sin Suela; Music Supervisor: Amanda Krieg Thomas
“I Found You” – The L Word: Generation Q; Songwriters: Annalia Marie Mallory, Viv Parker, Lexxi Taylor Saal; Performer: India Carney; Music Supervisor: Janine Scalise
WINNER: “Look At Us Now (Honeycomb)” – Daisy Jones & The Six; Songwriters: Jason Boesel, Blake Mills, Marcus Mumford, Johnathan Rice, Stephony Smith; Performer: Daisy Jones & The Six; Music Supervisor: Frankie Pine
“The Manster (Dr. Hunkenstein’s Theme)” – Welcome to Chippendales; Songwriters: Dan Bern, Siddhartha Khosla, Robert Siegel, Mike Viola; Performer: Welcome to Chippendales cast; Music Supervisors: Jonathan Leahy, Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe
“Pussy Don’t Lie” – Big Mouth; Songwriters: Megan Pete, Mark Rivers; Performer: Megan Thee Stallion; Music Supervisor: Amanda Krieg Thomas
“Staplehead” – Poker Face; Songwriters: John Darnielle, Jamey Jasta; Performer: Doxxxology; Music Supervisor: Thomas Golubić
Documentaries
Best music supervision for a documentary
Justin Feldman – All Up in the Biz
WINNER: Jonathan Finegold – Little Richard: I Am Everything
Joel C. High – Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story
Susan Jacobs – Wild Life
Aminé Ramer, Andrea von Foerster – Peter Case: A Million Miles Away
Amani “Burt Blackarach” Smith – Stamped from the Beginning
Allison Wood – Last Stop Larrimah
Best music supervision in a docuseries
Janet Billig Rich, Lisa Moberly – Dear Mama Season 1
James Cartwright – Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators Season 1
Kyle McKeveny, Joe Rudge – The Super Models Season 1
WINNER: Andrea von Foerster – Welcome to Wrexham Season 2
Willa Yudell – Arnold Season 1
Advertising
Best music supervision in advertising (synch)
Jeremy Daw, JT Griffith – Nike: A Feel for Every You
Andrew Kahn, Morgan Thoryk – Check ‘Em Out
Sunny Kapoor, Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – Going Out in Style in the Greatest Story Ever Worn
Sunny Kapoor, Mike Ladman, Brandy Ricker, Mara Techam – One Fair Exchange in the Greatest Story Ever Worn
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – Rumble
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – American Gothic
WINNER: Scott McDaniel – Run This Town – The Road to Halftime Starts on Rihanna Drive
Lilah Obregon-Wilson – Wear Your Shine – The Coach Shine Collection
Jonathan Wellbelove – iPhone 14 – Action Mode
Best music supervision in advertising (original music)
Abbey Hendrix, Mika Sheerin, Jonathan Wellbelove – iPhone 15 Pro – On with the Show
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – Unshattered
Mike Ladman, Mara Techam – More of Life Brought to Life – Sneakers
Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, Danielle Soury – Xbox Series X|S – Wake Up and Dream
WINNER: Nicole Palko, Jonathan Wellbelove – iPhone 15 Plus – Miss You
Trailers
Best music supervision in a trailer – film
Maggie Baron – Problemista – Official Trailer
Deric Berberabe, Jordan Silverberg – Killers of the Flower Moon – Official Trailer 2
Calum Brice-Stevens – All of Us Strangers – Official Trailer
Danny Exum, Derek Liner – Sisu – Official Trailer
Bobby Gumm – Damsel – Official Trailer
WINNER: Angel Mendoza – Killers of the Flower Moon – Official Teaser Trailer
Scenery Samundra, Gregory Sweeney – Priscilla – Official Trailer
Best music supervision in a trailer – series
Isaac Allaway, Eduardo Fontes Williams – The Crown Season 6 – Part 2 Trailer
Maggie Baron – The Idol – Official Teaser Trailer
Deric Berberabe, Jordan Silverberg – Monarch: Legacy of Monsters – Official Trailer
Deric Berberabe, Jordan Silverberg – Swarm – Official Trailer
Bobby Gumm – The Witcher Season 3 – Official Trailer
WINNER: Rochelle Holguin Cappello, Katie Pool – Yellowjackets Season 2 – Official Trailer
Sanaz Lavaedian, Marina Polites – Griselda – Official Trailer
Best music supervision in a trailer – video game & interactive
Jonny Altepeter, Peter Li – VALORANT – Iso Agent Trailer – MYTHS
WINNER: Rebecca Bergman, Brian Murphy – Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – Official Justice League Trailer – “No More Heroes”
Chris Fox, Kyle Hopkins – South of Midnight – Announce Trailer
Lindsey Kohon, Naaman Snell, Ryan Tomlin, Brandon Young – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Raphaella Lima, Michael Sherwood – Apex Legends: Ignite Launch Trailer
Nick Maker – Marathon – Official Announce Trailer
Ryan Tomlin, Brandon Young – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Makarov Reveal Trailer
Video Games
Best music supervision in a video game (synch)
WINNER: Alex Hackford – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Alex Hackford, Sophie Levine, Monty Mudd – MLB ’23: The Show
Maya Halfon Cordova – Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure
Raphaella Lima, Cybele Pettus, Steve Schnur – EA SPORTS FC 24
Raphaella Lima, Cybele Pettus, Steve Schnur – F1 23
Raphaella Lima, Cybele Pettus, Steve Schnur – Madden NFL 24
Ryan Tomlin, Brandon Young – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Season 2-6
Best music supervision in a video game (original music)
WINNER: Alex Hackford, Scott Hanau, Keith Leary – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2; Composer: John Paesano
Simon Landry, Alex Riviere – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora; Composer: Pinar Toprak
Steve Schnur – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor; Composers: Stephen Barton, Gordy Haab
Jaren Tolman – Hogwarts Legacy; Composers: Peter Murray, Chuck E. Myers, J. Scott Rakozy
Austin Wintory – Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical; Composers: Montaigne, Tripod, Austin Wintory
Brandon Young – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III; Composer: Walter Mair
