Here's When Oscars 2025 Music Submissions Are Due

Procrastinators, take note – the deadline for all Best Original Song and Best Original Score submissions for the 2025 Oscars is November 1st.

This year, there will be some changes in the best starting score category. The shortlist of the best initial rating candidates will increase from 15 to 20 ratings. The shortlist for Best Original Song, meanwhile, will remain at 15 entries. The shortlists in these two categories, and eight others, will be announced on December 17.

The Academy's music industry executive committee increased the shortlist to cast a wider net to raise awareness of more scores before voting began. There are many more sheet music submitted than songs. For the 96th annual Academy Awards, held earlier this year, 148 ratings contested 15 spots in the short listcompared to 94 songs that claimed 15 spots on this list.

Also, beginning with the upcoming Oscars, “three composers will be eligible to receive individual statuettes if, in rare cases, they all contributed fully to the score. Previously, three composers had to submit as a team. The rules now clarify the definition of a group as a recognized group.'

This came into play four years ago when Trent ReznorAtticus Ross and John Baptiste won Best Original Score for Soul. All three composers will forever be known as Oscar winners for this score, yet they only received one Oscar statuette. Under this rule change, if such a scenario were to happen again, all three would receive statuettes (assuming the Academy decided all three contributed fully to the score).

Preliminary voting for the 97th Academy Awards will be held from December 9-13. As noted, the lists in 10 categories will be announced on December 17. Voting for the nomination round will take place from 8 to 12 January. Nominations will be announced on January 17. Voting in the final round will take place from February 11 to 18.

The 97th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 2 at the Dolby Theater at Ovation Hollywood and will be broadcast live on ABC and in more than 200 territories around the world.