Los Angeles, Jan 30 (.) The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that only two of this year’s best original song nominees will be performed live at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, citing time constraints and structural changes to the telecast.
In a letter sent to all music nominees and obtained exclusively by Variety, the Academy said the category would remain fully integrated into the broadcast despite limiting live performances to “Golden” from the animated musical KPop Demon Hunters and “I Lied to You” from the vampire drama Sinners.
The remaining nominated songs will not be performed live. These include Diane Warren’s “Dear Me” from her documentary Diane Warren: Relentless, Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner’s title song from Train Dreams, and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” by Nicholas Pike from Viva Verdi! Warren is a 17-time nominee.
The letter was signed by executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, along with producer Taryn Hurd. The Academy declined to comment further, as per Variety.
“This year, the best original song nominees are being treated with the same care, storytelling focus and intention as the other awards categories — all of which will be included on the show,” the letter stated.
According to the Academy, each nominated song will be introduced through a custom-produced segment using footage from the film it was written for, with the aim of placing the music within its cinematic context. Where relevant, the segments may also include behind-the-scenes material highlighting the songwriting process and creative intent.
The producing team also noted that nominees will receive additional promotional support across the Academy’s official social media platforms, referencing recent Spotify collaborations and the nominations announcement.
According to Variety, sources familiar with the planning said staging live performances for all five nominees would add approximately 25 minutes to the broadcast. The Oscars are contractually set to run three hours and 30 minutes and will present 24 competitive categories this year, including the newly added casting Oscar.
The runtime constraints are expected to ease once the ceremony transitions from broadcast television to YouTube beginning in 2029.
“Given the limited time within the broadcast, the addition of our casting Oscar and a desire to create a fast-paced, entertaining and cohesive show, the live performance focus will be concentrated on two musical moments this year, ‘Sinners’ and ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’” the letter said.
The two performances will be framed as segments highlighting how music helped the films resonate with audiences worldwide. The remaining nominees will be honored through the film-based packages rather than live musical numbers.
The letter concluded by reaffirming the Academy’s commitment to recognizing all nominees. “Your work is an integral part of our cinematic ecosystem, and we look forward to honoring it on the show.”
The 98th Academy Awards will air live on March 15 and will be hosted by Conan O’Brien.
. MI ARN