The annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards celebrates outstanding achievement in the craft of music supervision across film, television, documentaries, advertising, and trailers. Taking place annually in Los Angeles, this industry-niche ‘Grammys for Sync’ traverses the gamut of music placements across all platforms and budget tiers – including everything from the Elvis soundtrack to a videogame trailer.
The 11th and 12th editions were moved online by pandemic protocols. For the lucky 13th, the masks were off at a packed in-person shindig that was anything but virtual. Throughout the event, the feeling of celebratory relief was palpable.
Of course, the just-concluded Grammys takes place on a more lavish and grandiose stage. But the congenial community at GMS is tough to beat. At the distinctively 20s-era Wiltern, the cozy collection of music supervisors and audio-placement execs finally said hello again, and celebrated a mask-free evening of reconnection.
Aside from the awards-show formalities, this was also a reunion of old friends, with many creatives tied by previous collaborations and projects. Indeed, music supervisors are usually hopping from one project to the next – and familiar faces frequently resurface in ad-hoc teams.
Photo: Digital Music News
GMS Awards nominee hangout (Photo: Digital Music News)
At the awards ceremony itself, audience members were treated to a surprise performance from Macy Gray, along with sets from Gaby Moreno, Ruth B, and Joy Olakdukon.
There was also an additional tribute to Paul Williams by Sam DeRosa, Nella Rojas, and Joshua Radin. Perhaps that lineup lacked the sizzle of recent Grammy performers like Harry Styles, Stevie Wonder, and Luke Combs, though savvy musicians know that music supervisors are a powerful group of industry influencers.
Photo Credit: Harmony Gerber
Photo: Fitz Carlile
“It is with immense pride that we congratulate the winners of our 13th Annual Awards,” relayed Joel C. High, President of the Guild of Music Supervisors. “The craft of telling stories with music is recognized more and more as a global force in the entertainment business and in culture. These awards last night highlight the top of the field but the truth is that we at the guild honor the fine work of all of our members in the various crafts year round.”
Presenters from the evening included Sharon Stone, Debbie Allen, Stephanie Economou, Tom Everett Scott, Pamela Adlon, Lindsey Blaufarb, Odeya Rush, Christopher McDonald, Aloe Blacc, Justin Hurwitz, Joel C. High, Steve Schnur, Jen Malone, Nora Felder, Sami Posner, Sanaz Lavaedian, Amine Ramer, Ed Gerrard, Steve Gizicki, and Howard Parr.
Complete List of 13th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors (GMS) Awards
FILM
Best Music Supervision for Film
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- Budgeted Over $25M | Anton Monsted — Elvis
- Budgeted Under $25M | Lauren Marie Mikus, Bruce Gilbert — Everything Everywhere All At Once
- Budgeted Under $10M | Rob Lowry — Cha Cha Real Smooth
- For A Non-Theatrically Released Film | Rob Lowry — Do Revenge
- Best Song Written and/or Recorded for a Film | “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All At Once (Songwriters: Ryan Lott, David Byrne, Mitski Miyawaki | Performers: David Byrne, Mitski, Son Lux | Music Supervisors: Lauren Marie Mikus, Bruce Gilbert)
TELEVISION
Best Music Supervision for Television
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- Television Drama | Nora Felder — Stranger Things Season 4
- Television Comedy or Musical | Kier Lehman — Insecure Season 5
- Reality Television | Adam Brodsky, Rivka Rose — The Come Up Season 1
- Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television | “Perfect Day” for Better Call Saul Season 6 Episode 9 “Fun and Games” (Songwriter: Harry Nilsson | Performers: Dressage, Slow Shiver | Music Supervisor: Thomas Golubić
DOCUMENTARIES
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- Best Music Supervision | Allison Wood — Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off
- Best Music Supervision for DocuSeries | Amanda Krieg Thomas — The Andy Warhol Diaries
TRAILERS
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- Best Music Supervision for Film Trailer | Evelin Garcia — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Best Music Supervision for Series | Deric Berberabe, Jordan Silverberg — The White Lotus Season 2
- Best Music Supervision for Video Game & Interactive Trailer | Lindsey Kohon, Naaman Snell — Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
ADVERTISING
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- Best Music Supervision in Synch | Abbey Hendrix, Jonathan Wellbelove — Apple The Greatest
- Best Music Supervision in Advertising (Original Music) | Sunny Kapoor, Mike Ladman, Brad Nayman, Brandy Ricker — Meta
VIDEO GAMES
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- Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Synch) | Dylan Bostick, Josh Kessler — Saint’s Row V
- Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (Original) | Steve Schnur — Battlefield 2042 DLC Season 1 – Zero Hour, Season 2, Master of Arms, Season 3 – Escalation (Composers: Hildur Guðnadóttir, Sam Slater)
